Muscle Car Information

The Muscle Cars Information section details some of the histories and manufacturers of high-performance vehicles such AMC, Dodge, Plymouth, Buick, Pontiac and Chevy.

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The Department of Energy created a classic Shelby Cobra with a 3-D printer. That's cool, but what does it mean for the auto industry?

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

"Muscle cars" are American automobiles with lots of power, modest weight, and blazing acceleration. The term was coined in 1964 when Pontiac introduced a potent 389-cubic-inch V-8 for a midsize car. The option turned a tame Tempest into a snarling GTO.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

When Buick finally got around to producing genuine muscle cars in 1965, it came as little surprise that they were among the most luxurious of the breed. See profiles of the best Buick muscle cars.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

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Chevy muscle cars were at the very heart of the classic era of all-American big-cube high performance. Check out the very best Chevy muscle cars.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

Dodge muscle cars were winners at America's dragstrips long before they took their place among the country's fastest and wildest street-going supercars. Check out the best Dodge muscle cars here.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

Ford muscle cars counted among their ranks some of the better all-around performance machines of the supercar era, but it took some time for the blue oval boys to put it all together. Learn more.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

The phrase "Mercury muscle cars" sounds like a contradiction in terms. Ford's upscale division, after all, was positioned to battle the Buicks and Oldsmobiles of the world. Learn more about Mercury muscle cars.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

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Plymouth muscle cars spanned the spectrum from fanciful to fearsome -- and sometimes displayed both qualities. In the 1960s and '70s, Plymouth was transformed into a destination for big engines and big thrills. Learn more.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

Pontiac is credited for ushering in the classic era of muscle cars in the 1960s. Find out what made Pontiac muscle cars so great, and see some of the best hot rods produced by the carmaker.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

AMC, best known for its economy vehicles, was late to the muscle car game. But the automaker arrived with a flourish, producing some of the great muscle cars of the late 1960s. Learn about AMC muscle cars.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide