Final Project!

My final project topic was the Threats to the Future of American Muscle Cars. I just felt I should post my paper:

As a young American citizen, I feel that muscle cars have been a glorious tradition of this nation since their invention during the mid 20th century. This began with the introduction of the innovative and powerful high-compression overhead valve V8 engine found in the 1949 Oldsmobile Rocket 88. The trend grew in response to the public’s increasing interest in speed and power and more car manufacturers unveiled numerous car models competing to be more powerful, while maintaining good handling. They are powerful, gallant, and ostensible tributes to proud American design and ingenuity. However, with the current dismal economic situation and worldwide call for environmental reform, there are many threats to their future.
The prices of muscle cars increased along with the addition of insurance surcharges to their costs as engine sizes grew to compensate for greater vehicle size and more optional equipment, therefore requiring more power to maintain performance. This began around the same time that efforts, some led by Ralph Nader, were made to combat air pollution and OPEC placed an embargo on oil in the early 1970s, leading to price controls and rationing of gasoline. After the Clean Air Act was passed in 1970, octane levels of fuel dropped as tetraethyl lead was removed as a valve lubricant and unleaded gasoline was phased in. Horsepower decreased as engine compression ratios were reduced. All of these factors cannibalized the consumer market for such vehicles and many muscle car models were discontinued.
Even after the revival of American muscle in the 1980s, the market has now been competing with the increasing number of foreign import vehicles in the US. Foreign cars, particularly Japanese manufactured, are more compact in size, weigh less, and get more miles to the gallon. This, along with their more affordable prices, has made them widespread in America today. In my opinion, they’re plain and basic-looking. I enjoy driving a vehicle that stands out in a parking lot.
The real scare for the future of these beauties will be seen with the consequences of the recent government bailout of two of the three major car manufacturers. The government shelled out approximately a whopping 25 billion dollars to General Motors and Chrysler. Ford, on the other hand, refused a bailout and instead has been utilizing every financial resource the Ford family has to save the company itself. I feel this shows how amazing Ford is, and yes I am biased because I drive a mustang.
All of the car manufacturers have been working towards greater development of fuel-efficient and battery-powered vehicles to compete with the global market. I simply hope that these recent bailouts don’t force production restrictions on the car makers, possibly jeopardizing any chances of my children being able to one day drive all-American cars. I have seen the “smart car” and loathe it. I also cannot see myself one day having to go to what was once a gas station to plug in my stupid looking electrical car to charge it.
I own a muscle car, and I love my muscle car. I feel that although disputed on the fact of whether or not it hurts the environment, it is my American right to own and operate such a vehicle. If we can purchase cigarettes, alcohol, and fast food, all of which produce ill effects to our health that we are well aware of: we should be able to purchase awesome cars that might be doing something similar. I personally don’t believe in global warming, or going green in general, but that’s another story. I just don’t want to see the glorious American muscle car become extinct like the dinosaurs whose fossil fuel we use to power their triumphant engines.




A wise man (random dra racer from Fast & the Furious 4) once said, "Muscle always wins over import . . " after Dom Toretto smoked Brian O'Conner in the Fast & the Furious 4 by beating O'Conner's exotic import car in a street race with his amazing 1970s Chevrolet Chevelle SS 434. Loves it.