| If you are in the least way interested in | | | | compression engine. And of course, it was installed |
| automobiles and how they work, then you | | | | in the light Oldsmobile body. |
| probably have heard the term "muscle car" | | | | Take a look at some of the more popular of |
| before. However, it is also very possible that you | | | | these cars that showed up from as early as 1955: |
| do not know what it means! Muscle cars are | | | | The Chrysler C-300 was manufactured in 1955 |
| defined as a member of a variety of high | | | | and effortlessly combined Hemi-power and luxury |
| performance automobiles that originated from as | | | | features that quickly named it the new star of |
| far back as in the late 1940s. A more widely | | | | NASCAR at that time. It was named and |
| accepted definition refers to American made two | | | | advertised as "America's Most Powerful Car" with |
| door cars which were mid-sized and offered rear | | | | 300 horsepower. |
| wheel drive (RWD) capabilities. These cars were | | | | In 1957, the Rambler Rebel was introduced to the |
| made in the late 1960s and 1970s and most | | | | market as the fastest stock American sedan. |
| came with very powerful V8 engines and sold at | | | | By the early 1960s, manufacturers like Chevrolet, |
| very affordable prices. | | | | Pontiac and Oldsmobile all lined up with their own |
| Generally, they original muscle cars were used for | | | | muscle cars, which were followed by Buick one |
| drag racing and street use, both formally and | | | | year later. |
| informally. This means that you would see muscle | | | | A late comer to the game was AMC, arriving with |
| cars in competitive drag racing, and you would | | | | some of the greatest muscle cars in the late |
| also see them on the go in street drag racing. | | | | 1960s. The popular Rambler Marlin was introduced |
| There are various views about when the first | | | | to the market in 1965 to compete with the Ford |
| muscle car was invented, and many believe that | | | | Mustang and Plymouth Barracuda. And in 1968, |
| the Oldsmobile Rocket 88 was the first one | | | | they came with two legitimate contenders for the |
| developed in 1949 in response to the public's | | | | title -- the Javelin and the AMX. |
| interest in speed and power. This was in fact one | | | | There is so much history on these cars, it's no |
| of those cars with the powerful overhead V8 | | | | wonder they are still so widely popular across the |
| engine, which was America's first high | | | | world today! |