Folks: A bit of overkill at this point, it would seem, however... There are several definitions of the first musclecars, including the first Buick Century (Special Body w/ Roadmaster engine). In the modern context of smaller car/larger engine, I have always contended (I was even quoted as a 16 year old in a 1967 edition of Motor Trend Magazine, believe it or not), that the first incarnation of the GTO-type defintion was the 1956 Studebaker Golden Hawk. Think about it...the largest engine in 1956 was a 374" Packard engine (the G-Hawk engine's larger brother, some of which were dealer installed in these cars w/ dual quads..310HP). Also, the car could be had w/ stick/OD (HD T-85 B-W), ratios up to 4:56, ordered without PS or PB and, at no extra cost, evil handling. A brute to be sure, but one that mesmerized the automotive press at the time. Certainly, this was not the balanced vehicle a 300B was, but, in its way, was a precursor for some of the outrageousness we saw in the sixties. Just my opinion... Keith -----Original Message----- From: Jack Farris <jackfarris@xxxx> To: Owen & Jo Grigg <ram300@xxxx>; Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; heinitz <heinitz@xxxx> Date: Tuesday, September 18, 2001 6:12 PM Subject: Re: [Chrysler300] Oct Hot Rodding >Although I don't necessarily agree, the term "Muscle Car" refers to a >certain genre of mid-sized cars of the mid sixties to early seventies that >had big block engines and were produced specifically for the purpose of >going fast. The first car that was "officially" designated as a "muscle car" >(if I recall) was the Pontiac GTO. Other muscle cars included Olds 442's, >Barracudas & Chargers (big blocks only), big block Camaro's and Mustangs, >and other big block mid-sized Mopars and other makes. There may have been >other cars that could go faster, or were more powerful, but they did not fit >the definition of the genre. "Muscle Cars" were produced primarily to appeal >to a younger demographic than our 300's. > >Jack > >--------------------------------------------------------------------------- - >>From: "Owen & Jo Grigg" <ram300@xxxx> >>To: <Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "heinitz" <heinitz@xxxx> >>Subject: Re: [Chrysler300] Oct Hot Rodding >>Date: Tue, Sep 18, 2001, 3:06 PM >> > >> Good question how do you define what a "musclecar" is? >> Sometime back I was invited to show my 300C at the National Musclecar Show >> in NZ. Now I was told they had to bend the rules to allow my car in. There >> rule book states only early 60's to early 70's as a musclecar. The C stood >> out like a sore thumb at the show, and more than a few scoffed at it, saying >> what's a full size '50s car doing here. >> I on the otherhand looked around at the small cubic displacement Mustangs, >> Camaros, and Cudas, which I commonly refer to as "school girls cars", ie- >> low hp compact cars! >> My C puts out 375hp from factory other cars present were lucky if they broke >> the 300 mark. So if the word muscle means hp.......... >> Or does it mean any old compact from the 60's and 70's era? >> Owen >> >> Question. At a meet last year my 68 300 was judged as a reg Chrysler, when >> along side of me a Baracuda with a 318 was judged as a muscle car. I thought >> that was wrong, what do you guys think?. > > >To send a message to this group, send an email to: >Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > >For list server instructions, go to http://www.chrysler300club.com/yahoolist/inst.htm > >To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: >Chrysler300-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > > > >Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > >