Settle The Debate: Which Muscle Car Did It Finest?

Image courtesy of Barrett-Jackson

On final week’s “Settle The Debate, we mentioned which TV household had the extra fascinating automobile: The Munsters or The Beverly Hillbillies. This week, Election Day has impressed me to ask to your vote on one thing else. In the late Sixties and early Nineteen Seventies, there have been a handful of muscle vehicles provided with stripes, spoilers, and and typically brilliant colours. Who did it the perfect? It’s as much as you to make your voice heard!

1969 Pontiac GTO Judge — Powered by a normal 366-horsepower 400ci Ram Air V-8 (aka “Ram Air III”) mated to a normal three-speed handbook transmission, this GTO with signature Carousel Red paint evokes nostalgia to all that cross its path. The loud-and-proud psychedelic exterior is paired properly with a black grille, rear spoiler, and groovy multi-color graphics. When the 1969 mannequin yr was over, solely 6,833 had been produced, together with 108 convertibles, then continued into 1970 largely intact earlier than receiving a brand new 455 for 1971. As a automobile that was initially marketed as a muscle automobile stuffed with surprises, the Judge cemented its place as one of the crucial recognizable and sought-after muscle vehicles from the period.

1969 Pontiac Trans Am — Introduced as “Pontiac’s new pony express,” the Trans Am was initially a particular bundle meant to commemorate Pontiac’s entry within the SCCA collection. While the rulebook restricted an engine no bigger than 5 liters, this Firebird halo automobile got here with a 400 — the identical that was commonplace for the GTO Judge although rated at 335 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. Fifty-five folks upgraded their Trans Am with the optionally available 345-horsepower 400ci Ram Air IV for a bit extra gallop. Offered with energy entrance disc brakes, energy steering, upgraded suspension, air extractors, full-length blue stripes, and rear spoiler, Pontiac constructed simply 697 Firebird Trans Ams (together with eight convertibles) for the 1969 mannequin yr. For a automobile that may ultimately be recognized for the “Screaming Chicken” and a sure Nineteen Seventies film, the white with blue stripes feels understated.  

1969 Hurst/Olds — When Hurst Performance Research and Oldsmobile continued constructing the limited-production Hurst/Olds for 1969, it was provided in a boisterous Cameo White with Hurst Fire Frost Gold stripes as an alternative of the subdued silver and black from ’68. This modified 4-4-2 Holiday Coupe got here with a 380 horsepower 455ci V-8 mated to a Hurst Dual/Gate-shifted Turbo Hydra-matic computerized. It additionally got here outfitted with a air-induction system with “mailbox” hood scoops, rear spoiler, and a limited-slip differential with 3.42 gears. Only 906 Hurst/Olds had been constructed, although Hurst transformed three convertibles for promotional use.

1969 Mercury Cougar Eliminator — Mercury started Cougar Eliminator manufacturing within the spring of 1969, together with the mid-size Cyclone Spoiler. The first Eliminator was a SOHC 427 humorous automobile pushed by drag racing legend “Dyno” Don Nicholson. When the Eliminator bundle formally entered manufacturing, the usual engine was the brand new 351 Windsor V-8 (290 horsepower with a four-barrel), with 320-horse 390-4V, 428 Cobra Jet, and Boss 302 engines the one choices out there; if you happen to needed to make the usual hood scoop useful, you possibly can just for the the 428. Also restricted had been the colours: White, Yellow, Competition Orange, or Bright Blue. For 1969, Mercury constructed 2,250 Eliminators, then continued it into 1970 with typical model-year modifications although arguably a harder look.

1969 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler — Like the Eliminator, the Spoiler was a bundle based mostly on an everyday mannequin, on this case the Cyclone. Unlike the bottom Cyclone, the Spoiler bundle upgraded the usual engine to the 351-4V, with the 390 and two 428 Cobra Jets as choices. There had been two Spoilers out there: one a homage to Cale Yarborough (white/purple), the opposite to Dan Gurney (white/blue). There additionally was an aerodynamic model to homologate for NASCAR; known as the Spoiler Sports Special (typically “Spoiler II”), it was solely out there with the 351. The Spoiler returned as an official mannequin for the redesigned ’70s, together with a normal 429 Cobra Jet, although the ’71 obtained a 351 Cleveland commonplace.

1970 AMC Rebel “The Machine” —  This patriotic muscle automobile featured a 340-horsepower 390ci V-8 mated to a Hurst-shifted four-speed close-ratio handbook. On the surface it consists of particular reflective racing stripes and a novel hood that includes a bolted-on ram air scoop with an built-in 8,000-rpm tachometer. Initially provided within the white with purple, white, and blue stripes, the Rebel Machine ultimately turned out there on all commonplace Rebel colours although it lacked the aspect stripes and the hood was blacked-out. AMC constructed between 1,936 and a pair of,326 of those two-door hardtops for the 1970 mannequin yr, relying on who you ask. Sure, it could lack a spoiler, however the Rebel Machine was created in the identical vein because the above automobiles.

1970 Buick GSX — When Buick first launched the Gran Sport for the 1965 Skylark, it was powered by a 325-horsepower 401ci V-8. By 1970, Buick had launched a 455, and it was this GS 455 on which the all-new GSX bundle was based mostly. This limited-production muscle automobile got here commonplace with a 350-horsepower 455ci mated to a four-speed handbook transmission. If you needed, you possibly can go for the Stage 1 455ci V-8. No matter which engine you selected, the GSX got here commonplace with a rear deck spoiler, ram air hood with hood-mounted 8,000-rpm tachometer, trendy graphics, particular suspension, and a Positive Traction rear finish with 3.64 gears. The automaker from Flint, Michigan constructed solely 678 GSXs: 491 in Saturn Yellow and 187 in Apollo White. The bundle would proceed by 1972 although the usual engine was a 350 beginning in 1971. 

Which striped and spoilered efficiency automobile do you assume did it greatest? Tell us within the Comments part under.