End of the muscle car era..

[bravenrace]

What year would you say it was, and why? I'm talking about the 60's and 70's muscle cars. I'm not talking about one model in particular, but the industry as a whole. That means ignore the one or two exceptions, like say the SD-455 Trans Am that went on longer than most.
And when do you think it started to decline? This was a topic on another forum and I'm just curious what you guys say.

 

[Fst Blk]

72 IMO. I don't consider anything past to be a muscle car.
Bill

 

[janschutz]

72 IMO. I don't consider anything past to be a muscle car.
Bill

+1

 

[Fast68back]

I was thinking the same thing '72

 

[Jack1966]

1971 and introduction of low lead gas and lower compression.

 

[Gigantopithecus]

Re: Re: End of the muscle car era..

1971 and introduction of low lead gas and lower compression.

This.

 

[Anonymous]

IMO, it was 1970

 

[monkeystash]

'72 ended it, '70 was the pinnacle.

 

[RapidRabbit]

Re: Re: End of the muscle car era..

'72 ended it, '70 was the pinnacle.

+1

 

[KTJMcG]

I'll say 73. You could still get a big block from Ford,GM,and Chrysler. A little de-tuned, but power none the less.

 

[Ponyman66]

I'll say 73. You could still get a big block from Ford,GM,and Chrysler. A little de-tuned, but power none the less.

+1 What looks bad on paper for HP is partially due to how they rated HP starting in '72 (from SAE Gross to SAE Net). While HP did drop some, partially due to lowering compression, it didn't drop THAT much! Look up, say, what a 302 or 351W was rated at in '71, then check '72. It's almost 100hp difference!!

I would agree that Ford and GM's last year was arguably in '72, but Mopar was still sticking to it's HP guns in '73...hence my agreement with '73 being THE last year.

 

[GrabberOrange69]

I would say 1973. Mustang still had a 351CJ/4sp/3:55 gear option, it was the last year of the 454 Corvette, first year of the 455 SD Trans Am (last year would be '75), and you could still get a 440 in a "B" body at MOPAR (last year would be '74).

1973 IMO.

 

[SELLERSRODSHOP]

i'm with jack, 1971 was the start of the decline & after the 73 models, it fell off the map.

 

[BobV]

2013 and still going strong, IMHO. bj

 

[KBMWRS]

It happened that day that PT Cruiser passed Mark. :sarc :roll

 

[bravenrace]

2013 and still going strong, IMHO. bj

" I'm talking about the 60's and 70's muscle cars. "

 

[chillininnh]

73

 

[gtscode]

I agree with 73, you could still get a mean Camaro in 73, split bumper grill still one of my dream cars!!!

 

[RagTop]

I've got to agree with 72. Government regulations and the begining of nanny state killed them in 73. Engines were detuned, weight was added with crash bumpers and performance dropped. The begining of the long muscle car winter. Gotta love some of the new ones now though. Way faster and quicker than anything we had in the 60s and early 70s.

 

[LastDeadLast]

Even though they started to be really choked this year, but I agree with 73. There were still some good designs.. but in 74 the bottom really dropped out.

-Shannon