Back during the 1950s thru the mid 1970s, Detroit automakers produced several cars that were out and out “muscle” cars. These sorts of vehicles shared the same characteristics: they were two door coupes with souped up engines, responsive transmissions, an aggressive exterior design, and a sporty interior. High fuel prices and changing tastes eventually limited sales to the point where only a few models were produced beyond that time period. Today, muscle automobile mania is back, despite even higher gas prices. Thanks to the Ford Mustang and to a lesser extent to sedan and lorry models from Dodge, there’s new interest in a category long given up. The future is bright for the muscle car segment as one more manufacturer, Chevrolet, considers bringing back one of its darlings of yesterday, the Camaro.

Besides the Ford Mustang there were a whole host of autos produced that at one point or another might have been considered a muscle car. In addition to the Mustang, the Ford Fairlane five hundred and Ford Torino did duty; the Mercury Montego was another model; Chevrolet produced the Camaro and Corvette; Pontiac the GTO, Firebird, and Storm ; Olds the 442 ; Yankee Motors’ had its Javelin; Plymouth had the ‘Cuda, and Dodge produced the Challenger and the Charger. Today, only the Mustang and Corvette survives although the Dodge Charger has returned as a 4 door muscle car along with its sibling, the hot Dodge Magnum wagon.

Interestedly, it took Ford’s redoing of the Mustang for the 2005 model year to stir the current muscle car era craze. Styled after Mustangs built in the 1960s, the present Mustang welcomes a retro look while incorporating contemporary technology. The result has been that the Mustang currently sells its entire 150,000 model capacity without incentives.

The Mustang has been electrifying DaimlerChrysler to go ahead with a retro cruiser of its own. The Dodge Challenger concept car, appearing at auto shows across the USA, has been a huge hit and Chrysler plans on bringing the V8 hemi powered model back in 2009. Additionally, General Motors is considering giving its blessing on the Camaro, another auto also making the rounds of the USA auto show circuit.

So, isn’t it mad to bring back such gas hogs? Back during the early 1970s, the then current crop of muscle cars averaged only 10-12 miles to the gallon around town and fifteen or 16 miles per gallon on the road. Thanks to PC technology and potency, even the Corvette returns a very respectable twenty-eight miles to the gallon the highway. So, although fuel mileage will certainly be lower than lots of other models, the new group of muscle cars will still better the previous generation autos with fuel mileage eighty percent or more above the autos from the 1970s.

Fortunately, we live in a reasonably free country and what the buyer wants, the customer gets. So, V8 powered muscle cars mated to 6 speed manu-matic transmissions, with sport handling, bucket seats, and better fuel usage will possibly appeal to several. No, they will not be actual copies of yesterday’s muscle cars, but they’re going to provide the nostalgia and power that motorists seek. I can’t wait!.

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