The Last Muscle Car
The decline started in 1971 with bigger insurance costs and epa rules and regulations.
The last muscle car. But the numbers and the driving experience help restore some sanity to the assertion. It was bold and used the same ol philosophy. This 400 powered firebird formula as the last muscle car makes pontiac the alpha and the omega. The machine was the last true muscle car.
The spirit was their one last try at muscle cars. Of course the whole muscle car segment became famous for its massively powerful engines and cars like the 50s 300 hp chrysler c 300 and 60s 348 hp pontiac tempest gto became overnight legends. Pontiac built its last 400 in 1977. The compact 1971 amc hornet sc360 was a sensible vehicle that signaled the twilight of the muscle car era.
But the trans am we got to drive the one you see here was still a muscle car the last muscle car. Packing a 455 cid v 8 the 1971 pontiac firebird trans am featured the biggest engine ever put in a pony car. Big engine in a small car. And that is how we get to the rather insane idea that the last american muscle car is in fact a honda accord.
However the spirit amx was seriously underpowered with a standard of 130 horsepower to ever be taken seriously. The 1971 ford mustang boss 351 was the last boss and with a 330 bhp solid lifter 351 cid ram air v 8 among the best. Even though the current generation is over 10 years old now the challenger is still the reigning king of unapologetic attitude. Ford mustang and plymouth barracuda led the way in 1964 while pontiac.
Because the other pony cars had a big head start the dodge challenger appeared pretty late in the musclepony car era. Its a mean and hulking coupe that makes up for shortcomings in refinement and cornering ability with sheer power and brute strength. By 1973 the additional costs for purchasing a muscle car were so. After 1971 amc went downhill.