Discover Muscle Cars at Auto Racing
Between 1960 and 1972 Detroit created a class of amazing performance machines by placing large engines in smaller cars. The American Muscle Car was born and was celebrated in popular youth culture, inspiring Top 40 hits like The Beach Boys “409”, Jan & Dean’s “Little Old Lady from Pasadena” and The Ripcords’ “GTO”.
Between 1960 and 1972 Detroit created a class of amazing performance machines by placing large engines in smaller cars. The American Muscle Car was born and was celebrated in popular youth culture, inspiring Top 40 hits like The Beach Boys “409”, Jan & Dean’s “Little Old Lady from Pasadena” and The Ripcords’ “GTO”.
Pontiac’s GTO was one of the earliest examples of the muscle car. The roaring success of the GTO led auto manufacturers to quickly introduce their own muscle cars, such as the Olds Cutlass 442, the Plymouth Roadrunner and the Ford Mustang Boss 302. Carmakers then added extra performance to their full-size vehicles, expanding the depth of the muscle car genre to include the Chevrolet Impala SS 427, the Ford Torino 428 Cobra Jet, and the Dodge Hemi-Charger R/T.
Chrysler’s Hemi engine is legendary in muscle car circles for its prodigious power and distinctive throaty exhaust note. A hemi-powered car commands a significant premium when sold or auctioned to muscle car collectors.
Today, classic muscle cars can be purchased from dealers who specialize in restoring them to original condition. Muscle cars are also sold by private individuals, often on the Internet. Live auctions are also a popular way for collectors to acquire the muscle car of their dreams, and the bidding for these American icons often skyrockets to many times their original selling price.
