Musclecarclub.com - Muscle Car Timeline

Muscle Car Timeline

1958 - 1961 1962 - 1965 1966 - 1969 1970 - 1973 1974 - 1977

1958 - 1961

MODEL	1958	1959	1960	1961
CHEVROLET IMPALA	Introduced as top option on Bel Air line	Became own model with new "bat wing" tail end.	Design was toned down	New SS option introduced with optional 409 cid V8
CHRYSLER 300	D: 392 Hemi engine upgraded	E: New 413 Wedge V8 replaces Hemi	F: New "ram induction" 413 Wedge V8	G: Major exterior redesign
DODGE DART	-	-	All new "downsized" fullsize model with up to 361 ram induction power	-
FORD FAIRLANE	New 332 & 352 engines replace 292 & 312 V8s	Completely new styling. Last year for Skyliner	Completely new styling on larger body	Add new 390 V8
FORD GALAXIE	-	Introduced with Ford's first muscle car engine, the 352 cid Interceptor V8	Larger restyle with new 352 cid Thunderbird V8	Added new 390 cid V8
MERCURY COMET	-	-	All new model	-
PONTIAC CATALINA	-	-	-	All new downsized styling with SD 389 as top engine

1962 - 1965

MODEL	1962	1963	1964	1965
BUICK GS	-	-	-	All new model based on Buick Skylark with standard 401 V8
BUICK RIVIERA	-	All new model with 401 and 425 cid V8s and European styling	New 2x4 carb engine option	Added GS option
CHEVROLET CHEVELLE	-	-	All new model with 327 V8 as top engine option	A few are built with 396 cid V8s
CHEVROLET IMPALA	409 strengthened.	409 strengthened.	Impala SS becomes own model.	Extensive redesign. 409 replaced by 396.
CHEVROLET NOVA	All new for 1962	Add SS option	Add first V8 (283 cid) engine.	Add 327 V8 option
CHRYSLER 300	H: Less exclusive as now shared mechanicals with "non-letter" 300 models.	J: -	K: New base 413 engine	L: Last year of 300 "Letter Cars"
DODGE DART	New 413 Max Wedge engine option	All new design on compact platform. Top engine is an I6.	New 273 cid V8 option	Add high output 273
FORD FAIRLANE	Reborn as midsize car on new platform	-	Special Thunderbolt versions built	-
FORD MUSTANG	-	-	-	All new pony car based on Ford Falcon with I6 and V8 power
FORD GALAXIE	Added new 406 cid V8 along with new styling	New Sports Roof styling and new 425 cid engine (called 427)	New restyle	New restyle with stacked headlights and two high performance 427 engines
MERCURY COMET	-	Receives first V8 (260 cid)	Redesigned and added 289 V8
OLDSMOBILE 4-4-2	-	-	All new model based on Cutlass with 330 cid V8	400 cid V8 replaces 330 cid as sole engine choice
PLYMOUTH 'CUDA	-	-	All new pony car based on Plymouth Valiant with optional 273 V8	Add Formula S option
PONTIAC CATALINA	Add optional Super Duty 421 engine	New redesign	2+2 added as a new trim.	389 engine dropped
PONTIAC GRAND PRIX	All new model based on Catalina	New styling	-	New restyle, new automatic transmission
PONTIAC GTO	-	-	All new based on Pontiac Tempest with available 389 V8	Restyled

1964 - 1969

MODEL	1966	1967	1968	1969
AMC AMX	-	-	All new 2 seat design based on Javelin.	Add "Big Bad AMX" and "Go Pack" options
BUICK GS	New styling with optional high output 401 engine	All new 400 V8. GS 400 becomes separate model (not just a Skylark trim). New "junior" GS 340 debuts with 340 cid V8.	Major restyle as wheelbase drops 3". 350 engine replaces 340 in "junior" GS 350. California GS model added. Stage 1 engine upgrade available as dealer installed option.	Add standard functional hood scoops on all models. Stage 1 becomes official factory option.
BUICK RIVIERA	Major restyle. 401 engine dropped.	New 430 V8 replaces 425.	Slight restyle	-
CHEVROLET CAMARO	-	All new model with V6 or V8 engines and RS, SS (with 396 power), and Z/28 (with 302 engine) trims	-	Special COPO and Yenko versions available with 427 power.
CHEVROLET CHEVELLE	Becomes separate model as SS396 with new standard 396 cid V8	-	Major restyle	SS396 becomes an option. Special 427 powered COPO versions available.
CHEVROLET IMPALA	Slight redesign with new 427 engine.	-	SS reduced to option on Impala	Impala SS427 is last true Impala SS. Last year for SS option.
CHEVROLET NOVA	Restyled with new high output 327.	-	Redesigned with new 396 V8s	Special COPO and Yenko versions available
DODGE CHARGER	All new midsize fastback model with up to 426 Hemi optional	Introduction of all new 440 engine	New redesign	New Charger 500 and Daytona versions
DODGE DART	Redesign	-	Add GTS option with 340 and 383 V8s	Add Swinger 340 model
FORD FAIRLANE	Add GT and GTA packages and 427 V8	-	All new larger redesign	Add Cobra model
FORD GALAXIE	New 428 V8 replaced high power 427	Performance model renamed the "7 litre"	New GT option, 427 engine dropped	New restyle along with 390 engines
FORD MUSTANG	289 V8 replaced 260 V8 as the top engine	Major restyle along with new 390 cid V8	New 428 engine	Major restyle and addition of Boss 429 trim
MERCURY COMET	Redesigned as true intermediate with available GT option and 390 cid V8 power	Cyclone trim introduced	Restyled	New budget CJ version with 428 engine added along with special Spoiler version
MERCURY COUGAR	-	All new model based on Ford Mustang with optional 390 cid V8	Add optional 427 and 428 engines and XR-7G trim	Mild restyle along with new Eliminator trim
OLDSMOBILE 4-4-2	Triple carb option for 400 is available only for this year. W-30 option introduced	-	New restyle and special Hurst versions	Add W-31 (high performance 350 engine) and W-32 (low performance 400 engine) options
PLYMOUTH 'CUDA	Mild facelift	New optional 383 engine	Minor restyle	New optional 440 engine
PLYMOUTH ROADRUNNER	-	-	All new budget muscle car with 426 Hemi optional	Convertible and 440 engines added
PONTIAC CATALINA	-	New 428 engine replaces 421. Last year of Catalina	-	-
PONTIAC FIREBIRD	-	All new based on Chevrolet Camaro with 400 cid V8 as top engine	-	Major restyle and introduction of Trans Am trim
PONTIAC GRAND PRIX	-	New restyle with new 400 and 428 V8s. Only year for convertible	New restyle	All new platform and new styling
PONTIAC GTO	GTO became own model	New 400 cid V8 replaced 389	New restyle with hidden headlights	New Judge model added

1970 - 1973

MODEL	1970	1971	1972	1973
AMC AMX	Add Ram Air hood scoop	New 4 seat redesign and new 401 V8 optional	-	-
BUICK GS	Major restyle with new 455 V8 replacing 400. Add GSX option. California GS dropped.	Engines detuned.	-	GS is now based on Century platform instead of Skylark.
BUICK RIVIERA	Disasterous redesign with new 455 V8 replacing 430.	New "boat tail" redesign. Engine detuned.	-	"Boat tail" design softened.
CHEVROLET CAMARO	Major redesign with European styling and new 350 engine for Z28	All engines detuned. 396 enlarged to 402 cid.	Shortened production year	SS trim dropped
CHEVROLET CHEVELLE	Major redesign and new 454 engine	High performance LS6 454 engine dropped. New front end styling.	SS now an option on any Chevelle	Last year of Chevelle SS. Chevelle redesigned.
CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO	All new model sharing Chevelle engines including 454	Engines detuned	-	-
CHEVROLET NOVA	396 enlarged to 402 cid	Engines detuned. 402 dropped leaving 350 as top engine	Engines detuned.	-
DODGE CHALLENGER	All new model based on Plymouth Barracuda. Special T/A version. Engines ranging from I6s to the 426 Hemi.	Slight restlye, engines detuned slightly. Last year for Hemi, 440, and convertible.	Gained controversial front end. 340 is top engine.	New 360 engine
DODGE CHARGER	New redesign and SE version	Engine slightly detuned. Last year for Hemi and 440 Six Pack engines.	A new 400 replaced the 383.	New redesign
DODGE DART	-	Add Dodge Demon 340	-	Dodge Demon renamed Dart Sport
FORD FAIRLANE	New larger restyle	Engines downgraded	-	-
FORD MUSTANG	429 engine replaced 428. Last year for Boss 302 and Boss 429 models	Restyled and add Boss 351	Top engine was only the Cleveland 351	Engines further detuned
MERCURY COMET	Redesigned with larger front end	Engines detuned	Last of the performance Comets	-
MERCURY COUGAR	Restyled larger	Restyled even larger, engines detuned	-	Last true performance Mercury Cougar
OLDSMOBILE 4-4-2	New 455 engine replaces 400. Add Rallye 350 trim.	Engines detuned	-	Drastic restyle. Last year of W-30 option and performance 4-4-2.
PLYMOUTH 'CUDA	Dramatic restyle along with full range of engines including 440 and 426 Hemi. Special AAR 'Cuda version	Last year for Hemi and convertible	Top engine was the 340 cid V8	360 replaced 340
PLYMOUTH ROADRUNNER	New restyle	Last year for Hemi	-	-
PONTIAC FIREBIRD	New redesign	Engines detuned	-	New Super Duty 455 engine added. Add "screaming chicken" decal option.
PONTIAC GRAND PRIX	New 455 V8 replaces 428s	-	-	New restyle with Colonnade styling on new chassis
PONTIAC GTO	New restyle with new 455 engine.	Engines detuned. Last year for Judge and convertibles	GTO reverts back to option status	Ugly restyling. Last year based on the Tempest platform.

1974 - 1977

MODEL	1974	1975	1976	1977
AMC AMX	Last year for AMX	-	-	-
BUICK GS	GS is moved to Apollo platform	GS is moved back to Century platform. Last year of GS.	-	-
BUICK RIVIERA	New uninspired design	-	-	-
CHEVROLET CAMARO	-	-	-	-
DODGE CHALLENGER	Last year for Challenger	-	-	-
DODGE CHARGER	Last performance Charger	-	-	-
DODGE DART	Top 340 engine replaced by 360	360 engine detuned	-	-
FORD MUSTANG	-	-	-	-
PLYMOUTH 'CUDA	Last year for performance Barracuda	-	-	-
PLYMOUTH ROADRUNNER	Last year for Roadrunner	-	-	-
PONTIAC FIREBIRD	-	-	-	-
PONTIAC GTO	Became option on the compact Ventura	-	-	-