Motor City on a Roll ....
A Boom followed WWII ... Detroit's Big Three soon dominated
The Hudson Hornet (1951-1954) offered a comfortable ride, its "step down" low chassis lowered its Center of Gravity. The Hornet became an early NASCAR winner. Hudson merged with Nash which formed American motors. The Hudson brand ended in 1957.
1959 Nash Metropolitan. Nash Motors had made cars since 1918, finding a nitch in the small car market.Nash and Hudson merged into American Motors, and later into Chrysler ...
1943, 1944, 1945 manufacturing shifted to war materials, no automobiles were made. In 1946 auto manufactures struggled into domestic production, with older (1942) cars coming first.
Auto production boomed. "The Big Three" got bigger as people had money. Carpenters, grocery clerks could afford to buy new Fords and Chevys.
Plymouth, Chrysler, Studebaker, Hudson and others made modern cars. The boom was on.
Chevrolet outsold Ford. For the first time Ford ...
Post War Cars were built heavy and sluggish ...
1949 Oldsmobile, unintentionally, built this first muscle car
This 1950 Ford Custom was a fully new post war model. Modern, comfortable, powered with the Flathead V8.
But slow, like its peers. This was about to change. Olds engineers needed more power for their large premium models, the 98' Series.
Their creation, a short stroke (3.75" bore x 3.4375") stroke, high compression (7.25:1) 303ci, 135 horse power powerhouse ... producing about 35% more horses than competitive engines.
Olds called it the Rockett "88". It was installed in their lighter, mid price chassis making it the fastest main line ride around.
NASCAR was in its infancy, and the Olds Rockett "88" was dominant on the track.
The first Muscle Car? Why not?
1949 Olds Rocket 88. Predecessor to ever more powerful high compression, short stroke V8s. Note the Edelbrock manifold,and 4-barrel carburator.
Nadine ... is that you ?!
1959 Imperial "Nadine" Chuck Barry called out to Nadine passing on a bus. Nadine is that you?
Beautifuly restored 59 Chrysler Imperial, appropriately named Nadine showing off fins and artwork.
1955-56-57 Chevys Tri-Phase
New small block V8 Changes everything
The short block V8, and its cousins have dominated Detroit for decades ...
First Fuel Injection. The soon be become "a standard" small block Chevy motor was offered with fuel injection. This 57 with its 283 cubic inch V8 marked the demise of carburated motors.
Detroit Muscle builds through the 60s
Big power V8s easily burned rubber ...
"The 1970 GTO Judge Can be Bought": yours for $4,748 in 1970, Ram-Air 400 Cubic inch, 370 Horsepower V8. Included, heavy-duty suspension, rear spoiler, Rallye wheels, 3875 lbs. Gilmore Car Museum.
Two Mopars that could reallDodge Challenge
I971 Camero S/S. A near perfect restoration by builder David. He believes this is most beautiful muscle car of the era, as equipped from the factory. I have no argument.
200 mph stock Dodge Charger
Datona Charger hits the limit ... aero bodies restricted by NASCAR in 1971
Plymouth Roadrunner and Dodge Charger powered by Mopar HEMIs were purpose built for the track.
The fuel crisis would soon arrive ending the all-out speed and power competition.
1969 Dodge Charger Datona, 1st production car to surpass 200 mph. This car dominated NASCAR events following its introduction. 1n 1971 NASCAR restricted aero-designs. This car: 440 ci V8, 390 hp, 3250 lbs.
Small block, short stroke V8s dominate
Chevy motors still dominate, but MoPars and Fords have had their day and still do.
Small block V8s get better with 265, 283, 302, 305,307 (5 Liter), 327, 350. 400 ci displacements, fuel injection ....
The 396 big block "Rat" motor replaced the first big block 348, and 409s.
1961 Chevy convertible ...
What's a Gasser ?
Getting the most from your machine ... gets you a gasser
Perfect ... every square inch of this 57 Gasser is as good as it gets. Nitrous fueled big Block Chevy must be a lifetime effort.
The Gassers are a class of drag cars, classes include B/GS, many others. Some changes are allowed, but many original specs can not be changed.
Souped 30s Ford Flathead gasser. Can't say what Class "XF/GR" amounts to, but very nice.
Cars could fly ...
Fins, and larger fins ... maxed in 1959, disappeared quickly
59 Cadillac Eldorado got the award: long fins with twin "rocket" tips. Others weren't far behind. The Hemi powered 59 Chrysler did OK. 1959 marked the pinnacle and the end of the fin era.
