Is a corvette a musclecar?
 

What do you think and why? I've had this debate with others. Any opinions?

Patrick

Re: Is a corvette a musclecar?
 

Corvette was never a muscle car because you could never bring your family/friends in it.
Muscle cars = 4 seats... What do you guys think?
I refer to our Corvettes as Classic Cars, never Muscle Cars.

Re: Is a corvette a musclecar?
 

Guess I always think of a muscle car as more the standard passenger car with a corvette motor.. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif

Re: Is a corvette a musclecar?
 

They always tended to be stuck in the sports car category but didn't fit. Corvettes and Cobras were in a class of their own. They didn't really fit in with the English or the European cars. Some sure had the muscle though. The new 427 is no exception. Anything that will run mid elevens on street tires is a musclecar in my books. Beare Motors sold an L88 Vette in '69. I heard it running and the car had MUSCLECAR written all over it. My old 427 sounded pretty tame by comparison.
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif

Re: Is a corvette a musclecar?
 

Sports car. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif musclecar, just a fast car! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: Is a corvette a musclecar?
 

Here's the Webster definition;

Main Entry: muscle car
Pronunciation: -"kär
Function: noun
: any of a group of American-made 2-door sports coupes with powerful engines designed for high-performance driving

Re: Is a corvette a musclecar?
 

I believe a Corvette that is fitted with the biggest, most powerful engine can be considered a musclecar. A 1971 ZQ3 engined Corvette would not be (350cid/270hp), but a 425hp/454cid) LS-6 engined 1971 Corvette definitely is.

Nobody here would say the standard 6cyl 1969 Camaro qualifies, but a COPO 427cid would.

I just gave examples of the least powerful and most powerful engines of each model.

Re: Is a corvette a musclecar?
 

I think from 65 to 70 I would consider them muscle cars. How did some of the big block camaro's match up to the corvettes back in the day?... Any first hand experiences. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif

Re: Is a corvette a musclecar?
 

whenever the 2 seat debate comes up people tend to refer to them as sports cars. however, an AMX is also a 2 seater from 68-70 and it really isn't a sports car. i generally say that any vehicle built with high performance in mind is a musclecar. a 87 buick GNX is a modern musclecar. a 66 4 door hemi coronet is a musclecar. a 2001 Roush Stage III is modern musclecar. as is a 61 409 impala. now the real debate is whether a 350/300 70 nova is? we all know a 396/375 L89 is. where is the cut off?

Re: Is a corvette a musclecar?
 

I think you'd almost have to come up with some sort of a power to weight ratio minimum. (Try to get everyone to agree on that one).
I think each era had their own musclecars of the day. In the late '70's early '80's a Trans Am was a musclecar even though it really wasn't that powerful or that fast.
It's a tough question with many different opinions.

Re: Is a corvette a musclecar?
 

Well when the GTO was put out (some say is the first muscle car), they put a big motor into a midsize car hence starting the term "muscle car". So i guess it would be any midsize car with an oversized engine.

Re: Is a corvette a musclecar?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Well when the GTO was put out (some say is the first muscle car), they put a big motor into a midsize car hence starting the term "muscle car". So i guess it would be any midsize car with an oversized engine.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's what I thought. Thats why I asked the question. When I think of a musclecar, I just don't think vette. Doesn't mean I'm right though.

Patrick

Re: Is a corvette a musclecar?
 

If only hi perf mid size cars are musclecars, What about a SS 396 camaro, I think they are compac cars. I think a musclecar is any american car equip with a factory high performance engine.JMO https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: Is a corvette a musclecar?
 

I think some of you hit the nail on the head! A musclecar is one with an oversized engine. I believe that Corvettes can be considered a musclecar when equipped with the optional high performance power plant. Musclevettes would be '65 L78 396/425hp cars, then '66 L72 427/425hp cars, then '67 L71 427/435hp cars, then L88 427/430hp cars, then L89 427/435hp cars, then LS-6 454/425hp cars. With these engines the Corvette is not a well balanced sports car.

Re: Is a corvette a musclecar?
 

This is a regular topic in the Stock Appearing & Pure Stock circles, and the best clarification I've heard is from Big Squeeze:

"A square is a rectangle, but a rectangle isn't necessarily a square..........A sportscar is a Musclecar, but a Musclecar isn't necessarily a sportscar.........."

Re: Is a corvette a musclecar?
 

If the car has the Horse Power, It's a MusclCAR. :Corvettes/ 63 327 F.I.. 1966 450 hp ,69 350/350 , 71 w/Mod LT1 475hp, All of which I owned, W/ my wife & son along, They were not on board while racing, Bring on the yenkos & Mopars,Vettes Forever! Thanks 71 can am