Definition
A high-performance automobile, typically American-made, featuring a large-displacement engine, rear-wheel drive, and a mid-sized body designed for straight-line speed and acceleration rather than handling or luxury.
Example Usage
The 1969 Dodge Charger was a classic muscle car that could outaccelerate almost anything on the road.
Origin
The term emerged in the mid-1960s to describe a new category of cars; the Pontiac GTO is often credited as the first true muscle car.
Fun Fact
Muscle cars represented an era when horsepower and raw speed were prioritized over efficiency, and they remain iconic symbols of 1960s-70s American automotive culture.
Source: Definition backfill (hailey)
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