Home Cars Classic Muscle Car Terms Drivers Just Can’t Forget
Cars

Classic Muscle Car Terms Drivers Just Can’t Forget

Vukasin Herbez September 7, 2019

Have you ever been to a car show and listened to the car enthusiasts talk? If the answer is yes, then you probably noticed how they all speak in a specific slang, using strange terms, letters, and numberings.

And they perfectly understand each other. So, if you want to learn to talk car language, here is your chance. Read on to learn about the most popular muscle car codes, names, and expressions along with an explanation.

AAR

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. AAR

The 1970 AAR Plymouth ‘Cuda was a limited production model. Interestingly, they built it to commemorate Dan Gurney’s All American Racing team, which used ‘Cudas in Trans-Am championships.

It came with a 340 V8 small block and a special plastic hood in matte black with a hood scoop. They added a rear spoiler and interesting side graphics including a big AAR logo. But because this version was more expensive than the regular 340 ‘Cuda, they only built 2,724 of them.

Big Block V8

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. Big Block V8

This term stands for engines that are both large in size and displacement. They were often the top of the line option for muscle cars.

Most commonly, the big block term refers to Chevrolet or GM powerplants with a displacement around and above 400 cubic inches. However, “big block” also designates the specific engine architecture that is different from the camshaft in the block type on small block engines.

Boss

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. Boss

Car fans use this term to describe Ford’s limited production Mustangs in the form of the Boss 302, Boss 429, and rare Boss 351. Those models featured numerous special items like high-performance engines, special trim, and exterior details.

The Boss 302 and 429 were practically homologation specials, first for Trans-Am championships and later for NASCAR ovals. The Boss 351, which they offered for one year only in 1971, was a high-revving street fighter.

C6

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. C6

The C6 is a Ford code for their heavy-duty automatic gearbox, which they presented in 1966. They often used this transmission on powerful FoMoCo muscle cars as well as on some trucks and Bronco off-roaders.

Interestingly, the official name was the Cruise-O-Matic transmission.

COPO

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. COPO

The abbreviation COPO is short for “Central Office Production Order.” It was Chevrolet’s department for fleet buyers and special order vehicles. Although it doesn’t sound interesting, all muscle car tuners like Baldwin Motion, Yenko, and Fred Gibb Chevrolet ordered their Camaros and ZL1 models through this department.

The COPO car is often a barebones example. However, they come with a 427 or 454 engine not available in regular cars.

Detroit Locker

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. Detroit Locker

The aptly-named “Detroit Locker” is Ford’s locking differential, which was an option on various models with steep differential ratios. When someone orders a car with high gearing it means it is for street or drag racing.

So to properly launch a car off the line, you need a locking differential. The Detroit locker was one of the best in the business.

Chevrolet V8

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. DOHC and OHC

These codes stand for “Double Overhead Camshaft” and “Overhead Camshaft.” They are simple terms to describe the construction of the valve train. The double overhead camshaft, which is not standard in the industry was rare in the classic muscle car days.

Most engines had a single overhead camshaft or camshaft in the block, like the famous small-block Chevrolet V8. However, some manufacturers experimented with DOHC layouts to enhance performance and revving capacity.

Dual Quad

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. Dual Quad

To feed the engine with as much air as possible, engineers mount multiple carburetors to create some interesting combinations. And one of the most popular that also provides big power is the dual quad.

This means that a car’s intake system consists of two four-barrel carburetors, which meant you have eight barrels feeding your engine.

Four-Bolt Main

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. Four-Bolt Main

The term, “four-bolt main” refers to engine construction where they connect the crankshaft’s main bearing cap with two bolts to the engine block. However, if you want performance, the crankshaft will have to endure much more torture, especially at a higher RPM, so two bolts are not enough.

That’s why engines for high revving and maximum performance have a four-bolt main bearing cap.

Glasspack

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. Glasspack

Even today, you can buy inexpensive and popular low-restriction mufflers for aftermarket installation on your car. They were famous for fiberglass packing; hence, the name and for minimal noise isolation.

In other words, cars with glasspacks are extremely noisy and fun.

HEMI

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. HEMI

The secret of the Hemi engine is in its cylinder heads, which have hemispherical combustion chambers; hence the name. Such a solution wasn’t new or unique in the car industry. But Chrysler managed to perfect it, making a brand out of it. They presented the street version of the mighty 426 Hemi in 1966. It featured a four-barrel carburetor with a lower 10.5:1 compression ratio, but with the same basic block and heads as the race variant.

The factory rated the 426 Hemi at 425 HP, but it was clear the engine produced much more than that. In fact, most historians agree the real output of the 1966 to 1971 street Hemi was over 500 HP. The Hemi package was available on select Dodge and Plymouth models.

But it was expensive at $900 to $1,200, which was around a third of the price of the car. Also, the Hemi was an expensive option since the production of the engine cost more. And unfortunately, having such power required a heavy-duty suspension, frame, and gearbox as mandatory options.

Muncie M22 Rock Crusher

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. Muncie M22 Rock Crusher

The brand Muncie was a series of manual transmissions common in GM muscle cars. There are three basic types. First, the M20, which is a wide-ratio manual. Second, the M21, which is a close-ratio manual. And third, there is the M22, which is a heavy-duty close-ratio manual transmission they often call “the rock crusher.”

As you probably guessed, the M22 is the most desirable if you own a ’69 Camaro or similar muscle car.

Magnum 500

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. Magnum 500

One of the most popular wheel choices in the muscle car era was the beautiful Magnum 500 wheels they introduced in late 1963. First available in 14 inches, they later became available in 16 inches as the dimensions of the wheels grew. The Magnum 500 was a common factory option on almost all muscle cars, so Ford, GM, and Mopar used them on their cars.

Interestingly, only one company refused to install them on their muscle cars. That’s right – no Pontiac ever came with the Magnum 500, but with their own version they had named Rally II wheels.

6 Banger

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. Six Banger

The term, “Six Banger” or “6 Banger” is quite old and refers to a car with a six-cylinder engine. But back in the heyday of the muscle car culture, six-cylinder cars were commonly a straight-six configuration.

N.O.S.

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. N.O.S.

The abbreviation N.O.S. stands for “New Old Stock,” which describes a part or component they produced back in the day but never used. N.O.S. parts are still in their original packaging and never opened or messed with. Collectors like to pay top prices for such items since they deliver originality to their restorations.

But beware, since some N.O.S. parts like rubber hoses or weather stripping kits are not recommended since the rubber has probably deteriorated over time.

Numbers Matching

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. Numbers Matching

The phrase “Numbers matching,” or matching numbers, means the engine, gearbox, and drivetrain are the same as the VIN and production code. Numbers matching cars are original as the day they left the factory assembly line.

As a result, they command higher prices than cars that have updated or different drivetrains.

Ram Air

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. Ram Air

The term “Ram Air” stands for the induction systems characterized by the openings on the car’s hood, grille or even below the bumpers in some Oldsmobiles. They design them to feed fresh air to the engine. Almost all muscle car manufacturers produce some kind of Ram Air device.

Pontiac is the most famous for naming its system “Ram Air,” marketing it as a special performance package on the GTO and Trans Am models.

Pistol Grip

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. Pistol Grip

When Mopar presented their muscle models for 1970, they debuted numerous improvements, designs, and interior features. However, one of the most interesting and popular was the Pistol Grip Shifter.

In reality, it was just a shifter knob they designed like the grip of a revolver. And soon, they became immensely popular with car buyers. Even today, pistol grips are a common aftermarket accessory.

Restomod

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. Restomod

The term, “restomod,” stands for restoration and modification. Most restomods are classic cars they’ve restored to perfection, adding modern engines, transmissions, suspension parts, and creature comforts. During that process, all the flaws are eliminated and the new creation is a thoroughly modern machine.

Restomods perform much better, yet retain the classic style and looks. This is a common choice among classic muscle car owners because it helps modernize old cars. This process updates older cars to the performance and handling levels of modern machines.

Acid Dip

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. Acid Dip

When you wanted to make an extreme performance car in the late ’60s, one of the first things you did was to acid dip the body. Back in the day, this was a popular method of making the body lighter by submerging it into a tank full of aggressive acid. That acid removed all the paint from the body, the body filler, and even some metal, making the car significantly lighter.

Interestingly, racecar builders first used the process to cheat on their propositions. Soon, anybody who wanted the maximum performance out of their car used it.

Shaker

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. Shaker

The Shaker is a hood scoop they mount on top of the car’s intake system that sticks through the hood. Since it is an integral part of the engine, it also moves and shakes as the engine works, hence the name.

Most popular shakers were from Dodge and Plymouth, but almost all muscle car brands have at least one model with this feature.

SS

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. SS

The double S stands for SuperSport, which is a prime Chevrolet designation for the performance models starting back in 1961. Over the years, Chevrolet produced the Impala SS, Camaro SS, Nova SS, and Chevelle SS, among others.

In fact, they were close to introducing the Corvette SS. However, “SS” can also stand for Super Stock. It was a popular drag racing class back in the day for stock and factory models.

Z28

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. Z/28

The Z/28 is a production option for numerous Camaro models starting in 1967. It was always a lighter, nimbler version than the SS models. The first Z/28 package included front disc brakes and a close-ratio four-speed manual transmission. Also, they revised the suspension and steering, adding exterior trim details like racing stripes, a vinyl roof, and headlight covers.

But the real treat was under the hood. The power came from a 5.0-liter V8 cranking out 290 HP and a high revving nature. This engine proved to be ideal for the Z/28, giving the car thrilling performance numbers while retaining the low weight and nimble handling.

Body-in-White

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. Body-in-White

If you want to be an established racer or prepare muscle cars for racing, the first step is to get a factory-provided body. That is the basis for modification and preparation. So, the “body-in-white” term refers to a clean body shell.

Also, they add some cross members and strengthening parts to withstand all that track torture.

Cross Ram

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. Cross Ram

Back in the day, you could buy a performance intake with two carburetors and a manifold that positioned them above the cylinder banks.

They called it a “Cross Ram” and it provided more power and torque. Chrysler muscle models often used cross rams is as production items in the early ’60s.

Dog Dish

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. Dog Dish

The animal-themed moniker “Dog dish” is a common term for base-model hubcaps. Back in the day, hubcaps consisted of pressed aluminum and looked like dog-feeding dishes.

Obviously, that’s why they were called “dog dishes” or “dog dish hubcaps.”

Eight-Lug

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. Eight-Lug

During the ’60s, Pontiac introduced a special and unique eight-lug wheel pattern on full-size models. The Pontiac wheels made from 1960 to 1968 were special and today, this is a highly sought-after option.

High-Rise

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. High-Rise

The High-Rise or High-Riser is a type of aftermarket intake manifold they designed to make air travel longer. And doing that adds a ram effect and provides more torque as well. This was a common modification for serious street racing cars back in the ’60s and early ’70s.

Max Wedge

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. Max Wedge

This term refers to a Mopar line of highly successful drag racing models that were semi-street legal. The Max Wedge cars got their name from the Wedge V8 motors they used.

Although they only offered them for just a couple of years, those Max Wedge cars preceded the Hemi racers and are highly collectible today.

Day Two Muscle Car

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

30. Day Two

You might be wondering what “Day Two” means. Well, back in the day when somebody bought a new muscle car, they often modified it right off the bat using period-correct parts from the 1960s and the 1970s. Today, a car modified almost immediately is called a “Day Two” car.

These are 30 of the classic muscle car terms you just can’t forget. Hopefully, you have learned a few new car-inspired expressions to use at your next party.

Home Cars Discontinued Sports Cars Auto Fans Desperately Need Back
Cars

Discontinued Sports Cars Auto Fans Desperately Need Back

Vukasin Herbez September 6, 2019

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Auto manufacturers discontinue certain cars for good reasons somewhat frequently. Those reasons range from high production costs, low sales numbers, failing to meet safety, environmental standards, and others.

However, some cars are so well-liked that car fans can’t let them go when they are discontinued. Those often include fast sports cars that have developed a large following. So we found 15 sports and performance cars that car fans desperately need back. The list begins here:

Acura Integra Type R

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. Acura Integra Type R

Back in the late ‘1990s, the Acura Integra Type R was one of the purest performance cars you could buy on the American market. It came with a high-revving four-cylinder engine delivering 195 HP and a lightweight, balanced chassis. Those specs made the Integra Type R a car enthusiast’s dream in a compact package.

Acura Integra Type R

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

The Integra Type R was like the Honda CRX from the ’80s, but better in all aspects. It was even capable of outracing those much more expensive and powerful sports cars. To enhance its performance, they stripped the Integra Type R down to the essentials. The only option was air conditioning and the car only came in two colors.

Lotus Esprit

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. Lotus Esprit

From a variety of racetracks to the famous James Bond movies, the Lotus Esprit was one of the best sports cars of the late ’70s and ’80s. Colin Chapman conceived the Esprit in the mid-70s as the most ambitious Lotus project up to that date. With its new construction, an Italian designed body and a lightweight, consumers praised the Lotus Esprit for its handling and performance.

Lotus Esprit

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

They ceased production in 1996 and Lotus has been without a replacement ever since. There were a few concepts of a 21st century Esprit, but nothing seemed to materialize in production-ready form. Many car fans want to see the Esprit come back since there is a space in the overcrowded sports car market for a legendary British brand.

Dodge Viper

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. Dodge Viper

There’s not much need to explain this one. The Viper is the quintessential American sports car thanks to its power, fantastic design and performance. As such, its demise has truly affected enthusiasts globally.

Dodge Viper

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Everyone knows that Chrysler can produce another Viper. Most Viper fans hope they can find a financially stable model to do just that. Without the Viper, the sports car market is lacking a classic speed-fueled presence.

Chevrolet Chevelle SS

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. Chevrolet Chevelle SS

One of the most famous muscle cars was the mighty Chevelle SS. Chevrolet based it on a regular Malibu two-door sedan. It featured the biggest engines Chevrolet had to offer including the 396, 427, and 454 V8 motors.

Chevrolet Chevelle SS

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Most performance car fans would like to see a new Chevelle with a rear-wheel-drive platform. Chevy could use the LS V8 engine and give it Corvette-level performance and retro styling. They could potentially build a sports car like this easily, so it could happen one day.

Mercury Marauder

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. Mercury Marauder

Despite the fact Mercury never intended the Grand Marquis to be a performance car, Mercury decided to turn it into one. They did that by installing a highly tuned 4.6-liter V8 pumping out 302 HP. Then they also revised the suspension, gearbox and brakes. All those changes turned this sleepy, comfy sedan into a sharp muscle car.

Mercury Marauder

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

But best of all, the performance was impressive for a big, heavy sedan with a 0 to 60 mph time of around seven seconds. Even though Mercury as a brand is gone, it’s hard to forget how cool it would be to see the Marauder again, at least in some shape or form. Perhaps it can return as a Ford in black with a thumping V8 under the hood.

Ford F-150 Lightning

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. Ford F-150 Lightning

In 1999, with the new, redesigned generation of F-150 trucks came the new Lightning. This time around, it was much meaner and packed more firepower. Ford installed its 5.4-liter V8 with a supercharger that was good for 360 HP at first and 380 HP later. That was much more than the previous model and more powerful than any truck on the market at the moment.

Ford F-150 Lightning

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Also, the performance numbers were sublime. The Lightning could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just five seconds and topped out at 140 mph. Incredibly, those figures were more suited to the Porsche 911 than a regular pickup truck that could tow a load just like any other F-150.

Dodge Stealth

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. Dodge Stealth

The Dodge Stealth is another ‘1990s legend most mainstream sports car enthusiasts have forgotten, which is a shame. With its pop-up headlights, rear panorama glass, and big spoiler, the Stealth screams early ’90s car design. But there is much more about this car than contemporary nostalgia, as it’s one serious driving machine.

Dodge Stealth

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Under the hood is a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 producing 300 HP that sends its power to all four wheels over an intelligent AWD system. To be perfectly honest, the Dodge Stealth is basically the twin brother to the Mitsubishi 3000 GT. In fact, apart from the exterior design, those two cars are identical. They even produced them on the same assembly line in Japan and then imported to them to the states.

Lancia Delta HF Integrale

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. Lancia Delta HF Integrale

Lancia was always big in rallying, so after their Group B model S4 was banned, they wanted something that could work well on the street and the track. That’s how the HF Integrale was born. The main features of this model were a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder with 185 HP at first and 220 HP later on. They topped all that off with a permanent, well balanced all-wheel-drive system. The Delta HF Integrale is an utterly important ’90s performance car and a hot hatch because it was the first with AWD.

Lancia Delta HF Integrale

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Also, it marked the beginning of the transition from the front-wheel drive, simple, economical hot hatches, to the high-tech, all-wheel-drive performance monsters of today. The combination of a powerful engine, sharp handling, great traction, and low weight was intoxicating for magazine testers, so the Delta HF Integrale received nothing but praise. Over the years, the Delta HF Integrale proved to be a successful concept on rally stages all over the world as well as with hot hatch fans.

Honda S2000

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. Honda S2000

Although Honda presented it in 1999 and discontinued it in 2009, people considered the S2000 to be a ’90s model even though it debuted at the end of the decade. This model was a true driver’s car with all the important features. It was of lightweight construction with the ideal weight distribution. They gave it a powerful, rev-happy engine with razor-sharp handling. Those aspects culminated in an elegant, open-top package.

Honda S2000

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Under the hood was a 2.0 or 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine that produced 240 HP, which was the main selling point of the car. This little gem of an engine featured a 9,000 RPM redline. Also, it had four valves per cylinder and the famous Honda V-Tec system.

All that provided the power in high RPMs with a wonderful screaming sound. Thanks to its intelligent engineering and low weight, the S2000 provided respectable performance numbers and perfect handling, for which it received universal praise.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evo

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. Mitsubishi Lancer Evo

One of the best examples of how to transform an ordinary car to a performance machine is the Lancer Evolution series. For decades, Mitsubishi produced fantastic rally cars for the road, which they based on the ordinary Lancer sedan.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evo

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

However, when the Mitsubishi engineers installed a turbocharged engine, stiff suspension and capable all-wheel-drive system, the Lancer became the Evolution. In fact, it managed to outrun some much more expensive machines. The latest generation delivered almost 300 HP with a 0 to 60 time of 4.5 seconds. Sadly, this pocket rocket has been out of production for several years.

Mazdaspeed 3

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. Mazdaspeed 3

The perfect example of an overpowered, brutal front-wheel-drive car is the legendary Mazdaspeed 3. Mazda based it on the plain old economy Mazda 3. However, the Mazdaspeed 3 was something quite different. Debuting in 2007, this hot hatch got its power from a 2.3-liter four-cylinder. It delivered 263 HP, which was considered a crazy number of horsepower to send to the front wheels.

Mazdaspeed 3

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

However, despite the severe torque steer, the Mazdaspeed 3 was a capable, rapid car. Soon, it attracted many customers to the dealerships. That reintroduced Mazda as one of the prime affordable performance brands on the U.S. market, at least in that period.

Buick GNX

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. Buick GNX

The ’80s are generally considered the dark age of muscle cars and American performance, but there were a few bright moments. One of the cars that restored faith in the muscle car movement in the ’80s was the mighty Buick GNX. The story of this model is an interesting one. As far back in 1982, Buick started experimenting with turbocharging its line of standard V6 engines.

Buick GNX

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Finally, the ultimate version they named the GNX, short for the Grand National Experimental, came out in 1987. It featured the same 3.8-liter turbocharged V6 but with 275 HP and a 0 to 60 mph time of 4.7 seconds. At that moment, the Buick GNX was the fastest accelerating production model in the world. At $29,000, it wasn`t economical. Of course, there’s a widespread legend that the owners paid for their cars just by street racing them for money. That could be a reason auto fans miss the GNX to this day.

Dodge Magnum RT

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. Dodge Magnum R/T

Dodge never built a Charger station wagon or factory Charger convertible. In fact, this model was always a two or four-door car throughout its history. However, if you have an irresistible urge for a station wagon Charger, there’s a way to enjoy the power of the Hemi engine with the practicality of a long roof body. Just look for the Dodge Magnum R/T.

Dodge Magnum RT

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Equipped with a 6.1-liter V8 Hemi engine pumping out 425 HP and a glorious soundtrack running through its twin tailpipes, the SRT-8 was a fast, capable long roof. The design is typical Dodge. Since the rest of the mechanics are identical, you can consider it a station wagon Charger.

BMW 6-Series E24

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. BMW 6-Series E24

When BMW introduced it in 1976, the new 6 Series was their offering in the Gran Turismo market. It was one of the most elegant coupes of the day. They gave it a recognizable design, four headlights, and a big BMW grille. Interestingly, they built the 6 Series on the 5 Series base featuring nothing but six-cylinder engines.

BMW 6-Series E24

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

The 6 Series proved to be popular and spent over 13 years on the market. BMW managed to produce over 100,000 of them, which are still highly desirable on the classic car market. Better yet, they sold more than half of them in the USA.

Citroen SM

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

  1. Citroen SM

In the late ‘1960s, Citroen was flushed with cash. Through various stock market transactions, the company acquired famous Italian sports car manufacturer Maserati. The Citroen management thought it would be great if they could use Maserati`s powerful engines and sports car know-how to produce a luxurious, fast coupe. It would come with Citroen’s signature design and style.

That’s how the Citroen SM was born. The aesthetics were French with a hydro-pneumatic self-leveling suspension and front-wheel drive. However, instead of the underpowered four-cylinder engine, there was a 2.7-liter V6 from Maserati. It provided more than enough power for lively performance.

Citroen SM

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

They marketed the Citroen SM in the USA, selling more there than in Europe. In America, the SM competed against the Mercedes SLC or Cadillac Eldorado in the personal luxury segment. Soon, the buyers praised its ride quality, smooth engine, and style. Unfortunately, the oil crisis and economic recession killed it, so they ceased production in 1974 after building more than 12,000 of them.

Which sports and performance car do we desperately need back the most? Hopefully, you’ll be able to find a model to satisfy your old-school sports car craving.

Advertisement
Please wait 5 sec.