Some argue that the 1964 Pontiac GTO kicked off the muscle car trend, a time when American automakers competed fiercely to produce the beefiest engines. Then, the OPEC Oil Crisis halted the era of gas-guzzlers. However, memory is unreliable, with Northwestern Medicine comparing it to the telephone game, where each recollection alters the details, leading to a distorted version of the original event. So, what truly qualifies as the first muscle car?
What is a muscle car?
A muscle car is traditionally a modestly sized coupe powered by an oversized V8 engine that delivers straight-line thrills with the gas pedal pinned to the floor and is affordably priced compared with more exotic performance fare.
The muscle car question has become a little more complicated in the modern era. Technology has advanced to the point where smaller engines can trump larger ones in terms of output, and four-door sedans have occasionally pushed their way into the conversation. The long-held definition still echoes through the industry, though, with today’s muscle cars channeling the styling, attitude, and V8 rumble of their ancestors.
When was the first muscle car made?
The first true muscle car is believed to have been introduced in 1949 with the creation of a little-known performance vehicle, the Oldsmobile Rocket 88. This car had a huge impact on the automotive world since its 300 ci V8 was among the most notable V8 engines of its time.
Naturally, this established a new standard for power in the U.S., even catching the attention of big names like Ike Turner. His song “Rocket 88” is recognized as the first rock and roll record in American history. It seems only fitting that the first muscle car also gave rise to the world’s first taste of rock and roll.
For those who follow NASCAR closely, the sport’s origins trace back to 1948, when races commenced with pre-World War II vehicles in a Modified Division. The subsequent year, 1949, marked the debut of the Strictly Stock Division (now the Cup Series), featuring brand-new, unmodified car models. File away that factoid for now.
While this classic car wasn’t alone in producing overhead V8 engines in ’49, Cadillac’s version differed significantly. Additionally, while Cadillac engines found their place in upscale GM vehicles, Oldsmobile engines were unsurprisingly reserved for Oldsmobile cars.
Rocket 88’s Slotting in The Segment
The Rocket 88, although technically a full-size vehicle, was cleverly positioned as a mid-range option, slotting between the modest 76 and the luxurious 98. Oldsmobile ingeniously amalgamated features from both models to craft the Rocket 88. Sporting the trimmer Oldsmobile 76 body yet equipped with the potent V8 engine from the 98, it boasted an unparalleled power-to-weight ratio within the lineup.
This characteristic didn’t escape the attention of moonshiners and bootleggers, even though Prohibition had ended years prior. Transporting alcohol remained illegal in the South, where the Rocket 88 gained notoriety. Reports suggest it outpaced nearly all other cheap classic vehicles of its time and offered ample trunk space for carrying sizable quantities of the illicit beverage.
The classic Oldsmobile Rocket 88 is still available at auction sites like Hemmings with prices varying between $10K and $30K. According to HotCars, the price of the 1949 Rocket 88 reached $100,000 at some auction houses.
NASCAR Triumphs
In NASCAR’s early days, many drivers were also involved in crafting and owning cars specifically for smuggling moonshine. The Olds 88, equipped with a 303 cubic-inch (5.0-liter) Rocket 88 engine delivering 135 horsepower, stood out as one of the pioneering modern high-compression overhead valve V8s.
Despite the modest horsepower compared to contemporary standards, it clinched victory in five out of eight races in NASCAR’s inaugural 1949 season of unaltered cars. And if that doesn’t impress you enough, in the subsequent year (1950), the 88s triumphed in 10 out of 19 races, securing Oldsmobile the prestigious title of NASCAR’s first Manufacturers’ Champion.
How They Came To Be Known As ‘Muscle Cars’
The concept of a ‘Muscle Car’ as a specific entity is only recognized from the 1960s. Pontiac was actually the first one who used this term while introducing their 1964 GTO car. Subsequent to this usage, it was adopted as a label for describing various modified cars.
Other competitors in the sports car business, including Ford, quickly joined the scene with their own potent models to try and grab a chunk of the same pie. General Motors, the owner of the Pontiac division, proceeded to develop muscle cars under other divisions. Almost immediately, Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, and Buick unveiled other versions of the muscle car with their performance components distinctive from the Pontiac GTO.
When Did the Muscle Car Fad Weaken?
Unfortunately, after 1973, the market for muscle cars changed significantly. For the companies building muscle cars, challenges arose in form of soaring fuel prices as an aftermath of the oil crisis, a hike in insurance rates, and above all, the Clean Air Act. The higher prices also made the muscle cars less practical and unattainable for customers.
The Clean Air Act of 1970 made it especially difficult for manufacturers to develop the high-compression engines of the olden days that characterized the power muscle car owners craved for. When the oil embargo made the fuel octane rating decrease from the regular 100 octane to 91 octane, it became necessary for manufacturers to lower the engine’s compression ratio. So, by the end of the decade, the muscle cars were rated lower in power. Automakers also had to spend more money on scrubbing emissions, which translated to less powerful vehicles for consumers. In short, the classic muscle car era ended in just a few years.
