Flex Those Muscles - The Time Is Now
There is something ineffably special about American Muscle cars that attracts attention and turns heads all around the world. They are brash, loud, and for men make him feel as manly as can be. Think of countless moments when you have been behind the wheel of an Aston Martin and you imagine yourself as James Bond. Now do not tell yourself you haven’t, because you would only be lying to yourself. With muscle cars they feel very different; they make you feel tough, and imbue you with the attitude that you can take on the world!
So, what is a muscle car? Traditional muscle cars have a big-block V8 engine placed in a two-door coupé body. And the best part? They come at a real price tag, making them affordable for many people. The 1960s and 1970s were times of big changes for muscle cars. Car manufacturers knew that buyers would modify and tune their cars to make them even better than they originally were. This is one of the reasons muscle cars are, and continue to be, so popular. There’s a great satisfaction that comes from knowing you put your heart and soul into making your muscle car the best it can be.
Let’s look at a few examples that will give you an idea, and let’s start with the Mustang, which is the most iconic muscle car in the world, featured in so many films, TV shows and shows, a car that was used by the good guys. The shape is iconic and one particular model was the Boss 302 which in my eyes were amazing and the noise is amazing. Back in 1969 the Boss 302 had a 302 cubic inch V8 producing 290 horsepower and at the time selling at $3,720.
For a car that had such a big engine, it was shocking that it only produced 290 horsepower when in reality it produced around 350 horsepower. It was also a thirsty machine; you needed petrol every few miles. The amazing Larry Shinoda was the person who drew the vision giving the original 302 its aggressive looks. Later the 302 was replaced with the 351 and in the 70’s they released the Boss 429 in which only 499 were produced. Today 1970 302 fetches over $140,000 and the Boss 429 Cobra Jet is over $100,000. This would make a brilliant investment car to add to your collection.
The second success story was the 1969 Charger 500, which sold over 96,100 cars. One of the main factors that made it so popular was that it was used in NASCAR, which only increased its visibility. Although the car was used, it wasn’t the most aerodynamic, especially because the front grille was recessed. The engineers at Doge found out that if they wanted to increase the top speed of the car by 5mph, they needed to find 85 more horsepower or try to decrease the drag by 15 percent. To get the car into NASCAR, Dodge had to produce 500 street legal cars to qualify for the competition, hence the 500 in the name. The Dodge was originally sold for $3,960, but today they are selling for over $110,000.
The other muscle car to look at is the 1965 Pontiac GTO, which is one of the most modern and famous muscle cars used in the Triple X (XXX) franchise, and of course, the Fast and Furious films too. This car was also sold in many different forms, such as a coupé, hardtop, and convertible. The original model was offered in two formats: 335 horsepower and a 360 horsepower; both delivering large grunts. The base GTO could go from 0 to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds. The GTO was famously used by dragsters across America because the car was so customisable. There were so many different variables that every car making each one unique. The base model was sold at $2,855 and due to the different ranges that were produced today, this car sells for $80,000.
These three examples are just a few of the amazing options that are available on the market, and owning a muscle car is one of the best things you can ever do. From the way the car smells and feels to the way it drives, the experience is completely unique. It is an experience that will stay with you and it is very addictive. Today, it is also still great value for money, as when done right, these cars will increase in value over time.