Back in the days when men were men, mullets were cool, and gas was cheap, muscle cars ruled the roads. Ferocious, snarling chick-magnets that guzzled down gas and tore up asphalt. But then came the oil crisis. Runaway insurance premiums. And big blocks gave way to econo-boxes and minivans.
Fret not, men. The Big Three are reaching back into the past and bringing some of our old favorites roaring into the future. With retro styling. The latest technology. And ridiculous horsepower. Who cares about fuel economy? Forget stressing over $4-per-gallon gas. What you really want is power. And Detroit is obliging.
2009 Corvette ZR1
A true American Supercar, the ZR1’s see-through hood reveals a supercharged, 6.2-liter, V8 monster that generates a cheek-clenching, body-slamming 620 horsepower. This, combined with its lightweight fiberglass and carbon-fiber loaded body, lets the “Blue Devil” boast a horsepower-to-weight ratio better than Porsche 911 GT2, the Ferrari 599, and the Lambo LP640. Oh, and the speedo runs to 220. For a reason.
Expect only about 2,000 to be made. And expect to pay over $100,000
to own one.
2009 Pontiac G8 GXP
It may not be a redesign of a beloved classic, but the G8 GXP has the potential to bring the Pontiac nameplate back to its power-filled glory days when the ’64-’74 GTOs ruled the roads.
Only the snarling dual-port front grill hints at the 6.2 liter LS3 402-HP small-block V8 Corvette engine hiding beneath its sedan exterior. Paired to a Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual, the GXP will take you from Zero to Holy Crap in 4.7 seconds. Perfect when unsuspecting chuckleheads pull up to you at the light.
2010 Chevy Camaro
This long-awaited new incarnation of the classic Camaro pays homage to the powerful heritage of its ‘67-’69 forefathers, matching past design cues to modern technology. Like its 6.0-liter LS2 small-block V8 with Active Fuel Management, which will shut down 4 cylinders if the engine load is light. So even though it slams out 400 horsepower when you need it, you can still get up to 30 mpg on the highway. Huge 21-inch front and 22-inch rear wheels keep you glued to the pavement when flying through turns.
2010 Pontiac G8 Sport Truck
Remember the El Camino—half car, half truck, and all attitude? Well its cousin has arrived, and it’s keeping the family tradition of power and style coupled to a practical back end, alive. This two-seater’s got the ability to not only haul 1300 pounds of material for your remodeling project, or tow a 3500-lb trailer, but it’ll get your stuff home fast with its 361-HP, 6.0-liter V8 that’ll hit 0-60 in 5.4 seconds. And with GM’s Active Fuel Management you’ll also get car-like fuel economy,
2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt
It’s been forty years since Steve McQueen chased that black Charger through the streets of San Francisco in his ’68 Highland Green Fastback. That nine-minute scene made movie history, and seared the Mustang into our souls forever. In honor of its anniversary, Ford is unleashing a new Bullitt on the streets. Dark Highland Green paint. Black leather interior. Machined aluminum trim on the dash. A black mesh grille with the standard chrome pony conspicuously missing. (Bullitt don’t need no stinking badges.) And a 4.6-liter, 315HP V8 with cold-air induction linked to a Tremac 5-speed manual tranny. That throaty note you hear coming out of the Bullitt’s true dual exhaust? Specially tuned to match McQueen’s original.
A lot of bang for your buck at just over $31K. But think about it too long and they’ll be gone—only 7,000 are being built.
2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8
Yeah, it’s got a Hemi. A naturally aspirated, 425HP, 6.1 liter V8 Hemi that’ll get you to 60mph in 4.7 tire-smoking seconds. A Hemi that’s connected to an AutoStick transmission that goes from true five-gear shift range in automatic, to clutchless five-speed manual. Available in only three colors—black, silver or Hemi Orange—this modern Challenger has a strong visual link to its storied ancestors. Like the dual round headlamps, the “T” hood vents, full-width tail lamps and the race-inspired gas cap.
[Hell Yeah! posts appear every Wednesday and feature balls-out gear and high-adrenaline pursuits that fit in with Rev Theory's single, "Hell Yeah". You can read my posts and others at RevTheory.com/blog]