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Street Sizzle…American Style

In the late 1960s through the mid-1970s, the Big Three auto manufacturers were cranking out some pretty amazing street machines. In fact, an entire culture and industry developed around the evolution of what became known as the musclecar.

What was a musclecar? In a nutshell, testosterone-on-wheels.

Today, these famed street warriors are coming back. Ford has kept its musclecar legacy alive through the unbroken production run of the Mustang, as has GM with its Corvette. In a few months Chrysler has promised the return of the famed Dodge Challenger, and after nearly a decade of absence, the ponycar rival of the Mustang—the Camaro—will return to the streets.

Here’s a quick look at the new-age musclecars you’ll want to keep your eyes on…

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The remake of the Ford Mustang for the 2005 model year breathed new life into this “everyman” hot rod. The company’s latest showroom bruiser is the Shelby GT500. Packing a fire-breathing 500 horsepower supercharged 5.4L V8, the GT500 lives up to its “King of the Road” heritage paved by the original Shelby GT500 KR of 1968. From stem-to-stern, the GT500 is pure performance. Power flows from the V8 through a six-speed transmission taken from Ford’s FR500C race car. A precision-tuned MacPherson strut front and solid-axle three-link rear suspension gives the GT500 handling performance to match its high-output engine.

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In 1970 Dodge entered the ponycar market in earnest with its striking Challenger model. Although the Challenger only enjoyed a short four-year production run, that was enough to carve a storied place for itself in the annuls of musclecar history—particularly those models fitted with the raucous 426 Hemi engine. Later this spring the Challenger is slated to return. The modern interpretation of this classic promises to live up to the original in terms of style and machismo. Although details are still sketchy, we do know that the Challenger will continue in the rear-wheel drive two-door tradition, and be available with the most infamous engine in automotive history, the Hemi V8.

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Ford and GM engaged in a running battle that began when Chevrolet introduced its street-tuned Camaro as a blue collar counterpunch to the Ford Mustang. The fight began on the SCCA tracks in the late 1960s and continued on the streets throughout the 1990s. The Ford Mustang ultimately won the war when, due to low sales, GM folded the tent on the Camaro in 2002. Now the Camaro is back. Well, almost back. Word from The General is that an all-new Camaro coupe will be ready for a 2009 model year introduction, followed by a convertible model. The new Camaro will borrow from the design elements of the 1967-69 production lineup. Few details are floating about, but good money says the new Camaro will come with a 400 horsepower aluminum V8 based on the LS2 engine, as well as a V6 and mid-performance V8 offering, plus six-speed transmissions.

—Rob Reaser