Idle thoughts/ What is a Supercar??

[JoeC]

The term "Supercar" was being used in the mid 60's. I do not know when the magazine "SPEED AND SUPERCAR" formerly SPEED and CUSTOM published its first issue but I have one from Dec. 1966. It has an editorial by Dean Parker called "the Supercar Scene." I think "Supercar" was derived from the TV show Superman. Many of the 1961 to 1964 factory Hot Rods like the 409, 426 Wedge and Hemi, 421 Pontiac, and 427 Fords were bought as plain looking low cost bodies with the biggest available engine. They looked like Clark Kent but when you stuck your foot in them Superman came out of the phone booth. They were hard core Supercars that were made stripped for racing. 1964 was a turning point between the Supercar and the Muscle car. The 64 GTO and the musclecars that followed were a different concept. It was still a supercar but it was also designed to be a cool drivers car for the youth market not just for the racer. Then around 1968 the factories discovered that winning races was selling cars so the hard-core Supercar was back in the form of wild cars like 427 COPOs, L88s, Hemi Darts @ Cudas, ZL-1 Camaros, Cross Ram JL8 Z/28s, 428CJ, Boss 302 @ 429s, Hurst 442 Olds, GNX, Superbirds, AMX, etc.. Everyone has their own opinion but to me a Supercar is a stripped down high horsepower car built to race by a factory or a dealer even if it lost its Clark Kent disguise with stripes and scoops it still had to have the heart of Superman. Faster then a speeding bullet, able to leap........

[Belair62]

Agree,well said.I like 'em all.Timing was exactly right for the Muscle car.Young guys didn't want to jump into a big barge anymore no matter how fast they got.Pony/Muscle/Supercars were faster and cooler looking. Something special about a giant behemoth of a car coming away from a light sideways ripping thru the gears with all 8 barrels open!Real drivers ed. class !

[NC Guy]

Howdy all,
I'am a newbie on this sight and am trying to follow the definition of a Supercar. You all have posted informative replys that have been helpful.
My question is:
Will the Dale Earnhardt Intimidator SS be considered a 'Supercar'? The folks at D E Chevrolet recently informed me that I should receive mine sometime next week.
Thanks for any answers/replys.

I TOO OWN A EARNHARDT INTIMIDATOR SS CAMARO. I CAN ANSWER YOUR QUESTION. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THESE ARE A SUPERCAR. THE ONE THAT WAS ON THE HOTROD POWER TOUR DYNOED 398 HP AT THE REAR WHEELS! THESE ARE TRULY A MODERN DAY MUSCLECAR/SUPERCAR. CONGRATULATIONS, YOU WILL LOVE THE CHAMBERED EXHAUST!!!

[Charley Lillard]

I can't believe that car Put out that much HP. They are Rated 381 hp at the flywheel. Maybe he had Nitrous hidden somewhere ? The same company that builds it and the Berger SS is gonna do a ZL1 Camaro with a Vette ZO6 engine. Oh Boy....

[Belair62]

Now that sounds interesting Clill....got any other info on that car ? When will it be built ?

[Charley Lillard]

Go to gmmginc.net...Cool car. A Z06 Vette runs mid 12's and it is rated at 385 hp.......mmmmmmmmm............My understanding is that they will be all Berger Cars and they are gonna build 69 of them....

[Edited by Charley Lillard (06-02-2001 at 10:57 PM).]