Thursday, December 15, 2011
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Saturday, November 12, 2011
On to my blog.
A lot of die-hard car aficionados refer to the Pontiac GTO as the original version of the true muscle car. The reason behind this is that Pontiac did not follow the big-bodied and massive makes of other manufacturers when they designed their muscle cars. This kind was intermediary in size and did not also belong to the heavy weights that curtail the power and speed of a true racing car.
In the 60s, there were the Fords, GMs and Chryslers but the Pontiac GTO quickly rose to the top as one of the premiere cars in its class. Its appearance suggested ultimate comfort and style and many other manufacturers soon found themselves using the GTO as the ultimate benchmark when designing their cars. That is why in the succeeding years, the big-bodied designs were given a total make-over The original Pontiac GTO was introduced in 1964 and it went through 6 generations before being retired in 1974. According to legend, the Pontiac stole the name GTO from the Ferrari 250 GTO, which was also a legendary classic car.
When Pontiac designed the Pontiac GTO, it emerged with a 389 V8 engine that had quick steering, dual exhaust and came with premium tires. After a while, the GTO added another model in its category that had a 325 bhp, single 4bbl card. With this in mind, they just projected to sell around 5,000 vehicles but ended selling close to 33,000 units!
After the final GTO was rolled off the assembly line in 1974, it was re-launched 30 years later in 2004. Pontiac had high hopes for this launch, hoping to sell upwards of 17-18,000 units, but the American consumer did not take to the new model like the manufactured had hoped. Over 40,000 GTOs were produced from 2004-06, when production ceased due to declining sales.
While the new GTOs received a lukewarm reception, the older models will always be considered true American muscle that captured both the hearts and minds of millions of Americans from a nostalgic and bygone era.
Hot Rods and American Muscle Cars
During the 1950's and through the 1970's, muscle cars and hot rods dominated the world. People of all ages couldn’t help but turn their heads when these slick vehicles drove by, and they were, and still are admired by men, women and children alike. Times have changed but the urge to see these vintage and classic cars, hot rods, and muscle cars still remains deeply engrained in the American culture. The owners and those who have preserved these classic cars are very much appreciated within our society, so much so that when these cars are out on the road people really enjoy seeing them, and many will be hard pressed not to compliment the person behind the wheel of one of these beautiful cars.
Hot Rods and Muscle Cars are oftentimes the ultimate statement of the car's owner, legacy, and even imagination, which are proudly displayed for all to see. You have most likely seen them at car shows, on television, or even passed by one on the highway, or outside the local coffee shop. How many times have you whipped your head around to catch the shiny machine that is making that beautiful, throaty rumble through its glass packed mufflers, or even tried to speed up on the freeway to get a closer look at one of these classic cars? Probably as often as I have, I’d be willing to bet!
The Hot Rods and Muscle Cars of the ‘50’s, ‘60’s and ‘70’s speak volumes about what it is that makes America the proud nation that we are. These gorgeous machines are notorious for being attention-getters for whatever group of people they encounter. They are a nostalgic part of our culture and they come in seemingly endless different imaginable shapes, conditions and modifications. The amount of customization that can be done to the hot rod is limited only by the builder's imagination, or his/her desire to transform a machine that still remains stock from the factory, and that always represents the unique style of the builder themselves. The ability of these beautiful cars to become an extension of the owner is nothing short of amazing.
Car nuts like us, and even the average passer-by, swing our heads when these machines roll by to see the magnificent beast that is creating such a beautiful sound. With a sense of great appreciation anyone can plainly see that each custom Hot Rod or Muscle Car is someone's unique perspective into a new dimension of the lifestyle throughout the US in the 1950’s, ‘60’s and 70’s.
The mere presence of hot rods and muscle cars on the road today is only more proof of the owner’s sense of pride and care. To catch glimpse of these ever-popular classic cars, one just needs to call your local auto repair shop and ask them for information on any of the upcoming car shows in the area. Auto mechanics are forever mindful of the elusive hot rods and muscle cars from many years gone by.
Automotive industry experts have long been intense fans of the hot rod and muscle car. However, the most passionate of the classic car junkies are the many die-hard mechanics that look forward to nothing more than getting their hands on a classic hot rod or muscle car to fulfill their need to hear the rumble of powerful engines, or to get a good, long look at the slick bodied vehicles from days gone by.
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