You'd be surprised how many Google searches there are for this topic....
Chevrolet:
Building Great American Muscle Again
Chevy Muscle: Look a little closer; it's not just the Camaro
Unless you live in a cave, you have probably heard of - or actually seen - the new, 5th generation Camaro. This car is proof-positive that muscle cars still live!
This new F-body comes with a choice of 400 or 422 horsepower (depending on whether you get the six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission), and is the fastest Camaro ever produced.
It weighs-in at around 3,750 lbs.,which is a couple of hundred pounds more than a Ford Mustang GT, but still 500 less than the Dodge Challenger SRT8.
“Okay, cool,” you say, “but one car does not a muscle car company create.”
True enough, but along comes the Chevy Traverse with 286 horsepower and it’s newest lil’ bro: the 2010 Equinox LTZ - a smaller crossover with an optional V-6 that pumps out 255 ponies under the hood of a fairly small wheelbase.
(Be reminded that the 1972 GTO with a 400cid was rated at 250HP…that’s 5 less than the ‘Nox!) 
I have been seriously looking at these Chevy Equinox’s not just because of the increased HP out of a smaller V-6 (down to 3.0 liters from the ’09’s 3.4 liters), but also because it takes its styling cues from the Traverse, which has looked incredible since Day #1.
Add to the new “Direct Injection” engine tech, a cool, new interior and Chevy has produced a winner from a line-up of cars that were somewhat ho-hum in past years.
Don’t get me wrong, we have an ‘06 Equinox in the family, and I spend a ton of time driving it, (because it’s so much fun to cruise in) as well as applying wax, polish and some cool interior coatings to make it look better’n new.
(The Equinox has some fabulous metal flake finishes, BTW)
The new interior is said to be constructed of newer, softer-feeling materials and far-less hard molded plastic. It will also have a back-up camera and offers 18? wheels this year! Amazing.
Anyway, the new camaro is gonna sell like the ;79 Z/28, but you can bet the new Equinox will give it a run for it’s money!
Wait n’ see!
Click here to read more about the new Chevys and more muscle car blogs!
In light of all this talk of new muscle cars, this week’s “Mac’s Wax: Car Wax of the Week” is….Mac’s MUSCLE CAR WAX. This stuff is made especially ofr muscle cars. That meaning: it has a high carnauba content and deep shine, it contains absolutely no polish (abrasives) and it has an amino-functional resin that acts as an emulsifier to bond the wax to your paint! Add a little bit of cleaning agent (we did) and it will remove micro-bits of dirts from your paint’s pores, which can be buffed out when you shine our Muscle Car Wax to a deep, glossy sheen!
It's about time I got a new muscle car!
Now’s the time to buy a Z28!
You can only ignore "The Bug" for so long.
May 21, 2009
I've been bitten.
It's time for me to find myself a new musclecar. I think I'd like to get an F-body this time around.
With only 3 generations in as many decades (can’t afford to consider the 4th Generation, 2010 Camaro yet), you’d think I could make a snap decision about what kind of Camaro I am setting my sites on.
The 1st Generation is out of the question. Not that a ‘69 Camaro Z28 wouldn’t be an awesome choice, but these are pony cars and a lot of them were sold back in the late 60s. Go to a decent-sized classic car show and you’ll see a handful of 67-69 Camaro models in the SS, RS, or Z28 editions. Now with Goodmark making 1969 Camaro hardtops and ‘verts, you’re gonna see a lot more of these creatures roaming the streets. It’s a good thing, but too much saturation might lessen their value.
The 2nd Generation Camaro started out strong, with the incredible 1970& 1/2 Z28 and SS. The model year design carried through until the arrival of the 1974 Camaro, which offered no SS model and a heavily-decaled Z28 with a lethargic 350 that would spell the end of the Z28. That is until 1977, when Chevrolet decided to revive the muscular F-body again.
The 1977 model was a good start - despite the poorly aspirated V-8, but Chevy diehards found a lot of potential there. It had an under-nose spoiler and body-colored bumpers, The rear deck spoiler was decaled to match the hood scoop decal and a set of stamped steel wheels could be ordered that also matched the body color. Pretty cool stuff!
The Z was back!
The 1978 through 1981 model Z28s were called the “2nd Generation Soft-Noze Era” Camaros.
 This is one period I am very focused on with my new Z28 search. I think the ‘78-81 Z28 were absolutely beautiful and, as I write this, you can still purchase one in very good condition for under $7500. One reason I find this period of Z28 history especially appealing is due to its front fender venting and the front spoilers; both are close in design to the Z28’s bigger and bolder brother from Pontiac - the Trans Am. My very first new car was a 1975 Trans Am, and I am not ashamed to admit that I would just sit and stare at that car for hours.
So, my choice for this period is a ‘79 Chevy Camaro Z-28. although I would be just as happy with an ‘81.
The 3rd Generation Arrives: 1982
I am not a big fan of any 3rd Gen Z-28 from 1982 through 1984. The cars looked nice, but they had this chintzy feel about ‘em that I didn’t like at all. It wasn’t until the engines were equipped with the TPI-intakes that I started to take notice of the Camaro again, and that Camaro was of course, the IROC-Z!
The 3rd Generation Camaro IROC-Z was not only sharp, but it could outhandle just about any car on the US market.
Suddenly, Chevrolet was back on track. It had taken about a decade, but the Z-28 was, once again, a respectable muscle car and road warrior.
Not only was there a return to power, but the 5-speed manual and 4-spd. automatic transmissions made them more efficient and faster. The beefed-up suspension and sway bars made it one the the best-handling American cars ever built.
There seems to be a lot of people who look down their noses at the IROC-Z28. I think they believe the IROCs were made for mullett-wearing rednecks who couldn’t afford a Corvette. It’s a shame so many see this super-handling machine as a lower-end of the white trash scale sled. In actuality, the IROC-Z had no real rivals in it’s class.
The Pontiac Trans-Am was also a much-covetted model back in the late 80s, but watch to eBay auctions and Mecum, Kruse and Barrett-Jackson events. I think you’re going to see the ‘85-90 IROC-Z appreciate in value - far above the Pontiac F-body from those same years.
So, my choice?
I’m leaning toward a 1979 Z28, possibly an ‘81. But I have not ruled-out the ‘87-90 IROC-Z28.
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