Muscle Cars and Trucks

Muscle cars

Muscle Cars

For more details, visit our Muscle Cars page, our Muscle Car News page, and our Muscle Car Sales page.

The iconic American Muscle Car has evolved greatly over the years. With early roots in the late 1940’s branching from hot rodding culture, muscle cars have gone from simply being grunty 2+2 family vehicles with a bench seat, to full on grand touring cars with performance capabilities that rival even today’s supercars. Their modern sophistication, incredible output, and world-beating metrics of course comes at a price. Muscle cars, especially true-to-form V8-powered muscle cars, are not nearly as affordable as they used to be. Nevertheless, they remain a value relative to what they offer compared to more premium brands, despite seemingly moving more and more upmarket with each generation. Currently, all Detroit Three automakers offer a muscle car, although that may soon change by the middle of the decade. Buyers in this segment are also incredibly loyal, and preferences on which brand to buy tends to span generations from household to household. Below is a breakdown of available offerings:

Current Muscle Cars By Automaker

General Motors

Chevrolet Camaro

Cadillac CTS-V

Chrysler/FCA

Dodge Challenger

Dodge Charger

Chrysler 300

Ford Motor Company

Ford Mustang

Independent Automakers

Equus Bass 770

Ram 1500 EcoDiesel
2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel

American Pickup Trucks

For more details, visit our Pickup Trucks page, our Pickup Trucks News page, and our Pickup Trucks sales page.

The full-size pickup truck may be the most iconic American vehicle in the world, and is wildly the most popular automobile in the country by sheer sales volume. Like the muscle car, the full-size truck has emerged from humble roots to become all-purpose vehicles with extreme duality. With each passing generation, pickup trucks continue to grow in size, power and capabilities, while at the same time pushing the envelope of what’s expected when it comes to refinement and technology. In fact, more millionaires buy pickup trucks in America than any other vehicle. Pickup trucks are also the most accessorized and personalized automobiles in America. Like the muscle cars, full-size trucks make up one of the most cutthroat segments in the market today. Customers in this space are incredibly loyal, and brands do everything they can to try and conquest these valuable buyers with big pockets. There’s no room for half-measures here.

Current American Pickup Trucks By Automaker

General Motors

Chevrolet Silverado

GMC Sierra

Hummer EV Truck (future)

Ford Motor Company

Ford F-Series

Ford Courier (future)

FCA

Ram 1500

Ram Heavy Duty

Ram Dakota (future)

Jeep Gladiator

Independent

Rivian R1T (future)

Bollinger B2 (future)

Tesla Cybertruck (future)

Chevrolet Suburban
Chevrolet Suburban SUV History

American Sport Utility Vehicles

For more details, visit our SUV page, or SUV news page, and our SUV sales page. (Disclaimer: MC&T arbitrarily controls its scope of SUV coverage to either Body-on-Frame and/or Rear-wheel-drive-based American Sport Utility Vehicles.)

Over 80 years ago, the original sport utility vehicles were beginning to take shape. Some were based on the chassis of pickup trucks, like the Chevrolet Suburban. Others, like the original Jeep, were born as minimalist military vehicles. Soon after, SUVs began to focus on off-road capabilities and go-anywhere attitudes, like the original Ford Bronco and Chevrolet Blazer. Today, the American love affair with the SUV continues to flourish, although the definition of ‘SUV’ has stretched these days to include vehicles that provide little “sport” nor “utility.” Nevertheless, a strong nucleus of proper sport utility vehicles continues to be offered by each American automaker, and several more are in the pipeline from upstart brands, powered by alternative propulsion systems.

American Sport Utility Vehicles By Automaker

General Motors

Chevrolet Tahoe

Chevrolet Suburban

Cadillac Escalade

GMC Yukon Family

Hummer EV

Ford Motor Company

Ford Expedition

Ford Explorer

Ford Bronco (future)

Ford Bronco Sport (future)

Ford Mustang Mach-E (future)

Lincoln Aviator

Lincoln Navigator

Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles

Dodge Durango

Dodge Hornet (future)

Jeep Grand Cherokee

Jeep Wrangler

Jeep Grand Wagoneer (future)

Independent 

Rivian R1S (future)

Bollinger B1 (future)

Tesla Model X

Tesla Model Y

C8 Corvette
2020 Corvette Stingray Convertible

American Sports Cars/Supercars

For more details, visit our Sports Cars & Supercars page, our news page, and our sales page.

Compared to muscle cars, pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, the history of the American sports car is a slightly newer one, with the first few of them emerging in the early 1950’s. Namely, the original Chevrolet Corvette and the Ford Thunderbird. And every so often, an automaker will create something truly limited, expensive, and special, such as the Ford GT of today. Historically, the American sports car has usually traded off refinement and sophistication to deliver on more entry level power and performance than rivals from Europe. See the C8 Corvette versus the Porsche 911 as an example. The American sports car comes in with more cylinders, more power, and more performance at a lower price than a base 911, making it an offer that’s extremely hard to refuse.

Current  Sports Cars/Supercars by Automaker:

General Motors

Corvette

Ford Motor Company

Ford GT

Independent

SSC Tuatara (future)

Equus Throwback

Hennessey Venom F5 (“future”)

Hellephant
Mopar Hellephant Crate Engine

Engines

For more details, visit our Engines page.

AEV Jeep Wrangler JL370 Package. Photo copyright MuscleCarsandTrucks.com

Notable Aftermarket Companies

American Expedition Vehicles

Callaway Cars

Earthroamer

Hennessey Performance Engineering

Icon 4×4

Lingenfelter Performance Engineering

MilSpec Automotive

Nelson Racing Engines

Ringbrothers

Roadster Shop

Roush Performance

RTR

Shelby American

Specialty Vehicle Engineering

Speedkore Performance

Trans Am Depot

Roadkill Nights

Major Events

LX Spring Festival

Corvettes at Carlisle

NCM Bash

Woodward Dream Cruise

Roadkill Nights

Texas Mile

Sturgis Mustang Rally

North American International Auto Show

New York International Auto Show

Chicago Auto Show

Los Angeles Auto Show

SEMA

Power Tour

Michigan Mega Meet

Camaro Fest

PRI Show

Overland Expo

Jeep Beach

Jeep Jamboree

Moab Easter Safari