The other day I had a debate with my friends. It revolved primarily around the Corvette.
I was argueing that the modern Corvette (C6 and or Zo6) was a muscle car.
One guy was stating that in his opinion the modern C6 Corvette was designed to be a Tuner car.
His arguement was that there are many body kits, turbo and supercharger kits, aftermarket hoods ect. available to the Corvette.
He also presented the arguement that the only true muscle cars were classic muscle cars... exclusivly 64-72 American V8's.
I countered with the arguement that those were classic muscle cars. And not all muscle cars were classic muscle cars. Pointing out that the 90's had a series of great Camaros GTOs, and Mustangs. And the modern era has seen the return of even more muscle cars.
Besides, bone stock, the modern Corvette is a naturally asperated V8 pushod motor that puts out 500 horses.
He then pointed out that it has a carbon fiber body, and a suspension desinged for handling. And typically tuner cars were designed for handling.
I then argued that Corvettes were made of fiberglass in the 60's and 70's, and no one could argue that they were not muscle cars. And the suspension was something that any top end sports car should have.
Then my other friend chimed in. Saying that this would more likely put the Corvette in the exotic class. He pointed out that the corvette was designed to compete in European Grand Prix type races, rather than drag races and Nascar which is commonly where muscle cars are found. He was reffering primarily to the Zo6.
I then pointed out that the corvettes pedigree was always more closely related to a muscle car than an exotic type. And there was no diffinative point where one could say, on the year "X" the Corvette became an exotic. Since corvettes were always designed the same way, but with the modern technology of its time, they both reluctantly aggreed.
My two best arguements were the motor design, and pedigree.
This believe it or not was the cliffnotes version of the discussion. The actual discussion took much longer.
Tell me what you guys think.
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Just got myself a new set of wheels
My folks helped my swing the deal
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It's painted in turn on red
Girls see it and it knocks 'em dead
I get around just everywhere
People stop and say lookie there - Boss Hoss, The Sonics
Corvettes are Sports cars. They are made out of fiberglass, have only 2 seats, and are just faster and preform better then your Muscle car. Simple as that.
You can take a Muscle car and pile 3 other people in them and go shopping at the mall and have decent amount of room for the items you purchased, and go home passing every car you see with ease. You can't do that too well with a 'Vette, except the passing every car you see with ease part.
Corvettes are not Muscle cars, or exotic cars, they are sports cars.
That's my opinion on this whole thing.
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Dean guitars are good, Dean guitars are great, Dean guitars are the best, IMO. Dean guitars make you want to pick up a Dean guitar and just shred on the thing to make any famous musician smile.
I'm probably not unbiased enough to get involved in this, but I will anyway. In the purest sense of the word no, it's not a muscle car. But then neither are hot versions of Camaros, Firebirds, Mustangs, Cougars, Cudas, Challengers, Javelins and AMXs. These were/are pony cars, except for the original AMXs which was a true sports car, since they were two-seaters like the Vette. But my opinion is that many cars can fit into more than one category, the Vette and the performance versions of the pony cars being prime examples. Although like all of the other cars I've mentioned, there have also been some lack-luster Corvettes made over the years too, when it comes to pin you in your seat, butthole-puckering power. But as anyone who has ever experienced the power of a stout Corvette or any of the other cars listed above, few would say that they are not muscle cars, whatever else they might be. I see no reason why we can't have both a strict definition and a looser one too, coexisting side-by-side.
I like anything with power. If it's also American and has 8 cylinders, then it's really just the cat's ass IMO.
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Calories are the little buggers that get into your wardrobe at night and sew your clothes tighter...
Corvette, by definition is a sports car. Hot engines give it hair on fire performance that trancends the muscle car. The muscle car might beat it in the quarter mile, but will go off the road if it curves shortly thereafter
Corvettes were traditionally owned by rich kids, usually snotty to boot. They had the disposable income to buy a car which was double to triple the cost of your average sled. Albeit only a fraction of the cost of exotic European cars. Sort of a rich guys "poor mans" Ferrari, if you get my drift. Yep, early Corvettes would miss the curve too if you pushed it too far. James Dean comes to mind. They got better as time went on.
Muscle cars were born in part as an answer to question "how do I fill my need for speed on a budget?" How can an average Joe set HIS hair on fire? "Well, it ain't a Corvette but I can sure kick one's ass!"
Ever notice that muscle cars have their own hierarchy as well?
Pony car. I've always hated that definition. It's as if it isn't a REAL muscle car, "not bad, but after all, it's JUST a pony car." You can just imagine the guy saying that is looking down his nose all the way. As if he wouldn't be caught dead in one. (This isn't a knock on your comment, Corvette Kid, I am just moving your comment forward).
Face it. The so-called pony car is a subset that vastly outsold the original concept of muscle car. Guess they did something right.
Debate about a Corvette Muscle Car...
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