Chevrolet Muscle Cars – the Hunger for More Power

Americans love power. Chevrolet muscle cars,as evident from the name, indicate America's fascination for automotive power. The term muscle car illustrates a two-door rear wheel drive medium sized car with a big and powerful V8 engine. Muscle cars were built for street use and road racing. Although sports cars too have powerful engine and are meant for racing purpose but they differ from muscle cars in terms of price and size.Muscle cars are lower priced but larger in size than sports cars.

The trend for more powerful performance oriented car began in the 60s. The period between 1960 and 1972 played a key role in the history of American automobile as the age of transition.Especially the year 1966 when General Motors gave birth to its first powerful performance car Chevrolet Camaro that swept the market as soon as it came into existence.

Chevy muscle cars appealed towards larger group of people as they offered affordable yet powerful performance on the road that was more than enough to boost the booming automobile culture in the United States. But with time the size of Chevy muscle cars increased in keeping with its engine power and luxury features as well.

Chevy Camaro

Designed for 1967 model year Chevrolet Camaro went on sale for the first time on September 29,1966.Designed to compete with Ford Mustang Camaro shared the F-body platform and various components with its other corporate sibling Pontiac Firebird. The second generation Chevy Camaro was introduced in 1970 when it grew wider as well as heavier with the addition of newmechanical components.

The third generation Chevy Camaro saw the daylight in 1982.Although it shared the same platform but was equipped with an array of newer technologies such as throttle body fuel injection,turbo-hydramatic four-speed automatic transmissions, five-speed manual transmissions and 15 to16 inch wheels. In 1993 Chevy Camaro emerged in its new avatar with far more stylish look.Camaro Coupe was accompanied by Convertible this time with a choice of V6 or V8 engines of different capacities.With the 4th generation lasting up to 2002 the 35 years of continuous production of Chevy muscle car came to an end.

But with car enthusiasts' much excitement Chevrolet Camaro hit back in 2009. The 5th generation Chevy Camaro is based on 2006 Chevrolet muscle car concept.The 2009 Chevrolet Camaro coupe with sleek exterior and renewed interior comes in LS,LT and SS trims. Today Chevy Camaro can be defined as personal luxury car at its ultimate.

Chevy Impala

Chevy Impala a production of General Motors in the line of full size muscle cars has been one of the most expensive cars from the very beginning. Redesigned on the GM B-Platform Chevy Impala Super Sport Models became highly popular during 1963 for its superb body style.With a great combination of luxury and power Impala ruled the road for long. After 1996,the 6th generation General Motors stopped production of Impala.

But in the year 2000 Impala was resurrected with whole new body style and a host of technological features that enhanced its performance and brought it awards like '2006 and 2007 Fleet Car of the Year' by Automotive Fleet and Business Fleet magazines.Chevy Impala's new Ethanol Powered E-85 model brought it CAA Pyramid Award for Environmental Initiatives in 2006.

Finally 2009 Chevrolet Impala, member of 8th generation is one of the latest muscle cars of the 21st century.

Impala is loaded with features like 5.3L V8 engine,eight-way power-adjustable driver seat,four-wheel Antilock Brake System and FE3 Sport Suspension that make driving smoother and safer while fine leather upholstery, spacious interior and Ebony-carpet flooring and leather wrapped steering wheel add to its luxurious charm.

If we delve into the history of American muscle cars we will find some more names such as Chevrolet El Camino,Nova,Chevy Monte Carlo and Chevelle that ruled the road for quite some time with Camaro and Impala being the most prominent leaders.