Is Dodge Challenger a pony car?
I've always thought that a pony car would be the basic model of a challenger then when you have the challenger with the best machine dodge can offer it becomes a muscle car. Is this true?
I've always thought that a pony car would be the basic model of a challenger then when you have the challenger with the best machine dodge can offer it becomes a muscle car. Is this true?
Comments
Its a muscle car. Back in the day the originals were pony cars.
70's Challenger and 'Cuda are considered Elephant's in Mopar circles. E-bodies was to be the ultimate Muscle car, but unfortunately that's when emission took over and the muscle era was fading out. So the E-bodies did poorly in sales, while the A-Body Duster dominated in sales.
The A-body pre-70's barracuda could be considered a Pony car. As well as all the A-Bodies. But don't be mistaken... The 340 Demon/Dart Sport and Duster could hold their own and were considered sleepers. Even the slightly weaker 360 versions were no slouches, especially considering the years they were released, '74-76.
Here's something interesting, the '70 Duster was going to be named the Duster CK with a phone booth as it's badge and would feature a Superman Logo under the Hood (guess what CK stood for). But the big wigs didn't get the connection of a phone booth and a car, so they rejected the idea. Taz was to be the next idea of a logo, but Plymouth didn't have the right for Warner Bro's any longer. So they ended up making a logo up that looked a lot like Taz, instead.
Then after spectacular sales, Dodge wanted in. So they made a little satin logo, and called their version of the Duster, Demon.... Religious Groups weren't happy with that, so two years later they got rid of the Demon name and re-badged the car as a Dart Sport...
Its definitley a muscle car, a mustang would be a pony car.
All challengers have always been pony cars, they were NEVER muscle cars.
Pony cars were smaller (usually based on compacts), sporty cars. Firebird, Mustang, Camaro, Barracuda, Challenger, Cougar, Javelin, all pony cars.
Muscle cars were midsize, powerful, RWD coupes. Charger, Chevelle, Roadrunner, GTX, Torino, Cutlass, GS, GTO, all muscle cars. The end of the muscle car era was technically in 1972 when the engine HP ratings were changed from SAE gross to SAE net.
back in the day the challenger was a pure, no hassle muscle car. it was big, it was heavy, it had a lot of power and it made a hell of a noise.
nowadays though, the main competition for the challenger is the mustang and camaro. with higher demands for fuel economy and sportier handling, the challenger traded some of its muscle car feel (hugeness) for more sporty credentials. i'd consider it a pony car but its the most in tune with its heritage of the three. (more muscle roots than the other 2).
Pony car refers to the Mustang.
No it is considered a muscle car. To heavy and big for a pony car.