Muscle Car By: John E. Aibel

What is a “muscle car” and when did this class of car originate?

It is widely known that a GTO Pontiac, or 442 Oldsmobile, or any of the Hemi Head Chrysler-powered cars, or Ford big block cars are all Muscle Cars. The formula of a Muscle Car is a major manufacture's lightest and smallest product equipped with the biggest most powerful engine that they produce.

The question remaining is when did this all get started?

There are two distinct eras of production that must be looked at, pre-war and post-war time periods of history.

In the pre-World War II period the first brand that generally was considered as fast cars were the Ford V8-powered cars. However, although no one can argue with the reputations for speed these cars had, they did not fit the definition of Muscle Car as all models carried the same power and size engines.

No, it was the General Motors brand of Buick that first used the biggest Roadmaster engine shoehorned into the light and small Special model body. Buick renamed this the “Century” model. Century meaning the Buick would go 100 miles in an hour.The Century of 1939 would go down in history as the fastest American cars for the next decade.

During the Second World War, the oil industry developed high octane fuels for aircraft use. This technology filtered down to auto fuel and provided the impetus for the development of the high compression overhead valve V-8 engine.

Mr. Charles Kettering of GM was the person responsible for bringing these engines to full production. In 1949 Oldsmobile Division of GM introduced a 303 cubic inch engine, and put it into the Model 88. Well the 88 was in reality a light Chevrolet body with their most powerful engine. Hence, we have the first of the post-war muscle cars. Even the staid luxury division of GM put the new Cadillac 331 cu.in engine into a short wheelbase Model 61 that was also equipped with a standard 3-speed transmission and contemporary with the Oldsmobile 88.

Within two years Chrysler Corporation introduces an engine even more powerful than the Cadillac’s 160 hp engine. Ford was competitive as well with a new Lincoln engine. A horsepower war developed and even Packard Motor Co. got involved. 

By the year 1955 Chrysler escalated the wars by introducing the 300 Model. With a 300 horsepower rating and installed in the smallest Windsor body this car was truly a real muscle car. This model went on to win the NASCAR championship for 1955.

To sum it up, it is evident that by 1955 the formula was set for all future Muscle Cars to come.