The Ultimate Guide to Muscle Cars

by Peter Henshaw

This title covers the history of muscle cars from the forerunners of the early 20th century to today's iconic models. Close-up colour pictures look at the engine, interiors, badges and special features of the cars included. This title provides a fascinating insight into a popular motoring phenomenon. It also covers legendary car classics such as the Pontiac, GTP, Mustang, Camaro and Firebird, among many others. Muscle cars are a quintessentially North American phenomenon, owing their outrageous existence to a very simple formula. Take a mid-sized American sedan, nothing too complicated, upmarket or fancy, then add the biggest, raunchiest V8 that it is possible to squeeze under the hood, and there it is. This fascinating book looks at the first Pontiac, with its legendary GTO, Ford's new class of car, the beautiful Mustang, then later manifestations such as the legendary Hemi, Camaro, Firebird and Trans-Am, among many others. There are facts about the manufacturer, design and engineering behind each machine, making each one roar to life on the page. Stunningly illustrated with more than 600 photographs of the different cars in all their glory, this volume is the perfect reference for motoring enthusiasts or for anybody with an interest in classic cars.

Genres: Cars

448 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2003

Reviews

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because the author actually tried to tell a story. What is a muscle car, who was the first, what happened at each manufacturer and their main muscle models, how each one evolved. Plus there were some bonus chapters about drag racing and then NASCAR/Trans Am racing circuits. I’m glad it wasn’t like other classic car picture books where they just show a photo of each car with some stats, one per page.

On the downside, like other reviewers mentioned it was very frustrating to have the text talking on and on about a particular specific model of car and there not be a freaking picture of one anywhere in that section. Plus the pictures got out of sync sometime with the text. This book needs a revised edition so badly. It could have been incredible.

Two more things. 1. How can you not have a picture of a Buick Grand National? Especially since it was in the story. 2. You mentioned the Firebird but not Smokey and the Bandit? That movie made the Firebird popular again in the late 70s when it was on the brink of being canceled.

I love muscle cars so this was enjoyable. Just wish the author could’ve squeezed a few more horsepower out of it.

[Wade · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book was too big and heavy to carry and read from the lap. Photos were awesome but descriptions often didn’t match up and would confuse novice car guys. Appreciate the effort. Still worth flipping through.

[Paul (Life In The Slow Lane) · Rating 3 out of 5]

While it's a reasonable reference book, and has its facts straight (plus a few that were new to me), the layout is rather poor with the photos not matching the dialogue on that page. Plus, the print in my edition is far too tiny to read comfortably. It makes reading it such a chore which is a shame.

[Bradley Willis · Rating 3 out of 5]

An information-packed book with some strange editorial decisions. For example, there are several models discussed in the text for which there are no pictures, and also many photos of vehicles which are not mentioned in the text. For an "ultimate guide" I would have thought at least one photo of each model discussed would be a bare minimum.