OPEN DISCUSSION TOPIC I

Muscle Car Legends or Rebirths?

Detroit is attempting to re-launch the muscle car era.  Have you seen the keywords?  Camaro, Charger, GTO?  Does Detroit think these names will mean the same when the names are literally legends to the muscle car enthusiasts?  Is it time to come up with new names?  This article is being written in an attempt to stimulate the classic car audience into an open discussion regarding these new trends.  This discussion will be both in part your direct feedback as well as opinions which may be intertwined by the manufacturers who will share their opinions on the market trends and the overall concern to protect the investments of those collectors who have elected to participate in preserving OEM steel. 

New Muscle Car Era?

Well, in general, we all know the muscle car era (1964-1972) consisted of the factory race wars which required minimal production figures to compete openly against other manufacturers.  To those few of us able to acquire these factory high performance cars, the investments have paid off significantly over the years both financially as well as just pure joy through ownership.  Very few of us who grew through these years perceived these cars as collector cars but rather as high dollar (relatively speaking to the years mentioned) dream cars.  In fact, dream cars were not perceived as affordable until they entered the used car market.  Once purchased as a used car, the car generally had to be addressed in some manner to return it to factory condition including full rotisserie/frame-off restoration.  This defines the car.

Let's define the OEM manufacturing federal design standards that ended the muscle car era.  1973 as we all recall became the first year for the incorporation of the 1970 Clean Air Act which enforced the pollution control devices (in short SMOG devices).  Next came the 1973 oil embargo which forced manufacturers to design more fuel efficient cars (translation small cars, smaller engines).  Ultimately, in 1978 the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) introduced by Congress in 1975 extinguished all hopes of performance cars as we knew them.  Through the incorporation of computer design, efficiency and performance are combining in harmony and this trend started to turn in the 1990's.

Now let's define the early car collector.  Very few 'car collectors' existed prior to 1973.  Why, well exactly that - why?  Cars had only been around in production figures for really 40 years at that point.  Many, many manufacturers, many designs, and a whole lot of options were available.  The market really didn't bear any higher prices on any particular models (relatively speaking).  Yes, there were the old Packards, Cadillacs, and Duesenbergs, but really could the average American worker afford to collect anything?  The motivation was to have 1 favorite car which quite often at that time was the grandparent's car passed down to younger generations.  Others had the desire to keep their first car, or their first new car.  Few had the vision to grab a muscle car used on the market in 1974.  The mid seventies was a tough time for the country.  The oil embargo, the end of the Vietnam War - too many instabilities for many to think about collecting cars.

Today, car collecting has advanced far beyond our imaginations 10-15 years ago.  The true muscle car has increased in value so rapidly they have become solid investments when purchased well into the 6 figure mark.  Detroit has responded to this growth by bringing back the names of the musclecar era:  Camaro, Charger, Boss Mustang, GTO.  Why?  Detroit figures simply that 'it worked once' in combination with 'the collectors will buy them' and suddenly we see fuel injected, computer controlled, leather interior modern day muscle cars with rear defrosters, air conditioning, and power windows producing horsepower figures equal to or higher than our favorite original muscle cars.  Marketing, that is the reason Detroit did it.  Couldn't Detroit think of new names?  Why raise names from the dead (excuse me Ford, I realize you kept the Mustang alive, thank you)?  Why call a car something that it really isn't.  Who has heard of a 4-door Charger?  The Duke Boys didn't drive a 4-door?  Good luck collectors, they are targeting you to buy these cars and keep in mind when something is released as a collectible - everyone is collecting it.  Then there is low demand and longer return on those investment dollars.  Spend those dollars on a real muscle car collectible and get the return you desire years down the road.

J. Shelton