Log in / RegisterIf you’re a classic American cars enthusiast, you would have come across many famous pieces of classic car trivia, such as the origin of the Oldsmobile 442 name (4 barrel carburettor + 4 on the floor + dual (2) exhaust), or the old argument of whether the Ford Mustang is a muscle car, or not. That being said, the history of American classic cars has its ways of constantly revealing new and curious facts that can surprise even the biggest fans. Read along to find 11 things we think you may not know about classic American cars!
- The Dodge Charger Daytona Was banned from Nascar for being too good
After becoming the first car ever to break the record of 200 mph in a NASCAR race, the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona was banned from being used in the race. The reason why? It was simply too good of a race car. The officials considered it to give an unfair advantage and passed a regulation to ban it. Way to manage competition, right?
- There’s only one Chevrolet Corvette 1983 in the whole world
When Chevrolet tried to replace their old C3 Corvette with its new C4 model, the company hit a major roadblock. Around 43 pre-production 1983 Corvettes were made before it came to light that the cars weren’t up to the current standards. As a result, C4 production had to be pushed back to 1984 and all 1983 Corvettes were destroyed…all but one. You can find the single remaining 1983 Chevrolet Corvette at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
- The first muscle car used by the police was an AMC Javelin AMX
Classic American cars are famous for their powerful engines and impressive straight-line speed. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that they’ve been involved in their fair share of chases. They were used as getaway vehicles for famous criminals, including the Bonnie and Clyde gang in the 30s (more about this later on). However, the first time the police used a muscle car was in 1971 when the Alabama State Troopers were equipped with their very own AMC Javelin AMX with a 401 V8 engine and 335 HP.
- The Pontiac’s T-top roof had leakage issues
When it comes to facts about classic American cars, not everything you’ll find is all that glorious. For example, in 1976, when Pontiac first introduced their T-top roof, it had one major flaw – it leaked. The faulty roofs were produced by Hurst and were used up to 1978 when they were replaced by units made by Fisher. You’ll recognise the Fisher glass roof panels, as they are larger than the Hurst Hatch ones.
- Shelby GT350 Convertible was actually first produced in 1966
Most American classic car enthusiasts know the first Shelby GT350 Convertible as a 1968 car. A lesser-known fact is that in 1966, Carroll Shelby was working on a project the public wasn’t aware of. He produced six GT350 convertibles, which he gave to family and friends. Four of those have been tracked to this day, the remaining two currently remain lost to history.
- Clyde Barrow wrote a letter to Henry Ford Praising the 1934 Ford V8
Remember us talking about Bonnie and Clyde’s getaway vehicle? It was a Ford V8. In fact, Clyde loved it so much that in 1934 the infamous robber wrote a letter to Ford, praising the vehicle. He thought it was a “dandy car”, which boasted far superior speed capabilities than any of its competitors.
- Moonshiners loved muscle cars
Since we’re on the topic of classic American cars and crime, we can’t omit the fact that in the 60s, moonshiners couldn’t get enough of their muscle cars. They needed inconspicuous vehicles that could develop high speeds fast, in case they found themselves chased by the police. Bonus fact: NASCAR legend, Junior Johnson, who was a prolific moonshine smuggler, allegedly said that if it hadn’t been for whiskey, NASCAR would have never been formed.
- T5 Mustangs had to be renamed in Germany because of a bicycle company
Never heard of Ford T5? That’s not a surprise really. It’s the German name for the 1973 T5 Mustangs. If you’re wondering why such an automotive giant had to change their product name, well, it’s because the rights to the Mustang name in Germany were owned by a small bicycle company at the time. That’s a David vs Goliath scenario right there!
- The original 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge ad featured Paul Revere and the Raiders
Yep, the bright yellow 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge isn’t just an iconic classic American car, it’s also a bonafide rock star. The original TV ad for the car was a music video in itself, featuring Paul Revere and the Raiders. The lead singer Mark Lindsay was a huge fan of the Judge and wrote the song himself. Well worth the watch!
- American astronauts are huge Corvette fans
Before he stepped on the moon, Neil Armstrong had something else to boast about – his stunning 1967 Corvette 427. Another big name in space exploration famous for being a Corvette fan was Alan Shepard, the first American in space. Plus, all members of the Apollo 12 mission were all proud owners of identical gold 1969 Corvettes. Some say that the connection between NASA and Corvette is still alive today.
- Racecar builders in the 60s used to dip cars into acid to boost performance
Acid baths may sound a bit extreme (especially, if you happen to be a Breaking Bad fan) but it was a common practice in the late 1960s. By stripping all the paint and even layers of the metal, this procedure would make the body of the car lighter – a sure (albeit rather extreme) way to increase the car’s speed performance. We wouldn’t recommend you trying this out though!
That was the last of our curious facts about classic American cars we hope you enjoyed the read!
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