Posted on 07/04/2025 5:07:27 AM PDT by MtnClimber
It’s the Fourth of July, that most American holiday! Today we celebrate our independence; it’s our true “no Kings” day. There will be parades, barbeque, Americans pleased to be Americans, because being born in America means winning life’s lottery.
Among our uniquely American traditions is the American muscle car, a wide, low, two-door sports coupe propelled by increasingly powerful V8 engines. The Mustang, Camaro, Challenger and Charger typified them. Original models were unsophisticated by modern standards, designed for straight line acceleration, but as technology advanced, so did they, and handling dramatically improved.
Today, only the Mustang and Charger yet exist as newly manufactured vehicles. Ford has continued to build internal combustion engine--ICE--Mustangs which gather no dust on dealer’s lots. Dodge, however, has not been so canny.
Graphic: Dodge Challenger in more lucrative days. X post screenshot.
In August of 2024 I wrote Dodge emasculates muscle cars. In 2022, Dodge announced it would discontinue ICE Challengers and Chargers beginning in 2024. They’d be replaced with EVs featuring “Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust” and “eRupt Multispeed Transmissions.” Considering EVs have no transmissions, nor do they produce exhaust (unused electrons?), what could those terms possibly mean?
Recognizing muscle car owners buy them for the sound and feel of powerful V8s, Dodge installed high-watt stereos that simulated the sounds of V8s. They combined that faux-authentic muscle car experience with software that would momentarily interrupt electric motor power transmission to simulate the feel of a transmission shifting gears. Potential muscle car buyers weren’t impressed.
Dodge started the deliveries of the new-generation Charger in the first quarter of 2025. However, things don't go well for EVs that broke American the muscle car tradition. The firm sold more Challengers and former-generation Chargers than the new Charger Daytonas. Dodge's total sales declined by 49%.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
1967 Pontiac GTO, red/w black, 389, Muncie close ratio 4-speed. Never owned one but lusted over my friend’s. Had another friend who, no lie, got a Shelby KR500 as a HS graduation gift. He was an only child, and his dad and grandad owned Ford dealerships. His granddad multiple dealerships.
I did own a new 1986 Camaro Z28, 350. Nice car, but not quite the same as the old ‘60’s’ muscle. I also had a 2004 Tahoe Z71 that I did a lot of work to to turn it into a screamer for a large SUV.
There is nothing quite like the sound of a big 60’s V8 with solid lifter, no catalytic converter and a performance exhaust.
These cars have their market, along with smaller cars and even electric cars. What’s truly American is that no make be compelled or subsidized.
Mine is a 1970 AAR ‘Cuda 440-option with the triple deuces on top - there is nothing like it in the entirety of history 😄
My current car is a Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing. It has a supercharged 6.2L V8 with 668 hp. It has massive disc brakes and a great suspension. Tests show o-60mph in 3.4 seconds and Road & Track ran this car in their 0-150-0 mph test. It did that run in 25 seconds.
I know nothing about cars, but I think the looks of muscle cars are works of art.
“twin-turbocharged in-line six cylinder”
there’s probably no worse ICE engine than a grossly under-powered one with a turbocharger to try to make up the difference ... a turbocharger is nothing but a finicky bunch of high-precision machined parts waiting to explode ...
Honda tried that BS with their non-hybrid Accord models ...
My car..
1967 Pontiac GTO
Factory 400 H/O 4- speed car with 365 hp 10.5 to 1 compression
Starlight black with red interior
I bought it in 1990 from the original owner when it was affordable.
I’m hoping to have it back together by next erf day so I can take it out for a fast bout of criminal behavior.
Nice indeed had a friend thet had a 1966 2 door post Malibu the only one I even seen on the street very rare another lottery wish.
It would be interested to see an analysis of the muscle car market and how it has been trending. At least least some models still seem to be commanding huge auction prices.
Okay, just found this...
https://www.topspeed.com/long-term-value-american-muscle-cars/
He has a few interesting points:
The muscle car market is pretty solid right now, with Gen-Xers sustaining the demand. The big question is whether that will continue with Millennials.
There seems to be a stratification happening, with the best models with desirable options packages trending up sharply (which I have noticed) but the more average cars leveling off.
GM prices have been flattening out while Mopar has been gaining value. The lower Mopar production numbers have been helping their value.
One thing I will say about these cars is that they are flat out *practical*. You will never not be able to get parts for the drivetrains of these cars, and you can even get body panels for them now. And of course it goes without saying that just about anyone can work on them.
1934 Ford with corvette mill and transmission.
I think the 67 has much better lines.
PS. I had a 1967 Pontiac Beaumont, (Canadian Chevelle) show/muscle car back in the early 80’s.
A few more, just grabbing the first google results...
https://www.blackbook.com/market-insights/q2-2025-collectible-car-market-update/
Cool. I’ve never seen that one before...until now!
My grandson bought a charger. He’s 26.
My first car was a 1966 Chevelle SS 396, 325 horse, 4 speed. My most recent is a Chevy Trax powered by a 3 cylinder turbo. Yes, I miss the old muscle car, but I like my comfort, the electronic gizmos and the gas mileage. Sign of getting old I guess.
A Trans-Charger
Dodge Charger Dylan Mulvaney Version
SNAP ONE UP IF YOU AFFORD TO DO IT.
THEY ARE ONLY GOING UP IN VALUE IF IN GOOD SHAPE
THE 351 Cleveland engine also had 4 bolt mains...
The Windsor engine had only 2 bolt mains—made in Canada.
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