A question What is the difference between a street machine and a muscle car?

[Eshaver]

Street machines as defined here in Virginia 's D M V when we had licence plates to the effect were defined as cars built with modified power plants made from 1900 to 1949. These same guidelines are generally adhered to in the Goodguys events and National Hot Rod association rule books . Ed Shaver

[Junkman]

Street machines as defined here in Virginia 's D M V when we had licence plates to the effect were defined as cars built with modified power plants made from 1900 to 1949. These same guidelines are generally adhered to in the Goodguys events and National Hot Rod association rule books . Ed Shaver

Why can't governments get anything right?

[Harry P.]

A muscle car can be MADE into a street machine. But as we see above, not all street machines come from muscle cars (thank goodness as that Smart car Lambo is UGLY!).

And also not real. It's a Photoshop fake.

[Bartster]

I've had muscle cars & street machines. I have modified muscle cars to the point they could be classified as street machines. So when does a modified muscle car become a street machine & stop being a muscle car? I know some purists would say mag wheels & wider tires would be enough to make it a street machine.

[Nate]

The classic definition of "Muscle Car" has been a mid-sized car with a factory installed large engine and possibly stiffer suspension. This type of car was kicked off by the 64 Ponitac Le Mans GTO. Mustangs, Camaros, Firebirds (Trans Ams), 'cuds, Challengers, Javelins, etc are "Pony Cars"; long hood, short deck. This type was kicked of by the 64 Mustang, hence the name "Pony Car." Nowadays some people refer to ALL cars from the mid-to-late 60's to early 70's with high performance engines as "muscle cars." The term is often meant to mean a street machine, as opposed to a factory stock muscle car.

To me a street machine is any post-1948 car that has been modfied from stock for perfomance and/or appearance that is meant to be street/strip driven, as opposed to strip/race only cars.

[Scale-Master]

The terms have become so nebulous I don't think there is a clear definition or line where one type becomes another. I recall a discussion about a Rambler being the first "official" muscle car. Or the '57 Chevy with fuel injection, which clearly existed long before the term was coined.

I have a 1973 Camaro (post, or is it late Muscle Car year/era?) with 4th generation Corvette suspension (Sports Car?) powered by a bored and stroked roller Small Block from a 1970 Camaro (Street Machine?) What is it? Some of or all of the above?

[bigphoto]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscle_car

[Nate]

The terms have become so nebulous I don't think there is a clear definition or line where one type becomes another. I recall a discussion about a Rambler being the first "official" muscle car. Or the '57 Chevy with fuel injection, which clearly existed long before the term was coined.

I have a 1973 Camaro (post, or is it late Muscle Car year/era?) with 4th generation Corvette suspension (Sports Car?) powered by a bored and stroked roller Small Block from a 1970 Camaro (Street Machine?) What is it? Some of or all of the above?

The 73 Camaro would be a customized pony car, which sounds pretty awesome! I'd call it a G-Machine or pro-tourer.

[Scale-Master]

I'll agree with that. I called it a Canyon Carver before Pro-Tour or G-Machine were coined.

But for the sake of discussion, how do those terms fit in with Muscle Car and Street Machine? I see a lot more overlap than individual specific types. You could have a "Tuner" / G-Machine couldn't you?

[Greg Myers]

Street

Muscle

[Draggon]

Hey Johnny, I have no idea where the pics of the Camaro and van came from, I got them off the net. Is this the Henry Hirise you were talking about?

[Scale-Master]

Greg's post illustrates part of my point/opinion. Two '69 Camaro's. One stock, one "Hot-Rodded". (Or is that "Street Machined"? Doesn't sound right to me.)

But to me the non-stock one is still a Muscle Car. Modifying it didn't remove it from being a Muscle Car, it added another descriptive to it.

[mistermodel]

The cut off date for a street rod is/was '48.I could be wrong but does that rule still exist? I've seen pics of tri 5 chevys at hot rod events.

hot rods till late 40's

Street machines till the 80's

Pro street to the 90's

After that you get pro mod

tuner falls in somewhere with pro mods

Wouldn't a chrysler 300 be among the first muscle cars? I'd think the term muscle cars never really came to be till people started liking them again in the 80's after lots were crushed in the 70's due to gas prices.Not sure if someone in 1970 who wanted a judge went to the dealer to buy a "muscle car"

[Nate]

Greg's post illustrates part of my point/opinion. Two '69 Camaro's. One stock, one "Hot-Rodded". (Or is that "Street Machined"? Doesn't sound right to me.)

But to me the non-stock one is still a Muscle Car. Modifying it didn't remove it from being a Muscle Car, it added another descriptive to it.

I agree that modifying something just adds another descrptive to it. Techinally, though, the Camaro is still a "pony car," not a "muscle car," although it does have muscle. I think that the term "Muscle Car" as it is used these days refers to a car that has muscle and can be just about anything.

The pro-street camaro above would still be "hot-rodded" but not a "hot rod".

I think the point is that there is no hard-and-fast definition to these things and is rather fluid.

Now I'm curious, can you post a pic of your Camaro?

Edited February 13, 2012 by Nate

[Rick Schmidt]

The classic definition of "Muscle Car" has been a mid-sized car with a factory installed large engine and possibly stiffer suspension. This type of car was kicked off by the 64 Ponitac Le Mans GTO. Mustangs, Camaros, Firebirds (Trans Ams), 'cuds, Challengers, Javelins, etc are "Pony Cars"; long hood, short deck. This type was kicked of by the 64 Mustang, hence the name "Pony Car." Nowadays some people refer to ALL cars from the mid-to-late 60's to early 70's with high performance engines as "muscle cars." The term is often meant to mean a street machine, as opposed to a factory stock muscle car.

To me a street machine is any post-1948 car that has been modfied from stock for perfomance and/or appearance that is meant to be street/strip driven, as opposed to strip/race only cars.

As big a Mustang guy as I am I gotta say ..... the Barracuda beat the Mustang off the line as a Pony car ..... We oughta be callin our cars Fish cars lol

[Joe Handley]

I'd think that a Muscle Car would be a high perofrmance car from the early 60's through the early 70's, although the equivalents from the 80's on through the currnet crop of high HP monsters Detroit is cranking out of late could be thought of as such too.

Now to me a Street Machine is a Post '48 car or light truck that has been hot rodded in some way beyond what a stock form of that would be. Seems that that description should cover anything built from 1949 on that has been modded to go faster, turn better, and/or stop better while letting those who see, hear, and feel it (as in tough or via engine created vibrations ) it know what it's purpose in life is. Street Machine could be really seen as a blanket term that would cover Drag and Land Speed style 50's cars, all sorts of suped up Muscle Cars and Pony Cars (all Generations of Pony Cars too BTW), Street Freaks, Pro-Street, suped up modern V-8 Brutes, G-Macnines/Pro Touring, even Tuner Cars and sport truck/vans that are built as performance machines can really be considered Street Machines.

I'd put Kustoms/Customs/Lead Sleds, Mini and Mini Style F/S Trucks in different catagory(ies) though as they seem to have a whole different style than something made to go fast

[Scale-Master]

Now I'm curious, can you post a pic of your Camaro?

[SuperStockAndy]

^^That's nice, my uncle has a '70 that he drag races.

[Psychographic]

Muscle Cars came from the factory, Street machines are cars modified after the fact.

[Scale-Master]

^^That's nice, my uncle has a '70 that he drag races.

Used to drag race this one too, in fact I made the field in it for The Last Drag Race at OCIR. Yeah, I have had it a long time. Lots of passes at Carlsbad before it was closed too. Last runs I made with it were at Pomona.

Edited February 14, 2012 by Scale-Master

[Chuck Most]

Does that say "Mercury Villager" on the banner in the background?

Well "Villager Mercury" if read left-to-right. But yes, that's a Mercury Villager banner in the background.

[Nate]

That's a pretty sweet Camaro!

[Scale-Master]

Does that say "Mercury Villager" on the banner in the background?

It sure does... in fact Mark Taylor (the guy that did the informative resin columns in MCM) noticed that years ago and realized we lived close enough to meet up in person.

That's a pretty sweet Camaro!

Thanks, it is a blast to drive with 470HP.

[FASTBACK340]

As big a Mustang guy as I am I gotta say ..... the Barracuda beat the Mustang off the line as a Pony car ..... We oughta be callin our cars Fish cars lol

After 47 posts someone said it. Thank you.BTW: What would you have if you dropped a `47 Ford on a late-model Shelby Mustang floor pan with a narrowed rear and it was home built? Would that make it a street-rodded Pro Touring/Street Street Machine?The answer was explained by the third post. Let's not scrutinize this too closely...

[bobthehobbyguy]

Thanks to all for all of the feedback.

I feel that was question has been answered.

bobthehobbyguy