Muscle cars Portland OR

In the 1960s there was a class of cars introduced to the world known as muscle cars: sleek and sporty, with powerful V8 engines. Read on to learn more about the legacy of muscle cars and the challenge of restoring them to their original condition.

Local Companies

Ron Tonkin Family of Dealerships
1.800-45-drive
122 NE 122nd
Portland, OR
merit contractor
503-282-0338
8383 NE sandy Blvd #258
PORTLAND, OR
Beaverton Chrysler Dodge
503-646-0516
10760 SW Canyon Rd
Beaverton, OR
NW Select Auto Group LLC
503-709-0054
14721 SE Stark St
Portland, OR
Gresham Ford
503-489-1607
1940 E Powellv BLVD
Gresham, OR
West One Automotive Group
(503) 222-1335
2031 SE 4th Ave
Portland, OR
Light Truck Sales Inc
(503) 761-9322
10801 SE Henry St
Portland, OR
Rasmussen Bmw
(503) 226-0380
2001 SW Jefferson St
Portland, OR
Platt Auto Group
(503) 233-1384
205 NE M L King Blvd
Portland, OR
Abs Auto Sales Llc
(503) 467-4646
14055 SE Stark St
Portland, OR

In the 1960s there was a class of cars introduced to the world known as muscle cars. These cars were sleek and sporty and contained a powerful engine. Most of these cars boasted a V8 engine which was geared for speed. As these cars were produced the manufacturers were in stiff competition with each other. As each manufacturer tried to out do the other, we were led into an era of some of the fastest cars of our time. With no thought to gas and fuel efficiency, Americans seemed to be having the time of their lives. Their cars were fast and eye-catching, both on the road and on the race track. Racing stripes and flashy decals made a statement about both the car and the driver. It seemed the flashier the car the more desirable.

At a time when the luxury automobile was the king of the road for the married set, the younger crowd wanted something smaller, faster, and sportier. The Shelby Mustang and the 440 Roadrunner are two of the fast cars which were built to satisfy the desire for high performance and speed. There were many more fast cars to come. Camaros, Chargers, GTOs, and Firebirds all tried to pack as much punch under the hood as was possible. Corvettes offered speed and sleek style, but they also had a high price tag. Most of the other high performance cars offered a price that was affordable to the average working class people.

The Fuel Effect

During the 1960s and 70s auto manufacturers were riding high on a wave of speed and performance. Then we entered an era where we were told gas was in short supply and we were destroying the ozone with our extravagant auto emissions. We reluctantly let go of our fast and sporty cars and took to the streets with a V6 and even a V4. Gas mileage and cheaper insurance costs forced the fast cars onto the race track and off the roadways.

The desire for speed will be with us always. We will probably never again see a time when speed and high performance engines are sold for the every day street car but we can get a glimpse of these cars at the raceway or at vintage car shows. The baby boomers were around to see these cars at their inception and they still carry a torch for them today. Many will spend a small fortune to restore one of these original fast cars back to their former splendor.

About the Author:

Gavin Drake is a self confessed "Petrol Head" and loves fast cars. He races in a number of championships in the U.K and runs http://www.fastcarsinfo.com where fellow petrol heads can come chat, share photo's and catch up on the latest automotive news.

Article Source: thePhantomWriters Article Submission Service

Featured Local Company

Ron Tonkin Family of Dealerships

1.800-45-drive
122 NE 122nd
Portland, OR
www.Tonkin.com

Related Local Event
Portland International Auto Show
Dates: 1/28/2010 - 1/31/2010
Location: Oregon Convention Center
Portland, OR
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