Greatest Muscle Car Era?

[Prodigy]

Welcome to the greatest muscle car era
Jun 25, 2013 11:00 AM

If you've ever lusted after a 1960's or '70's muscle car, but missed the chance to buy when these now-classics were new, don't fret. Today's modern muscle cars are better in every way.

You can argue styling pros and cons to the end of time. But from a pure driving dynamic, safety, and fuel economy perspectives, the new muscle positively trounces the originals. (Read: "2011 Ford Mustang V6 vs 1970 Mustang Boss 302: Who's the real boss?")

Looking to capture some of that America muscle this summer? Here's a run down of what's available now for V8 singing, roll-down-the-windows cruising:

Chevrolet Camaro
I had the chance to sample a Hot Wheels Special Edition Camaro recently; it was a bigger-than-life time capsule. With a large collection little metal cars and a bright orange track, Hot Wheels were a huge part of my childhood. So, I was jazzed to see that this one actually came complete with red outline-striped wheels. The various flaming "Hot Wheels" badges were a bit much, but what stuck with me the most was the sound. The righteous exhaust note thrilled me every time I backed off the pipes in a lower gear. It's almost as if there are exhaust experts toiling away at GM whose only job is to make small-block V8s sing. They are maestros worthy of Grammy awards.
For more power-hungry bowtie fans, there's also the Camaro ZL1. It's even beefier than the SS version-steering, shifter, and especially the clutch are much stiffer and heavier. But what a sound! The exhaust baffle is enough for me to forget and/or forgive how big it is or the unreadable gauges. With a 580-hp, 6.2-liter supercharged V8 and active suspension, the ZL1 is the highest-performance factory Camaro ever.
Tamer 323-hp V6 models are also available, ranging from $24,245 to $56,550. And, of course, convertibles are offered across the range.
For 2014, the Camaro is treated to styling upgrades and the return of the legendary Z/28, complete with a 500-hp small-block V8 engine dressed with "427" logos. (Check out: "500-hp 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 declares horsepower war.")
Dodge Challenger
I've had a long and well-documented love affair with this large-and-in-charge cruiser. One of the reasons it remains appealing, despite its below-average reliability, is that since it sells in fewer numbers than competing models, you don't see them every day. But this car is all throw-back: long hood, big engine, and available "Plumb Crazy" (purple) paint.
Selling points include a surprisingly roomy interior, lovely-sounding V8, a satisfying pistol-grip shifter for the manual transmission, and a fairly comfortable highway ride. But a light-on-its-feet sports car? Not a chance. In fact, looking at the performance figures, most other muscle machines can run away from our R/T. The steroid monster Challenger SRT8 (470 hp), however, is another story.
Pricing: $25,995-$44,995. No drop-top for open-air fans, however.
And for those who'd like to stay within the Mopar family but need four doors, there's the Dodge Charger-ranging from the mild 292-hp V6 SE model to the wild 470-hp SRT8. And further along the whole "practicality" road is the full-bore Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, with all of its 470 hp seducing you into convincing your significant other that this is a "sensible family vehicle."
Ford Mustang
It was, indeed, a sad day when the last limited-edition Boss 302 exited the production line. For me, it was absolutely the best Mustang I've ever driven and impossible to forget. CR's last tested GT wowed us with its superb balance of performance and day-to-day livability. The 2014 version ushers in the 50th consecutive year of Mustang production-Ford says more than 8.5 million have been built-but the basic formula remains: rear-wheel drive, wonderful V8 power, and an available manual transmission. New features include a mild exterior freshening, a few new colors, and "new cleaner, easier-to-read instrument cluster graphics," according to Ford.
The good news is the renowned Shelby nameplate still lives on. Power-hungry fans of the modern GT500 get a 5.8-liter supercharged V8 producing 662 hp. This engine, says the company, is the most powerful production V8 in the world. I love the big, bold stripes, and available glass roof and Recaro seats. And while I've driven a number of Shelby models in the past (great sounding and wicked powerful), none have captured my enthusiasm more than the lighter and more nimble Boss. Much of that magic is still available with a GT fitted with the GT Track Package.
As far as what one of these modern pony cars would do to your bank account, the least expensive Mustang is the V6 coupe ($22,995) and skyrockets up to the chart-topping Shelby GT500 convertible ($60,595).

Camaro SS Mustang GT Challenger R/T Tested engine 6.2-liter V8 426 hp 5.0-liter V8, 402 hp ** 5.7-liter V8, 375 hp 0-60 mph, sec. 5.1 5.1 5.1 1/4 mile, sec. @ mph 13.6@108 mph 13.7@107 mph 14.9@97 mph 60-0 mph braking dry, ft. 129 129 129 Cruising range, mi. 340 345 365 Curb weight, lbs. 3,900 3,720 4,195 Price, nicely equipped $43,425* $41,415 $38,460 * = Hot Wheels edition ** = now makes 420 hp All three muscle cars are vast improvements over their storied predecessors offer better performance, safety, amenities, and even fuel economy. Any one of them can deliver nostalgia in a bold package, certain to transform a routine drive into an adventure.

http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2013/06/welcome-to-the-greatest-muscle-car-era.html

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[Prodigy]

CR calls this the greatest muscle car era. What you guys think? Pretty bold claim considering how great the classics were.

I gotta disagree in at least a few aspect:
- design (subjective i know)
- price/affordability
- aura/identity

The last one may be more about a uniqueness that i think is missing in the muscle cars of today. Performance wise no doubt they destroy the classics but they do lack a bit of that aura about them IMO. Maybe cars just look too similar these days.

 

[Maestro5.0]

Size and weight = big advantage to the originals.

Other than that I will take a modern one any day. They are more comfortable, safer, faster, and way more reliable.

 

[Bossing]

I don't think today's modern musclecars is the "greatest muscle car era" but it's pretty darn close or at least up there. The musclecars from the 60s to the early 70s is bar none the best in terms of pure raw power and classic collectible status nowadays... but these modern marvels simply elevates the performance, engineering, reliability, amenities, and safety to a whole new level. Aesthetics-wise... the classics win easily IMO.

 

[K.Lysius]

Definitely 60-70s and then the current period. 2000's was definitely the worst period.

Can't wait to see what the next round of Mustang, Camaro, Challengers brings. We should know by 2016-2017 when all new generations are out.

 

[Norm Peterson]

CR calls this the greatest muscle car era. What you guys think? Pretty bold claim considering how great the classics were.

I gotta disagree in at least a few aspect:
- design (subjective i know)

True. Today's cars have overall styling that's heavier and bulkier compared to their 1960's originals. Dare I suggest that all three of today's ponycars have a bit too much truck DNA? Graceful . . . not.

- aura/identity
The last one may be more about a uniqueness that i think is missing in the muscle cars of today. Performance wise no doubt they destroy the classics but they do lack a bit of that aura about them IMO. Maybe cars just look too similar these days.

I'd say it goes deeper than styling trends. All those improvements in performance, safety, and daily usability have come at a cost to the original 'character' of these cars. Today's cars are a little too refined, a little too luxurious, and most of the rowdy, rebellious image is gone. Kind of like the juvenile delinquent who has settled down enough to be found in polite company where he wouldn't have been caught dead there before.


Norm

 

[Sabre]

With a little know how, some wrenches a couple of buddies and an old refrigerator stocked with beer, the original era pony cars were certainly easier to work on, modify and add go fast parts to.

Today, computers, sensors, switches and nanny state monitors rule our engines lives. Yes, lots of aftermarket companies offering mods, but it's plain and simple that the average guy is just not able to work on these cars like in the old days. That "shade tree mechanic" is all but buried beneath that shade tree.

 

[Rich]

With a little know how, some wrenches a couple of buddies and an old refrigerator stocked with beer, the original era pony cars were certainly easier to work on, modify and add go fast parts to.

Today, computers, sensors, switches and nanny state monitors rule our engines lives. Yes, lots of aftermarket companies offering mods, but it's plain and simple that the average guy is just not able to work on these cars like in the old days. That "shade tree mechanic" is all but buried beneath that shade tree.

I completely agree about the original era of pony cars. I learned how to work on cars with my '67 Mustang. Looking under the hood of current cars you can't even see the motor. With that said, I definitely believe this era to be the greatest muscle car era. It seems the late '60s early '70s cars have been romanticized for decades, creating a great deal of enthusiasm for the many models available at that time. Even though there are fewer models classified as "muscle cars" today, there can be no doubt that the current stable is better in almost every way. Styling and esthetics are subjective and debatable, but I think many muscle cars started looking very similar in the '70s. The reason for the advancement has been technology and competition.

 

[UOP Shadow]

We had the opportunity to buy a complete OEM restored 69 GT350 or a 2013 GT500. The cars cost within $10K of each other. The 69 Shelby is my absolute favorite car.

We had the chance to drive them both. The 69 was "brand new" after the complete resto. It looked & drove just like it was in 69. That's why we ended up buying the 2013. There is no comparison in the sheer speed & drivability between the two cars. The 69 did not stick to the road like glue but the 2013 does. And even though the 69 was fast, it was not even close to the power of the 2013.

The 2013 is much more comfortable with its modern seats & suspension.

I had the opportunity to buy my dream car and ended up changing my dream. I still prefer the looks of the 69 but in all other categories, the 2013 is by far the superior Mustang.

 

[Bullitt3980]

I love all old cars but there isn't anyway I'm going to own one anymore--I've been hearing the "new cars are too complicated to work on" line since I started working--I remember old mechanics complaining they didn't want to learn how to fix the new cars--too complicated--and this was when most cars had carburetors and the only electronics were for spark control and the radio. I think this golden age of muscle has been ongoing since 1982 when the 5.0HO was introduced--its been an "horsepower race" since.

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