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20 Reasons Muscle Cars Will Always Outdo Electric Cars

Cameron Eittreim January 20, 2020

Electric cars have no doubt arrived and made a mark on the automotive industry. But when you ask a longtime car enthusiast, most have not warmed up to the electric car yet. Sure, you have models like the Tesla Cybertruck creating a massive buzz for the electric car business. Then you also have cars like the Mustang Mach-E that are alienating an entire generation of old-school car enthusiasts. Muscle cars have invoked the emotions of car lovers for decades now. There are legions of collectors who absolutely eat and sleep everything about muscle cars.

So the question is going to be what are the car enthusiasts going to do when the electric car takes hold? All major automakers are in search of the next big thing when it comes to electric cars. Will the of future of muscle cars remain in the same light or are we going to accept electric cars as a viable replacement? With automotive enthusiasts and collectors increasing the value of muscle cars with every auction, it will be interesting to watch. Read on as we take a look at 20 things that muscle cars do better than electric cars.

20. The Culture

Let’s face the fact. A muscle car is a piece of automotive culture. There has always been a place in the hearts of car owners for the muscle car. Whether you drove one when you first got your license or you just love the sound of a high horsepower muscle car, the culture surrounding the muscle car is undeniable. It is also something that has evolved a lot over the past few decades.

From reality TV shows to massive automotive auctions such as Barrett Jackson, the muscle car industry is massive. Will electric cars be able to replace the kind of passion that the muscle car has? Probably not for some time as the muscle car has been around for a long time. It’s been invoking the passion of enthusiasts the whole time and wil continue to.

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19. The Garage

Do you remember growing up with your dad and working on your car out in the garage? This was one of the best parts of growing up. The muscle car is a fixture in the American garage, either as a project car or a trophy. Electric cars are very advanced and the days of being able to “do-it-yourself” is going to be long-gone. Unless you have a degree in engineering, it’s not going to be as easy to tinker in your car.

And we have to wonder if there will be an electric muscle car? Sure, there are electric cars that are lightning-fast. But what about all of the cool things that come with owning a muscle car? The ability to make it faster, the ability to customize it – there’s going to be a lot that electric cars are going to have to do to catch up with the prestige of a real muscle car.

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18: The Sound

There’s no doubt that if you are a car enthusiast, there’s just something about the sound of a V8. For the most part, driving an electric car is silent, which means that there is no exhaust note. Anyone who’s familiar with muscle cars will know that the exhaust note is one of the most important parts of a muscle car.

When you think of the sound of a muscle car, it’s one of the things that have defined most of our childhoods. If you love cars, one of the reasons is probably may be the way they sound. While an electric car might have some type of sound at some point, the overall sound is not going to compare to a muscle car. This is what will lead to many real car enthusiasts back to the muscle cars they fell in love with.

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17. No Charging

Electric cars are part of the new revolution, and that’s fine and dandy. But one of the distinct advantages a muscle car has over an electric car is the fact that you don’t have to leave a muscle car on a charger. Electric cars have to be charged and most have a limited range. With a muscle car, you just need to make sure that it’s in working order and put some fuel in it.

A muscle car is something you can work on and build. An electric car is going to take a lot more just to diagnose a problem in the engine. This is why the market for electric cars might take a little bit longer to take off. Car enthusiasts are going to need to warm up to all of these changes before they take the plunge. One day electric cars will be as popular as the muscle car but it will take some time.

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16. Classic Styling

So far, the looks that we have gotten from the electric cars are too futuristic for many of our tastes. The styling is nice and modern and has to be aerodynamic because the car is obviously running on a different type of propulsion. With that being said, the classic styling of the muscle car has been something that has been ingrained in car culture. Right off the bat, you know what a Camaro or a Mustang is just by its body lines

Will an electric car be able to replicate that same kind of passion that we see out of muscle cars? Probably not initially and it will take some time. As Ford has already tried to bring the Mustang into the electric realm, time will tell how buyers react. The benefit of helping the environment is a big plus that only an electric car can offer. But classic muscle cars are still going to have love from collectors.

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15. Drag Racing

Muscle cars are big for drag races. The bigger and more powerful your engine is, the more clout that you’ll have in this circle. So naturally, it should come of no surprise that the drag race scene wouldn’t be the same without muscle cars in it. Could you imagine two electric cars silently drag racing? Probably not, and this is a problem that a lot of car collectors are having with adapting to what is a new reality on the horizon.

Dodge Challenger Funny Car — via: Motor Junkie

Automakers might find some way to incorporate the culture of drag racing into the electric car. But how they are going to do it is the challenge. What kind of funny car or stock car can the companies make would still be as exciting and fun to drive as the current version? Obviously, there’s a lot of potential with the future of electric cars and it’s just going to be dependent on how the automakers use it.

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14. Classic Nameplates

Muscle cars will always have the classic nameplates that are associated with the brand. When you think of Chevy, you’ll think of the Camaro or if you think of Ford, you think about the Mustang. And these classic muscle cars have legions of loyal enthusiasts. There are fan clubs for every type of classic car on the market.

Would an electric sports car get this kind of love and passion? Probably not, and we have to wonder how the automakers will make anyone fall for the electric car. Can an electric car replicate the prestige of a classic muscle car? Will we see droves of electric cars at events? Only time will tell as we try to figure this out and see where the electric car goes.

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13. The Range

Let’s face facts. Right now, the electric car is still being developed. Sure, you have Tesla, but for the most part, these cars are still new. With that being said, you’re obviously going to want to drive a car that has a bit of range, especially when you are in the world of muscle cars. People who own muscle cars tend to take their vehicles around the country to different shows and such. This is part of the fun of owning a classic car, so naturally, you’re going to try and show it off as much as possible.

At the same time, you want a classic car that’s reliable. A classic car has been on the road for many years and most of these cars are retro mods, which means the majority of the car is modern. If the electric car can get a better range, they might have a chance at carving a path with true car enthusiasts.

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12. The Accessories

You can dress a muscle car up witht anything. From a custom paint job to custom wheels. But if you notice, the electric cars of today are pretty set in their ways because every aspect of that car has been built for specific purposes. For example, a lot of new electric cars use brake rotors for charging the battery. Well, in the classic car world you would change the rotors and your rims out. You won’t be able to do this with the electric car.

There has to be some sort of way that automotive enthusiasts can still customize their cars. For the electric car to really take a hold of car culture, it has to be accepted. And most muscle car owners pay good money to keep their cars on the road year after year. There’s no doubt the electric car is going to have a few hills to climb if it wants to be competitive in that regard.

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1969 Pontiac Firebird — via: Motor Junkie

11. Sponsorships In The Automotive World

Muscle cars are known for their incorporation into the automotive world. Tesla has yet to really be involved in many special automotive events, and this could hold true for electric cars as a whole. If electric cars can begin to integrate into the racing scene, then there could be a realization among automotive enthusiasts. There are a lot of cool things about the electric car scene and perhaps it can slowly become part of the muscle car scene.

The sponsorships of the automotive world have made the muscle car industry what it is today. Could you imagine the auto parts companies and car accessory companies sponsoring an electric car for a big event? You probably wouldn’t see an electric car at this type of event and this is a hurdle that the electric cars are going to have to overcome.

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10. Battery Replacement

Perhaps one of the main advantages that muscle cars have over an electric car is the sheer cost of a battery replacement. A new battery in an electric car can literally cost thousands of dollars. Whereas muscle cars aren’t as high as that one can be. The main battery of an electric car can be a tough part to fix.. When you think about it, this is probably the biggest drawback of an electric car compared to a muscle car.

1971 Pontiac Firebird — via: Motor Junkie

If you have a high budget and enough technical know-how you could probably take this job. But for the majority of muscle car enthusiasts, this is not going to be something that they’d want to tackle. So take heed Ford, because an all-electric Mustang might be more trouble then it is popular in the long run. Electric cars are more temperamental overall, and this is part of the reason why dealing with them is not something a lot of enthusiasts want to do just yet.

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9. Rare Muscle Cars

When it comes to the electric car, there are just some models you’ll never be able to get. This is why a muscle car is a more attainable option. The rare muscle cars which are known as “classics” are frequently sold at the auction lot. Rare muscle cars are something that electric cars won’t be able to replicate for quite some time. It has taken years of models and collectors to create the classic car marketplace that we see today. To replicate that will take some time as it takes a while for a modern car to even be called a “classic.”

2002 Pontiac Firebird — via: Motor Junkie

Sure, there are going to be cars like the very first Tesla that are going to be valuable. After all, it is a piece of history. But as far as rivaling the muscle car era, probably not. Electric cars are going to have a tough time trying to replicate the passionate industry that we have today. This is why serious car collectors are still hesitant about new electric cars.

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1972 Pontiac TransAM — via: Motor Junkie

8. Conversion Kits Are Still New

There is some hope on the horizon that at some point in time, you’ll be able to convert classic muscle cars into electric vehicles. But those conversion kits are still brand new and quite pricey. To even fathom doing something like this, there’s a lot of engineering that goes into the entire process. Many fabricators have started to figure out different methods of doing this and the conversion kit market is still quite new.

1972 Pontiac Firebird — via: Motor Junkie

To be able to morph your classic muscle car into an electric vehicle would obviously be great. As the future rolls on, we’ll start to see new ways that we can keep these classic dinosaurs on the road. When you think about the modern muscle car, you think about the heritage and different features that come along with it. The V8 engine has been one of the most historic parts of the automotive industry and will be hard to replace.

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7. An Entire Generation Drove Them

The muscle car has been around a long time, in fact, it is one of the defining parts of the baby boomer generation. To replace such an iconic piece of automotive history is not going to happen overnight. Muscle cars have been a part of life for the last couple of decades. From classic car shows to hit television shows like the Gas Monkey Garage, Americans just can’t get enough. Therefore it’s only natural that there would be some sort of worry about the future of the muscle car.

There is no doubt that greenhouse gases hurt the environment. Muscle cars are not the most environmentally friendly vehicles on earth. There have been some conversion kits that you can get which can turn a muscle car into a flex-fuel vehicle. But these are few and far between and you have to have a good deal of money to actually get it done.

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6. Funny Cars

In addition to the muscle car realm, there is another part of the muscle car culture that will be affected. Funny cars which are the drag racing vehicles that you see in the NHRA are powered by jet fuel. What is going to happen when the switch to electric vehicles is made? Are we still going to have any sort of racing culture? The verdict is out and hardcore car enthusiasts are worried because of all of the changes that the future might hold for us.

Most funny cars are actually based off of a muscle car design, so it’s only natural that you’d expect this brand of vehicle to be affected. Motorsports are one of the most fun parts of being a car owner, and if we lose out on that then we might not have an automotive industry.

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5. Valuation

Even as expensive as an electric car is to drive a muscle car is still worth twice that amount. The Bullitt Mustang just sold at auction for millions of dollars, and that’s only one of many different muscle cars that have been sold over the decades. The valuation of muscle cars is only going to rise as the rarity and the cost of ownership goes up. Vehicles like the original Camaro are going through the roof in value and it’s easy to see why. Cars like these are something unique and to most of the world, much different than what else is around.

Will an electric car ever be worth as much? Probably not, because muscle cars have been an instrumental part of the industry for so long. When you think about the muscle car you think about something that has changed the face of the automotive industry. Muscle cars have made it through the recession, a gas crisis, and changing consumer tastes. There are not a lot of automotive segments that are as durable and long-lasting as the muscle car.

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1967 Camaro Indy 500 Pace Car via RM Sotherbys

4. Will Muscle Cars Be Banned?

There have been talks for decades about the EPA banning vehicles that are gross polluters. This, of course, has outraged the muscle car community, who are fiercely loyal to their vehicles. There could be a time in the not-so-distant future where muscle cars are outlawed or relegated to collectors’ status due to the combustion engine. When you think about the muscle car you don’t think about a vehicle that’s particularly environmentally friendly. There is a real concern that the muscle car could go away.

But in the meantime, the muscle car is still one of the most popular segments of the automotive world. Sure, you have the new breed of current muscle cars. And there are plenty of classics on the market. Obtaining a muscle car is perfectly legal to do nowadays no matter what the general consensus about fuel consumption is. Muscle car diehards are worried about what the future will hold for our beloved classics.

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Fairlane Thunderbolt — via: Motor Junkie

3. Can The V8 Survive Automotive Engineering?

Automakers are revolutionizing the way that we look at vehicle performance and power. What I mean by this is the fact that most of the popular engines are now becoming turbocharged versions of smaller displacement. The V8 is becoming a dinosaur in the modern automotive world because you don’t really need a V8 to have power anymore. There are four-cylinder trucks that have more horsepower than a V8 had just a decade ago. So we have to wonder, will the V8 find some way to survive?

Automotive engineering and especially the muscle car segment has long relied on the V8 engine for power and performance. But if you can get the same fun out of a smaller engine or an electric car, what would be the need for a V8 engine? We are going to have a revolution in the automotive industry and the muscle cars are going to be targeted. Luckily, at the end of the day, there is plenty of love for the muscle car culture.

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2. Finding Parts

Owning a muscle car is unlike anything else in the world. But the muscle car industry has evolved so much in the past couple of decades. You can find all kinds of great accessories for your vehicle from body kits to superchargers. There is no shortage of modifications that you’ll be able to get for your car. Electric cars really don’t have any type of accessories that you can get as of yet.

The main problem with trying to modify an electric car is that the design won’t support it. Thus you’ll be stuck for the most part until electric cars start to evolve more. There are subtle things that you can do to your electric car such as new rims. But for the most part, the muscle car is going to be much easier to modify and enjoy. Which is why there is still such a loyal following for the muscle car in the world.

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1. The Exhaust

Finally, one of the most important aspects of the muscle car is the exhaust. That signature exhaust notes are something we are all in love with. You’ll be hard-pressed to find that on an electric car because the engine doesn’t have any type of sound. What makes electric cars so noteworthy is the fact that they get stellar mileage. But the only car that’s going to have that signature sound is going to continue to be the muscle car.

I’m sure at one point automakers will find out a method for changing the sound of the electric car. But for right now the only way that you are going to enjoy the automotive scene the way that you can in a muscle car is by driving a muscle car. This type of sound and passion is what has made muscle cars what they are today. You have very few types of vehicles in this world that invoke the passion of drivers how muscle cars do.

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20 Reasons Muscle Cars Will Always Outdo Electric Cars

20. The Culture

19. The Garage

18: The Sound

17. No Charging

16. Classic Styling

15. Drag Racing

14. Classic Nameplates

13. The Range

12. The Accessories

11. Sponsorships In The Automotive World

10. Battery Replacement

9. Rare Muscle Cars

8. Conversion Kits Are Still New

7. An Entire Generation Drove Them

6. Funny Cars

5. Valuation

4. Will Muscle Cars Be Banned?

3. Can The V8 Survive Automotive Engineering?

2. Finding Parts

1. The Exhaust

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