1970 Maximum Muscle

1970 Maximum Muscle

Author: Mark Fletcher

Publisher: Motorbooks

Published: 2021-03-16

Total Pages: 183

ISBN-13: 0760366799

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In 1970, the American muscle car was as fast and outrageous as it would ever get. But the end was nigh, and 1970 Maximum Muscle dives head-first into the storm before the calm. Wherever you mark the beginning of the muscle car era—Oldsmobile’s 1949 Rocket 88, Chrysler’s 1951 FirePower engines, the 1964 Pontiac GTO—one thing is certain: in 1970, the era that had witnessed a parade of gloriously powerful, stylish, and brawny cars apt to make the hearts of even the most dispassionate squares go pitter-patter was sucking fumes. Gasoline shortages, skyrocketing fuel prices, insurance-industry bean counters, rising ecological concerns, and new, more fuel-efficient imports all conspired to consign the American muscle car to an ugly and unseemly denouement. Yet 1970 saw the actual zenith of the cars themselves, the year manufacturers pulled out all the stops and produced the most powerful and stunning machines the automotive world had ever seen. 1970 Maximum Muscle not only explores the factors that led to the decline of the most exciting era in the American automotive industry, it details some of the new models and model options that arguably made 1970 the climax of the muscle car era from engineering, styling, and cultural standpoints. As the war among GM, Ford, Chrysler, and AMC played out at dealerships, dragstrips, and drive-ins, ready-and-willing gearheads drove off dealer lots in potent behemoths like the Buick GSX, Oldsmobile 4-4-2, and Ford Torino Cobra. Muscle car stalwarts like the SS Chevelle, Pontiac GTO, and Plymouth ’Cuda became available with optional LS-6, Stage 1, and Hemi engines, respectively. Manufacturers ratcheted up the advertising hyperbole at the same time, offering performance packages with names like “Six-Pack,” “Ram Air,” and “Cobra Jet,” while spoilers, scoops, hood tachometers, and decal packages were de rigueur. Meanwhile, on the popular SCCA Trans Am circuit, top drivers campaigned more nimble muscle off-the-rack cars like the Camaro Z/28 and Boss 302 Mustang. 1970 Maximum Muscle is an entertaining and rollicking look at the muscle car's peak year!


The Art of the Muscle Car

The Art of the Muscle Car

Author: David Newhardt

Publisher: Motorbooks International

Published: 2013-05-19

Total Pages: 243

ISBN-13: 0760344213

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“Just what is a Muscle Car?” Road Test magazine asked in June 1967. The answer: “Exactly what the name implies. It is a product of the American car industry adhering to the hot rodder’s philosophy of taking a small car and putting a BIG engine in it. . . . The Muscle Car is Charles Atlas kicking sand in the face of the 98 horsepower weakling.” Unconcerned with such trivial details as comfort and handling, the vintage American muscle car was built for straight-line speed and quickly became the ride of choice for power-hungry racers and serious gearheads. In a country where performance was measured in brute force, a quarter mile at a time, the muscle car was the perfect machine. In the intervening years, these down-and-dirty, high-performing beauties have earned their place in the automotive pantheon. As prized by collectors and aficionados as they are by denizens of garages and drag strips, classic muscle cars now fetch upwards of a million dollars at auctions and feature in any story of America’s automotive glory days. The icons of muscle car art—including Camaro and Chevelle SS, the Hemi and 440-6 ’Cuda, Challenger, Roadrunner, Super Bee, GTX, Super Bird, Daytona Charger, Super Cobra Jet and Boss Mustang, Talladega Torino, Buick GSX and W30 Oldsmobile 442, and AMX Javelin—are all here, on full display in this lavishly illustrated volume, each described in a detailed essay followed by a gallery of portraits and special gatefold presentations that capture the art of the muscle car at its finest.


Lost Muscle Cars

Lost Muscle Cars

Author: Wes Eisenschenk

Publisher: CarTech Inc

Published: 2016-03-15

Total Pages: 242

ISBN-13: 1613252250

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In the world of archeology nothing compares to the discovery. Whether it’s related to King Tut’s tomb, the Titanic, or Amelia Earhart, the uncovering of an artifact outdoes all the research; work; and blood, sweat, and tears into a singular rush of adrenaline. In the world of the muscle car, some of the greatest creations are still waiting to be discovered. This book is a collection of stories written by enthusiasts about their quest to find these extremely rare and valuable muscle cars. You find four categories (Celebrity, Rare, Race Cars, and Concept/Prototype/Show Cars) within three genres (Missing, Lost History, Recently Discovered) that take you through the search for some of the most sought after muscle cars with names such as Shelby, Yenko, Hurst, and Hemi. Along the way, success stories including finding the first Z/28 Camaro, the 1971 Boss 302, and the 1971 Hemi 'Cuda convertible will make you wonder if you could uncover the next great muscle car find. Lost Muscle Cars includes 45 intriguing stories involving some of the most significant American iron ever created during the celebrated muscle car era. Readers will be armed with the tools to begin the quest to make the next great discovery in automotive archaeology!


Cars of the Sensational '70s

Cars of the Sensational '70s

Author: James M. Flammang

Publisher:

Published: 2000

Total Pages: 416

ISBN-13: 9780785329800

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The story of 1970s cars, from the new subcompact class to the last of the truly big family cars. Nearly 1,900 photos and illustrations, most in full-color. Year-by-year overviews of major news and cultural events.


The Classic Car Book

The Classic Car Book

Author: DK

Publisher: Dorling Kindersley Ltd

Published: 2016-09-01

Total Pages: 322

ISBN-13: 0241428807

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From the Chevrolet Bel Air to the Ferrari Testarossa, this book takes you on a scenic drive through the history of classic cars, exploring their status as objects of luxury and desire. The Classic Car Book showcases the most important and iconic classic cars from every decade since the 1940s, with a foreword by award-winning writer and commentator on the industry, history, and culture of cars and motoring, Giles Chapman. Fully illustrated and packed with stunning photography, The Classic Car Book uses specially commissioned photographic tours to put you in the driver's seat of the world's most famous and celebrated cars, including stylish roadsters and luxury limousines from manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, Rover, Jaguar, and Bentley. The Classic Car Book is ideal for any car collectors and enthusiasts.


The Complete Book of Classic Chevrolet Muscle Cars

The Complete Book of Classic Chevrolet Muscle Cars

Author: Mike Mueller

Publisher: Motorbooks International

Published: 2017-05-12

Total Pages: 179

ISBN-13: 076035233X

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"The Complete Book of Classic Chevy Muscle Cars covers the primary muscle and performance cars produced by Chevrolet in the 60s and 70s, such as the Camaro and Malibu"--


American Cars of the 1970s

American Cars of the 1970s

Author: Craig Cheetham

Publisher: Gareth Stevens

Published: 2007

Total Pages: 36

ISBN-13: 9780836877267

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This book describes American cars of the 1970s, such as the Chevrolet Camaro SS396, the Dodge Coronet Super Bee, the Ford Mustang Mach 1, the Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser, the Pontiac Trans Am SD455, and others.


Classic Cars

Classic Cars

Author: Jeffrey Zuehlke

Publisher: Lerner Publications

Published: 2007-01-01

Total Pages: 50

ISBN-13: 0822559269

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Examines the automobiles built from the end of World War II through the 1970s.


The Complete Book of Classic Ford and Mercury Muscle Cars

The Complete Book of Classic Ford and Mercury Muscle Cars

Author: Donald Farr

Publisher: Motorbooks

Published: 2018-05-01

Total Pages: 176

ISBN-13: 0760360251

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More than Mustang and Cougar. Though the Mustang remains Ford’s most famous muscle car, the company had been building muscle cars since it introduced the sleek Fairlane and Galaxie models with optional 390 cubic-inch big-block V-8 engines in 1961. These cars were part of Ford’s Total Performance program, which tested cars in the crucible of racing at drag strips, oval circuits, European rally events, and road courses, resulting in legendary muscle cars like the Shelby Mustang, Boss 302 and 429 Mustangs, Mercury Cougar, Cyclone GT, and Spoiler. The Complete Book of Classic Ford and Mercury Muscle Cars covers all of Ford Motor Company’s high-performance muscle cars from the early 1960s to 1973. It’s the bible of muscle every disciple of Ford performance needs.