Always About Muscle Cars

My automotive passion started at an early age, as a young teenager in the 1960's. What grabbed my attention first was performance cars. In the early 60's, performance was a big selling point for american car manufacturers. Every year they kept putting bigger and badder V8 engines in their performance models. At that time, their performance model was usually a full size two door hard-top, with V8 engine and four speed transmission. NASCAR stock car racing was also a big part of the growing popularity for American car manufacturers. About 1964, they finally got the idea to put those powerful motors in their mid-size cars. The muscle car was born. The Pontiac GTO was one of the first, being followed by the Chevelle SS 396, and the Ford Fairlane GT, and others were close behind. By the late 60's and early 1970's, the most powerful engines they made were available in these cars.
I was always attracted to the biggest engine in the lightest available car. The Shelby 427 Cobra was the ultimate dream, but way out of the range of possibilities for most people. The more attainable muscle cars were a more realistic goal for the average car guy like myself. My early experiences with V8 Mustangs would start me down the path that has lasted for more than 50 years.
In the late 1980's and early 90's, I did get my chance to own a couple big-block muscle cars. I restored a 1970 429 Cobra-Jet Ranchero, and also owned a 1970 Torino Cobra. The top shelf Mustangs were putting out equal performance by then, so I went that route from then on. From big-block monsters to supercharged Mustangs, it's always been about muscle cars for me.
For more of my story, check out my book at; Grab Some Gears

My restored 1970 Cobra-Jet Ranchero GT. (photo from 1987)