| Muscle cars are a staple part of the cultural | | | | these are not the muscle cars our fathers knew. They |
| consciousness of developed North America; even | | | | are designed to accommodate consumer concerns |
| those not familiar and really not too interested in | | | | over fuel consumption, with even the biggest V-8s |
| engines and power can't help but turn their heads | | | | mitigated in their guzzling through the latest in computer |
| when a Barracuda or a Mustang rolls by. The | | | | chip technology. Even more stunning is the fact that |
| combination of power and style that these cars bring | | | | some of these cars are designed - and are selling - |
| together has always appealed to North Americans, | | | | not as traditional two doors but as sedans and even |
| from the early years of muscle cars in the classic | | | | (gasp) as station-wagon like models. |
| 1960s right up to the present day. | | | | Some resurgent models include the 2005 Ford |
| The problem with muscle cars has always been the | | | | Mustang, which boasted an entirely new look in addition |
| same; people see them as impractical, both as family | | | | to a new chassis, and became the best selling |
| vehicles and in terms of economy. They have never | | | | Mustang model in ten years. Pontiac also rolled out a |
| gone out of style as far as looks, and maybe even | | | | new style GTO in 2003, but it was discontinued in |
| desire, but they have never been able to reproduce | | | | 2006. This has not dissuaded Chevrolet, however, as |
| the sales success they enjoyed from the '60s to the | | | | the company has announced plans to roll out a new |
| '70s. | | | | version of the Camaro in 2009, as well as reworked |
| Given that muscle cars are known for their massive | | | | G8's and a possible comeback of the GTO. |
| displacement, which traditionally has sucked up the fuel, | | | | The struggle of the American car companies is not |
| it is kind of surprising to realize that there has been a | | | | news. With all of them losing huge market portions to |
| resurgence in the manufacturing of muscle cars by | | | | foreign car manufacturers like Toyota, Volkswagen, |
| North American companies for much of the new | | | | and Honda, it should come as no surprise that Detroit is |
| millennium. Ford, Chrysler, and Chevrolet have all turned | | | | falling back on an old stalwart to try and remind North |
| out new models and reworked existing models in | | | | Americans why they fell in love with the companies in |
| order to bring the muscle car back into the selling | | | | the first place. Cars with traditional muscle appeal but |
| mainstream. | | | | designed for family and energy efficiency may be the |
| Perhaps the resurgence of the muscle car | | | | key to winning back some market share. |
| manufacture is best described as a renaissance, for | | | | |