When it comes to American made cars, none stick out more than American Muscle. There is a nostalgic quality to these cars. Starting off with the Ford Mustang in 1964, these cars continued to pave their way into the Americana culture we have today.
Think about how many movies, television shows, video games and songs feature, or reference, some sort of muscle car. Camaros, Challengers, Chargers and Mustangs are such a staple in our culture. Why is this so?
American Muscle is something unique to our country. They are distinctly American. There is no sound like the engine of one of these beasts starting up. There are few vehicles, like the Jaguar F-Type, that have the sound of American Muscle, but are not American made.
The original American Muscle cars were pure power. They were not good on a typical race track per se, however, were able to do a quarter mile drag race like no one’s business. These cars dominated the drag strip with really no outside competition at the start, and their only rivals were each other.
Fast forward to today and you see these cars still on the roads. Their looks may have changed and become modernized, but they still embody the same spirit. I personally believe these cars have lasted this long because of the cross generational ties they bring. In my family, I am the third generation to own a Ford Mustang. My grandfather owned the original Mach 1, my uncle owned a Banana Yellow 1990s GT and I own an Ingot Silver Ecoboost.
There is a sense of pride that comes with owning this car, mostly due to the fact previous generations in my family have owned this model of car. And it is not just me; I know many other people that are third or even fourth generation owners of some muscle car model. There’s a sense of pride that every one of these people have when it comes to their vehicles because of that cross generational tie.
Though they still are on the road, their classifications have changed from muscle cars to sports car. These cars are now more track ready than before, with new technology being added that helps with slip resistance, cornering and power. With this advancement of technology, muscle cars are now able to compete on more traditional tracks, making them a fierce contender to other competitors.
In fact, quite recently, NASCAR has replaced all of their Ford Fusion race cars with Mustangs, bringing an old rivalry to the track. The Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang have been rivals since their inception, and now in NASCAR, the two will go head to head just as they have done for decades now.
American Muscle has been around for decades and will most likely stay here for decades to come. Each brand specific muscle car has its own following. These cars are loved by many people and are a part of our culture. I mean, if you think of it, you probably know someone that owns a Mustang, Camaro, Charger, or Challenger. And chances are, they are proud to own that car too. The nostalgic qualities of these cars keep American Muscle around and relevant in our culture today.
