| The golden age of muscle cars was between 1964 | | | | ratio. |
| and 1970. In these six years, manufacturers such as | | | | The demand for muscle-cars deflated quickly because |
| Ford, GM, and Chevrolet were constantly changing | | | | the high inflation on the sticker prices on all of the |
| the design and function of these 1970's cars. | | | | cars. Manufacturers did this because they knew that |
| However, no one knew the road that the muscle car | | | | the muscle car was dying, and that 1970's cars would |
| would take. The death of muscle occurred in the late | | | | turn out to be small, fuel efficient, and economical |
| 1970's. The problem involved a changing market; | | | | compared to a decade ago. |
| consumers were tired of the gas-guzzling V8 engines | | | | The only muscle cars that appeared in the 1970's |
| on their old muscle cars. Many consumers were | | | | were pony cars. Ponies are basically a cheaper and |
| looking for a more affordable car in the 70's than | | | | smaller sports car that appealed to consumers who |
| they had been in the 60's. | | | | wanted the speed of a sports car without having to |
| These were not all the reasons for the death of | | | | pay the price. The only pony cars that remained |
| American muscle. In 1973, the United States of | | | | during the 1970's were the Chevy Camaro, the |
| America had an oil crisis because of OPEC. Fuel | | | | Pontiac Firebird, and the Ford Mustang (the second |
| shortages, record gas prices and long lines at the gas | | | | edition). These vehicles, specifically the Ford Mustang |
| pumps were some of the countless discomforts that | | | | II, were sizably downgraded because of the energy |
| the American consumer had to deal with to keep | | | | crisis. This downgrading made muscle and pony |
| their 1970's cars running. 1978 model cars were hit | | | | enthusiasts grimace. |
| with a law passed by Congress forcing a higher | | | | Nowadays, these 1970's cars are turning into amazing |
| minimum-mpg goal or be forced to pay heavy fines | | | | restored cars. Many people are restoring these |
| for not doing so. This was a pain for manufacturing | | | | beautiful machines. These old muscle cars from the |
| vehicles because as we all know, these machines | | | | 1970's are finally in the limelight that they deserved |
| don't ever have the most efficient miles-per-gallon | | | | 40 years ago. |