New Chrysler ads

[Rob07002]

I've recently heard some new Chrysler radio ads and just saw a new TV ad the other day.

The ad's topic is about all the "firsts" Chrsyler is credited with. They give examples like retractable seatbelts, etc, not sure exactly all of them but then I heard them say they were the first to come out with the musclecar, or saying they invented the musclecar!

WHAT!!!!!!

Isn't it comon knowledge and generally accepted that the 1964 PONTIAC GTO was the first "musclecar" as popularly described back in the 60's? A mid-sized car with big cubes and power.

What are the new owners of Chrysler smoking?

GM should call their bluff on this one because it's borderline blasphemy.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

don't take it personal, its an ad to get young people back into muscle and set up for the new Challenger.

I think they consider the late 50's 300 with Hemi power a Muscle car? In 55 they had the 300c 331 Hemi with dual carbs race inspired camshaft and performance exhaust. It was the first american car to advertise 300hp in the 50's. Muscle car? Some might see it as that.

[Rob07002]

I always thought and read that a muscle car was by definition a mid sized car with a full sized car's drivetrain offered at a reasonable price and limited bells and whistles.

Most automobile historians and publications consider the muscle car era, from the birth of the GTO, in 1964 til about 1973-74.

So when I heard that ad, I was like "WHAT"!

I have no doubt that the letter cars and others such as the 409 Impalla were real performers, but muscle cars?

[Steve Chryssos]

Forebearers always exist before phrases and labels get coined. They test the waters and then someone comes along and popularizes the proven formula. Then a marketing guy slaps a name on the formula and history is made.

I'm cool with a 62 Max Wedge Mopar or 409 car being considered muscle cars. They were just ahead of the game. Plus a 62 Belvedere or Sport Fury was considered small for its day.

[Rob07002]

"A HISTORY OF FIRSTS. All automobile manufacturers build vehicles. But we create entirely new automotive categories. Chrysler invented the Muscle Car. The 1955 Chrysler C-300 model was America's first "Muscle Car." Chrysler also invented the SUV and minivan. Working with Orville Wright,(1) we pioneered wind tunnel development and ushered in the era of modern automotive aerodynamic design. When we developed the HEMI® engine in the 1950s, the technology proved so powerful that NASCAR banned it in 1965. We also were the first to put a modern radio in an automobile. And you know how you start your car? Chrysler invented the Key-Start Ignition System."


http://www.chryslerllc.com/aboutus/

From their website. They aren't claiming they contributed to creating what we commonly refer to as muscle cars or claiming they helped inspire an iconic era, they flat out say they "INVENTED" the muscle car.

I'm calling BS on this one. The C-300, 409, Max Wedge, Old 88, etc are all truly incedible cars and probably, probably did pave the way for what we now call muscle cars, but to claim that distiction solely for themselves is untruthful IMHO.

[Steve Chryssos]

Okay. If you put it that way, I agree. Someone in a big ad agency who has never even seen a muscle car came up with the copy, and someone at Chrysler who has never heard of a GTO approved the ad copy. One of them must be a distant cousin of Al Gore.

[andrewmp6]

the 63 300 V-8, 413cid, twin 4bbl carbs, 390bhp @ 4,800rpm, 470ft/lbs @ 2,800rpm but was kinda fat at 4k lbs. the 55 one was V-8, 331cid, hemi head, twin 4bbl carbs, 300bhp @ 5,200rpm, 2-speed auto, 4,340lbs muscle car means a 4 seater midsize car with 300hp the 300 had all that. its the truth gto wasnt the first muscle car.up in tell the mid 70s mopar had the fastest stock production cars out there.

[Rob07002]

Originally Posted by andrewmp6

the 63 300 V-8, 413cid, twin 4bbl carbs, 390bhp @ 4,800rpm, 470ft/lbs @ 2,800rpm but was kinda fat at 4k lbs. the 55 one was V-8, 331cid, hemi head, twin 4bbl carbs, 300bhp @ 5,200rpm, 2-speed auto, 4,340lbs muscle car means a 4 seater midsize car with 300hp the 300 had all that. its the truth gto wasnt the first muscle car.up in tell the mid 70s mopar had the fastest stock production cars out there.

At over 4300lbs and a $5000+ sticker price back in 55 it doesn't sound like what I know to be a muscle car. Fast, powerful, luxorious, yes, but I think it fits into a different catagory.

[andrewmp6]

the 63 300 was smaller but not alot lighter what was the weight of the first gto and chevelle

[crazycarl]

Originally Posted by Rob07002

I always thought and read that a muscle car was by definition a mid sized car with a full sized car's drivetrain offered at a reasonable price and limited bells and whistles.

Most automobile historians and publications consider the muscle car era, from the birth of the GTO, in 1964 til about 1973-74.

So when I heard that ad, I was like "WHAT"!

I have no doubt that the letter cars and others such as the 409 Impalla were real performers, but muscle cars?

By this definition, wouldn't the 63 Tempest be the first muscle car? The GTO is huge by comparison and the Tempest has a much better PTW ratio.