Is a corvette a musclecar?

[PeteLeathersac]

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

[LS6 RAT]

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.

[JQ]

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.

[69hurstSC]

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?

[Dave Rifkin]

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.

[Canucklehead]

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.

[PPPJJJFFF]

[ 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

[mr396]

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