Definition of a muscle car...

[1troyd23]

So I always hear and read about how heavy the 5th Gen ZL1 is. To me, it just comes with the territory...Being an American V8 muscle car. Sure new technology and things like that will make new cars weigh less. The point of this is and I have nothing against Corvettes at all, but being a Camaro owner, do you consider the Vette a muscle car ? Or just a 2 seat sports car or supercar if you will ? I mean the Hellcats and high end Mustangs are not too light either right ?? Lol Just wanted some of your guy's thoughts.....

[rontammy0]

High performance sports cars. Musclecars are not determined by weight. All the new Camaros ...Mustangs ....Challengers are modern muscle cars.

[1troyd23]

I agree with you 100% !! I guess what I was trying to say was if you buy one of these cars, you should already know the deal...

[sengli]

One thing most people dont consider is, including me. Is that the Gen5 has 5 star safety ratings across the board. So that weight amounts to a very safe and strong car in case you have an accident.

[Sven59]

I think most muscle cars were originally heavy four doors with big engines.

[1troyd23]

That's huge plus in my book !!!

[Can'tHave2MuchHP]

Weight doesn't determine the muscle car. For me and most people, the aggressive, tall, square, boxy body style of the car, the V8 engine (MANDATORY!!), and the name Camaro, Mustang, and Challenger added to the title, qualifies it as a "Muscle car". However these days, these "Muscle cars" that descended from bricks with 300 HP and drum brakes, have now turned into cars that out perform a LOT of sports cars in stock form and with some work, out perform super cars as well. Everybody has the mindset that they're muscle cars, but truly, they now perform like sports cars (For the most part).

[Sven59]

1949 Oldsmobile 88 and then the 1960 Chevy Impala Sport Sedan.

[rontammy0]

Originally Posted by Sven59

I think most muscle cars were originally heavy four doors with big engines.

No 4 dr was ever considered a muscle car. But the current Charger srt 8 makes a good point for it to be included.

[Sven59]

The 1949 Oldsmobile 88 is widely considered the first muscle car.

[rontammy0]

Originally Posted by sengli

One thing most people dont consider is, including me. Is that the Gen5 has 5 star safety ratings across the board. So that weight amounts to a very safe and strong car in case you have an accident.

Weight doesnt determine safety ratings.....sure a big suv gives you a good chance of survival vs a compact car but that more of a mass thing. Many factors dictate a vehicles safety rating.....weight imo should be considered but its not a frontline factor.

[flipstyledsm22]

IMO, if it looks and sounds like an American beast, it's a Muscle Car.

If it's a 2 seater w/out factory rear seats, it's a Sports Car.

Everything else is open to interpretation, or how it's being modified to mimic other styles/vehicles.

[Sven59]

http://www.classic-car-history.com/first-muscle-car.htm

[ZMEnow]

Originally Posted by rontammy0

No 4 dr was ever considered a muscle car. But the current Charger srt 8 makes a good point for it to be included.

Oh really..

1967 Chevrolet Impala 4-Door Sedan 427 V-8 Turbo-Jet 385-hp 4-speed

• Chevrolet Impala 4-Door Sedan 427 V-8 Turbo-Jet 385-hp 4-speed, model year 1967, version for North America U.S. (up to September)
• 4-door sedan body type
• RWD (rear-wheel drive), manual 4-speed gearbox
• petrol (gasoline) engine with displacement: 6996 cm3 / 426.9 cui, advertised power: 287 kW / 385 hp / 390 PS ( SAE gross ), torque: 624 Nm / 460 lb-ft
• characteristic dimensions: outside length: 5415 mm / 213.2 in, wheelbase: 3023 mm / 119 in
• reference weights: base curb weight: 1838 kg / 4052 lbs
• how fast is this car ? top speed: 211 km/h (131 mph) (theoretical);
• accelerations: 0- 60 mph 6.5 s; 0- 100 km/h 6.8 s (simulation ©automobile-catalog.com); 1/4 mile drag time (402 m) 15 s (simulation ©automobile-catalog.com)
• fuel consumption and mileage: average estimated by a-c: 21.3 l/100km / 13.3 mpg (imp.) / 11 mpg (U.S.) / 4.7 km/l