Some would say that Oldsmobile started it with their Rocket 88 in 1949. I am somewhat biased and agree that the 300's were the first. However those who say it was the GTO in 1964 could make a good argument. I am old enough to remember them well when they were new(of course I also remember the 49 Olds and 55 300's quite well). I believe that the term "Muscle Car" was first used in the English Language with the introduction the GTO so therefore possibly their legitimate claim to this term. I also remember the Super Stock class in drag racing. In 1958 I purchased an Ex Nebraska Highway Patrol car. It was a 1957 Ford, Custom 300 2 Dr, 312 engine with 265 horsepower, solid cam, 2 four barrel carbs and 3 speed on the tree with overdrive. In 58 and 59 I ran Super Stock with this car to some success. Best times were mid to high 14's at high 90's mph in the quarter. My nemesis was of course were the 57 Chevy's with their 270 and 283 HP(injected) motors and a few odd Pontiacs. Did run against a few 57/58 300's but they were heavy, ran automatics and were not quite as agile in the quarter mile as the Chevy's and Fords. At a half mile we probably would have been killed by the 300's. This was in the days of a flagman waving a flag for you to go(just like on the streets) and if you won the class, any of the losers that you had beaten could post 25 or 50 bucks for a teardown pulling a head and checking other parts such as camshaft to ensure that you were not somehow taking unfair advantage by illegally souping your engine from stock specs. Never was quite convinced that all ET and MPH time slips were always accurate as I did see some real anomalies sometimes. Oh for those old days again! Roger Schaaf 300 B Calif. ----- Original Message ----- From: <xramkroozer@xxxxxx> To: <ccheinitz@xxxxxxxxxxx>; <chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Friday, September 30, 2005 4:16 AM Subject: Re: [Chrysler300] Muscle cars, Not, Super Stock, Yes > In a message dated 9/29/05 11:22:40 PM Eastern Daylight Time, > ccheinitz@xxxxxxxxxxx writes: >> >> While watching a car show yesterday, I was wondering why they always >> ignore >> the letter car 300's. Why do they say the muscle era started with the 64 >> pontiac GTO ? To me it started with the 1955 C300. I have had lots of >> Chryslers, starting with the first Hemi 1951 Saratoga, to a 1953 NY HT, >> and >> a 55 Desoto fire dome, 1957 Desoto Adventurer and even a 57 300C I >> bought >> new in that year. I had numerious drag races with all those cars and >> never >> lost one, including the 51 Saratoga. Will some one explain to me why >> these >> people think the muccle era began with the 64 GTO? >> Chuck Heinitz > CHUCK, MIKE, & ALL, MIKE HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD, THE MUSCLE CAR WAS AN > INTERMEDIATE SIZE CAR, WITH A BIG MOTOR. CAN A LETTER CAR BE CALLED A > MUSCLE > CAR? YES & NO. THEY DID START IT ALL, BUT IT WAS A FULL SIZE CAR. THE 300 > LETTER > CARS STARTED THE "SUPER STOCK" ERA, ANOTHER TERM THAT WAS LEFT IN THE LAST > CENTURY. THERE WAS ALWAYS A SUPER STOCK CLASS AT THE DRAGS, AT DAYTONA > THEY WERE > KNOWN AS SUPER STOCKS. DO YOU REMEMBER THE SHOE POLISH ON THE WINDOWS AT > THE > DRAGS, TO CLASSIFY THEM, S/S WITH THEIR NUMBER? THERE WAS NEVER A MUSCLE > CAR > CLASS, M/C WITH THEIR NUMBER. PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THEY READ IN MAGAZINES > TODAY, > IT'S A YOUNGER GENERATION, THAT WAS NEVER AT THE DRAGS, OR DAYTONA, IN THE > 50S & > 60S. UNFORTUNATELY MEMORIES ARE SHORT. STEVE ESTOK, PUNTA > GORDA, > FL > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > 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 > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Get fast access to your favorite Yahoo! Groups. Make Yahoo! your home page http://us.click.yahoo.com/dpRU5A/wUILAA/yQLSAA/8LmulB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> 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 Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Chrysler300/ <*> 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/