SHELBY HERTZ GT-350H

In 1966, members of Hertz's Sports Car Club could, for $17 a day, rent a special Shelby GT-350 designated the GT-350H. Stories of these cars finding their way to dragstrips and raceways became part of American automotive folklore.

1963 FORD GALAXIE 500 XL

Total Performance was Ford's advertising slogan in 1963 a year in which Galaxies earned the company the NASCAR manufacturer's title.

1969 AMC BIG BAD ORANGE AMX

In 1968, American Motors entered the pony car war with the Javelin. While the competition offered body style variations such as convertibles, coupes, and fastbacks, AMC went in another direction and marketed a shortened sportier model called the AMX.

According to information supplied by C.L. Zinn II, author of "AMX Photo Archive: From Concept to Reality", published by Iconografix, Inc. "Work on the Javelin was done in the American Studio headed by Bob Nixin. A short while latter (late 1965) the AMX was started in the Advance Design Studio headed by Chuck Mashigan." When introduced in 1968 the AMX had a suggested list price of $3,245. Equipped with the optional 390 cubic inch V-8, it was promoted as having a top speed of 130 mph.

Only 284 Big Bad Orange AMXs were produced in 1969.

1967 PLYMOUTH GTX

Introduced in 1967, the new GTX was aimed at performance minded buyers. It came standard with the "Super Commando 440" engine rated at 375 bhp or for an additional $546 you could have a 426 Hemi rated 425 bhp. In 1967, Richard Petty drove his Plymouth to 27 NASCAR wins out of 48 starts, including 10 consecutive victories.

1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO Z/28

The Z/28 was designed to compete in the Club of America Trans Am racing series which had a 305 cu. in. displacement  limit on engines. To qualify the car for entry in the series it had to be offered for sale to the public. In addition to an underrated 302 engine the car came with a competition suspension and broad racing stripes.

1970 PLYMOUTH BARRACUDA

If it had sold better maybe "Pony Cars" would have been called "Fish Cars" as the original Barracuda was actually introduced 16 days before Ford's Mustang at a price that was $3.00 less. However that was not to be as ten Mustangs would be sold for every Barracuda. Although the Barracuda would never come close to the sales success of the Mustang it did stay in production for ten years. Today the most sought after model is the high performance "Cuda" which came equipped with a 383 c.i.d. V-8 but if that wasn't enough engine an additional $250 bought you a 440 or for $871 you could have the 426 Chrysler Hemi.

1965 BUICK GRAND SPORT

After having seen Pontiac's success with the 1964 GTO, Buick decided to produce their own muscle car. Using the "Nail Head" 401 engine and a beefed up Skylark they called it the "Grand Sport". 16,000 units were produced that first year.

1967 PONTIAC GTO

Gran Turismo Omologato is Italian for a production vehicle that has been approved for Grand Touring class racing. Ferrari first used the abbreviated name on their 250 GTO. Then in 1964, Pontiac set off a Detroit horsepower race when they offered a big block 389 cid V-8 as part of their GTO option package to help boost sales of the mid-size Tempest. The car was marketed as a tiger but on the street it was known as the "Goat".

1965 SHELBY AMERICAN GT-350 FORD MUSTANG

 

Shelby-American took a basic $2,300 white Ford Mustang and rebuilt it with high performance parts, painted on some blue racing stripes and sold it as the GT-350 for twice the price. Today it is one of the most desired collectible cars from the 1960s.

 

1955 CHRYSLER C 300

 

The C-300 is often credited as being America's "First Muscle Car". Powered by a 331-cid hemi V-8, rated at 300 horsepower, it was the most powerful production car in the world when introduced in 1955. During that year it captured 37 first place finishes in NASCAR and AAA racing events of more than 150 miles.