Pacific Muscle Cars

**Big_Mike** · 07-22-2013, 01:41 PM

Okay everyone, as corny as it may sound, I use the term "Pacific Muscle Car" to describe a sports car from Japan (and other Pacific countries) like the 3/S, Skyline, Imprezza, Supra, etc. Although I did not originally coin that phrase (borrowed it from Project Gotham Racing 2), I find it rather interesting since surely some people refuse to call cars like those mentioned above "muscle cars." However, I believe there is a HUGE difference between Pacific and American Muscle. And don't get me wrong I like just about any kind of car. What do you guys and gals think?

**RealMcCoy** · 07-22-2013, 02:12 PM

Being old enough to have become accustomed to the term muscle car as it was originally coined, I can't roll with it... It comes across to me as comparing Ronnie Coleman to Bruce Lee and calling Bruce Japanese Muscle.. They may both be amazing in their own right, but there is no comparing them in a single context.

**stealthify** · 07-22-2013, 05:35 PM

Though I see where you're coming from, when I think of the term 'muscle cars', something very specific comes to mind. It was an era, it was a style, and it was a classification of cars that we weren't really part of.

**93STLTH** · 07-22-2013, 11:33 PM

There's more Pacific coast in the US than in any Asian country. Just sayin'. The Japanese make sports cars, the US makes muscles cars.

**Street_Chally73** · 07-23-2013, 04:53 AM

^agreed...My Stealth shares a spot alongside my muscle car; a '73 Dodge Challenger.

My Challenger sits alongside my sport touring car; a Dodge Stealth R/T Turbo.

Yeah, that works!

Sent from the garage

**95gto** · 07-23-2013, 10:47 AM

Since most people can't decide if a Camaro is a pony car or a muscle car I think you will have a hell of a time trying to call Japanese sports cars muscle cars, pacific or otherwise. Not to mention that a muscle car only does one thing really well where a sports cars does multiple things really well.

I think our cars fall victim to debate as to whether they are a true sports car or a grand touring car.

**j2k4** · 07-23-2013, 11:18 AM

I was there - my first car was a '64 GTO.

When I discovered foreign cars and their overall competence relative to American cars, I began to think of American iron as "Muscle-Only" cars.

Don't get me wrong, I still LOVE straight-line power and drags, the Corvette is certainly a respectable platform, and Ford makes the GT, but our automotive history tracks a whole lot differently than the rest of the world.

**j2k4** · 07-23-2013, 11:26 AM

BTW-

The term Pony Car is an understandable but not-very-descriptive adjunct to the success of the Mustang which eventually became another alley of muscle-car development.

The '64 GTO is recognized as the primary Muscle Car, although you might get an argument from those who remember 409 Chevys, 390/406 Fords, and Mopar Wedge fans.