1964 GTO, First Muscle Car?

[Lee Stewart]

The GTO is the first intermediate sized car with a full size car engine, hood treatment, lots of badging and special tires.

But the real first muscle car is the 1932 Ford Model 18 - the first car with a V8

[tunes]

Originally Posted by Lee Stewart

The GTO is the first intermediate sized car with a full size car engine, hood treatment, lots of badging and special tires.

But the real first muscle car is the 1932 Ford Model 18 - the first car with a V8

I would have to disagree. The 1960's is when the term muscle car was being used and that description was for a mid-sized car with a large displacement engine, such as the GTO. I would call that '32 more of a high performance car.

[Lee Stewart]

Originally Posted by tunes

I would have to disagree. The 1960's is when the term muscle car was being used and that description was for a mid-sized car with a large displacement engine, such as the GTO. I would call that '32 more of a high performance car.

The term "Muscle Car" didn't arrive until the 1970 Hot Rod "here are the new Muscle Cars." Prior to that they were called Super Cars.

[tunes]

Originally Posted by Lee Stewart

The term "Muscle Car" didn't arrive until the 1970 Hot Rod "here are the new Muscle Cars." Prior to that they were called Super Cars.

Wrong again, Lee. The Muscle Car term was being used in the '60s and I should know because I was there, but since you are the official know-it-all on this site I'll drop the subject. Have a great day.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by Lee Stewart

The GTO is the first intermediate sized car with a full size car engine, hood treatment, lots of badging and special tires.

But the real first muscle car is the 1932 Ford Model 18 - the first car with a V8

Lee, Lee, Lee: you sweet summer child....



I'm surprised!

a) Car pictured above is not a '32 Ford; looks like a '33 or '34 based on the radiator grille shell. '32 Ford shown below:



b) A quick google search reveals the first car with a V8 was......a 1914 Cadillac.

https://historygarage.com/first-amer...1914-cadallac/



c) Original "Muscle Car"? It's the '64 GTO - by definition.



K

[Keith Seymore]

Sidebar #1: Did you know Henry Ford experimented with other configurations for 8 cylinder engines besides a "V" shape?

https://www.macsmotorcitygarage.com/...le-x-8-engine/

This one was designed in seclusion at Greenfield Village, in Edison's Menlo Park laboratory, probably to keep it away from prying eyes at the official Ford engineering facilities.

An original block casting was recently excavated from the Village while doing construction for updates.

K

[Keith Seymore]

Sidebar #2: Did you know Clyde Barrow (of "Bonnie and Clyde" fame) always drove Ford V-8 equipped automobiles "...when he could get away with one"?

https://www.thehenryford.org/collect...tifact/281082/

K