If the GTO wasn’t the first muscle car, then what was?

[rapidtrans]

Definition of MUSCLE CAR

John Phelen: Detroit Freep/USA Today. (Basically the same paper nowadays)
Sounds like he's confusing Pony Cars with Muscle Cars.
He forgot about the GTO? And he writes in a Detroit paper?

 

[72Fury]

The strongest horse in the 64 1/2 'Stang in standard form the 260 V8 with no up grades. "Til Shelby got hold of the '65 Stang when the 289 replaced it and the GT's were soon born.

Yes, I was never impressed with the performance of the early Mustang at least in stock form. The Mustang gets credit for starting the Pony car, just like the GTO gets it for the muscle car.

 

[detmatt]

John Phelen: Detroit Freep/USA Today. (Basically the same paper nowadays)
Sounds like he's confusing Pony Cars with Muscle Cars.
He forgot about the GTO? And he writes in a Detroit paper?

Mark Phelen, I looked up John Phelen hoping to find a millennial I could bash for that comment and instead found Mark who looks like he should know better.

 

[Carmine]

Mark Phelen, I looked up John Phelen hoping to find a millennial I could bash for that comment and instead found Mark who looks like he should know better.

Oh bash away. Phelmb is a terrible auto writer. He's about as "Detroit" as Ann Arbor.

 

[bluefury361]

Definition of MUSCLE CAR

This is a "made up" marketing term, not used by the industry.

Ann Arbor is "Detroit" by association only. Go to bumscrew Poland and no one knows where Ann Arbor is.

 

[Fratzog]

That's what GM was good at... Chrysler by comparison was/is often lucky if it's product planning can avoid shooting itself in the foot.

What do you expect in the last decade? First the Germans and now the Italians. They are clueless with respect to NA car culture. The lack of styling updates for the Challenger belies their attitude.

 

[Carmine]

This is a "made up" marketing term, not used by the industry.

Ann Arbor is "Detroit" by association only. Go to bumscrew Poland and no one knows where Ann Arbor is.

Ann Arbor is our little slice of car-hating, hemp-weaving, bra-burning Berkley CA, just 50 miles west of Metro Detroit.

 

[rexus31]

John Phelen: Detroit Freep/USA Today. (Basically the same paper nowadays)
Sounds like he's confusing Pony Cars with Muscle Cars.
He forgot about the GTO? And he writes in a Detroit paper?

This is a "made up" marketing term, not used by the industry.

Ann Arbor is "Detroit" by association only. Go to bumscrew Poland and no one knows where Ann Arbor is.

Why are you guys hating? I didn't write it. Stan asked for a definition and that is what Merriam-Webster defines the term Muscle Car. I don't agree with it either. My definition is in Post #19.

 

[rapidtrans]

Why are you guys hating? I didn't write it. Stan asked for a definition and that is what Merriam-Webster defines the term Muscle Car. I don't agree with it either. My definition is in Post #19.

I think everybody here agrees with you. Good find on the article and dictionary definition.
My surprise is that an Automotive writer in Detroit totally missed the GTO's importance. He goes on about Pony Cars which really didn't get big engines till later. While Webster's definition, well they just don't know cars.
On another note the Detroit Free Press has just become a local version of the USA Today fluff rag. A lot of white space in the print version. Like they've just given up with print media.

 

[barnfind]

Thought I'd throw this one into the mix
Steve Finds The Most Important Dodge Ever: The 1954 Indy Pace Car!! - xtrhorsepower

 

[bluefury361]

Ann Arbor is our little slice of car-hating, hemp-weaving, bra-burning Berkley CA, just 50 miles west of Metro Detroit.

I know....... That's why I like Ann Arbor so much. Rednecks beware....!

 

[65 500]

I know....... That's why I like Ann Arbor so much. Rednecks beware....!

I'm pretty sure that hippy pot-heads aren't anything that rednecks really need to "beware" of.