10 Of The Greatest 'coke Bottle' Style Muscle Cars Of All Time

Coke-bottle styling recovered its measurement into automotive creation via an improbable source: Studebaker, a struggling automaker that grounded to past nan 1960s. In a hopeless bid to prevention nan company, Studebaker hired designer Raymond Loewy to create a expansive tourer that would modernize its image. What Loewy and his squad created would beryllium counted among nan most influential car designs of each time, nan 1962 Studebaker Avanti. The extremist caller car's proportions would power sports car and musculus car creation for nan remainder of nan decade and beyond.

The Avanti's style was unique successful respective respects, including its flat, grille-less beforehand extremity and its expansive greenhouse glass. But its broadside floor plan was its astir celebrated innovation. The car's flanks bulged upwards and retired complete nan instrumentality arches, some successful nan beforehand and nan rear, but narrowed successful nan mediate wherever nan doors were. This gave it nan style of a Coke vessel connected wheels, a crisp break from nan level aliases slab-sided style of astir cars up to that point.

The consequence was a muscular idiom that made nan car look accelerated moreover opinionated still, which made it cleanable for nan musculus car era that dawned conscionable aft nan Avanti's debut. Over nan people of nan 1960s, 1 car aft different received Coke-bottle styling, from sports cars for illustration nan Chevy Corvette to individual luxury coupes for illustration nan Buick Riviera. But possibly nary group of cars epitomized Coke-bottle styling amended than musculus cars.

Pontiac's faux-racing GTO is wide credited pinch kicking disconnected nan musculus car gyration successful 1964. But title successful nan conception soon grew fierce, and by 1966, it was clip for an update to nan GTO's styling. The '64 GTO (and nan Tempest it was based on) featured much accepted styling, pinch an almost perfectly consecutive waistline running from chemoreceptor to tail, complete pinch mostly level fenders, doors, and 4th panels. But successful 1966, Pontiac's designers updated nan GTO pinch Coke-bottle styling elements.

The style shows astir intelligibly successful a rear three-quarter position of nan car. The beltline makes a chopped upward expanse aft passing nan doors, and nan rear 4th sheet bulges complete nan instrumentality arches earlier narrowing to crisp styling features connected either broadside of nan trunk, almost for illustration vestigial tailfins. Paired pinch nan caller GTO's fastback roofline, it offered a very muscular look befitting nan powerfulness nether nan hood. Other exterior revisions included a beforehand bumper that followed nan contours of nan chemoreceptor and a divided grille design.

The '66 GTO came successful coupe, hardtop, and convertible versions. A 335-horsepower, 389-cubic-inch V8 served arsenic nan modular engine, while a Tri-Power version pinch 3 Rochester two-barrel carburetors produced 360 hp. For moreover much power, an optional Ram Air kit could beryllium shipped pinch nan car for trader installation. Transmissions included a modular column-mounted three-speed manual, a floor-mounted heavy-duty Dearborn three-speed, and a brace of Muncie four-speeds. Floor-mounted shifters came from Hurst.

The midsize Chevy Chevelle debuted successful 1964, and soon received a immense characteristic transplant via potent V8 engines. This caller entrant into nan musculus car wars became known arsenic nan Chevelle Malibu SS, 1 of our favourite muscle cars pinch nan champion names. The Chevelle rode nan aforesaid GM A-body level that underpinned nan Pontiac Tempest and its GTO variant, truthful for illustration nan Tempest and GTO, it besides sewage an update for 1966. This redesign incorporated Coke-bottle styling elements.

Gone was nan Chevelle's original boxy profile, replaced by a wider, much contoured appearance. This curviness came from its Coke-bottle elements, including noticeable fender bulges that swept upward and flared retired complete nan instrumentality arches, giving nan Chevelle a muscular and narrow-waisted look. Flying-buttress rear pillars and beforehand fenders that leaned guardant beside nan headlights gave nan Chevelle nan look of a snarling beast fresh to leap. The grille and beforehand bumper received updates, arsenic well.

The Chevelle backed up its looks pinch plentifulness of power, acknowledgment to a range of V8 engines. These included 230-, 283-, 327-, and 396-cubic-inch engines, astir of which offered aggregate configurations and a scope of horsepower. The largest of these powerfulness plants gave its sanction to nan SS396, a beast that offered 325, 360, and 375-hp variants. With a guidelines value of conscionable $2,276, nan Chevelle Malibu SS396 was affordable musculus disposable successful some coupe and convertible assemblage styles.

We mightiness tribunal immoderate contention by including nan Mustang connected this database of Coke-bottle musculus cars, fixed that galore group people a chopped difference betwixt a musculus car and a pony car for illustration nan Mustang. However, moreover Car and Driver and Hot Rod Magazine mention to pony cars for illustration nan Mustang and Camaro arsenic musculus cars, and who are we to gainsay them? So nan Mustang makes our list.

The Mustang arguably had elements of Coke-bottle styling correct from its 1964 debut, acknowledgment to a flimsy emergence successful nan beltline successful nan rear quarters. This was astir evident successful fastbacks, wherever nan rising fenders flowed into nan sloping roof. However, for illustration different cars we've looked astatine truthful far, nan aggravated title successful nan conception drove a mid-cycle redesign successful 1967. The caller creation was akin to nan original but much aggressive. Combining its muscular haunches pinch nan indented doors gave nan car a narrow-waisted look, lending nan '67 exemplary its Coke-bottle appearance.

The exterior changes were modest, but nan 1967 Mustang featured a game-changer nether nan hood. A wider motor bay made room for Ford to fresh nan 390-cu-in "Thunderbird Special" V8, arsenic good arsenic a 428 successful nan GT500 model. The 390 produced 320 hp, importantly much than nan erstwhile year's 289-cu-in V8 and moreover much than nan '65 Shelby GT350, making nan Mustang a morganatic musculus car for nan first time. The Shelby GT500 upped nan ante moreover further pinch 355 hp. This is nan Mustang Nicolas Cage stole successful "Gone successful 60 Seconds."

As agelong arsenic we're connected nan taxable of pony cars, let's screen nan Camaro. The Camaro tried to one-up its Mustang rival successful everything, including its curves. Right from its first twelvemonth successful 1967, nan Camaro had Coke-bottle creation language, resulting from fender lines that bulged complete nan instrumentality arches. These bulges mixed pinch a beltline that dropped downwards on nan doors to meet nan rising rear fenders, narrowing nan car's waist and giving nan belief of a beast crouching and fresh to spring.

As pinch different cars of its time, nan Camaro sewage a mid-generation sheetmetal update conscionable 2 years aft its motorboat and only 1 twelvemonth earlier a full redesign successful 1970. The 1969 Camaro wasn't dramatically different from nan '67 and '68 models, but subtle changes included much salient rear fenders for a wider stance, on pinch characteristic lines trailing from nan instrumentality arches to springiness nan belief of speed. Looking down from a beforehand three-quarter view, nan 1969 model's Coke-bottle style is rather noticeable.

The '69 Camaro was offered successful respective models, including nan Rally Sport, SS 350, SS 396, and Z28. It offered an almost dizzying array of engines, including a brace of inline sixes on pinch V8s successful 302-, 307-, 350-, 396-, and 427-cubic inches, nan second only disposable via nan Central Office Production Order (COPO) programme that allowed dealers to bid cars not listed connected nan Camaro's charismatic spec sheets. A convertible Camaro paced nan 1969 Indy 500, arsenic nan 1967 exemplary had antecedently done.

The original 1964 Plymouth Barracuda really hit nan Mustang to marketplace arsenic nan first of what we now telephone pony cars, arriving successful dealerships 16 days earlier nan Ford. However, that first procreation of Barracuda, based connected nan Plymouth Valiant, was a somewhat stodgy, slab-sided vehicle, distinguished chiefly by its bubble-shaped rear windshield. In 1967, nan homely Barracuda sewage a makeover and went from disfigured duckling to a swan, courtesy of Coca-Cola.

The caller Barracuda featured a cleanable creation pinch bulging fenders and hints of Italian influence. Unlike nan Mustang and Camaro, which some had long-hood, short-deck dimensions, nan Barracuda had much balanced proportions, particularly visible successful its notchback Hardtop Coupe configuration. Fastback and convertible models were besides offered. The biggest motor disposable that twelvemonth was a comparatively humble 280-hp, 383-cu-in V8.

As nan Barracuda evolved, though, it became 1 of nan premier musculus cars of nan era. The all-new 1970 Barracuda rode connected nan caller Chrysler E-body platform, which was a shortened, widened type of nan B-body level recovered successful cars for illustration nan Dodge Challenger. This caller level was larger than nan Barracuda's pony-car rivals, making it person to midsize musculus cars. Its wider, much fierce stance gave it 1 of nan astir striking appearances of its era. That exemplary twelvemonth besides saw nan debut of nan high-performance 'Cuda model, which offered a scope of engines that topped retired pinch nan 425-hp, 426-cu-in Hemi V8.

The second-generation, 1968 to 1970 Dodge Charger whitethorn beryllium 1 of nan astir celebrated vehicles of nan musculus car era, acknowledgment to its quality successful nan Steve McQueen movie "Bullitt" and its starring domiciled successful that Gen X Friday nighttime favorite, "The Dukes of Hazzard." Much of nan car's charisma comes from its Coke-bottle design, which was caller for nan second-gen Charger successful 1968. If ever a car could look reliable and beautiful astatine nan aforesaid time, nan Charger was that car.

The redesign traded nan 1967 model's level sides and long, sloping fastback for graceful fender flares that arch complete nan instrumentality wells successful beforehand and back, producing a rising and falling beltline that resembles rolling waves. Combined pinch hidden headlights and characteristic lines indented into nan doors, nan Charger is difficult to correction for immoderate different car. The nationalist loved it, and income boomed.

Of course, nan Charger's capacity was nary mini portion of its appeal, too. While it offered a uncommon slant-six motor and a humble 318-cu-in V8, it's acold amended known for its bigger engines. These included a 383-cu-in V8 that generated up to 330 hp and a 440-cu-in, 375-hp Magnum V8. But possibly astir famously, this Dodge came pinch a 426 Hemi engine making 425 hp and 490 lb-ft of torque. A 1970 Charger pinch nan 426 Hemi and a four-speed pinch a pistol-grip shifter is nan Holy Grail for Charger collectors.

The 1969 Ford Torino fastback had a alternatively chunky profile, particularly successful nan rear 4th sheet area, but it had astir consecutive lines everyplace else. For nan 1970 exemplary year, a melodramatic redesign changed that pinch aerodynamic Coke-bottle styling. Its beforehand fenders emergence complete nan instrumentality arches, past way disconnected into a characteristic statement that swoops down done nan doors each nan measurement to nan rear fenders. The rear 4th windows kink upwards into nan tile pillars, emphasizing nan immense rear 4th panels that way down into fenders that bent measurement complete nan rear instrumentality arches.

The wide effect is beautiful striking, making nan car look wide, muscular, and vaguely threatening. It was a immense betterment complete nan dated 1969 model, and Ford sounded it arsenic having been "wind shaped," although, for illustration astir advertisements, that whitethorn person been based much connected image than reality. Still, it was eye-catching, particularly connected trim levels pinch nan egg-crate grille and hidden headlights.

The Torino delivered performance, too, particularly successful its Torino Cobra guise. This exemplary offered a prime of 2 engines: nan 360-hp 429 Thunder Jet aliases nan 370-hp Cobra Jet. There was besides a Torino Super Cobra Jet model, which was officially rated astatine 375 hp, but knowledgeable folks person ever believed that's an underestimate, pinch nan existent powerfulness being complete 400 hp. An optional Drag Pack provided an motor lipid cooler, an upgraded rear axle, and a "No Spin" differential. 

GM's A-body level included nan GTO and Chevelle that we encountered earlier, arsenic good arsenic nan Buick Gran Sport (GS) and Oldsmobile Cutlass successful its various flavors for illustration nan 4-4-2. The level sewage a makeover crossed each brands successful 1968, resulting successful much curvaceous bodies than nan 1964 to 1967 models. The Buick GS 455 exemplifies nan caller style, pinch its Coke-bottle proportions complemented by nan A-body platform's caller agelong hood/short platform profile.

It's a shame that nan GS 455 often languishes successful nan protector of its much celebrated cousins, for illustration nan GTO, because it wore its caller style very well. The 1970 exemplary received a refresh that group it isolated moreover much from different A-bodies, pinch unique curves to its expanse metallic and a superior muscle-car beforehand extremity that looked some cleanable and aggressive. Its sporty looks weren't deceptive, either, because nan GS 455 was a superior performer.

The "455" successful its sanction refers to nan monster V8 nether nan hood, each 455 cubic inches of it, generating either 350 hp aliases 360 hp pinch nan Stage 1 capacity package. Unofficially, though, it whitethorn person had 420 hp, aliases moreover more. It besides generated an earth-shaking 510 lb-ft of tire-smoking torque. This setup was bully for a 0-to-60 clip of conscionable 5.5 seconds and a 13.38-second quarter-mile time.

The Mercury Cyclone lineup, based connected nan Mercury Montego, received an extended redesign for 1970, which introduced a curvy Coke-bottle look. This wasn't a skin-deep change, either, but alternatively a functional one. Along pinch nan caller curves, nan Cyclone received a somewhat longer wheelbase, a noticeably wider track, and a little halfway of gravity. Combined pinch nan Competition Handling package, this gave nan Cyclone immoderate superior capacity chops. The Cyclone's scope of engines backed that up pinch earthy horsepower.

At nan apical of nan level was nan Cyclone Spoiler, which came modular pinch Ford's 429 Cobra Jet motor pinch a Ram Air system, bully for 370 hp. This was nan aforesaid centrifugal disposable successful nan Ford Torino Cobra we examined earlier, and conscionable arsenic pinch nan Torino Cobra, nan Cyclone Spoiler besides offered an upgrade to nan 429 Super Cobra Jet pinch its underrated 375 horsepower. This motor came pinch a prime of upgraded capacity axles.

Power reached nan Spoiler's rear wheels done a close-ratio four-speed manual transmission designed to grip precocious torque and accelerated shifting via a Hurst shifter. An automatic was besides available. The Cyclone Spoiler pinch a manual shifter could tally 0 to 60 successful 6.4 seconds and a quarter-mile successful 14.5 seconds. For a musculus car, it was besides comparatively upscale, pinch Hi-Back bucket seats and an optional woodgrain halfway console.

Like different GM A-body cars, nan Oldsmobile Cutlass lineup received a makeover for its 2nd generation, giving it classical Coke-bottle proportions. Its bulging fenders complemented a fastback floor plan pinch a ample C-pillar. This styling, mixed pinch nan A-body's agelong hood/short platform dimensions, gave nan Cutlass a classical muscle-car profile, whether successful coupe, hardtop, aliases convertible form. The second-gen lasted from 1968 to 1972, pinch nan high-performance 4-4-2 exemplary sold passim that time.

There's a convoluted history down nan Oldsmobile 4-4-2 (or 442) name, but primitively it meant a four-barrel carburetor, a four-speed transmission, and dual exhausts. By nan 1970s, nan specs had changed, but nan sanction remained nan same, pinch nan 1971 4-4-2 W30 possibly being nan culmination of nan 4-4-2 line. Despite an industry-wide displacement to lower-compression engines to grip nan displacement to unleaded fuel, nan '71 4-4-2 W30 remained a potent performer acknowledgment to its 350-hp, 455-cu-in Rocket V8.

The W30 action gave nan Olds 10 much horsepower than nan modular 455 V8. It included a trio of two-barrel carbs, Force Air induction, and upgraded cams and axles. A torque full of 460 lb-ft gave it unthinkable off-the-line thrust. The quarter-mile tally came successful astatine astir 13.5 seconds, contempt nan little compression, making nan 4-4-2 W30 1 of nan past awesome performers of nan muscle-car era.