Muscle Cars « Aftermarket Car Parts

Muscle Car and It’s History

Whether they are creeping slowly down the town strip, fish tailing down country roads, or driving down the long stretches of desert highway, the American car rumbling under the power of a large engine just seems to fit. In fact, while the true origin of the modern automobile can be debated, the muscle car is something that's wholly American.

What is a muscle car?

The exact definition of what a muscle car is can be a bit fuzzy, but most typically revolve around a V8 engine reserved for a larger sedan or even a truck being placed into a medium sized sedan. These sedans were typically two door vehicles. These smaller, but by no means small, cars paired with progressively larger engines meant vehicles which could unleash a great deal of power in a relative short time.

A brief history

Though this practice was fairly common amongst the bootleggers during Prohibition, the earliest credited muscle car to be produced by an automobile manufacturer is usually cited as the 1949 Oldsmobile Rocket 88. The Rocket 88 came with a new high-compression, overhead valve V-8 dropped into a light weight body, resulting in the speed and power combination which would become standard.

A few other manufacturers produced them throughout the 1950s, with many more producing the cars and engines separately, resulting in the hot rod trend. It wasn't until the 1960s when most American manufacturers started to make cars which rolled off the assembly line fitting the muscle car definition.

Like the fall of the Roman Empire, the death of the muscle car came from a variety of sources. The automobile safety and emissions standards which Ralph Nader started crusading for in the 1960s started to become law - mandating standards, which better for people and the environment, limited the viability of the muscle car. The OPEC oil embargo of 1973 saw large scale gasoline rationing, price controls, and gas station lines, helped to make them impractical and move the American buyer towards smaller cars. The muscle car was becoming more difficult to produce and more expensive to own, a two front approach that largely spelled doom for the breed.

The trend towards smaller cars lasted through the remainder of the 1970s and into the 1980s. It was then when gas prices eased back towards historic lows, the Japanese economy found itself in hard times, and Americans rediscovered a love for larger cars. Granted, those larger cars were sport utility vehicles, but they started a horsepower love affair. This affair bled over into a re-ignition of the muscle car, perhaps first with the Dodge Magnum RT, a blend of sports car and a station wagon, and then drifting into the rebirth of the Dodge Charger and the Pontiac GTO.

Alas, the rebirth was short lived, ending because of similar issues as the first era - high gas prices, increasing emissions standards, and a move by consumers towards smaller and more efficient vehicles. Whether or not the muscle car will make a third resurgence has yet to be seen. One thing that is certain is that Americans seem to be drawn to powerful vehicles no matter what part of the country they call home.

Mustang’s Performance and Upgrades

With the recent uprising and resurrection of everyone's muscle cars it seems that the more power that can be put into a vehicle has risen once again. No longer are we in a time that gas mileage is priority number one, we are all wanting more power. Gas prices have come down in last year but they will soon be going back up. So how can one get more power now and be preparing for the future gas prices. As far as the Ford Mustang goes there are many different options and variations that will give both power and better efficiency.

There are many ways to make your Mustang go fast. Any year Mustang can be upgraded to go faster. The prime years for doing mods however are 1987-1993. You have more potential for these years than any other because you can do virtually any thing to a 5.0L Mustang to make it faster. Everything from a Ford Racing radiator to the driveshaft loop. With just a few small modification you can really make this car come to life without spending an a lot of money.

The most common street upgrades seen for many Mustangs are flowmaster exhaust or some other brand, cold air intake and they are good for delivering more air into the engine for more horsepower. Headers are also another common upgrade and they are the tubes that run from each sides of the cylinder heads to the exhaust pipes. These modifications are good to start with but there are plenty of other was to free up more power such as getting aftermarket cylinder heads and there are several for the 5.0 Mustang. Bigger fuel injectors with a recalibrated mass air flow is another way to get more rwhp.

Performance in general is not cheap, however its not so bad for Mustangs you could gain a significant amount of hp with just a couple of thousand dollars. If your considering doing heavy modifications to your Mustang I suggest doing some homework on it because the combination of parts is critical to the performance of your car. There are many websites on the internet that sell aftermarket parts so its not hard to find them.

If you have a lot of hp and tq under the hood of your hooked up Mustang you might be putting a lot of stress on other parts of the car like the transmission. In that case getting an aftermarket transmission might be a good idea. AOD or automatic transmissions are more durable and can sustain more horsepower than manual transmissions. Stock transmissions can only handle so much power, the two limitations of the factory transmissions are durability and performance. If you double your stock horsepower rating you might want to consider looking into it.

The Popularity Of The Muscle Cars

Muscle cars are one of the most popular cars throughout the country. They are fast, sleek, small and appealing to the eye. The majority of muscle cars come with a V8 engine, are 2-door, have rear wheel drive and are also usually inexpensive. Muscle cars were first mass-manufactured in the 1960s and 1970s and were primarily utilized for drag racing in the streets. However the first muscle car was manufactured in 1949. It turned out the Oldsmobile Rocket 88. This was the first American vehicle with the overhead valve V8 engine. The final model of the Oldsmobile 88 was created in 1999. The model was made in three different cities: Wentzville, Missouri; Flint, Michigan and Lake Orion, Michigan.

The concern over muscle cars came to the forefront when Ralph Nader led a small grouping of safety lobbyists contrary to the marketing and manufacture of the vehicles, especially to the younger generation. New teens, just starting to drive, loved the thought of having a fast car to impress their friends and particularly the girls. Muscle cars don't have the strongest of tires, great handling or excellent breaks. Tires have less adhesion on muscle cars than normal cars do.

Muscle cars became an extremely popular part of American culture during the 1960s and 1970s that they were included in not just on television programs but even in movies. The car from Knight Rider was a muscle car; the cars in Starsky and Hutch were muscle cars; and muscle cars were used in Elvis movies most notably. Elvis would sing while driving in the car or standing next to it with his admirers. The popularity of the muscle car diminished for quite a while however its allure will never entirely disappear in the American culture.

The Famous Dodge Durango Muscle Car

During the year 2011 Dodge has marketed 6 all-new or significantly redesigned vehicles. These vehicles are solidifying its message that Dodge offers excellent value for individuals that need to find that perfect blend of performance, styling, comfort, and technology. To summed it up, Dodge already have six vehicles that will get over 25 miles per gallon on the road.

Dodge Durango
The absolutely redesigned Dodge Durango offers four-wheel independent suspensions and even more responsive steering. Having its spacious three-row, seven passenger, functional and versatile interior that the Durango has reached the top of its class. Also inside, the vehicle features much more than 30 storage areas, 28 different seating configurations, and nearly 85 cubic feet of rear cargo space.

Underneath the hood, the Durango is holding the new award-winning 3.6 liter Pentastar V-6 engine. The re-engineered engine that gives a finest in class 290 horsepower as well as a top in class 500 miles on a tank of gas. A HEMI V8 with fuel saver multi displacement is accessible to the power-lovers, which gives another best in class 360 horsepower. The Dodge Durango also provides over 45 security and safety features to help keep your family safe.

The Popularity of Muscle Cars

Looking at the flashy exterior to its high-performance engines, a muscle car is every inch being an ideal automobile. While this type of vehicles was exposed to the public ages ago, it remains the favorite vehicle among car enthusiast throughout the world. Also, they are considered a genuinely valuable collector's item, making these cars one of the most desired automobiles on the market.

A Brief Background

Muscle cars burst on the scene in the 1960's, as drag racing gradually rose to popularity. At that time, car manufacturers such as Ford, MOPAR and American Motors produced a comprehensive variety of models to meet up with its growing market. These cars were characteristically medium sized vehicles along with the power of huge engines. These 2-door automobiles were unique in each and every sense, from their designs to their speed capacities. Exterior designs of this car breed vary from those simple yet elegant structures to the fiery and detailed ones largely used for racing. Although these cars were initially meant for sports racing, they differed very much from sports cars.

Common Features

Through the years, different car manufacturers and individuals have formulated various improvements and modifications on the original version of the muscle car. Through this, these cars have evolved a lot in terms of engines, structure and ability. However, the key highlights of these classic cars remain, and that's what makes them so incredible and alluring to collectors today. One of the few qualities that comprise these cars and represent even the majority of the modern ones are large wheels, superior horsepower, expertly crafted car parts and classic, stylish designs.

Some of the Most Popular Models

Muscle cars have consistently endured the test of time. For this reason, most of these models have been quite popular among racers and collectors alike. You will find the Ford's Torino, GTO, and Mustang. Other well-known muscle cars include Chevrolet's Camaro and Pontiac Firebird, Plymouth Roadrunner, Buick Skylark, Dodge Challenger and the Super Bee. Chrysler, another leading car manufacturer, has produced its own line of famous muscle cars including Valiant Charger and LX platform.

Headlight Safety For Mustang Cars

New Drivers and Expert drivers alike should be cautious to driver security, and ensuring that your headlights are clean and up to date is a good approach to start. Your car's headlights are essential for your security and also the safety of each and every different driver due to visibility could be the first among many driver safety methods. There are several types of lights used in vehicles specially in Ford Mustangs; each having its own particular and essential operate and definite location from the automobile.

The half on your Mustang that beams a vivid light from the vehicle to keep you on the highway is obligatory in order to run a vehicle. This light has been deemed by all as the "headlight". Many people mention that the term for this invention was based on the style and the shape that the light cast. Having your headlights on through the day while you're driving additionally helps higher visibility on the highway. Headlight Mustang Parts ensure it is straightforward so that you can have imaginative and prescient while driving. Great Ford Mustang Parts, headlights specifically, are quite helpful each time unhealthy climate comes on the street, you desire this to aid in enhancing maximum visibility. Ugly weather in inevitable so if the time arrives try to be ready by holding clear headlights so other drivers can easily see you on the road.

Even though the tail lights' design on the Mustang are extremely trendy, they serve an even better purpose as being a safety precaution for you personally as well as to others.These tail lights come with another layer to give rise to the typical style of the automotive but created additionally to stop damaged tail lights.

Maintenance Tips For Muscle Cars

Owning a muscle car isn't all testosterone filled car journeys, just as with all the other cars they also need maintenance. And in some cases they require more frequent and extensive maintenance work than your normal car.

Even if they're also known as powerful cars and are deemed for being much tougher than other cars out there, they still need maintenance to enable them to keep in peak condition. And because of their high-performance engines the constant maintenance that should be done is a lot more complicated compared to the normal, generic tune-ups. You have to constantly monitor things like the oil and cooling system among other things to make sure your engine won't explode once you push it towards the red line.

Aside from the engine, it's also wise to look into the car's battery. When you have a poorly maintained battery, it won't carry enough stored electricity to power up your car; thus making your alternator to function overtime charging your battery straining it as well as your engine. Be certain that the amount of sulfuric acid in the batteries is definitely at the recommended level, and constantly clean the battery terminals to make sure there is a proper connection.

Another vital portion of your car you need to take care of is the braking system. Muscle cars have massive engines that released a few hundred horsepower which make it ideal for going at high speeds, so it's also essential that you will be able to stop effectively. Find out if the brake pads aren't too worn-out, if the disc brakes don't have any cracks, the brake lines don't leak etc. It wouldn't be considered a pretty sight if you ever slam your pristine-looking Ford Mustang into a wall because your brakes didn't hold.

Oil could be the lifeblood of all engines - they supply proper lubrication to a large number of moving parts inside. If neglected, the wear and tear of engine components will be inevitable. So before your piston rings are fried always check your oil level if it is enough, and constantly change it after a few thousand miles. Synthetic engine oil is recommended for high performance engines mainly because they can withstand much higher temperatures than regular engine oils.

These simple rules may help your beloved muscle car to run smoothly and efficiently for many years. So do them already!

DUB Edition Mustangs at 2011 Detroit Auto Show

I'll tell you what, next to the Mach7 Falcon, the DUB edition Mustangs stole the show at this year's 2011 Detroit Auto Show. They were unreal, the body kits one them were so cool and extreme looking. I've never seen a body kit that flares out so much and looks so aggressive. The body kits did it nicely too, they weren't gaudy at all.

The wheels on the burgundy colored Mustang were unreal, that must of been like a 12 inch lip in back, maybe bigger! And the burgundy color was out of this world, my Dad loved that paint job when he saw it! These were the only extremely aftermarket modified sports cars at the show. I guess due to the poor economy in Michigan, many other aftermarket companies have dropped out of the Detroit Auto Show to save money.

Man I really hope to see one of these DUB edition Mustangs cruising Woodward one of these days, now that would be a sight to see. Maybe we'll see them at the 2011 Woodward Dream Cruise this year!

Video of the CULT Energy Challenger

Man I saw this sweet video on YouTube of the CULT Energy Challenger muscle car and I had to post it on my automotive blog. Now listen to that supercharger squealing on that beast, is that sick or what? This is the first time I had ever seen an old style blower supercharger on a modern age muscle car. It definitely brings back some old memories for me, especially when I saw the Dodge Charger from Fast and Furious do a wheelie on screen. It sure would be nice to have a decked out muscle car like this, let me tell ya! I wonder how much horsepower this muscle car is putting out on the dyno, it's definitely a lot!

Ultimate Muscle Car Wallpaper

Out of all the muscle car wallpapers surfacing around the internet, this one is my favorite. The muscle car wallpaper features the 2010 Camaro, the 2010 Challenger and the 2010 Shelby GT500 Mustang. And the atmosphere of the picture is cool, the idea of having the muscle cars shot in a rain shot was very neat. This muscle car wallpaper makes for a nice desktop background on your computer. Definitely share this muscle car picture with your friends and family, pass it around the muscle car forums as well.