What design/part is not liked on your B-body?

[moparedtn]

The term "Muscle car" is of course argumentative. I have had this discussion not only here, but live. My Chevy friend with his '69 SS Nova. Try to explain why my '69 GTX is a Muscle car. And his Nova is not? As you can imagine? Good thing we are already friends. Lol. Bottom line? His Nova is actually a pony car. And not even a true pony at that. His Nova had options for a 6cyl. Hell, you could get a 4-door Nova? My GTX? Is Muscle or Bust! There are no family style options. You get big fast engine. Or even faster engine. That's it!

Nova is a compact, like the Falcon and Dart.
Pony cars are/were Camaros, Firebirds, Mustangs (the original pony car) and later on, Challengers and Barracudas.

 

[Cojohnso1]

Nova is a compact, like the Falcon and Dart.
Pony cars are/were Camaros, Firebirds, Mustangs (the original pony car) and later on, Challengers and Barracudas.

You are right. All pony cars are compacts, but not all compacts are Pony. The compacts also included Duster/Demon, Pre 70 Barracuda, Javelin, Cougar, Comet.

In the "Purist" sence? Muscle Cars were from 1964-1971. Midsize.

Buick GS/GXS
Chevy Chevelle SS
Dodge Charger/Superbee
Ford Torino GT
Mercury Cyclone
Olds 442
Plymouth GTX/RoadRunner
Pontiac GTO.

Everything else even if equipped with a performance package was.

Family, luxury, sport, compact, sub compact or race specialty (Superbird, Thunderbolt ect.)

JMO of course. And of course there may be some exceptions. Like AMC Rebel?

 

[oldbee]

You are right. All pony cars are compacts, but not all compacts are Pony. The compacts also included Duster/Demon, Pre 70 Barracuda, Javelin, Cougar, Comet.

In the "Purist" sence? Muscle Cars were from 1964-1971. Midsize.

Buick GS/GXS
Chevy Chevelle SS
Dodge Charger/Superbee
Ford Torino GT
Mercury Cyclone
Olds 442
Plymouth GTX/RoadRunner
Pontiac GTO.

Everything else even if equipped with a performance package was.

Family, luxury, sport, compact, sub compact or race specialty (Superbird, Thunderbolt ect.)

JMO of course. And of course there may be some exceptions. Like AMC Rebel?

Oh man, you could also lump Pontiac Catalina's and the Bonneville 2+2's in there also? And probably a few more. Rode in both, so had to throw it in. Yes, I lived then & loved it( no YouTube/Google then for help).

 

[Cojohnso1]

Oh man, you could also lump Pontiac Catalina's and the Bonneville 2+2's in there also? And probably a few more. Rode in both, so had to throw it in. Yes, I lived then & loved it( no YouTube/Google then for help).

Oh yeah. There are many have compelling argument. I'm sure we are not going to settle any debate here? Lol.

 

[moparedtn]

As first coined by Brock Yates, the term "muscle car" in 1964 referred to a maker taking the biggest, strongest
engine they made (which in those days were reserved for the more expensive full-sized models) and putting
it into a lighter weight, intermediate-sized body.
In his particular case, he came up with the descriptor when writing about the then-new '64 GTO; prior to
then, other descriptions referred to previous factory hotrods as "super cars" or what have you - but when
it came to the specific phrase "muscle car", that was a very specific animal.

 

[F4R/T]

I guess in my opinion the early D500 s and cross ram fin cars really were the predecessor to the GTO, so who really was there first. The little power packs in the tri fives were not as potent as the Mopars and the little birds had 292/312 which were fair... just my opinion.

 

[Brandy]

What about a 63/64 Fairlane 500 with a factory 390 big block? I'd call that a muscle car...

 

[AR67GTX]

What about a 63/64 Fairlane 500 with a factory 390 big block? I'd call that a muscle car...

I’m not aware of that engine offered in that Fairlane model year. Thought the 390 FE was introduced in them in the 66 model year, except for the 427 Thunderbolt cars that were factory race prepped cars.

 

[Ron H]

Think the Catalina, Bonneville, and Grand Prix were full size. My dad had a ’63 GP w/ 389 tri-power all black, buckets, console. Was handed down to me for a while when I got my license. Took my driver's test in that and accidently gave the instructor a thrill he wasn't expecting when I gave it too much throttle (the vac advance carbs had a hesitation problem we later changed to mechanical). And wow, the earlier super duty’s…61/62 …421 motors…450 HP with a few added features available.

 

[Brandy]

I’m not aware of that engine offered in that Fairlane model year. Thought the 390 FE was introduced in them in the 66 model year, except for the 427 Thunderbolt cars that were factory race prepped cars.

1964 Ford Galaxy 500 "Z"code 390 cu.in/300hp , factory bench-seat four-speed car.

 

[Hemirunner]

As far as styling goes, the only thing I dislike is the ugly rear window/c-pillar/dutchman area.

 

[DeltaV]

My '70 Charger: I like everything about it and would not change anything.

My '79 300: The gills behind the front wheel wells.

 

[AR67GTX]

1964 Ford Galaxy 500 "Z"code 390 cu.in/300hp , factory bench-seat four-speed car.

Yes, Galaxie, but not Fairlane which was an intermediate in those years. You could also get a 427 in the 64 Galaxie. I helped a friend restore a 63 Q-code Galaxie recently with the single 4 bbl, 427/410 hp engine. It’s a strong runner.

 

[Nate S]

There were plenty of mid size cars available with big car engines in ‘63 and ‘64. Just Pontiac’s marketing positioned them differently and it stuck. I have an issue of Motor Trend from January ‘64, has a 426-S Sport Fury and a GTO. SF crushes the GTO in every way but the writers gush over the GTO because it’s a Pontiac.

 

[Runcharger]

A 1964, 426S was twice the muscle a GTO was. Better brakes, better suspension, better engine, better 4 speed, better looks.

 

[themechanic]

Console should have a padded armrest at the appropriate height for comfort.

 

[Ron H]

When I added buckets in my '63 and located a hard to find OEM console, I didn't keep it for long wanting a place for cup (coffee) holders. Didn't need the extra ash trays it had. Added a console from another car making the holders for it and it had an elevated compartment gaining an elbow rest + a perfect spot for two gauges. Back then couldn't have enough ash trays but no spot for the java.

 

[coronet68mx]

The designers never thought that this cars would last for 50 plus years, and become the icons they are now, water kill this cars, I don't like the way water flood the the trunk, cabin and in my car how the rust destroy the trunk lid, terrible water flow.

 

[Cojohnso1]

Some believe the '49 Olds 88 "Rocket" was the first Muscle Car. I'm not one them. This car was instrumental in setting up the future of US performance market. Including Muscle Car era. The difference? Olds didn't know it. The Rocket was just Old's new engine platform. And the 88 was the only chassis available.

 

[Cojohnso1]

A 1964, 426S was twice the muscle a GTO was. Better brakes, better suspension, better engine, better 4 speed, better looks.

I agree. The only engine Pontiac had that even stood a chance was their 421 Super Duty. But I guess there were not nearly enough available for the GTO introduction. Too bad. Because the GTO would have been a different and more formidable animal had it had the 421. But it looks like DeLorean was trying to keep GTO out of GMs radar in '64? (And we think corporate politics is bad today? Lol. It's ALWAYS been tough!)