| In the 1960s there was a class of cars introduced to | | | | hood as was possible. Corvettes offered speed and |
| the world known as muscle cars. These cars were | | | | sleek style, but they also had a high price tag. Most of |
| sleek and sporty and contained a powerful engine. | | | | the other high performance cars offered a price that |
| Most of these cars boasted a V8 engine which was | | | | was affordable to the average working class people. |
| geared for speed. As these cars were produced the | | | | The Fuel Effect |
| manufacturers were in stiff competition with each | | | | During the 1960s and 70s auto manufacturers were |
| other. As each manufacturer tried to out do the other, | | | | riding high on a wave of speed and performance. |
| we were led into an era of some of the fastest cars | | | | Then we entered an era where we were told gas |
| of our time. With no thought to gas and fuel efficiency, | | | | was in short supply and we were destroying the |
| Americans seemed to be having the time of their lives. | | | | ozone with our extravagant auto emissions. We |
| Their cars were fast and eye-catching, both on the | | | | reluctantly let go of our fast and sporty cars and took |
| road and on the race track. Racing stripes and flashy | | | | to the streets with a V6 and even a V4. Gas mileage |
| decals made a statement about both the car and the | | | | and cheaper insurance costs forced the fast cars |
| driver. It seemed the flashier the car the more | | | | onto the race track and off the roadways. |
| desirable. | | | | The desire for speed will be with us always. We will |
| At a time when the luxury automobile was the king of | | | | probably never again see a time when speed and high |
| the road for the married set, the younger crowd | | | | performance engines are sold for the every day |
| wanted something smaller, faster, and sportier. The | | | | street car but we can get a glimpse of these cars at |
| Shelby Mustang and the 440 Roadrunner are two of | | | | the raceway or at vintage car shows. The baby |
| the fast cars which were built to satisfy the desire for | | | | boomers were around to see these cars at their |
| high performance and speed. There were many more | | | | inception and they still carry a torch for them today. |
| fast cars to come. Camaros, Chargers, GTOs, and | | | | Many will spend a small fortune to restore one of |
| Firebirds all tried to pack as much punch under the | | | | these original fast cars back to their former splendor. |