Muscle Car Mania: Vol. 3 – GM

GM – Revolutionary Power

Our Muscle Car Mania series highlights some of the most iconic muscle cars in history. This month, we’re talking General Motors.*

Back in 1954, Chevrolet* chief engineer Ed Cole from GM was tasked with creating a new engine to power the 1955 model-year Corvette.* Little did Cole and his team know that the 265 cubic-inch V8 they’d build would become the most successful, widely used engine in history. Without it, we wouldn’t have staples like the 283, the 327 and the 350 engines of the muscle-car era. The fundamental engine design of the 265 is still being used to this day in modern variants of the Corvette, Camaro* and other vehicle models.

In the mid-'60s, GM’s Chevrolet division made plans to develop a pony car to compete with the popular Ford* Mustang.* In 1966, the Chevy Camaro debuted. Its first-year V8 engine options would be 302, 327, 350 and 396 cubic inches. In addition, the SS (Super Sport),* RS (Rally Sport)* and Z/28* packages were available to offer further visual and mechanical varieties.

For people seeking performance in a mid-sized car, Chevrolet offered the Chevelle.* Introduced in 1964, it was one of the best-selling models GM produced. With options like the SS 396 and 454, the Chevelle held its own and then some in the muscle car market. For those interested in top-of-the-line performance, Chevy made a step up with the Corvette. Its production began as a modest “sports car” for the 1953 model year, but the following years led it on the path for more serious power. By 1966, its 427 big-block engine was producing up to 435 hp. The popular 454 big block rolled out in 1970, but this would be the peak for power in the Chevy Corvette, as lower-leaded fuels and emissions regulations of the '70s required a drop in its engine output.

The Resurgence

After the 1970s, “true” muscle cars seemed to go extinct. The familiar models were still there (Chevelle, Camaro, Corvette, etc.), but the high-performance numbers and engine displacements of the original muscle-car era decreased more every year. That began to change in 2005, when Ford brought back its “retro” Mustang with design cues from its original models of the '60s. A muscle-car resurgence started gaining traction. Dodge* soon followed suit with the revamped Challenger.* But while Chevrolet still had the Corvette model, the Camaro hadn’t been produced since 2002. It was time for a GM muscle-car revival.

In 2006, Chevy unveiled its Camaro concept at the North American International Auto Show and received critical acclaim. The company announced production of its awardwinning concept for the 2010 model year. The returning Camaro SS* would come equipped with a 6.2L LS-based small block producing 426 hp. Around the same time, the Corvette Z06* came out with the largest-displacement small block ever produced, a 7.0L V8 creating 505 hp and 470 lb.- ft. of torque. This would be known as the LS7.*

Just like the muscle-car era years ago, horsepower ratings have begun to climb. Modern Camaros and Corvettes are now pushing out more power than ever. A Camaro ZL1* package with a supercharged 6.2L LT4* boasts 650 hp and 650 lb.-ft. of pavement-peeling torque, and can go from 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds. If that seems impressive, the all-new mid-engine Corvette can achieve the same feat in 2.9 seconds. Plus, it’s got a top speed of 194 mph. It’s no secret that extra horsepower puts additional stress and pressure on the lubricants needed to protect them. AMSOIL products are up for the challenge. Our motor oils are engineered to meet the increasing demands of these high-performance vehicles and ensure they keep producing power for years to come.