2014 American Muscle Car Buyer's Guide

by Martha Hindes & Bob Plunkett

They increasingly talk about fuel efficient cars that hum quietly along propelled by electric charges. They revere Teutonic-badged exotics with heady price tags known to push the boundaries of speed and sanity on narrow roads laden with sudden hairpin turns, or on infamous test tracks. They talk about teensy vehicles that have emigrated from such countries as Germany, Italy, even Russia at one point, so small that a healthy sneeze could blow them off the road.

But when they talk about muscle, there's only one American city that comes to mind, Detroit.

The muscle car -- or, as some define it, a rear-drive street performance machine -- is as American as Channing Tatum and with just as much thrust. Muscle cars burst on the scene a half-century ago in varied iterations from what then was known as the "Big Three," GM, Ford and Chrysler.

That was when a batch of steel bodied steeds could line up in challenge formation, exhaust tones a symphony of snarls and rumbles at idle, screaming tires as they blasted off for a quarter mile run. Maybe you recall some of those storied names like GTO and FirebirdTrans Am from the now extinct Pontiac brand that have vanished into automotive history. (Note: RTM’s publisher cut her teeth on the first GTO in ‘64, a 4-speed stick shift. The GTO’s owner sat petrified in the passenger’s seat with white knuckles and a red face as Caldwell left black rubber all over neighborhood streets)

Survivors of the American muscle era still roam the streets as tough as ever, which include Chevy powerhouses Corvette and Camaro, Dodge's delicious Charger and Challenger, and the forever famous Ford Mustang.

For die-hard American Muscle lovers, debate probably will continue ad infinitum about the difference between "muscle" and "pony" cars as both terms are often used interchangeably. Some sources describe muscle cars as larger and more powerful and pony cars as smaller and more nimble.

At the risk of offending purists, we don't give a hoot what designation is attached to which car. We just know that when we get into one, switch on the ignition, feel the rumble, hear that sweet, throaty roar of the exhaust pipes, and blast off towards tomorrow with screaming tires we're feeling a resurgence of that sublime golden age of pure passion and performance. After all, what can beat the power treat of an American born-and-bred driving machine? In fact, we have another category designation we'd like to offer: Champion.

Before the electrified tactical troops get you to give up your gas, throttle on down to the nearest drag strip or dealership and live your dream. For Road & Travel Magazine's 2014 kick-butt, American Muscle heroes, read on...