The best Musclecar year was....

[55chevy]

2004!.. because we got them ALL now and then some

[firstgenaddict]

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.

[Salvatore]

Can't be 1967. You can't give a 67 camaro away! You are right Schonye I do have Soul..... baby!!!!! Remember, We leaned on those cars Schonye, We just don't read about them.

[gemleeus]

2002, 2004

[JChlupsa]

Real Muscle cars 60's early 70's

[hvychev]

1970 IMO without a doubt!

[supergonzo]

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.

[StealthBird]

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
- 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 ended up being a thoroughbred horse running at a closed race track.

[Steven J]

Hi Mike, was that you that I saw in the Meijer's gas station in Bolingbrook last weekend ?

[olredalert]

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