American Muscle Car : 50 years ago... the GTO !

[Sombrero]

"The new GTO does what so many others only talk about – it really does combine brute, blasting performance with balance and stability of a superior nature” – Car and Driver, 1964
http://media.caranddriver.com/files/pon ... gazine.pdf

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBEDU7OeXnI[/youtube]

Muscle Car History http://www.musclecarfacts.com/classic-c ... ar-history

Pontiac GTO http://www.musclecarfacts.com/pontiac/pontiac-gto

Best wishes for 2014 !

[Sombrero]

The Ford Mustang is generally credited as being the first pony car – and as far as the pony car concept goes, it is – but the Barracuda was actually released on April 1, 1964, 16 days before the Mustang.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1PaC2pmVTE[/youtube]

Plymouth Barracuda http://www.musclecarfacts.com/plymouth/ ... -barracuda
Dodge Charger http://www.musclecarfacts.com/dodge/dodge-charger

[MOWOG]

John Z had balls of brass to suggest a Pontiac model should be called a GTO. He singlehandedly created a car that became the stuff of legends. He was a very creative thinker and a brilliant marketeer. Too bad he was so fond of the white powder.......

[Sombrero]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-ov_HPlTBE[/youtube]

Ford Mustang http://www.musclecarfacts.com/ford/ford-mustang

[Manoah2u]

I love muslce cars. Pontiac was one of the best. imagine how powerful these monsters would have become if it weren't for the oil crisis. Pontiac actually developed hemi-engine and 4-valves per cylinder DOHC system in an aluminum block, but never brought it into production. Politics always have been and always will be the greates blockade for automotive advancement.
There's something about the raw pure power from classic V8 engines. It worked for the USA though, europe had different directions. It's still neat how various classic muscle cars are still able to beat modern european supercars in a drag stint.

I'm very interested in the efforts made in the last decade on modern suspensions for classic muscle cars. It's amazing how far the aftermarket has become bringing even carbon fibre repro material, modern suspension kits, modern frame kits, and very light v8 engines for these classic beasts. I'd go for that in a heartbeat if budget would allow.

Still, the classic original character of a muscle car with the heavy iron blocks, thick steel panels, radial tires and immense torque and power of brutal raw yelling v8's gives me goosebumps.

[Sombrero]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wF0REAtYiYU[/youtube]

AMC AMX http://www.musclecarfacts.com/amc/amc-amx
AMC Javelin http://www.musclecarfacts.com/amc/amc-javelin

[Tommy Cookers]

The Ford Mustang is generally credited as being the first pony car – and as far as the pony car concept goes, it is –

Brits (and other Europeans) always want to call it a muscle car, seeing only the Hi-Po versions

IIRC in January 1964 a lightweight Falcon Sprint finished 2nd in the Monte Carlo rally, and opened many eyes
it now seems that it was FIA-homologated at 0.95 tonne ! (this became useful later in track racing)
the Falcon floorpan and a lot else went into the Mustang
some say the Falcon had better weight distribution

round about this time .....
the AC Ace became (UK) Ford-engined, and this led to the Cobra
the 'all-aluminum' Buick/Oldsmobile 213 inch was used by Bruce McLaren etc for Can-Am (though GM threw away the 213)
and an Australian-cast replacement block for it was used by Jack Brabham and friends to win 2 double F1 titles
and the Lola GT became the Ford GT40
which led to the now-customary racewinner's champagne-spraying
fun times !

[Sombrero]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHqE7fcyaro[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcPmHV1akp8[/youtube]