Know Your Muscle Cars? Score Over 80%!
- by Willy Vision
- – on
- in Entertainment
The American muscle car will always have an iconic place in U.S. history. The first ones came out during the time when American cars were built for speed in order to impress members of the opposite sex. The idea was to look great while drag racing in the streets or cruising the main boulevards in towns across America. Little attention was paid to the price of gas.
Drive-in movies were popular. The George Lucas film, American Graffiti was about the culture of the times. Drive-through fast food restaurants were also extremely popular. By 1958, because of the American obsession with cars, McDonald’s had already sold 100 million burgers. The company stopped counting the burgers sold in 1993. Estimates are now McDonalds' sold over 300 billion hamburgers by 2016. Many are still eaten in cars.
Muscle cars in America were designed around a powerful V8 engine with large-displacement and high horsepower. There was less emphasis in America on highly-engineered vehicles. Americans did not pay much attention to European models. Handling was less important in America also. What Americans wanted, especially teenage boys was a hot-looking, powerful car. The idea was to “floor it”, “peal out” with tires smoking on the asphalt, and reach 60 miles per hour as fast as possible, without getting caught by the cops.
The American car industry dominated the muscle car standard, which produced some of the most powerful and street-legal cars ever made in the USA or anywhere else. These muscle cars were as American as apple pie.
How well do you know these 25 cars and some of the trivia from the heyday of the muscle car?
What car is in this photo could have been named after a cartoon character?
On August 19th, 1969, Grace Slick, from the band Jefferson Airplane, was the very first person to say the 'F word' on live American TV. Mary Jo Kopechne died in an accident while Ted Kennedy, who later became a senator, was driving under the influence. He ran off a bridge into the water causing her to drown. Brian Jones, from the band the Rolling Stones also drowned this year. Domino's Pizza logo only had three dots because in 1969 there were only three stores. Now that you figured out the year was 1969.
Can you name the car and the model year?
In the model year for this classic muscle car, the Brooklyn Dodgers won the World Series. Pete Seeger testified at the United States Congress in front of the House Un-American Activities Committee. When he was questioned about his alleged communist affiliations and activities, he suggested he sing some of his songs for the committee. For his flippant remark, he received a one-year jail sentence for contempt. Also during this year, Dr. Jonas Salk gave his vaccine for polio to the global community without patenting it. It is estimated he gave up about $7 billion in royalties for the betterment of humankind.
What is the year and model of the car in the photo?
During this model’s year, a wonderful film showing Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory arrived in movie theaters. The lead was played by Gene Wilder. All six comedians starring in the popular television program from England called Monty Python’s Flying Circus had expressed interest in the acting role. At the end of the film, Willy Wonka asks the boy who was going to take over the chocolate factory if he knew what happened to the boy who got everything he ever wanted? The boy replied shyly, "No." Then Wonka said, "He lived happily ever after." The film was super. There was also something super about this car. Could that be it was super-charged or just super fast?
What is the year and model of the car in the photo?
This model came out before the gas shortage in the 1970s at a time when things were just starting to get better in the world. The Vietnam War was winding down and would be over in three years. Soldiers that survived were soon to be returning home and everyone was feeling a sense of relief would soon be forthcoming. Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger were both on the cover of Time magazine as “Man of the Year.” Impeachment proceedings against Nixon were still far in the future.
Guess the model year and the car.
The car in the photo came out during the year when Neil Armstrong said, “That's one small step for man; one giant leap for mankind.” The "Man of the Year" Award went to Bill Cosby during this year and he joked that the award should be renamed "The Nice Guy Award - As Far As We Know." The Manson Family went on their murderous rampage inspired by the Beatles song “Helter Skelter.” Spiritual leader Meher Baba died during this year. Baba had voluntarily remained completely silent since July 1925.
What is the car in the photo?
During this car's model year it was a good year for fans from New York. The New York Mets won the World Series and the New York Jets won the Super Bowl. Musician James Brown released five songs during this year that were all about popcorn. This car had a 7.0-liter V8 engine that delivered 756 horsepower and could be driven on the track; yet, was also street-legal. This was a seriously upgraded car from those that came off the assembly line. It was a lot of fun in those days, to take a regular car and then “soup” it up for better performance.
Can you name the year and model of this iconic muscle car in the photo?
During this model's year, you could "Have it your way” at Burger King, “Fly the friendly skies” on United Airlines, and watch Captain James Kirk (played by William Shatner) on the Star Trek television show ask the ship’s engineer to “Beam me up, Scotty.” Johnny Carson played Twister with Zsa Zsa Gabor, while she appeared on The Tonight Show. Prudish critics called the game “sex in a box.” AstroTurf®, invented by scientists at Monsanto, was installed for the first time in Houston’s Astrodome.
Which two rock and roll legends died during this year?
The 1970 Dodge Challenger came out during the same year that Kermit the Frog from Sesame Street said, "It's not easy being green." Richard Nixon was President of the United States and had yet to get into trouble over the Watergate scandal, which came later. Gas was readily available. Muscle cars were very popular. Four students were shot at Kent State University by the Ohio National Guard during a massive student protest against the war in Vietnam. Protests like this were happening all over America.
What was the name of the performance version of the Mercury Comet?
In 1965, the most popular television show was Bonanza. The Sound of Music was released during that year. It went on to win five Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Music, Best Film Editing, and Best Sound Mixing. The 1965 model of the Mercury Comet came out. It had a top-of-the-line performance version with a 7.0-liter V8 engine, which, combined with a four-barrel carburetor, could deliver 200 horsepower. Many opted for the performance version because of its power.
What is the year and model of the car in the photo?
Six years after this model became available, the rock band Heart, created by two sisters, Ann and Nancy Wilson, released a song with this car model's name as the title. The song was the band's second top-twenty hit on their second album entitled Little Queen. The song reached number 11 on the Billboard charts. The car’s name was not the inspiration for the song. The inspiration came from the bad experiences that the two sisters had while trying to break into the rock music business.
What is the year and model of the car in the photo?
This year’s model had a 265 cubic-inch V8 engine that produced 210 horsepower with a three-speed manual transmission as standard. An automatic transmission was an option as well as a higher performance engine producing 240 horsepower. Electrically-powered windows were optional. A "transistorized radio," which had both vacuum tubes and transistors, was an option for the first time. The radio could be used to listen to the pop songs that were popular. These songs were featured on the television show American Bandstand that was hosted by Dick Clark for the first time during this year.
In what television show did the leading actor(s) also drive a Gran Torino from 1976?
Clint Eastwood starred in a movie released in 2008 where the main character has a 1975 cherry-red Gran Torino with a white racing stripe. The car was essentially his supporting actor. It appears in almost every scene. It was the character's most prized possession. Eastwood is a cranky old drunk who used to be a worker at an automaker. The car is protected by the Clint Eastwood character in the movie using extreme violence in a battle for supremacy when Eastwood goes into serious confrontation with the local street gangs.
What did Mikey like in the television ads that ran during this year?
The 1972 GMC Sprint was a hybrid style of a pickup truck that also qualifies as a muscle car. This version came out during the year that Jack Nicklaus won the U.S. Open. That same year, Billie Jean King won both the Wimbledon and the U.S. Open tennis tournaments for women. Sandy Koufax, at the age of 36, was the youngest sportsman to become an inductee into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Marlon Brando, as the lead character in the movie The Godfather, said, “I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse.”
If you could not have a muscle car at this time what did the Eddie Kendricks' hit song suggest you do?
Competing for attention with the many great choices of muscle cars from this period was the 1973 AMC Javelin. There were many great popular songs that became hits during this year. Singer Jim Croce in his hit song told us the story of Bad Leroy Brown. Tony Orlando and Dawn sang in their number one hit during this year about tying a yellow ribbon round the old oak tree. Cher lamented in her pop song about what it was like to be a half-breed.
What did the special option of "liquid tire chain" for this muscle car allow the driver to do?
You would be stylin’ when riding in a 1969 Chevy Caprice. It had new body lines and front bumpers, which wrapped around the front grille. Chevrolet was obviously going for style along with engine power in this classic muscle car. It got rave reviews for its well-designed look, available factory paint colors, and clean lines. There was an optional feature available that could be added to conceal headlights. You could enjoy headlamp washers. There was another rarely-ordered option called the "Liquid Tire Chain" available.
What car do most people think was the first muscle car?
This vehicle is widely considered to be the very first American muscle car. Not everyone agrees with this; however, most do. It was advertised with a slogan saying, “This is not your grandpa’s car!” It had a top speed of about 97 miles per hour provided by a V8 engine with high-compression overhead valves and a two-barrel carburetor. It had a displacement of 303 cubic inches and 129 horsepower. It was entered as a competitor into the 1950 NASCAR race season with many drivers, where it won eight out of the ten races attempted.
What were the model years of the AMC AMX muscle car?
The 1969 AMC AMX model came out after two specially customized 1968 AMX cars set a new world speed record of 106 MPH. They also set the endurance record while being driven on the Goodyear track in Texas by Craig Breedlove. Breedlove was the record holder of land speed at that time. Starting in 1969, racing stripes that went from the hood, down the center of the car to the tail were available in five colors that complimented the factory paint.
What were the factory-created options for exterior colors of the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am during this model year?
The Pontiac Firebird Trans Am for this model year came out during the time when President Nixon, who later resigned before being impeached, said: "I am not a crook." This was also in the middle of the oil embargo that caused an immense gas shortage across America. People would wait in lines for hours just to get a few gallons of gas. The national maximum speed limit was lowered to 55 miles per hour in an attempt to create more fuel efficiency. Muscle cars spent a lot of time in garages during this period allowing plenty of time for custom paint jobs.
This car held the record for the highest engine torque output of an American factory-made model for 33 years until beaten by what car?
The 1970 Buick GSX was created by Buick to compete with Pontiac’s GTO. Buick advertised it as “Another “light your fire” car from Buick.” Of any classic era muscle car, the 1970 Buick GSX had the highest performance features that were standard. It came standard with a 455 engine that produced 510 lb.-ft. of torque. This was the record-highest output for any production car made in America. It held the record for 33 years from the year of 1970 to 2003.
What is the year and model of the car in the photo?
When this model was introduced, Allstate advertised, “You’re in good hands with Allstate.” Movie actor James Dean was quoted as saying, “Live fast, die young, and leave a good-looking corpse.” Roto-Rooter promised if you used their services, “Away go troubles down the drain.” Times claimed their watch, “Takes a licking and keeps on ticking.” On a more ominous note, Nikita Khrushchev, the leader of the U.S.S.R. threatened, “We will bury you.” Many Americans built an Atomic Bomb shelter in their backyards and bought this muscle car.
What brand used the slogan, “You’ve come a long way baby!” in its advertising campaign?
The 1968 Plymouth GTX came out the same year as a rock band called The Fugs, with the help of Alan Ginsberg, went to Senator Joe McCarthy's grave and performed a mock exorcism. McCarthy was the senator that previously led the hunt for communists. This started during the 1950s and led to the formation of the House Un-American Activities Committee during the “Red Scare.” In TV ads, Whisk detergent shamed everyone for having "ring around the collar." marketing efforts and TV ads.
What is the year and model of the car in the photo?
During this model's year, the Coneheads on Saturday Night Live said, “We’re from France,” to explain the odd shape of their heads. Robin Williams, playing the character Mork on Mork and Mindy said “Nanoo Nanoo!” Hervé Villechaize, who was Tattoo on Fantasy Island, started each show by saying “Za Plane! Za Plane Boss!” The seventies were a really fun time, except for the gas shortage years. At the end of the decade, everyone was into disco, partying all the time, and fast muscle cars were back in fashion.
Based on a song, what would be a good choice for the name of a woman to ride or drive this custom car?
Many of the muscle cars from the glory days have been restored and customized. This is a mostly a labor of love; however, these cars can also be quite valuable to car collectors. Some of the most expensive muscle cars ever sold include a 1971 Hemi Cuda convertible that went for $3.5 million at auction during 2014. Think of a good name based on a popular song that would be the best choice for a woman to drive or ride in this car. (Hint: A song about this imaginary woman was originally performed by Wilson Pickett and has been covered by many other bands since then.)
Can you guess the car model and year from the trivia clues?
During the year when this model came out, Rosalind Russell starred in the film Auntie Mame, in which she delivered this hilarious line, “Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death!” This car had plenty of power. It had a supercharger made by McCulloch and a 289 cubic inch engine that delivered 275 horsepower. Rock and Roller Jerry Lee Lewis was known for his fast living and wild gyrations on stage that were only rivalled by Elvis "The Pelvis" Presley. Lewis married his 13-year-old second cousin during this year.
Name the car
This car had a massive 380 horsepower engine and was available in both hardtop and convertible styles. It did not sell well in comparison to the previous years, which makes this year’s model a very rare and valuable collectible car. This was the year that Some Like It Hot! came out starring Jack Lemmon, Tony Randall, and Marilyn Monroe. Lemmon and Randall dress up in women's clothes as a disguise to escape the mob who is after them. In the movie, the actor Joe. E. Brown falls for the Lemmon character, not realizing he is male. At the end of the film, Lemmon pulls off his wig to reveal to the character played by Brown that “I am a man!” The line delivered at the end of the film by Brown is “Well, nobody’s perfect.”