June 17, 2011

In Honor of DadA Throwback to Vintage Muscle Memory

IllustratIon by tod ParkhIll

hat kind of car did you have when you were younger? I texted my father, unsure how to spin this Dads Day Drives article but sure hed be happy to answer. Almost immediately, he texted back: 1st car: 65 Mustang, 2nd car: Roadrunner both muscle, both favorite. I recognized in his engine-enthusiasm my image of who Dad is. Let me explain. My father was not especially the golf-playing, necktieloving guy (rendering Fathers Day impossible); yet, his love for cars and the reminiscing of them has made for a distinctly paternal quality. The American auto history drove the Chevy to the levy, and the levy was dry boils down to the story of each young man who worked in the garage to transform his work-inprogress into his dream car. By the late 1970s, pop culture was brimming with references (and reverence) to all the super-coolest cars. So as John Travolta said, immortalizing car-crazed character Danny Zuko, Why, this car is automatic. Its systematic. Its hydro-matic. Why, its Greased Lightning! So while this topic makes for a Flashback Friday, these picks certainly are not extinct from current newspaper classieds. In fact, these models have evolved from their hippy, beatnik or baby-boomer versions to meet and seat a new generation of avid car lovers. I could have easily gone with the Chevrolet Chevelle or the Camaro, but I begin instead with the little red Corvette, a national relic and American icon. Our response to European sports luxury, Corvette boasts a long and fascinating history. And bracing against a rocky start, the rst edition was known not-so-affectionately as the plastic bathtub by disappointed drivers almost to the point of discontinuation. But in the 60s, Corvette would nd its groove thing, becoming the rage of the road during its second generation (1963-67). In 2003, it was the rst car in America to celebrate its

50th birthday. The 2005-10 Corvette unleashed its sixth generation, with a modernized Grand Sport Coupe and Convertible on the market today for roughly $50K. Through the years, Chevy updated construction, costs and colors geared for the winners circle of the racetrack. And today, private collectors swoon over vintage like the veryrare C2 built in 1962, a lightweight muscle with only ve models. Fun Fact: Corvette, born of the post-war sports-car boom, was named after a small, maneuverable warship. Continuing to ex those muscles, Ford Mustang rst put the pony movement into pasture. Popular with collectors, showrooms and nostalgic pops everywhere, Mustang was dreamed up in 1962 by then general manager of Ford Motors, Lee Liacocca. He told his design team to create a car that could be driven to the country club on Friday night, to the drag strip on Saturday and to Church on Sunday. And the sixcylinder Mustang was born, ushering in a new class of muscle machines. Recently celebrating its 45th anniversary, this surly stallion has sold more than nine million cars since its introduction. Unlike Corvettes slow start, Mustang galloped out of the gate, topping $400,000 in sales its

rst year while making the cover of Newsweek and Time magazines. In 74, Ford won Motor Trends Car of the Year for its fuel-efcient Mustang II. And back to my article on gizmos and futuristic features: Ford Mustang truly is a horse of a different color. Im a big Dodge fan, from the notso-powerful but drivable Neon to the classic muscle likes of Challenger and Charger, cars with power-producing capacity nearing 500 bhp from 7L hemi engines. Challenger launched in 1970 with great kudos and buyer interest, but true to its name, this interest zzled out when the suped-up engine was discontinued. Apparently, zero to 100 km/hr in ve and a half seconds needed a power check. Nevertheless, Dodge continues reinventing itself, surging into the newest trends and branded with the memory of legendary (and domestic) auto ancestors.

The 70 Buick GSX also sported a beastly engine in a midsized body. In 1970, the 7.5L engine raised the stakes of the 67 Skylark. The GSX delivered 400 bph while sporting classic white and yellow coloring. Today, the brand continues to innovate within the industry, even in the harsher economic climate. The Enclave appeals to more youthful drivers, and from vintage to contemporary, the brand steadfastly keeps Buick and cool in the same sentence. (Give or take a few.) Leave it to the topic of classic cars to run up all the space before even scraping the surface. Thats the beauty of writing about the craftsmanship and culture of cars; and like my father, I suddenly nd myself with much to say on the subject. Pontiac and Oldsmobile make for a nostalgic runner-up list, lacking nothing except the strength of staying power. And nally, for the last pick, why not ask your dad about his rst and favorite car? That autobiography may just surprise you.

This weeks Motor Mouth Autographed Picks

1. Chevrolet Corvette 2. Ford Mustang 3. Dodge Challenger 4. Buick GSX 5. Your Dads 1st car jernst@timesdispatch.com