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autoevolution's Muscle Car Month

Rumbling muscle cars are about as American as fast food and at least as tasty to the eyes of gearheads as the latter. Coincidentally or not, neither is very friendly to the environment and yet most people can’t help but enjoy both as much as they can.

According to some, the term ‘muscle car’ was introduced to the world by chance, with the original 1964 Pontiac LeMans GTO, but automotive historians will probably disagree and make you go back about over a decade and have a good look at the 1949 Oldsmobile Rocket 88. The Olds was simply ahead of its time, pairing the smaller and lighter body of the 76 with the larger and more powerful V8 of the Oldsmobile 98.

The golden age of muscle was during the 1960s and early ‘70s, but recent years have seen a downright massive revival of popularity with monsters like the Challenger Hellcat or the Shelby Mustang GT500.

No matter its origin, the muscle car recipe has always stayed the same, with a cacophonous-sounding V8 being cramped under the hood of a light and compact, by American standards, vehicle. With rear-wheel-drive and a propensity to go fast mostly in a straight line, they've always had a 'king of the road' aura and will always be part of American pop culture.

Somewhat antithetic with last month’s theme on autoevolution, which was all about Earth and green technologies, we’ve decided to dedicate the month of May to some of the most gas-guzzling and earth-shaking type of cars out there, muscle cars. We're pretty sure you'll forgive us for it.

Editor's note: This special feature by autoevolution was not sponsored or supported by a third-party.
1971 Dodge Charger Found in the Woods Might Be Dead for Good
1971 Dodge Charger Found in the Woods Might Be Dead for Good

3 May 2020, 13:13 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / Someone has come across what was believed to be a gem, but this ‘71 Dodge Charger might actually be dead for good, with no chance to be restored

 
Muscle Cars History: The Pontiac GTO
Muscle Cars History: The Pontiac GTO

3 May 2020, 12:54 UTC · By: Alex Oagana / The one that started it all is now part of the history books, which is one more reason to learn about the reason muscle cars bring us joy in the first place

 
1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS SS Convertible Restomod Is American Muscle Done Right
1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS SS Convertible Restomod Is American Muscle Done Right

3 May 2020, 12:19 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / The ‘69 Chevrolet Camaro has received a brilliant restomod treatment that includes a balanced mix of old and new, with a new engine at the core of everything

 
Tesla GT Is the Muscle Car Frankenstein No One Asked For
Tesla GT Is the Muscle Car Frankenstein No One Asked For

3 May 2020, 05:02 UTC · By: Elena Gorgan / Scott Barras renderings imagine the popular EV competing in the most surprising segment of the market, that of muscle cars, taking inspiration from the classics

 
Clinched Dodge Challenger Hellcat Is a Widebody Carbon Banana
Clinched Dodge Challenger Hellcat Is a Widebody Carbon Banana

2 May 2020, 20:54 UTC · By: Mihnea Radu / For some people the Hellcat just isn't wide or crazy enough. Thankfully, this $6,000 body kit can change all that in a heartbeat

 
Someone Has Recreated the Chevrolet Camaro from Gorillaz’s “Stylo” for GTS
Someone Has Recreated the Chevrolet Camaro from Gorillaz’s “Stylo” for GTS

2 May 2020, 16:38 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / Gran Turismo Sport liveries allow players to virtually drive the Chevrolet Camaro from the Gorillaz music video called “Stylo”

 
This Restored 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Is the Camaro Killer You Just Must Love
This Restored 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Is the Camaro Killer You Just Must Love

2 May 2020, 16:04 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / A restored 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 that looks just like a brand-new car is up for action, with the highest bid currently at $54,100

 
This 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona Just Came Out of a Barn in Indiana
This 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona Just Came Out of a Barn in Indiana

2 May 2020, 15:56 UTC · By: Andrei Tutu / While the classic Charger Daytona comes with the standard 440 Magnum engine, the V8 is mated to a four-speed manual, while the list of tech options is rich

 
This 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Spent 40 Years in a Barn, Now Being Restored
This 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Spent 40 Years in a Barn, Now Being Restored

2 May 2020, 15:05 UTC · By: Andrei Tutu / Given the extended "sentence" of this 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, the pre-restoration condition of the muscle car seems surprising

 
Dodge Charger Daytona "Shooting Brake" Is One For The Family
Dodge Charger Daytona "Shooting Brake" Is One For The Family

2 May 2020, 13:44 UTC · By: Andrei Tutu / Let's say you want to take the whole family out for a 200 mph cruise - what's the right car to do it? Well, this rendering brings an eccentric answer

 
Abandoned 1968 Dodge Charger Found in the Woods Is an Early Christmas Gift
Abandoned 1968 Dodge Charger Found in the Woods Is an Early Christmas Gift

2 May 2020, 12:47 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / If you ever dreamed about coming across an abandoned muscle car just when you expect it the least, it turns out this is actually possible

 
Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 "Hellcat" Face Swap Looks Surprising
Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 "Hellcat" Face Swap Looks Surprising

2 May 2020, 12:04 UTC · By: Andrei Tutu / Could there ever be peace between the Mopar fans and the Blue Oval aficionados? The pair of renderings sitting before us might just answer that

 
This 1968 Chevrolet Impala Super Sport 427 Is a Cool Mix of Rust and Desert Sand
This 1968 Chevrolet Impala Super Sport 427 Is a Cool Mix of Rust and Desert Sand

2 May 2020, 11:07 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / “Desert find” Chevrolet Impala was sold for nearly $10,000 at an online auction; the car comes without an engine, but the transmission is still there

 
Complete 1970 Dodge Charger Barn Find Has Been Parked Since the ‘80s
Complete 1970 Dodge Charger Barn Find Has Been Parked Since the ‘80s

2 May 2020, 10:11 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / And the car has just sold for a little over $7,000 in an eBay auction; the Charger also comes with the original paint and the original keys

 
Ford Mustang "Hoonifox" Is Ken Block's Batmobile
Ford Mustang "Hoonifox" Is Ken Block's Batmobile

1 May 2020, 16:59 UTC · By: Andrei Tutu / Ken Block's next slip angle machine will be this tricked-out Fox Body 'Stang, whose current virtual form was created by Ash Thorp, designer of the next Batmobie

 
Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 Pencil Drawing Actually Looks Better than the Original
Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 Pencil Drawing Actually Looks Better than the Original

1 May 2020, 16:29 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / Someone has created a drawing of the Mustang Shelby GT350 based on the original photo, and the only things that were used are pencils and markers

 
1970 Dodge Challenger R/T “Wrath” Shows Menacing Supercharger Intake Manifold
1970 Dodge Challenger R/T “Wrath” Shows Menacing Supercharger Intake Manifold

1 May 2020, 15:16 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / If Dom from Fast & Furious would have driven a Challenger instead of a Charger, maybe it would have looked a little like this rendering here

 
This Abandoned 1971 Dodge Demon Is the Barn Find That’ll Probably Make You Cry
This Abandoned 1971 Dodge Demon Is the Barn Find That’ll Probably Make You Cry

1 May 2020, 15:07 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / 1971 Dodge Demon with the “Sizzler” looks like a total wreck after being abandoned probably for way too many years somewhere in the middle of nowhere

 
1967 Dodge Coronet Barn Find Still Has the Same Half-of-Century-Old Gold Paint
1967 Dodge Coronet Barn Find Still Has the Same Half-of-Century-Old Gold Paint

1 May 2020, 13:12 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / The Coronet is up for auction on eBay, and the starting bid is set for $4,000, albeit you really need to hurry up to secure this barn find

 
All-Original, Impeccable 1970 Plymouth Cuda Is a Surprising Time Capsule
All-Original, Impeccable 1970 Plymouth Cuda Is a Surprising Time Capsule

1 May 2020, 03:31 UTC · By: Elena Gorgan / This Cuda was only driven on the track a few times, and has just 86 miles on the clock. It was never restored and has been kept as a time capsule