A History of General Motors' Muscle Cars

Muscle cars are beloved possessions for those who love fast cars with a sporty look. These cars had their heyday between 1964 and 1975 and many companies had a hand in defining the identity of the muscle car in this period. Of course, one of the largest automobile manufacturing companies, General Motors, was a lead player in this process.

Some of the earliest muscle cars made by GM included the 1963 Buick Riveria and the 1965 Buick GS. GM enhanced the latter model by releasing the 1965 Skylark Gran Sport; this was created as the nonstandard model, boasting one of the largest engines supported by this type of car.

The Oldsmobile 442, which was launched in the late 1960s, was meant to be a formidable opponent to Pontiac's muscle cars. The Olds 442 was famous for its engine, as well as for its speed. On the other hand, the Oldsmobile Cutlass was one of the longer lasting models of the muscle car variety. These cars were typically famous for their sporty look, with their sleek lines and rooftops.

In later years, pony cars ventured into the muscle car category. These cars were smaller sports models with an enhanced exterior look. Like the typical muscle car, they came with a powerful engine. The Camaro and Firebird are two of GM's noteworthy pony cars which were released in the late 1960s. Some argue that the Chevrolet Chevelle did more justice to the genre than its pony car model, the Camaro. This model was one of GM's bestselling cars.