Technology has changed, but the song remains the same
When US automakers opened their showroom doors in 1949, Americans flocked to see the first new car models in over half a decade. The nation that had embraced gas rationing to help our troops overseas was anxious to get back to business as usual, including its never-ending love affair with the automobile.
About the same time, a new sport was emerging on the hard-pack sand at Daytona Beach. Stock car racing gave birth to the slogan: “Race it on Sunday and sell it on Monday.” The stage was set for a new era of automotive performance.
1971 Dodge Charger R/T
Although debate continues as to its official beginning, many historians believe the Oldsmobile Rocket 88 that dominated the early NASCAR circuit started the muscle car era. Powered by engineer, Charles Kettering’s revolutionary overhead valve V-8 engine, the Rocket 88 was a showcase for new technology. And it was fast, inspiring Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats to pen a song of the same name that they recorded for Chess Records.
By the mid-1950s the race was on, with Ford, Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac and Chrysler joining the fray. But it was not until the mid-1960s that muscle car mania reached its zenith. Classics such as the Pontiac GTO, Plymouth Superbird, Ford Thunderbird and Chevrolet Chevelle SS became modern day muses, inspiring movies, music and literature.
1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396
Current auction prices for classic muscle cars are testament to their enduring legacy. The spirit of the era when horsepower was king lives on, not only in restored classics, but a new generation of street performers geared towards today’s driving enthusiasts.
What are millennial muscle cars? Like their namesakes, the new cars are rear-wheel drive and have big engines. Some, such as the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger are easy to identify, sporting the same model designations and similar styling to the classics they are named after.
1970 Plymouth Road Runner
But today’s muscle car era isn’t limited to Detroit’s Big Three automakers. The Hyundai Genesis 3.8 R-Spec and Nissan 370Z NISMO also get the nod.
Muscle cars aren’t simply powerful; they are also affordable. Unlike supercars such as the 626 horsepower Bentley Continental GT that costs $193,000, muscle cars are priced to appeal to driving enthusiasts without offshore bank accounts. We set the ceiling at $45,000. Following is our list of the top six millennial muscle cars:
2015 Ford Mustang GT: Ford celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of the original pony car with an all-new model that combines the power and performance of classics from the 1960s and 70s with much enhanced driving dynamics and active safety features such as blind spot monitoring and rearview cameras with cross traffic alert. With a base MSRP of $32,925, the new GT, equipped with a 5-liter V8 engine rated at 430 horsepower is a force to be reckoned with. A new aerodynamic design is reminiscent of the original fastback.
2015 Chevrolet Camaro SS: The name, Camaro, comes from the French camarade meaning companion or friend. Although it originated as Chevrolet’s answer to the Ford Mustang, the Camaro has become a force of its own. Power for the 2015 SS model comes from a 6.2-liter V-8 engine rated at 400 horsepower. The current exterior, with its bulbous hood and snub rear decklid is all business. Visibility out the back isn’t particularly good but no worries. To paraphrase Raul Julia’s famous quote as he ripped the rearview mirror off the Ferrari at the start of the 1976 movie, “The Gumball Rally,” what is behind you is not important.
2015 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack: Anyone old enough to remember the movie, “Vanishing Point,” undoubtedly remembers the 1970 Dodge Challenger that was the real star of the show. Although the current Challenger’s styling recalls the classic Mopars, underneath the skin, it is very much a 21st century car. Our favorite model is the R/T Scat Pack priced from $38,495. Granted, it can’t match the considerably more expensive SRT Hellcat for bragging rights, but a 485-horsepower engine and zero-to-sixty acceleration time in the low four-second range are nothing to sneeze at. We also love the performance pages: a feature that allows the owner customize steering feel, shift points, launch control, stability and traction control according to his needs.
2015 Dodge Charger R/T Scat Pack: Just because you need a four-door car doesn’t mean you have to jump the shark. Enter the Dodge Charger R/T Scat Pack: a fire-breathing millennial muscle car with 485 horses under the hood, thanks to its 6.4-liter Hemi engine. Priced from $39,995, the Scat Pack model comes with 20-inch alloy rims and four-piston Brembo brakes for plenty of stopping power. Standard Dodge performance pages enable the driver to customize ride and handling characteristics for road or track.
2015 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 R-Spec: Hyundai has a reputation for offering buyers exceptional value throughout its product line-up. The sleek Genesis Coupe 3.8 R-Spec, priced from $33,400 for the six-speed manual version is a case in point. Powered by a 348-horsepower V-6 engine, the high-performance variant features a track-tuned suspension with stiffer spring rates and a front strut configuration that the owner can adjust according to his needs. Front and rear sway bars are thicker than for other Genesis models for better track performance. Engineers minimized mass by using aluminum and high-strength steel throughout the body. Curb weight is a tick over 3,500 pounds, giving the Genesis an exceptionally good power-to-weight ratio.
2015 Nissan 370Z NISMO: Think of the Z NISMO as a street-legal racecar. Priced from $41,990, the NISMO has everything its owner needs to do serious track time, including a rev-matching feature that blips the throttle for smoother downshifts. Designers refreshed the exterior for 2015 and downsized the rear spoiler for better visibility out the back. The 370Z NISMO has the smallest exterior dimensions of the cars in this story, with a 100.4-inch wheelbase. But it’s as venomous as a Gila monster with a 350-horsepower V-6 engine that loves to rev high. The current model has a similar aerodynamic profile to the 240Z introduced 45 years ago and the same race-inspired front-midship platform. The NISMO model features a sport-tuned suspension, six-speed close ratio manual transmission, Recaro seats, a special steering wheel and red NISMO tachometer.
The biggest difference between the new generation of muscle cars and the classics that inspired them is practicality. The new cars handle much better on the road, so they can easily function as a driver’s only vehicle. Race them on Sunday and take the slicks off for the weekly commute. What’s not to love about a car that can do that?