If your talking American muscle I can name a few, all of which have these characteristics:
1)Try to get a stick...they are so much fun.
2)Big block....you'll pay a premium (5-15K+ more when compared to a 1 or 2 condition small block). But the low-end torque from stop is quite impressive.
3)Limited slip rear should be a must.
3.5) Low gearing is the norm for the fastest quarter mile cars, but be prepared for cruise engine speed of 3000 RPM (alot for a big-block) when just doing 60. The cars are'nt geared to go over 120....but it only takes 12 seconds to get there. ;-) I'm considing upping the gears on my favorite car so I can cruise 70 and still get better than 10mpg, and not have the engine sound likes it's straining. Right now it's bone stock muscle.
3)1970 was the year in muscle (for GM that is)...GM lifted it's self-imposed ban on less than 400CID for it's passenger cars in 1970. Pontiac, Chevy, Olds, and Buick all released a big block that year with performance ratings that will make your head spin! Some even took their best performers and souped them up from the factory. Pontiac trans-am. Chevy Chevel SS. Olds rocket 455. And the almighty beast Buick Stage I, 455 440HP, 510ft-lb torque....this was never again matched in stock muscle...even the Viper "only" has 505 ft-lb of torque (more horses though).
4)Post 1970 the EPA started giving detroit a hard time. 1971 had some nice performers, but they counld'nt compare to 1970. 1972 was 1st year of catalytic converters. It was down hill from there. :-(.
5)Avoid California-smogged cars. They generally have more anti-smog/carburation restrictions post 1966.
6)Try to get AC. You may as well be in comfort when tearing up the strip.
7)Convertables are nice, but if you get a real big-block muscle car, you may notice that the doors tend to stick due torque put on the chasis...this is especially true for the smaller "pony" cars with monster torque....like the Chevy-II, plymouth baracuda, and of course the darts. You will also pay a premium of course for a convertable. They are noisy too.
8)The pony muscle cars are very fast, but give up alot of features like AC, big buckets, power options, and sometimes even PS/PB. Heck, the hemi-wedge (a souped up dart with a hemi 426) had plastic pop-out windows to save weight. Sucks for everyday driving comfort, but it was one of the greatest all time get-there-quick cars.<G> |
