What makes a "Muscle Car"?

[schnoods]

Originally Posted by BENT_8

This is a no brainer guys.
The muscle car must be built before the last of the 4v big valve GT's were built.
The muscle car must have atleast 5.8litre capacity in V configuration.
The muscle car must be made by Ford and carry a GT 351 badge.

An F6 cant be a true muscle car as muscle cars must have won Bathurst in standard road trim, which is a circuit racing format, and as we all know the F6 is a crap track car.

I think you'll find that a 351 doesnt have 5.8 litres, 61.02 cubic inches is 1 litre and a 351 is only 5.75 litres.

Unless you care has had a 30 thou rebore.

[5.4 GT]

Originally Posted by mcnews

Anything with air-con, electric windows and sound deadening is not a muscle car.

Race car?

[xbcool]

Originally Posted by schnoods

I think you'll find that a 351 doesnt have 5.8 litres, 61.02 cubic inches is 1 litre and a 351 is only 5.75 litres.

Unless you care has had a 30 thou rebore.

geez this forum can be a tough place

[OzJavelin]

Originally Posted by Badcooky

All except Presence.
__________________
2003 BA ute,
Blitsbodykit GT front bar,
wrapped 4490 pacemakers,3' system,
sports cat and muffler,237RWKW,X-FLASH generic 98 tune with Raptor Supercharging standard

Aww.. now you've upset me :(

Personally I don't think the Javelin is a musclecar - even with the 401 (AMCs largest engine) - in stock form AMC were more worried about warranty claims rather than performance so built reliable cars rather than fast ones.

However any Javelin has more presence than most modern cars ..

[Bad Bird]

A muscle car, by the strictest definition, is an intermediate sized, performance oriented model, powered by a large V8 engine, at an affordable price. Most of these models were based on "regular" production vehicles. These vehicles are generally not considered muscle cars, even when equipped with large V8s. If there was a high performance version available, it gets the credit, and not the vehicle that it was based on.

-Muscle Car Club

This definition is what most collectors around the world go by. There are exceptions, of course.

The Javelin, according to Muscle Car Club:
Is it a muscle car: No
What is it: Pony Car
Exceptions: The AMX variation or big block V8s are considered muscle cars.

[BENT_8]

Originally Posted by schnoods

I think you'll find that a 351 doesnt have 5.8 litres, 61.02 cubic inches is 1 litre and a 351 is only 5.75 litres.

Unless you care has had a 30 thou rebore.

Ok you got me

But fortunately i dont have one of these motors in my car to bore 30thou.
I've just got the standard 6cyl EFI that replaced the musclecar donk :

[noosacuda]

New arguement then- Is the Corvette a Muscle Car or a Sports Car?

[mcnews]

Sports car. It stops, goes round corners, has nice bits inside and doesn't small children down carby bellmouths when you smash the loud pedal.

[TZENU]

V8 and steel bumpers

[Bad Bird]

Originally Posted by noosacuda

New arguement then- Is the Corvette a Muscle Car or a Sports Car?

No.

It fails the criteria, because:
*Too expensive
*Not an intermediate

[Tribal]

A muscle car is something you can put a big block in - period.

[Clint Eastwood]

400+ hp V8, I would call that a muscle car.

[mcnews]

Originally Posted by Tribal

A muscle car is something you can put a big block in - period.

Seen them in VW Beetle's, that count?

[Badcooky]

OZe javelin don't get me wrong ,it's a cool car.
Where is this muscle car site dude i want to see the criteria.
Any thoughts on the new GT40 guys.Or the old one,kit cars need not apply.
Shelby Cobra?

[Tribal]

Originally Posted by mcnews

Seen them in VW Beetle's, that count?

That'd be more a case of grafting a car onto a motor would be good to see...

[OzJavelin]

Originally Posted by Tribal

A muscle car is something you can put a big block in - period.

I'm pretty sure Pontiac engines - ie. early and late 304, 326, 350, 389, 400, 421, 455, etc - were all roughly the same block so no concept of a "big block" ..

RamAir IV GTO not a musclecar?

[ford man xf]

I know I'm digging up an old thread, but seeing a few XY GS's getting around at car shows I would consider them definite muscle cars, even if it has a 250 in it, they sound great and the 2v 250 goes hard. Doesn't have to have a V8 in it to be deemed a muscle car in my opinion, my opinion/perspective has changed on the topic.

[Mr X]

What makes a muscle car?
Locally produced,killer styling,affordable,a good soundtrack(exhaust note) and the ability to embarrass exotic/imported high dollar cars.

[Nikked]

Something cheap (relatively), Quick, tuff looking and be a young mans/boys dream.

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by OzJavelin

I'm pretty sure Pontiac engines - ie. early and late 304, 326, 350, 389, 400, 421, 455, etc - were all roughly the same block so no concept of a "big block" ..

Correct

[Franco Cozzo]

Something from the 60s/70s that handles like ***, 8 cylinders and above in a massive displacement and is a big AMERICAN coupe, only usefull for going in straight lines but still awesome. 4 doors need not apply.

Falcon coupe, I'd put it in the Muscle category even if it isn't American.

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by TZENU

V8 and steel bumpers

Dammit, Fairlane thunderbolt isn't a muscle car

[snappy]

I always thought the defenition of a muscle car was shoving the biggest naturally apprirated motor you have in to your smallest car you have.

Me personally would never class a f6 as muscle car ond no way in hell is a skyline that just insulting

[ford man xf]

Originally Posted by snappy

I always thought the defenition of a muscle car was shoving the biggest naturally apprirated motor you have in to your smallest car you have.

Me personally would never class a f6 as muscle car ond no way in hell is a skyline that just insulting

Is that because it's a 6 cylinder or uses forced induction to get its power?

[Franco Cozzo]

Jap cars I thought are classed as "Tuners", not "Muscle Cars". I'd put the F6 under tuner because its modern 6 cylinder with forced induction.

[Pis-ton broke]

haven,t read all posts, tradional, cubic inches and massive carbs. modern = kws and touque numbers

mick

[SSD-85]

I see a muscle car as something that uses very little technical ingenuity to produce just simply raw power. In other words, a simplistic, powerful, cheap and manufacturer built vehicle. Whether it be 6 (Mopar Hemi), 8 (Take your pick) or 10 cylinders (Viper). All with handling and other characteristics being an afterthought.

Anything beyond that should be more so a sports car. Regardless of its price.

[snappy]

Originally Posted by ford man xf

Is that because it's a 6 cylinder or uses forced induction to get its power?

Well yes and no its a six cylinder turbo which traditionally is nothing like any muscle car ever built .
It doesn't fit my theory of biggest motor in smallest car .
I guess if there is such thing as a mordern muscle car it would probly have to have forced induction otherwise it probly wouldn't be the greatest performer .
Personally i dont see any difference between a f6 and volvo turbo there family cars with a turbo .

[wicksy]

muscle car, anything pre 1985 with a v8

[Trek]

Originally Posted by noosacuda

New arguement then- Is the Corvette a Muscle Car or a Sports Car?

Well, to draw the line here, I'd start with calling those that had chrome bumpers muscle cars and anything after that era to be a performance/sports car. Performance is probably a better term in this instance, I feel.

Just the way I see it, of course.