Most Desirable Australia Muscle Car and Why?

[Lumpen Proletariat]

Gee thats a tough one...So many to choose from:

Ford:
XR GT - First GT and bathurst winner.
XA GT Coupe (RPO83 or HO IV) - Superfast and super slinky coupe. On paper seemed to be two steps above the Phase III in development.
AUIII T Series - Embiggened Windsor. Huge Brakes. Good Suspension. Full of Grunt.

Holden:
HK 327 GTS Monaro - Bathurst winner, started the horsepower race.
Torana XU-1 - Prooved that huge horsepower wasn't nessecary.
VN SS Group A - 2nd Fastest GM Fourdoor of it's time. Well developed with it's 6 speed, Twin Throttle Bodies, Big Brakes.

Chrysler:
E49 R/T Charger A84 Track Pack - Huge Tank. 300HP six cylinder. No power steering, power brakes or even disc rears, flexed like no tomorrow and with little factory support STILL managed to give XY GTHO's a run for their money here and in NZ.


Honourable Competition Mentions:
Geoghans Super Falcon - Just pure grunt.
Bob Janes Jaguar 3.8L Mk II - Magnificent crackling six that won Two ATCC's.
Richards/Skaife Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R - Controversial yet blasted allcomers for two years before it was outlawed.
London-Sydney XT GT - Well built sturdy cars that beat alot of fancier rivals in this endurance marathon.

[Valknutr]

Originally Posted by Falcon Coupe

Most Desirable Australia Muscle Car and Why?

I don't see many reasons why, do people just like the look of these cars or is there another reason ?
I don't beleive Mustangs fit in the Aussie muscle car car catergory.

the reason for wanting these magnificent machines shouldnt need to be spoken its just a fact of nature

[Falcon Coupe]

Originally Posted by Valknutr

the reason for wanting these magnificent machines shouldnt need to be spoken its just a fact of nature

The thread starter asked for reasons of a particular vehicle chosen over another.

[Dezza]

Originally Posted by Falcon Coupe

I don't beleive Mustangs fit in the Aussie muscle car car catergory.

Oops. Didn't notice the "Australian" in the thread title. The Shelby can be removed from my list then.

[noosacuda]

OOPS! Australian muscle car, E49 Charger,E34 Pacer or E55 Charger,(If only I could afford a 340-6 Pak and New Process to fit!) all under-rated unlike the GT's.

[Dodge]

y have old 340 banger when u can buy a mopar 540 alloy hemi creat engine 900+ HP out of the box

[The Mighty Red]

Yes it has to be the HO folowed by the E49 ,

XY GT HO PHASE III
E49 CHARGER
XA GT HARDTOP

[*rayman*]

XW GT for me thanks, or an SS hatchbatch torana.

is an EL GT considered a classic muscle car yet?

American - i'd have a big block 68 camaro, oh wait, i have one already , followed closely by a 67 fastback GT mustang, or a 96 cobra

[Matty4]

Robnell with the BB injected 429, side pipes, rollover hoops, 17" halibrand rims etc, etc....

[TURBOTAXI]

Originally Posted by XA beast

for me, there is nothing like the all black 428ci cobra jet Bill Burke XW special. now thats a rare car!

Yeah its either that or my Taxi.

[SSbaby]

Yesteryear - XY GTHO
Today - Monaro.

[Mondie]

Has to be the XY HO because of the legend it created, its an Aussie icon. It would be follwed by the A9X, all conquering in its day and arguably the "most modifed" from factory of all the specials.

Xc Cobra. Real Head Turner.Just Love the Paint Scheme.Blue Oval Brilliance. design by Henrys Grandson.(say no more)

[turboute]

It would be the XC cobra for me too,

If it could be American muscle car, then who could go past a GT40 old or new...

[4Vman]

One thing that is becoming apparent is that people share a difference of opinion about what an Australian Musclecar is, and i guess when the era ended.
In my opinion the Australian Musclecar era started in 1967 and ended in Austalia in the early to mid 70's, 1973-75 ish as a result of pollution laws (ADR 27 and 27a) and the fuel crisis.
Lets be honest nothing any car manufacturer made after 1975 was terribly exciting in the relative performance area, nice cosmetics doesn't maketh the musclecar..
What does everyone else think?

[Kenaz]

Phase III - Why? I like the look of them :P

[Sourbastard]

77 LX SLR 5000, I had one when I was younger and I get a touch nostalgic when I see a nice one.

[Mondie]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

One thing that is becoming apparent is that people share a difference of opinion about what an Australian Musclecar is, and i guess when the era ended.
In my opinion the Australian Musclecar era started in 1967 and ended in Austalia in the early to mid 70's, 1973-75 ish as a result of pollution laws (ADR 27 and 27a) and the fuel crisis.
Lets be honest nothing any car manufacturer made after 1975 was terribly exciting in the relative performance area, nice cosmetics doesn't maketh the musclecar..
What does everyone else think?

Couldn't agree more. The engines fitted to the P3/E49/Bathurst XU-1's were highly strung, noisy mongrels and bloody awesome. The ADR's made sure engines such as these never left factory fitted ever again. Anyone who has heard a Phase 3 or Bathurst XU-1 will know what l mean. The XC Cobra looked good but l dont consider it a muscle car in the same league as those above.

[MrSparkle]

Brock Samara. Enough said. :

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by MrSparkle

Brock Samara. Enough said. :

Well not really, I think an explanation is needed.

For me old school would have to be a XW GT HO, cant really explain why though; they are just not as in your face as the XY

Modern stuff I would have to go for a AU3 TS50. Damn they are hot looking, go like stink and have all the mod cons to keep me happy.

[henry 351]

Smog laws did kill performance, its a shame our local manufacturers and engineers weren't as creative as their overseas company counterparts, especially in the states. They took emission laws around the letter of the law, to help maintain performance. Pontiac for example designed a pollution system that only worked for approximately 45 - 60 seconds after start up. The smog test only ran for 30 seconds, so the car passed...and kept its performance. That car happened to be the 1973 SD455 Trans-Am. It did 13 second quarter miles out of the showroom as an auto...

[mcflux]

I'd go for a Pacer of some sort. Sure, they weren't that punchy off the line, but I just really like them! And they still have a bit of muscle in 'em. I wouldn't swap the 225 for a 265 either, I'd keep the numbers matching (100% stock)

To be different ;)

[demon259]

phase 4 in the green, i believe its the only way to get a true beast, rare as hell, one prototype, 3 made, one remaining, with stats like that its a true unicorn, other then that bring on a cobra, the coupe with its colour scheme is truely unique

[Gunns]

For me it would be the:
1) EA GT
2) EA AVO
3) XC Cobra

[Des]

I'll have a....
Phase 4 for show
Phase 3 or Robnell 429 for the odd weekend (Roaring 40(?) GT40 maybe)
RPO83, Cobra or a XE Interceptor for week days

Now where's that lotto ticket?

[Melz]

XC Cobra or a John Goss Special

[XPcoupe]

Does a XP coupe with a 400Hp 302 count as an Australia Muscle Car.

Other than that I would have to say a XC coupe would be my next options. They are starting to grow on me a bit.

Why you ask. Because I love coupes. Ford Coupes. One day I want to get a GT40 becuse it is the fastest ford coupe produced.

[Pilch]

An XY GT-HO Phase III for me, because they are the ultimate in Aussie muscle car history, in a folklore sense.

I couldn't go past an XC Cobra Bathurst edition either. Not a muscle car in the truest sense, but they are rare and look damn hot!!!!!