The Buick GSX was about the biggest car you could possibly get during the era of the muscle car between 2967 and 1972. The model of the GS started out being the Grand Sport option in the 1965 model as well as the model 1966 Skylark. Pontiac found wild success with its GTO model option of the Tempest. In 1967, the GS became a line model of its own. There was a model known as the Jr. GS that continued through 1982 with the same engine as the GS340 that was turned into a GS350 version with a bigger 350 CI engine.

There was a model that was called the California GS from 1968-1969 with special badges and other trim pieces called the GS350. Buick started to add some performance options in 1968 with the Stage 1 option. According to Buick, the horsepower was raised by five with this option. In 1972, “Motor Trend” rated the 1970 Buick GSX Stage 1 to be the fastest muscle car by Buick at that time. They timed the quarter mile at 13.38 seconds.

The GSX model has a large trim package which included the only color options available for the 1970 GSX (Saturn Yellow and Apollo White.) This model had unique stripes down the side of the spoiler to the side of the car. There was a tachometer on the hood facing the driver and an upgraded four speed Hurst shifter, front disks and a stronger suspension. The Buick GS was the most dominate muscle car on the market by Buick when they added in the mix which made for a truly potent machine. The Stage 1 option had hotter cams that helped to push the car and better valve springs that helped to push the compression ratio to a 11.0:1 from a 10.25:1.

The history of General Motors muscle cars took place between 1960 and 1970. Further research pinpoints it closer to a 10-year period between approximately 1967 and 1974. Muscle car, for those unfamiliar with the term, is generally considered to mean automobiles that were originally installed with built-in big, high performance engines and considerably "boxy" yet sporty bodies. They share an appearance that by present-day standards would be considered somewhat intimidating to the smaller, more economic vehicles of today.

Some Chevy aficionados claim that muscle car origins hearken back to 1958 with the powerful Chevy Impala. They point out the 348 Super Turbo and trio of double-barreled carburetors that gave this family car 315 horsepower. While other cars were being manufactured with large engines, such as the Pontiac Bonneville Sports Coupe, the general opinion is that the first true and popular muscle car was the 1964 Chevelle.

Although Chevrolet had been sinking the famous 409 engine into cars since the start of the decade, many muscle car mavens feel it was the previously-mentioned Chevelle that revved the engines of the car-buying public and inspired General Motors to make more mighty motor cars. In fact, a few years later in 1964, the different divisions of GM brought out such classic and memorable vehicles as the Oldsmobile 442, the Buick Grand Sport and the immortalized-in-song Pontiac GTO. In fact, there are those in the car community who claim the GTO was the original muscle car.

GM kept putting out winners with the 1967 Chevy Camaro and the Camaro Z28. Fans of these autos say that government emissions and insurance regulations brought an end to the age of the muscle car and the last one sold was the Pontiac Trans Am SD455 in 1974.

The old fashion hot rod of World War II has developed into the muscle car. For many, the muscle car is a chance to express your inner child in racing. A muscle car is mid-sized to large with speed performance engines to make a car as fast as possible in a straight line. Some muscle cars are classics and have collectible status. These cars have there original parts restored. Most muscle cars are usually Chevrolet or Ford because of the availability of parts.

The models used are usually Chevelle, GT, and Mustang. Body styles and power train options are some of the main factors to start with. Body styles should be streamlined with a two door hardtop, two door fastbacks or two door post coupes. The years of the models used tend to be from the 60’s and 70’s because of the desired engine and style. Muscle cars have manual or automatic transmission. Manuals have either three to four speeds while automatics have two to three speeds. Performance wise the manuals are superior to the automatics. The engines of muscle cars are at least eight cylinders.

The common choices of engines include 327, 350, 396 with power rating of 325bhp, 350bhp and 375bhp. The most adaptable style is the 1969 Camaro with twelve engine varieties. On the other hand, the top performances are 426 Hemi, 427 Chevy and 427 Ford. These engines are expensive and complicated to maintain. Muscle cars must have options which include power windows and door locks, working air, and bucket seats. Trim and colors are all up to you. Muscle cars built tend be an extension of the person and release the drag racer in you.

Muscle car is a term used to refer to a variety of high performance automobiles. It normally refers to American 2-door, rear wheel drive mid-sized car. The popularity of muscle cars in the United States initiated other countries in their own fashion. Development was started in Australia, South Africa, Britain (The U.K.) and elsewhere. But, there was some shading around the edges of the muscle car definition. A contemporary issue of Road Magazine, (June 1967), states that a muscle car is just what the name implies. It is a product of the American car industry adhering to the hot rodder. It is taking a small car and putting a big engine in it.

The opinions of the engines in the muscle car vary but the creation of car influenced by public response in 1949 must surely be the first muscle car. Public interest for speed and power was provided with the 1949 Rocket 88 was the first of its breed. This was America' first high compression overhead valve, V-8 in a lighter Oldsmobile car body. Oldsmobile dominated the muscle car community in 1950 with wins in the Grand National Division, Daytona Speed Weeks and the 100 mile Panamericana.

The 1951 Hudson Hornet was the Rocket 88's only competitor. The Rocket V-8 set the standard for every American V-8 engine for the next three decades. This was a 303 cubic inch engine and topped by a 2 barrel carburetor. It was 135 horsepower, 101 KW and 3600 and the Hornet was the only thing close. So, thanks to Oldsmobile, the Rocket 88 set the bar for muscle cars to come.rpm.

Muscle car shows are a uniquely American phenomenon. Started back in the 1960s and going until the 1970s, the cars themselves were the main attraction. The shows didn't start until a few years later to show off the cars and how they are taken care of and what they stood for back in the day. The cars were mostly the two door, big V-8and rear wheel drive having variety. Most were mid-sized cars that were very affordable and were used for street drag racing, both formally and informally.

The shows grew out of the need for the owners of these kids of cars to get together and show them and race them to see who was keeping their cars up to par. Most owners don't race them anymore but they are still a serious draw to other people who still remember the past cars and still like to see them.

While muscle cars are in a league of their own, they are often combined with classic cars since they are also in that league and the shows are combined. Like most classic cars, they are compared for which one has the most chrome or which one is the most original. Both categories rank pretty high as to how the cars are rated in the show they are entered.

Muscle car shows, like classic car shows, are put on all over the country at almost anytime of the year. There are several websites you can check for times and places in your area for either or both of these kinds of shows.