MAY 15, 2008

Death Of The Muscle Car?

OK, I know everyone is all green-conscious these days and concerned with efficiency, especially as it relates to cars, but I have something to confess.  I have a soft spot for muscle cars, particularly antique Chevy Corvettes.  Something about the low wide stance and curvaceous exterior design gets my attention.  And then, you hear it.  It idles at a low, throaty rumble.  It accelerates at a pace that dominates the road.  All eyes on you.  Seeing is nice, hearing is better, but driving is the ultimate experience of the senses.  You’re behind the wheel, practically hugging the asphalt, gripping the stick, just waiting for your moment to flex.

I think my obsession with this American muscle car started with the first Batman movie and the infamous Batmobile from the 1980’s.  I asked my dad, a gearhead himself, what kind of car that was.  He said it resembled the Chevy Corvette, and from that moment on it was love.  Every holiday road trip was spent competing over who could spot the most Corvettes on the road. 

The Corvette quickly became my “someday-I’ll-own-one-of-those” cars.  And that someday came when I was in high school, after saving up and working out a plan with my parents.  Yes, I drove a 1975, T-top, 4 speed, red Corvette in high school.  Spoiled, I know, but believe me, I really appreciated it.

With all the horses and aerodynamics involved, it’s easy to see why my little red Corvette got not-so-great gas mileage. And these days, driving around just for fun really doesn’t fit into any lifestyle.  I understand that there’s a need for prioritizing how we drive, but does the current emphasis on fuel diversity and advanced engine technology mean the death of the muscle car?  Along with so many other aspects of our New Persuasion world (like news gathering, education, and entertainment), will we simply redefine our reality, or permanently alter our thinking and behavior?