History of Muscle Cars

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.