Back in the 1950s thru the mid 1970s, Detroit automakers produced many automobiles that were out and out “muscle” vehicles. These types of cars shared the same characteristics: they were 2 door coupes with souped up engines, responsive transmissions, an assertive exterior design, and a sporty interior. High fuel prices and changing tastes ultimately limited sales to the point where only a couple of models were produced beyond that time period. Today, muscle car mania is back, in spite of even higher gas costs. Thanks to the Ford Mustang and to a smaller extent to sedan and wagon models from Dodge, there is new interest in a class long given up. The future is bright for the muscle automobile segment as another manufacturer, Chevrolet, considers bringing back one of its darlings of yesteryear, the Camaro.

Besides the Ford Mustang there were an entire host of cars produced that at one time or another should have been considered a muscle car. In addition to the Mustang, the Ford Fairlane 500 and Ford Torino did duty; the Mercury Montego was another model; Chevrolet produced the Camaro and Corvette; Pontiac the GTO, Firebird, and Tempest; Olds the 442 ; Yankee Motors’ had its Javelin; Plymouth had the ‘Cuda, and Dodge produced the Challenger and the Charger. Today, only the Mustang and Corvette survives though the Dodge Charger has returned as a four door muscle automobile along with its sibling, the hot Dodge Magnum wagon.

Interestedly, it took Ford’s redoing of the Mustang for the 2005 model year to stir the present muscle vehicle age craze. Styled after Mustangs built in the 1960s, the current Mustang embraces a retro look while incorporating recent technology. The result has been the Mustang now sells its entire 150,000 model capacity without incentives.

The Mustang has been inspiring DaimlerChrysler to go ahead with a retro cruiser of its own. The Dodge Challenger concept car, appearing at automobile shows across the United States, has been a huge hit and Chrysler plans on bringing the V8 hemi powered model back in 2009. In addition, General Motors is considering giving its blessing on the Camaro, another car also making the rounds of the States vehicle show circuit.

So, isn’t it mad to bring back such gas hogs? Back in the early 1970s, the then current crop of muscle automobiles averaged only 10-12 miles to the gallon in town and 15 or 16 miles per gallon on the road. Thanks to computer technology and potency, even the Corvette returns a highly respectable 28 miles to the gallon the road. So, though fuel mileage will definitely be lower than lots of other models, the new group of muscle automobiles will still better the prior generation vehicles with fuel mileage eighty percent or more above the autos from the 1970s.

Fortunately, we still live in a reasonably free country and what the customer wants, the customer gets. So, V8 powered muscle cars mated to six speed manu-matic transmissions, with sport handling, bucket seats, and better fuel economy will likely appeal to several. No, they will not be actual copies of yesterday’s muscle cars, but they are going to provide the nostalgia and power that motorists seek. I can’t wait!.

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