Posted on 04/08/2014 4:27:41 AM PDT by ilovesarah2012
When the Ford Mustang was introduced 50 years ago this month, it was first to break from the gate in a market class that would come to be known as pony cars.
With a long hood and a short rear deck proportions carried forward by the Chevrolet Camaro, Plymouth Barracuda and many others the Mustang looked ready to bolt. And bolt it did, as 22,000 wowed Americans placed orders for the car on April 17, according to Ford, the official first day of sales.
Naming the car for a horse proved to be a stroke of marketing genius. Not just any horse, mind you (a car named Clydesdale might never have been so popular) but one that conjured images of rugged wild horses roaming the American West: The drama that imagery invoked was supported by the cars fresh style and a galloping steed front and center in the grille.
Underneath, the Mustang was essentially Fords Falcon, a solid compact that was available with V8 power and a 4-speed manual transmission. Those underpinnings were enough to get the pony car sales competition off to a fast start.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
When people ask me, “What was your first car?” I tell them it was a white 1983 ‘vette. It’s true.....but it was a Chevette, not Corvette.
I agree. But I can’t afford an Avanti. I knew a guy with a supercharged R3 Avanti that consistently beat Vettes on the street. He never put it on the drag strip so I don’t know how it would have matched up in legal races.
“...the charger should have been 2 door and be a retro,...”
Agree... but if you look close enough, you can “sort of” see the retro lines coming back. I’ll go out on a limb and say in three or four years, it will look more like the old 1968-1970 body series... Maybe...
“...v6, it has balls for a 6...”
Yeah, we’re a LONG way from the old 230 cu in 6 cyls... they can out some decent horsepower now.
“...talk of a new Barracuda from Chrysler...”
Well, they already have the Challenger body style, which Plymouth used for the Hemi Cuda back in the day. But yeah, the 67-70 series Cudas were a sweet body style.
I like the old AMC Javelins too.
“Miss the muscle car days.”
Why? They can’t hold a candle to today’s muscle cars.
Even a stock Mustang GT will blow the doors off of most of them and the handling is NO comparison.
“...Why? They cant hold a candle to todays muscle cars....”
Because back in the day:
I paid 350 bucks for a 69 SS Chevelle; (in 1977)
325 bucks for my 1967 Mustang GT 390; (in 1979)
700 for my 1971 Mach One (in 1980)
250 bucks for my 1968 Fairlane (in 1984)
Today’s cars can’t hold a candle to those prices; and I could work on anyone of them, with aftermarket OR OEM parts that were cheap and easy to install.
Now? Not so much
The years you mentioned were NOT the muscle car days.
They were for me, because that’s when I was able to afford them.
And the years of the cars WERE.
Hush yo’ mouf’.
RE Pontiac:
One of my cars that I picked up for cheap - 1975 Pontiac Bonneville, four-door. 46K original miles, still had the rear wheel skirts on it. Blue, with black Landau roof.
200 bucks, from my friend’s Grandma, who wanted it OUT of the garage (grandpop passed away). It was a tank, but I loved that big car ride. That was around 1986 or so. Gas wasn’t awful yet, but that thing was thirsty (400 cu in engine, four barrel carb).
Have a 1992 Bonneville SE in the driveway right now. Needs some work, but haven’t gotten around to it yet. It’s NOT a muscle car, but I love the ride. Nice for the summer.
Today is the day of the muscle car. Even my 2008 mustang blows away the old muscle cars ... not to mention handling and comfort.
Good for you, brother. Glad you enjoy it.
Different opinions.
In '66 my best buddy had a tri-power Goat, baddest car around. So I ordered a '66 Sport Satellite Hemi 4spd from his salesman Grandpa. When the car came in I tested it & was signing papers when the dealer said he wanted another $300, I said no and deal fell through.
Went across street, tried to order a Hemi Charger, they said Chrysler had said no more '66 Hemis could be ordered, due to head problems. Turns out the guy who bought the Satellite cracked three heads in a year, only had it on the road two months out of that year...I really dodged a bullet.
So I didn't get a Hemi until 11/68, a Charger 500 Auto, which I still have. Went looking for my buddy with the Goat, but he had traded for a 396 Chevelle family car....damn. But, at least he drove my car and grudgingly admitted the Goat wouldn't have stood a chance.
Pretty cool that muscle cars are making a comeback, and they are making some real ballbusters. Expensive as hell though.
My brother just told me that he’s getting rid of his ‘87 Mustang GT. My other brother had a true bottom of the barrel mid ‘80’s with a 4 cylinder engine. That car was dangerously slow. I mean scary to drive slow.
My brother in Law has a 65 in the barn. Hasn’t even looked at it in years. Too bad.
Candy-apple blue? You need to have a talk with your parents about what they were feeding you as a kid!
Bonnie’s were a nice ride ... little sway in a faster turn, but a nice, smooth ride.
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