Shelby mustang by tom corcoran 1992, paperback, revised at the best online prices at ebay. They evolved from the pentup consumerism that exploded after world war ii. Pictures are amazing, great history of each of the great american muscle cars. Jan 27, 2012 muscle car history is an interesting story. Every model since 1964 by tom glatch is a big, definitive, yearbyyear, modelbymodel exploration of the worlds first muscle car, all in fullcolor photography. Shelby mustang by tom corcoran 1992, paperback, revised at the best. Detailed text and more than 250 historic photos and illustrations provide the history of those dealerships. Jan 27, 2012 the muscle car era is an intriguing piece of the history of automobiles.
An illustrated guide features over 1,000 full color, specially commissioned photographs detailing every aspect of these high performance machines. Overnight, it seemed american consumers opted for bigger and faster cars. It is a celebration of cars that set you back in your seat when you mash the loud pedal into the floorboards. The complete book of classic ford and mercury muscle cars. The rocket 88 had a highcompression overhead valve v8 in a lightweight oldsmobile body. This is part one of my series on the 60s muscle cars.
Muscle cars index of 1960s american muscle cars this time last year, hagertys muscle car index was at an alltime high, but over the past four months it recorded the largest drop of any index for the second time in a row, falling 7 percent to a fiveyear low. Whether you collect car books, are a fan of photography, or just want to soak in the history and insider information about different car makes, the influential people or the sporty side of things. Muscle car chronicle by publications international staff. Sep 25, 2018 when i was a kid buying my first car book, consumer guides cars of the 60s, there was a section in the back that showed production numbers by year and model. This is the muscle car history to owna richly illustrated chro. In this part we get a few basics knocked out, like the definition of muscle car as it applies to this video, and explanations of. American cars best muscle cars in history thrillist. Chrysler, plymouth, dodge, and jeep related books at a discount. Not just another coffeetable picture book, this is a thorough, wellresearched, multibrand history of american performance. It is all about the american love for speed and a passion for the automobile. Jul 16, 2017 the 1950s saw the introduction of the holley series 4150 4barrel on the 1957 thunderbird. Apr 12, 2018 my father, joe oldham, road tested a 1971 torino cobra 429 scj fourspeed for highperformance cars magazine back in the day and rewrote the story for his 2007 book muscle car confidential. Overall, american muscle cars is a wellwritten, welllaidout, entertaining read that would be a joyful addition to any auto enthusiasts book collection. The acronym dates as far back as the 1930s, when it was trademarked and used to advertise a line of antifreeze products manufactured by the chrysler motor parts corporation in 1937.
This is a great, informative book and it doesnt show very much of a bias. The pontiac gto, a car often considered to have strongly influenced the muscle car era, was introduced in 1964 as an optional package for the intermediatesize pontiac tempest. Their equivalents today are more sophisticated luxury vehicles like the aston martin or maserati. Notice the absence of an engine badge on the front fender. Camaro by steve statham 1998, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. Complete history of the holley carburetor muscle car diy. The camaro turned the pony car genre into genuine muscle cars. Includes information like engine specs, production numbers, quartermile times, and more. After numerous dodge wins in 1969 and some by plymouth in 1970, nascars new rule book banned these cars. May 07, 2017 there were many legendary v8 engines produced during the golden era of the american muscle car. In response to the sudden demand for faster cars at this time, oldsmobile debuted its rocket 88. Muscle car rosters certain muscle car rosters had a special luster. The complete book of pontiac gto new big, definitive. The strippeddown road runner exemplified the essence of a purposebuilt muscle car.
The complete book of classic chevrolet muscle cars. From car bodies to engines to drop tops and hardtops, muscle cars are some of the most beautiful automobiles manufactured today. It just has a big, powerful engine that makes your heart stop every time you stomp on the accelerator. A fullthrottle history lays out, in five chapters, the entire history of americas muscle cars, from their origins in lakebedracing ford model ts all the way through the. Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. Muscle mania was also good for the performance aftermarket companies that began appearing in the 1940s. If there ever was a muscle car book that can send you back to those carefree, highoctane days of street racing and bigblock power, this is it. Nov 15, 2010 with the muscle car wars heating up, the gearheads inside gm borrowed a handful of the 425hp427ci l72s from the corvette and snuck it between the chevelles frame rails. Heavily illustrated with vivid color photography of all the muscle cars from the classic era 19631974 and chock full of data and historical facts, this is a reference book you will not want to put down. Best books about cars 24 books goodreads share book. Jul 04, 2016 the classic muscle car era runs from the introduction of the bigengine 1964 pontiac gto and ends as the 1972 model year and highcompression v8s passed into history. From the streetracing hot rod culture that emerged following world war ii through the new breed of muscle cars still emerging from detroit today, this book brings.
Wall street journal not just another coffeetable picture book, this is a thorough, wellresearched, multibrand history of american performance. No muscle car throughout the past 100 years is left out of this gorgeous collectible book. Asking a number of muscle car experts will probably get a number of different answers regarding the origins of the muscle car. Muscle car source book is a onestop resource for muscle car fans. Included are tons of pictures, reference drawings, diagrams, and tables to make sure you get the right information. The gto was developed by pontiac division president john delorean and was initially powered by a 389cuin 6. Here is a list of the 5 best high performance v8 engines produced during this era. Of course, since all the vintage muscle cars are at least thirty years old, they are part of the classic car era. The history of fords greatest highperformance muscle cars special edition.
Most super sports built that first year featured 348 v8s, as demonstrated here. The 7 best ford muscle cars that arent mustangs hagerty media. This numbered, limited edition book is wrapped in red cloth with a. Offered as the copo central office production order, it was a hushhush program that wasnt in the sales brochure, and most dealers didnt even know about it resulting. We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures. Chrysler, dodge, and plymouth muscle by anthony young hardcover. Oct 20, 2018 ryan is the editor of muscle cars illustrated. Aug 10, 2018 the race version of the daytona became the first car in nascar history to break 200 mph. The complete book of chevrolet camaro, 2nd edition complete book series. Mar 09, 2019 this is part one of my series on the 60s muscle cars. Exploring the worlds most expensive cars, the worlds rarest cars, and cars of the future by peter hedditch 4.
A vin check will reveal past ownership, title information, accident history, liens, vehicle maintenance, faulty odometer settings, and flood. It is a fun and inexpensive muscle car book worthy of your coffee table. The book opens with a interesting history of superbird and the cars role in nascar. Author scott ross retraces the history of the road runner and brings the 1970 model year into full focus. In this part we get a few basics knocked out, like the definition of muscle car as it applies to this video, and explanations of horsepower. How to find true muscle car production statistics hot rod. The term originated for 1960s and early 1970s special editions of massproduction cars which were designed for drag racing. May 12, 2017 the z16 chevelle malibu ss396 became the every mans muscle car. A real muscle car doesnt have 19 air bags, he says. Get a vehicle history report before buying a used car. Jefferys bestknown automobile was the rambler whose mass production from a plant in kenosha, wisconsin began in 1902. The read is mesmerizing, as if youre sitting on your grandfathers lap and hes telling you tales of all the old hot rods that he and friends built and thats exactly how the book is written. Muscle car is an american term for highperformance coupes, usually but not limited to rearwheel drive and fitted with a highdisplacement v8 engine.
As anyone with even a passing interest in motor culture knows, the 50 th anniversary of the ford mustang is being celebrated as a cultural touchstone. Trace the fascinating evolution of american muscle cars from their glory days in the early sixties to the first hints of the modern muscle era via beautiful largeformat photography and informative and insightful text. Names like hurst shifters, edelbrock manifolds, iskenderian camshafts, and others were well known to gearheads from car magazines and prominent race car logos. Chevy muscle cars represented the most extensive and most popular lineup of any manufacturer throughout the 1960s and early 1970s. The history of muscle car restorations is one of those great stories that you hear about where someone is simply doing something that they love and feel very passionate about and suddenly, without really intending to, they find that their passion has, in a sense, taken on a life of its own and has taken them to a place that they didnt know existed. Cartech has done it again with another book in their muscle cars in detail. For many car collectors the most attractive vehicles were built in the 1960s and 1970sthe muscle car era. Muscle cars collector car indexes hagerty valuation tool. The muscle car formula of maximum p erformance for minimal money played to chevrolets strength.
The buyers guide to vintage american muscle cars the drive. Nash motors was founded in 1916 by former general motors president charles w. It was the first true performance carburetor and it became standard equipment on many highperformance automobiles. The american muscle car, introduced in 1949, is an essential component of the car industry. This is the muscle car history to owna richly illustrated chronicle of americas. The allamerican muscle car tells the musclecar story from start to finish, with essays from the top experts in the world and firstperson accounts from men who were there at the time, making it all happen. Revisit the glorious 1960s and early 1970s, when cars from reynolds buick, yeakel chryslerplymouth, mel burns ford, and others created the lasting muscle car legacy through innovative advertising and overthetop performance. Muscle carsunited stateshistory, automobiles general, books. It was the beginning of the modular holley 4barrel, as we know it today. Jul 02, 2019 which were the most influential cars in u. The muscle car source book is one of the essential muscle car books to own.