Muscle Cars

3 Pages 719 Words

The first road vehicle was built in Scotland in 1839. The vehicle was powered by electricity and was built by Robert Anderson. In later years, he became unsuccessful. The first vehicle built was in 1892 and was a prototype for modern cars. The car went at a top speed of 15 miles per hour and covered 750 miles in 48 hours. America had the most success on electric cars and steamers than any other country. Twenty different car companies spread through the U.S. in 1912. Steamers began to be more popular and over 100 plants were making steamers. The Stanley brother’s factory in Newton, Massachusetts was the most famous (“Automotive History” 20).
People began to do experiments on automobiles with gasoline fuel. Etienne Lenoir invented the first internal combustion engine that was run by coal gas. Then he connected it up to a carriage and the experiment worked (“Automotive History” 22).
Young people fixed up old coupes and roadsters. They installed V-8’s in their vehicles, which started the muscle car era in the early 1960’s. The mentality and the attitude of the public understood muscle cars. Teens made their cars into hot rods and low riders after World War II. Many people hung dice from their mirrors. Young buyers influenced major car companies because they did not want to drive their father’s Oldsmobile. Factories began offering police interceptor engines, which made cars faster than anything on the showroom floor. Many of the cars were full size sedans. Bragging rights and who had the fastest car was all about the muscle car era. The 1963 ½ Galaxie factory lightweight, Chevrolet Biscayne, and Mo-pars Max-Wedge 426 were considered to be the father of muscle cars. These vehicles could bring a family of six to the races (“Origin of Muscle Cars” 2).
Muscle car is a vehicle made to perform like a racecar and may even look like one. It’s designed to accelerate quick and is used on regular road...