The Ultimate Guide to Muscle Cars - Hardcover

Glastonbury, Jim

3.65

17 ratings by Goodreads

9780785831730: The Ultimate Guide to Muscle Cars

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0785831738 ISBN 13: 9780785831730

Publisher: Chartwell Books, 2014

View all copies of this ISBN edition:

This title covers the history of muscle cars from the forerunners of the early 20th century to today's iconic models. Close-up colour pictures look at the engine, interiors, badges and special features of the cars included. This title provides a fascinating insight into a popular motoring phenomenon. It also covers legendary car classics such as the Pontiac, GTP, Mustang, Camaro and Firebird, among many others. Muscle cars are a quintessentially North American phenomenon, owing their outrageous existence to a very simple formula. Take a mid-sized American sedan, nothing too complicated, upmarket or fancy, then add the biggest, raunchiest V8 that it is possible to squeeze under the hood, and there it is. This fascinating book looks at the first Pontiac, with its legendary GTO, Ford's new class of car, the beautiful Mustang, then later manifestations such as the legendary Hemi, Camaro, Firebird and Trans-Am, among many others. There are facts about the manufacturer, design and engineering behind each machine, making each one roar to life on the page. Stunningly illustrated with more than 600 photographs of the different cars in all their glory, this volume is the perfect reference for motoring enthusiasts or for anybody with an interest in classic cars.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Book Description:

Known primarily as the "big engine/small car" vehicles, muscle cars have spanned several generations to become a symbol of power and pride. Muscle cars are a quintessentially North American phenomenon, owing their outrageous existence to a very simple formula. Take a mid-sized American sedan, nothing too complicated, upmarket or fancy, then add the biggest, raunchiest V8 that it is possible to squeeze under the hood, and there it is! Pontiac was first, with the legendary GTO, then Ford invented a new class of car with the the pony car, the Mustang, then every other American manufacturer got in on the act, producing the legendary Hemi, Camaro, Firebird and Trans-Am, among many others. This book covers them all, as well as all the excitement of Trans-Am/NASCAR racing. Muscle cars are loud, proud and in your face, with no other pretensions than to be just that. They may be simple, even crude, but for roaring, pumping, tire-smoking standing starts, they are the business. To the youth culture of America, raised on drag racing, red-light street racing and hot-rodding, they are irresistable. The late 1960s was the heyday of the muscle car, before soaring accident rates and insurance premiums, tougher safety and emissions legislation, and finally an oil crisis, made excessive horsepower seem irresponsible. For a while, muscle cars faded from the scene, but in the 1980s they were beginning to creep back into favor, building to a full-blooded revival in the 1990s. They may be a little more efficient today, certainly more high-tech, but muscle cars are definitely back with a vengeance!

About the Author:

Jim Glastonbury for many years has been a full-time journalist. He owns at 1968 Pontiac GTO and a Mustang Boss and spends many a weekend restoring these beauties to their former glory. His knowledge of all types of muscle cars has benefited from extensive travels in the United States, adding greatly to our enjoyment of this fascinating subject.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.