Bear with me as I step back in time to formulate what I believe are three terrific American built performance cars: the Ford Mustang, the Dodge Challenger, and the Chevrolet Camaro. Currently, only the Mustang is in production with the Challenger coming back by 2009. GM hasn’t committed to building the Camaro just yet, but the company is likely to make a decision in favor of the car and its sibling, the Pontiac Firebird, by this summer. So, what is it about American performance cars that set them apart from the rest? In one word: muscle. Read on as I compare and contrast these three vehicles and share with you my feeble attempts to explain the culture behind the cars.
So, you think I forgot the Chevy Corvette and Dodge Viper when talking about performance cars? No, I did not. Both models are performance cars as well as race cars. On the other hand the Mustang, Challenger, and Camaro are mass produced performance cars with muscle. There is a difference in the way a typical race car handles, rides, and performs vs. a muscle car.
Typically, a muscle car was a coupe version of some of the larger cars that were pervasive on U.S. highways in the 1960s and 1970s. The Mustang and Camaro, however, were designed separately [although they both heavily borrowed parts from other models] and these “pony” cars were a category all to themselves. For comparison’s sake, they join the Dodge Challenger, a performance version of Mopar cars of its time. All three were compared by critics of that time and all three will once again be compared in a few years when production has been ramped up.
Ford Mustang – Step back in time with me to April 1964 to an era when America was heavily involved in the space race, Lyndon Johnson was president, and General Motors ruled autodom. Ford, for its part, had been nipping at GM’s heels for years, but the failed Edsels of the late 1950s had cost the company dearly. Still, it was the time of the New York World’s Fair and Ford used the fair and television technology to promote its newest offering, the Mustang. A 2+2 coupe borrowing parts from the Fairlane and Falcon, the 1964 ½ model was the first one sold and is widely credited with being the best introduction of a new vehicle ever. With a V6 engine standard and V8 optional, the all new Mustang quickly broke sales records and has been a hot seller ever since. Indeed, with the introduction of the “retro” look Mustang in 2005, the car once again has spawned interest in the muscle car segment as both DaimlerChrysler and General Motors craft competing models of their own.
Dodge Challenger – After the success of earlier muscle cars including the Dodge Charger and Plymouth ‘Cuda, the Dodge Challenger was launched as a 1970 model. The car borrowed heavily from the ‘Cuda although the sheet metal was somewhat different and the wheelbase was stretched by a couple of inches. Because the muscle car era was in decline at the time of its introduction, the Challenger lasted only five model years before it was cancelled. The concept Challenger currently on display at many auto shows is based on the 1970 design and is the talk of message boards and blogs across the nation. Look for Hemi powered engines as being favored by many owners; the car is likely to share some technology with the current Magnum wagon and Charger sedan.
Chevrolet Camaro – GM was asleep at the wheel when the Mustang came out. It took nearly three years before the company could respond and when it did the Camaro and Pontiac Firebird were the result. Although both cars sold well over the years, neither one could match the Mustang’s sales levels and by the time the last cars were sold in 2002, production dropped to a trickle. Still, the end of the Camaro after 35 years has stirred renewed interest in the name and thanks to the retro Mustang, the entire muscle car category is growing once again. Look for a 2010 Camaro to be the first Camaro since 2002; a ragtop version is also being considered.
So, just who can be expected to purchase a muscle car these days? People just like me: middle aged men who grew up with the original models. In addition, a whole new generation of younger drivers tired of the “me too” look of so many of the compact cars out there. Muscle cars of today are so much different from earlier era cars as they incorporate the look of the originals while harnessing today’s technology. Thus, fuel savings will be decent without sacrificing performance: a true win-win situation.
No, I cannot wait to see a Mustang, Challenger, and Camaro lined up at a traffic light waiting for the light to turn green. A new muscle car era is upon us and for that I am very excited.
Article By: Tony Alves
Tony Alves has been online since 2002. He owns and manages several websites. Some of his websites are: Performance Auto Parts and Home Business. He also owns a Blog Car Pictures where he posts regularly.
Perfumes invoke images of soft flowers, moonlight beaches and fruits in our minds. To buy our perfumes we can go to the department stores or perfume boutiques. We can also find places that sell wholesale perfumes for discount prices. One of the best places to find such wholesale perfumes may be a wholesale shop where you can buy lots of goods in bulk.
When you are thinking about buying your perfume in bulk, you will discover that you cannot get the more expensive brands. What you can get, however, are the imitation scents of the more expensive brands that are virtual indistinguishable from the original. These are still wonderful scents and in many cases, you will not be able to tell the difference, except with regards to your wallet.
To make your selection of wholesale perfumes seem more special you can add one or two expensive perfumes to this collection. The many inexpensive perfumes that you can buy from perfume outlets on the internet will also let you see about getting wholesale perfumes that are available at low prices. This is not a feature that you will find in any of the department stores in your city.
When it is nearing time to give presents finding a place that has wholesale perfumes can be a great asset to you because instead of going to lots of places to buy your perfume presents all you have to do is go to just one place. Here you can find a vast selection of good quality perfumes that are sure to please just about everyone that you know of.
When you are thinking about getting perfume but not paying an arm and a leg for it, why not look into discount shops? Discount shops will allow you to see what different perfumes you might have for sale and you will find that the variety is usually quite good. They make great gifts or you might choose to simply add them to your own collection.
There is one other way that you can try to buy wholesale perfume products. With this method you contact a perfume company and ask if they have any perfumes that are the inexpensive version of their more popular brands. Depending upon their answer you can see about ordering at wholesale perfumes that will appeal to the many different people that you know.
When you are ready to really get some perfumes that suit you, you will find that when you order online, you can get them shipped right to your door. Take a moment to consider how you might benefit from this experience.
There exist a variety of things to see and do while visiting New York! Now check out the new and exciting New York attractions when you vacation in our great state! Whatever you enjoy – cities, vast lands, nature, or oceans, the State of New York offers exceptions diversity of tourist attractions and events. You can discover the ideal chance to relax and escape from the hectic schedule of life.
Tour Idea #1: The Ten Broeck Mansion – Albany, New York. This mansion was built in 1797/98 to house General Abraham Ten Broeck and his wife. The Federal style home was built on 5 acres in the Township of Watervliet.
As well as the traditional New York tourist attractions, there are a diversity of many exciting activities to see and do. Do you remember camping when you were young? You can camp and enjoy an outdoor family vacation. Situated within just a short distance, you can enjoy a variety of nature and natural wonders. Explore the native wonders of the state and enjoy the outdoors. Whether it is exploring the historical trails or swimming or hiking, there are experiences for everyone. These are simply a few of the activities you can enjoy, for more opportunities, watch this New York attractions video.
Tour Idea #2: Plenty to Explore at Adventureland. Adventureland is an amusement park located in Farmingdale, New York. The park, which is quite close to Long Island, has been in operation since 1962. It makes for the perfect place for the family to visit whether they live in Long Island, New York City, or are just visiting the area.
Balancing the quirky attractions with the more traditional attractions will organize a memorable group vacation getaway. To create the best of your family vacation getaway, you may desire to consider one of the many vacation packages or tours. Most vacation packages include airfare, hotels, and car rentals or provide a guided tour. Many packages include sports or theatre tickets, so you can choose packages interesting to everyone. If you are interested in antiques and heritage, there are various cultural and historical attractions, along with museums of all varieties of specialties.
You can save money by following online tour guides. Most guides will detail the tourist attractions. Quality guides will share more information than just a short paragraph or sentence. Take your time and discover excitement about your New York travel. Experience your vacation getaway and enjoy the chance to make family memories that will last a lifetime.
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