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It is hard to pin down the first actual muscle car; some have asserted that it is the 1949 Oldsmobile Rocket 88, which was built with speed in mind, with an overhead valve V8 placed in a mid-size car with a relatively lightweight body. A lot of observers cite the next big step in the evolution of the early muscle car to be the introduction of the 1955 Chrysler C-300 with its 300 horsepower Hemi engine that could go from zero to sixty in 9.8 seconds and reach a top speed of around 130 miles per hour.
1970 Firebird Formula
The 1970 Firebird Formula 400 was the third of four models in Pontiac’s 70s Firebird lineup. The first generation of Firebirds, from ’67 to ’69, were closely related to their cousins the Camaros, but also took styling cues from the GTO. Although Pontiac designers had hoped to make a two-seater sports car modeled after the Banshee, a mid-60s concept car, the higher ups at General Motors feared that it would compete too heavily with the Corvette. The Firebirds represented a compromise, but one that disappointed few.
One of the jobs of automotive designers is to look into the crystal ball and try to see into the future. What will attract the public as times change and a new generation of drivers are ready to hit the roadways? The history of the automobile manufacturing industry is filled with hits and misses as the “swamis” of automotive engineering placed their bets on educated guesses that became the next wave of motor vehicles offered by their respective companies.
Transformers and the Iconic Cars
You might think that the Transformers vehicles are limited to the hot yellow Chevy Camaro, the big semi truck cab, the Hummer, and the Pontiac Solstice. Those who are new to the world of Transformers are often surprised to find out that there are several different versions of the characters that change from recognizable vehicles to powerful robots. These are a few of the most iconic vehicles in the Transformer universe:
Malaise Era: Definition and Examples
Malaise: This word comes from the combination of French words mal- and aise (which translates to ease). This word generally means a sense of being uneasy or feeling out of sorts. It usually involves the beginning of an illness or feeling less that healthy. The term “malaise” has come to designate the decade of cars produced between 1973 and 1983.
Pontiac Solstice: Why It May not Be the Collectible It’s Predicted to Be
There are two types of car collectors. One collects cars for the financial investment. The other collects cars for the emotional attachment. The financial collector does research, follows trends, and buys wisely. The emotional collector does not worry about the financial value of the car; the car’s value is in the feeling it provides, usually in the form of a powerful family memory or a joyful driving experience.
Cars That Feed Both Types of Collectors
High Tech Lo Tech: Concept Cars from 1969
Buick Century Cruiser – Photo Courtesy of oldconceptcars.com
General Motors was on a roll in the 1960s, with muscle cars and cars inspired by the space race. The biggest automaker in the world ended the decade with concept cars that took imagination and innovation to an entirely new level. These cars looked more like space ships than speed demons and they were created with idea of where technology could take us when we were on the roads.
Miata vs. Solstice
In 1989, Mazda released a car that changed automobile design for the next 30 years. The release of the Mazda Miata was a moment of absolute joy for drivers who desired a two-seater convertible that didn’t spend the majority of its time in the auto shop. Prior to the release of the Miata, the only options were European roadsters like the MGB, Triumph, and Alfa Romeo. These classic convertibles offered absolutely no competition to the Miata because they all had serious problems with reliability. For 17 years, the Mazda Miata dominated the two-door convertible roadster market, until Pontiac made its mark with the Solstice in 2006.