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The best Musclecar year was....
There is always a lot of discussion on this topic, and I would like to hear some opinions as to which year you think was truly the peak Musclecar year. Not just horsepower and 1/4 mile times, but the best year for Musclecars in general.
Most magazines and books pick either 1969 or 1970. It's really a tough call, because obviously 1970 was the peak year for horsepower and style for several of the makes, but 1969 was also a pinnacle (with several noteworthy introductions) for other makes. See what you think, and if I'm leaving off any noteworthy items... 1969 ---- 1. The introduction of the first winged wonder: The Dodge Daytona 2. The introduction of the outrageous Boss 429 Mustang 3. The introduction of the Judge 4. The introduction of the Trans Am 5. The introduction of the Mach 1 Mustang 6. The introduction of the Boss 302 Mustang 7. The wildest looking Oldsmobile ever, the 69 Hurst/Olds 8. Arguably the pinnacle of Pontiac performance, the radical RAIV engine 9. The introduction of The Beast: The 427 ZL-1 10. Factory installed 427's are ordered in COPO Chevelles and Camaros 11. Operation Overkill from Pennsylvania: the 1969 Yenko 427 Nova 12. AMC gets into the Musclecar pool with its in-your-face Hurst Rambler/Scrambler 13. Wild Mercury Cougar Eliminator hits the streets 14. Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II "Cale Yarborough" introduced along with Ford Torino Talladega, kicking off the NASCAR aero wars 15. Plymouth somehow crams a 440 into a Cuda 16. The 440 6-pack debuts in the Super Bee 17. Wildest AMC ever made: the 1969 Hurst S/S AMX 1970 ---- 1. This is a big one: Chevelle SS454 LS6 introduced 2. GM A-bodies, arguably the pinnacle of GM Musclecar styling, with the 70 GTO, 70 Chevelle SS, 70 442, and 70 GS all becoming classics. 3. The gloves come off as GM allows 454's and 455's into mainstream GM A-bodies, making the 1970 LS6, 1970 W-30 442, and 1970 Buick Stage 1 GS, the pinnacle year for horsepower in these Musclecars. 4. Stunning redesign of the 1970 F-bodies, the Camaro and Firebird 5. This is another biggy : the redesign of the 1970 Cuda and introduction of companion Dodge Challenger 6. AMX styling peaks in 1970 7. The Buick GSX debuts, the wildest looking Buick ever built. 8. Dodge Challenger T/A and Plymouth AAR Cuda introduced As you can see, I believe that 1969 was the most significant year for Musclecars, while 1970 had some peak moments for certain makes. Votes and/or opinions? |
Re: The best Musclecar year was....
1962
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Re: The best Musclecar year was....
THATS THE YEAR I WAS BORN!! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/wink.gif
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Re: The best Musclecar year was....
Well most of the year was good anyway ! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif
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Re: The best Musclecar year was....
1966--
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Re: The best Musclecar year was....
I like 1970, as I own a 1970 Chevelle LS6, and it truly is a milestone car. However, many might say it was 1967, as that was the last "no smog" year.
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Re: The best Musclecar year was....
...1969...
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Re: The best Musclecar year was....
It's hard but 1970 for me https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif
1969 many introduction 1970 final product https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif 1964 is a very cool year too GTO Mustang Barracuda... |
Re: The best Musclecar year was....
Come on 1969!!! The year of the COPO, The year of the ZL1! Crosby,Stills,Nash,and Young,The Greatful Dead, The Wonder Years, and.....the year I started driving https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif
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Re: The best Musclecar year was....
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Re: The best Musclecar year was....
Wine me - Dine me - 69 me...... https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif
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Re: The best Musclecar year was....
Come on 1970!!! The year of the street HEMI in a E-Body
The legendary HEMI 'Cuda https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif and the year of the 454 450 HP LS6 in a Chevelle and with a Cowl Induction and tuxedo stripes..... https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif Oh my god fantastic MuscleCars year 1970. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/smile.gif |
Re: The best Musclecar year was....
Sam, you got soul. To those of you who were'nt there, the music was almost as important as the cars. Don't for get CCR. Best year? Kinda like sex. They're all good. Schonye
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Re: The best Musclecar year was....
The answer is obvious you guys, 1967, the birth of the Camaro!!!!!!!!!
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Re: The best Musclecar year was....
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Re: The best Musclecar year was....
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Re: The best Musclecar year was....
(1966) --Yeah I know it may not have been the peak year, but it was the beginning of the "Peaks Years", where most of the car makers were putting their bids in for King of the street-------------So the answer is "19___" https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/tongue.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif |
Re: The best Musclecar year was....
1970, the year of Yenko Deuce! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/smile.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif
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Re: The best Musclecar year was....
Umm... I don't need to explain my opinion, do I? However, 68 is my personal favorite year because of the new Mopar B body styling and the intro of the Charger R/T, Road Runner, and Super Bee. But yes, 69 was the peak IMO. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif
BTW, you forgot these: 1969 ---- 1. The Charger 500 is built, leading to the development of the Cyclone Spoiler II and Torino Talledega. 2. Dodge builds M-code 440 Darts because Mr. Norm did it in 68, one-upping the factory engineers by proving it could be done. 3. Plymouth answers Dodge with the 440+6 Road Runner. 4. The Dodge Dart Swinger bursts onto the low-buck compact musclecar scene packing the 275hp 340, surprising many big blocks on the street. 1970 ---- 1. Plymouth builds the Road Runner Superbird to compete with the Dodge Charger Daytona and bring Richard Petty back from Ford. 2. The 440 Six Pack is made available in all B and E body performance cars (except AARs and T/As). 3. Plymouth introduces their budget screamer: the Duster 340. 4. The AMC Rebel Machine debuts. Sorry to be so Mopar lop-sided, but you nailed down the significant Brand X cars pretty good. |
Re: The best Musclecar year was....
The peak of Muscle cars has Gotta be 69! 70 was just riding the coat tails of the Banner year of 69!
69 1-ZL-1 2-L-88 with open chambers 3-20K Z-28's made 4-White and Gold Hurst Olds (although I like the 68 better) 5-The most Dealer Supercars built by far. 6-The most Factory built Supercars by far. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif1969 |
Re: The best Musclecar year was....
1970 the first year for the 350 LT1 " More than one HP by CID " https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif
But I agree 1969 is the best year for Dealer Supercar https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif |
Re: The best Musclecar year was....
If you went by that then the fuel injected 327 corvette was the first.
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Re: The best Musclecar year was....
Thanks for adding to the list! We should include all the Junior Supercars for 1970 like the Duster 340, W-31, LT1 Z/28, and Yenko Deuce.
I guess as far as dealer cars go, we could also add under 1969 that it was the last year for Royal Pontiac performing their conversions, and Don Yenko arguably peaked in 1969 with his 427 Chevelles, 427 Novas, Corvairs, and 427 Camaros. I was trying to focus on the most significant introductions for each year, or the peak for a particular make or model. In retrospect, the 1970 Superbird should be on that list too. I guess I felt that the 69 Daytona was THE smoking gun from Chrysler. The huge wing and pointed nose made waves through the auto industry, and everyone at the time simply could not believe that Dodge actually produced this car. By the time the 70 Superbird debuted, the magazines of the day had more of a "Plymouth has a winged car now too" attitude. But either way, the 70 Superbird should be on the list for 1970. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif |
Re: The best Musclecar year was....
1969, cuz I don't remember much of the '70's. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/haha.gif
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Re: The best Musclecar year was....
[ QUOTE ]
1969, cuz I don't remember much of the '70's. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/haha.gif [/ QUOTE ] I didn't think you were even around in 1969! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/blush.gif |
Re: The best Musclecar year was....
[ QUOTE ]
I didn't think you were even around in 1969! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/blush.gif [/ QUOTE ] Oh I was around but I was still (the key word here) young https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/haha.gif |
Re: The best Musclecar year was....
The first SBC with more HP than CID this is not the 327 FI
But the 283 283=/290 HP in 1957..... |
Re: The best Musclecar year was....
They made Camaros after 1969???? https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif
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Re: The best Musclecar year was....
Actually the best year(s) for the muscle car was the mid to late '70's. All the cool HP cars were on the streets by then and they could be had for prices that couldn't be beat before or after that time frame... https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif
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Re: The best Musclecar year was....
Id say the best year for muscle cars would be July 1969 - July 1970, thats a year isn't it?? https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/headbang.gif
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Re: The best Musclecar year was....
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Re: The best Musclecar year was....
Thanks for correcting me COPO 9566AA
That is what I was thinking when I started the post then a cutomer called (how dare them disturb a Supercar posting) when I resumed I was brain dead. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif |
Re: The best Musclecar year was....
Can't be 1967. You can't give a 67 camaro away! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/haha.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/haha.gif You are right Schonye I do have Soul..... baby!!!!! Remember, We leaned on those cars Schonye, We just don't read about them. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/wink.gif
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Re: The best Musclecar year was....
2002, 2004
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Re: The best Musclecar year was....
Real Muscle cars https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif 60's early 70's
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Re: The best Musclecar year was....
1970 IMO without a doubt! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif
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Re: The best Musclecar year was....
Mike, I think if your a Pontiac fan it has to be 1964-1966
No big block chevy's (actually a small amount of them) No Lighter Camaro's or Firebird's Olds & Buick had nothing much and nobody bought them anyway 289 Mustangs's.........please Butt Ugly Mopar's most with 273 cubes, some rare ugly mopar race cars And over 215,000 GTO's were sold by 1966!! ---------------------------------------------- But otherwise I think most of the GM Cars & Mustangs peaked around 1969 Mopar finally got good styling by 1970 Buick finally built a screamer in 1970 1970 Chevy LS6 454 comes out, unfortunately the Chevelle weighs 3900 lbs now. |
Re: The best Musclecar year was....
Well, I am a hard core Pontiac guy, but I'm also a true Musclecar fan. I assembled the list above based on my passion and respect for all the makes. My loyalty is to Pontiac, but I never wear rose colored glasses, and I understand that Pontiac didn't dominate all facets of the Musclecar Era in all years.
Actually, 1966 was one year that I personally felt WAS a strong contender for the best Musclecar year, just not as strong as 1969 or 1970. 1966 ---- - The 1966 GTO was available with the soon to be famous "Ram Air" straight from the factory. Ram Air became such a strong marketing tool and image builder (and helped horsepower), that nearly every manufacturer had their own version of Ram Air within a couple years. - Last year for famous Pontiac tri-power - 1966 would be the only year for tri-power on the 442 - Olds introduces their very limited W-30 package on the 442 - King Kong attacks Detroit : The street Hemi debuts https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif - The 1966 Chevelle SS396 is now regular production - The controversial and striking Dodge Charger debuts - The revolutionary Olds Tornado is introduced - The Corvette gets a 427, and with 3 Holley carbs to boot But the downside of 1966 is that the Camaro and Firebird were still a year away, Buick was watching from the sidelines, big cube engines wouldn't make it to GM cars for a couple more years, AMC was still making "practical" cars, and it wouldn't be until 1968 when Detroit discovered that adding cool paint jobs and stripes would really kick life into the Musclecar image (68 Hurst/Olds, 68 Road Runner). As for Pontiac, one of their peaks was 1973/1974, but the SD455 https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif ended up being a thoroughbred horse running at a closed race track. |
Re: The best Musclecar year was....
Hi Mike, was that you that I saw in the Meijer's gas station in Bolingbrook last weekend ?
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Re: The best Musclecar year was....
MikeNoun,
--------Technically, I guess you are correct about tri-power 427 Vettes as 1967 Corvettes (the first year with tri-power) were manufactured during the calendar year of 1966. I know, I know, nitpicking, but correct!.........Bill S |
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