Title:
Fast Cars – The American Muscle
Word Count:
418
Summary:
In the 1960s there was a class of cars introduced to the world known as muscle cars. These cars were sleek
and sporty and contained a powerful engine. Most of these cars boasted a V8 engine which was geared for
speed. As these cars were produced the manufacturers were in stiff competition with each other. As each
manufacturer tried to out do the other, we were led into an era of some of the fastest cars of our time. With
no thought to gas and fuel efficiency, Americans seemed...
Keywords:
Fast cars,fast cars info,muscle car,v8,mustang,corvette,firebird
Article Body:
In the 1960s there was a class of cars introduced to the world known as muscle cars. These cars were sleek
and sporty and contained a powerful engine. Most of these cars boasted a V8 engine which was geared for
speed. As these cars were produced the manufacturers were in stiff competition with each other. As each
manufacturer tried to out do the other, we were led into an era of some of the fastest cars of our time. With
no thought to gas and fuel efficiency, Americans seemed to be having the time of their lives. Their cars were
fast and eye-catching, both on the road and on the race track. Racing stripes and flashy decals made a
statement about both the car and the driver. It seemed the flashier the car the more desirable.
At a time when the luxury automobile was the king of the road for the married set, the younger crowd
wanted something smaller, faster, and sportier. The Shelby Mustang and the 440 Roadrunner are two of the
fast cars which were built to satisfy the desire for high performance and speed. There were many more fast
cars to come. Camaros, Chargers, GTOs, and Firebirds all tried to pack as much punch under the hood as
was possible. Corvettes offered speed and sleek style, but they also had a high price tag. Most of the other
high performance cars offered a price that was affordable to the average working class people.
The Fuel Effect
During the 1960s and 70s auto manufacturers were riding high on a wave of speed and performance. Then
we entered an era where we were told gas was in short supply and we were destroying the ozone with our
extravagant auto emissions. We reluctantly let go of our fast and sporty cars and took to the streets with a
V6 and even a V4. Gas mileage and cheaper insurance costs forced the fast cars onto the race track and off
the roadways.
The desire for speed will be with us always. We will probably never again see a time when speed and high
performance engines are sold for the every day street car but we can get a glimpse of these cars at the
raceway or at vintage car shows. The baby boomers were around to see these cars at their inception and they
still carry a torch for them today. Many will spend a small fortune to restore one of these original fast cars
back to their former splendor.
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