Musclecar

A muscle car is an American term used to refer to a variety of high-performance automobiles. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it as "any of a group of American-made 2-door sports cars with powerful engines designed for high-performance driving." Common characteristics typically include a rear-wheel drive layout, a powerful V8 engine (though some argue that inline-6 and V6 powered cars can also qualify), and a relatively lightweight body, especially compared to full-size cars of the same era. Muscle cars were most prominent in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

The muscle car era is generally considered to have begun in 1964 with the introduction of the Pontiac GTO. This car combined a mid-size chassis with a large-displacement engine, a formula quickly adopted by other American manufacturers. The ensuing competition led to increasingly powerful and outrageous models, often focused on straight-line acceleration rather than overall handling.

The oil crisis of the 1970s, rising insurance costs, and increasingly stringent emissions regulations brought the classic muscle car era to an end. The emphasis shifted toward fuel efficiency and safety, leading to a decline in horsepower and performance.

The term "muscle car" is often debated, and there's no universally agreed-upon definition. Some purists limit the definition to mid-size, two-door, rear-wheel drive cars with powerful V8 engines produced primarily during the classic era. Others have a more inclusive definition, encompassing a wider range of vehicles.