page_title: Muscle car
section_title: 1964–1970: Peak muscle car era
hierarchical_section_title: Muscle car / History / 1964–1970: Peak muscle car era
caption_attribution_description: English: 1970 "The Machine" - a special model of the AMC Rebel two-door hardtop produced by American Motors Corporation (AMC). This is a factory built classic American "Muscle Car" with AMC's 390 cu. in. displacement (6.4 L) V8 engine producing 340 hp (254 kW) and 430 pound-feet of torque @ 3600 rpm. This is one of the original production versions in white with the "glow in the dark" red-white-blue color stripes and standard hood scoop and rocker panels finished in "Electric Blue." Picture taken at the show field during the annual AACA October meet held in Hershey, PA.
context_page_description: Muscle car is a term for high-performance American coupes, usually but not limited to rear-wheel drive and fitted with a high-displacement V8 engine. General Motors introduced the first proper muscle car in 1949. The term originated for 1960s and early 1970s special editions of mass-production cars which were designed for drag racing.
context_section_description: The Pontiac GTO, a car often considered to have strongly influenced the muscle car era, was introduced in 1964 as an optional package for the intermediate-size Pontiac Tempest. The GTO was developed by Pontiac division president John DeLorean and was initially powered by a 389 cu in (6.4 L) V8 engine producing 325 hp (242 kW). The success of the GTO led other GM divisions to develop muscle cars based on intermediate-sized platforms: the 1964 Oldsmobile 442, 1964 Chevrolet Chevelle SS and 1965 Buick Gran Sport.
  The AMC V8 engine was enlarged to 390 cu in (6.4 L) in 1968, which produced 315 hp (235 kW) and was first used in the 1968 AMC Rebel SST, AMC Javelin Go-package and AMC AMX.
  A key appeal of muscle cars was that they offered the American car culture relatively affordable and powerful street performance in models. But as size, optional equipment and luxury appointments increased, engines had to be more powerful to maintain performance levels, and the cars became more expensive. As a response to this rising cost and weight, some "budget" muscle cars began to appear, such as the 1967 Plymouth GTX, the 1968 Plymouth Road Runner and the 1968 Dodge Super Bee.
  The Plymouth Barracuda was one of the first muscle cars to be based on the smaller compact car body size. The Barracuda was based on the Plymouth Valiant and from 1968 was available with a 383 cu in (6.3 L) V8 engine producing 300 hp (224 kW). It could run a quarter mile in 13.33 seconds at 106.50 mph (171.40 km/h)on the drag strip. The base price was $2,796.00; the price as tested by Hot Rod was $3,652. The related 1970 Plymouth Duster was powered by a 340 cu in (5.6 L) V8 engine producing 290 hp (216 kW). Performance figures were 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 6.0 seconds and the quarter mile time of in 14.7 seconds at 94.3 mph (151.8 km/h).
  Although muscle cars sold in relatively small volumes, manufacturers valued the halo effect of the publicity created by these models. Competition between manufacturers led to a horsepower war that peaked in 1970, with some models advertising as much as 450 hp (336 kW).
  The 427 cu in (7.0 L) Chevrolet L72 big-block engine became available in the mid-sized Chevrolet Chevelle in 1969 as the COPO 427 option. The 427 Chevelle could run a 13.3 sec. quarter-mile at108 mph (174 km/h). Chevrolet rated the engine at 425 hp (317 kW), but the NHRA claimed power output to be 450 hp (340 kW). The following year, the "Chevelle SS 454" model was introduced, which used the 454 cu in (7.4 L) Chevrolet LS6 big-block engine rated at 450 hp (336 kW), the highest factory rating at that time.
  In 1969, the Plymouth Road Runner was awarded Motor Trend magazine's Car of the Year. With optional performance parts such as intake and exhaust manifolds, upgraded carburetor, and drag-racing tires, the Road Runner had a quarter mile time of 14.7 quarter at 100.6 mph (161.9 km/h). In this customized form, the cost of the Road Runner was US$3,893.
  The fastest muscle car produced by American Motors was the mid-sized 1970 AMC Rebel "The Machine", which was powered by a 390 cu in (6.4 L) engine producing 340 hp (254 kW). The Rebel had a 0–60 mph (97 km/h) time of 6.8 seconds and a quarter mile in 14.4 seconds at 99 mph (159 km/h).
caption: 1970 AMC Rebel "The Machine"
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