what do you consider to be the 1st muscle car?

Question

1st muscle car ever built.

Answer 1

John Zachary DeLorean became one of the failed heros of automotive history when his stainless-steel sports car project collapsed in the 1980's and government agents followed with an illegal sting operation. Perhaps, had he remained with General Motors, DeLorean may have left a more positive impression, for it was he who forced the development of the legendary Pontiac GTO.

DeLorean, son of a Ford factory worker, grew up on Detroit's east side during the depression. He earned an engineering degree, later added a master's degree in business. Chrysler and Packard were his first employers but once the young engineer moved to General Motors his dual talents were properly recognised and he became head of the Pontiac division. It was there that DeLorean spotted a marketing opportunity, turning the innocuous Tempest LeMans compact coupe into a street rod called the GTO.

DeLorean has been credited with creating the Muscle Car era although the basic concept – stuff a big, powerful engine into a lightweight chassis – is as old as the car itself. It had been done countless times in Europe and America. It was especially prevalent in the years preceding the GTO when Detroit went NASCAR racing with full-size cars and multiple cubic inches. But the combination of an intermediate body (or compact as they were called then) with the most powerful engines available soon became a legend.

The above is from the musclecar website. American automobile manufacturers started in the early sixties trying to compete on the European racing circuits but in order to race the cars had to be production vehicles that were offered to the general public. The big three went to war as the auto enthusiasts in the US started looking for more power and less comfort options. Vehicles were sold at lots across the country with the most basic options, sometimes rear seats were omitted along with real glass on some models as plexiglass type material was used for lighter weight. Simple steel wheels were used with dog dish hubcaps, big block hipo engines were replacing the small blocks and the 4-speed became the tranny of choice. Low rear gear ratios, positrac rear ends, and ultimately the hemi's, cobra jets, wedges, rats, and more exploded into what we now know as the muscle car era. Truly the 409 62 Chevy BelAir's and Impalas, the big block Galaxy, and for goodness sake the dodge line were the start of this class even though GTO gets the pat on the back. Hope I didn't drive you nuts on the histories but I have quite a few muscle projects myself including a 62 BelAir, 68 GTO, 66 and 67 Chevelle's and a few more from this era. Let's also not forget the Olds 430, 455 rockets and even buick.

Answer 2

The 64 GTO was built as the first muscle car. Not a sports car, but a no nonsense no frills cheap car built to get in and GO. The designers had to go against company policy and sneak it through or there wouldn't have been any muscle cars.

Answer 3

Probably the '64 GTO 389"with tri-power. One bad MO'-FO'

That's if you go by the traditional definition of muscle car:

A compact or mid sized car with a factory big block eng.

If you don't go by that,
there were some pretty hot cars back in the '50's like the factory supercharged Studebaker Hawk 1957, or the '58 Impala 348" eng with tri-power, the '57 Plymouth which could be ordered with tri-power, Ford T-birds with big blocks, etc etc.

Answer 4

The 1964 pontiac GTO was the first as we know muscle car. A muscle car is considered a intermediate sized vehicle with a large engine.

Answer 5

The 1957 and 1958 Oldsmobile J-2 Golden Rocket produced 312 hp (232 kW) and 415 ft·lb of torque (562 N·m) with tri-power six-barrel (three deuces) carburetors. This was the detuned version of the police interceptor of the day. This was certainly one of the first vehicles that could blow the doors off anything on the street (excluding the modifieds) right off the showroom floor.

Answer 6

Jeeps are sturdy autos, yet for a sixteen 3 hundred and sixty 5 days previous who's basically commencing out making use of, i might steer sparkling. coverage on a sparkling motor vehicle is going to be outrageous, extraordinarily because of the fact you're sixteen. additionally, while you would be making use of your pals around, think of- are you going to choose your persons all piled in a sparkling motor vehicle with soda and nutrition everywhere? except you do no longer recommendations making use of a 2010 kind Jeep that seems such as you have emptied a trashcan interior the back.. gas milage. Jeeps are outstanding, yet they at the instant are not the main suitable autos on gas. they have have been given enormous gas tanks, and carry alot of gas. do some math. If it has a fifteen gallon gas tank, with gas at $2.50 a gallon, you're finding at greater or less $40 to top off. If gas is going up, your top off cost does to boot.

Answer 7

The 1955 Chrysler 300 is generally considered to be the first American "Muscle Car." Worldwide I have no idea . . . probably different definition!

Answer 8

i would have to say the #1 muscle car would have to be the monte carlo between the 84 and 88 models. they r bitchin cars

Answer 9

1964 Pontiac GTO has my vote for first US made "stock" muscle car...

Answer 10

Hemi Cuda!!!! Jon Doe, are you out of your mind? Come on, a 84 Monte Carlo? My grandma had one of them.