Wheels Mag: The Top 20 Aussie Muscle Cars

b2tf · 25-08-2008, 06:10 PM

Got my usual copy today and in it Wheels have put together a list of the Top 20 Aussie Muscle Cars. The list is (this is the same order it is in the mag but I dont think its in order of best to worst etc, more just 20 they picked).

XR GT
VG Valiant Pacer
Phase III HO
Phase II HO
E49 Charger
HT GTS 350 Monaro
A9X Torana
GTR XU-1
VK SS Group A
HDT VC Commodore
VS GTS-R
VN SS Group A
T3 TE50
EB XR6/XR8
VTII GTS 300
VT 1 GTS
FG F6
BA XR6T
HSV W427
VL SS Group A

7 out of 20 carry the blue oval - not too bad really. Some interesting choices there but I think overall they do represent the 'icons' of Aussie motoring, as well as the new era of muscle where a V8 isnt always the engine of choice (ie FG F6).
There are a few cars in that list that I didnt actually think of however the more you think about it they do make sense to be in there. I was surprised to see T3 in there, not because it doesnt deserve it but more because it tends to be one of the more "overlooked" models of the past few years.

Thoughts?

**Peuty** · 25-08-2008, 06:19 PM

Looks to be a pretty decent list. It's a good representation of Aussie muscle cars over the years.
As usual I haven't got my copy yet, even though I am a subscriber. Should be a good read.

Ives · 25-08-2008, 06:20 PM

My thoughts? I think you've just opened a can of worms.

I'm waiting for someone to whine "Waaaaa, the Turbo sixes arent muscle cars."

GTPete · 25-08-2008, 06:20 PM

Swap the BAXR6 for a BFGTP and its all good.

Hows my timing lol....

4Vman · 25-08-2008, 06:22 PM

Only the first 8 are REAL musclecars in my opinion!

:

leighthebee · 25-08-2008, 06:23 PM

Geez, we don't really have a lot to pick from do we?

I mean seriously an EB XR6!!

I love my Fords but thats just ridiculous. A muscle car should be a SERIOUS attack on a car with mods or raw grunt. A chip and some suspension parts and some cloth trim do not maketh a legend.

b2tf · 25-08-2008, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leighthebee

Geez, we don't really have a lot to pick from do we?

I mean seriously an EB XR6!!

I love my Fords but thats just ridiculous. A muscle car should be a SERIOUS attack on a car with mods or raw grunt. A chip and some suspension parts and some cloth trim do not maketh a legend.

I see where you're coming from but I think the reason EB XR6 made it into the list is because it was the 'beginning' of performance 6's from Ford. It was the first model Tickford had a real hand in and from there they went on to develop a number of models and technology, some of which is still being used today.

Without the EB XR6, the XR6T would not exist today.

Melz · 25-08-2008, 06:25 PM

I still have trouble picturing all these 'modern' cars as muscle cars..... Muscle to me is old school...but I must be the only one that still thinks that

:

FTe342 · 25-08-2008, 06:25 PM

Only one I am uncertain about is the EB XR6/8. As good as they are I would have thought the EB GT would have got the nod over the XR's

GTPete · 25-08-2008, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leighthebee

Geez, we don't really have a lot to pick from do we?

I mean seriously an EB XR6!!

I love my Fords but thats just ridiculous. A muscle car should be a SERIOUS attack on a car with mods or raw grunt. A chip and some suspension parts and some cloth trim do not maketh a legend.

Yep I would replace that EB with a 351 Bathurst Cobra.

Nickxb · 25-08-2008, 06:26 PM

where is the x series????

nugget378 · 25-08-2008, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nickxb

where is the x series????

No's 1-3 and 4..

Best of lists are pretty subjective,another selector could have picked an almost completely different top 20,in saying that I think there are 4 or 5 there that would be on anyones list...

**Peuty** · 25-08-2008, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leighthebee

I mean seriously an EB XR6!!

The XR6 could hand it's bigger brothers a*se on a plate. Yeah, I'd call it a muscle car.

As for what a muscle car is, there are so many differing opinions. To me, all those cars are muscle cars.

DEVL-XR · 25-08-2008, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leighthebee

Geez, we don't really have a lot to pick from do we?

I mean seriously an EB XR6!!

I love my Fords but thats just ridiculous. A muscle car should be a SERIOUS attack on a car with mods or raw grunt. A chip and some suspension parts and some cloth trim do not maketh a legend.

Picking on my car are you?! (By the way I'm only joking) I too am surprised to see it there but when you take into account it was a V8 beating N/A 6 cylinder I can see why it's in their list.

For me tho I only really see muscle cars from mid 80's back to 50's or 60's. Anything newer is really modern muscle and anything older nearly enters the hotrod or classic class's. Everyone is different tho.

Wretched · 25-08-2008, 06:31 PM

E49 charger for me.

4Vman · 25-08-2008, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nugget378

No's 1-3 and 4..

Best of lists are pretty subjective,another selector could have picked an almost completely different top 20,in saying that I think there are 4 or 5 there that would be on anyones list...

Yep, 5 off that list are automatics on any Musclecar list regardless of priority IMO: XRGT, HT GTS 350, Phase 2, Phase 3, XU1 and A9X. ALL won Bathurst, the only notable omission is the XAGT RPO83, it won Bathurst twice!!

nugget378 · 25-08-2008, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Yep, 5 off that list are automatics on any Musclecar list regardless of priority IMO: XRGT, HT GTS 350, Phase 2, Phase 3, XU1 and A9X. ALL won Bathurst, the only notable omission is the XAGT RPO83, it won Bathurst twice!!

And the best looking of the lot

**Falcon Coupe** · 25-08-2008, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Only the first 8 are REAL musclecars in my opinion!

:

Agreed, also your RPO point is a good one, it should be there.

4Vman · 25-08-2008, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falcon Coupe

Agreed, also your RPO point is a good one, it should be there.

Who comes up with these lists???!!!

Ives · 25-08-2008, 07:01 PM

I think the FPV GT Cobra should be on the list due to its exclusivity.

**Mont5.0** · 25-08-2008, 07:05 PM

theres a lot of commodores on there. they only missed 3 models.lol

Melz · 25-08-2008, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ives

I think the FPV GT Cobra should be on the list due to its exclusivity.

Then you could argue the XC Cobra, or the Goss Special should be on there...

nugget378 · 25-08-2008, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Melz

Then you could argue the XC Cobra, or the Goss Special should be on there...

Or the PH4 XA GTHO,the most exclusive of them all...

XR Martin · 25-08-2008, 07:13 PM

Nothing wrong with the EB XR6 being there, it was quicker than the 200kw HSVs (and Falcon GT) of the time.

XC Cobra was just a strip package with a wheezy engine, may as well put the LE Monaro there too......

**TUF_302** · 25-08-2008, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Only the first 8 are REAL musclecars in my opinion!

:

Here here!,

As for the EB XR's, although they are great falcons, i believe the EB GT and EL GT would have been better in that list

**DJM83** · 25-08-2008, 07:19 PM

T3 but no B Series GT

XR Martin · 25-08-2008, 07:27 PM

ED XR8 Sprint may have been worth a mention though, I remember it clocking 237kmh in a Wheels test

mr smith · 25-08-2008, 07:45 PM

Brabham HB Torana

:

GTP290 · 25-08-2008, 08:01 PM

Not bad for Ford if thats the list. Dont Forget all the Fords were FALCONS. Holden had Toranas, Monaros and Commodores on the list with a v8 engine available on every model.

ED Classic · 25-08-2008, 08:06 PM

No suprise they choose the Turbos over the Boss