Historiography: A Is For Muscle

The use of the word “icon” has been loosely tossed around when to comes to classic automobiles. Maybe, it’s a badge of honor bestowed by enthusiasts, owners, journalists, and auctioneers. Perhaps it is the amplified kernel of a memory that more than a few people have of that specific automobile.

One such icon that attracts heated debates is General Motors’s mid-sized vehicle lineup. One that was born from growing a trio of “compact” cars into something larger that cannot be eclipsed by its full-sized siblings. Although, one should reflect back on its roots to see how these four mid-sized models emerged from trying to be “normal” compacts – even though they really weren’t – to the fandom and iconography of the muscle car movement in the 1960s. 

First, let’s go back to the fall of 1960. GM wanted to bring three more compacts to the market as the Chevrolet Corvair proved to be a hit for the 1960 model year. Pontiac, Buick, and Oldsmobile wanted to compete in this market on their own terms. They created their own platform with a front engine/rear drive format. 

The Pontiac Tempest mounted their transmission in the rear with hopes of creating balance in structure and drivability. Buick introduced an all-aluminum V6 in the Special, but they mounted the transmission right behind it. That same format was followed by the Oldsmobile F-85, where they introduced a turbocharged V8 to the mix. 

That was all great until 1963. GM was developing a larger car to slot between the compact and full-sized vehicles. A more conventional layout that would welcome V8 engines up to 330 cubic inches in displacement. Yet, lighter than a full-size sedan with almost the interior volume. 

The intermediate sedan would also be developed for four of GM’s divisions. Cadillac and GMC were omitted from this development. Including Chevrolet was a smart move towards developing the intermediate sedan, just after they introduced their new conventional compact for 1962 – the Chevy II.

Chevrolet called their A Body intermediate the Chevelle. It would spawn many different trim levels and names over time. However, the 1964 Chevelle simply caught a lot of attention among GM aficionados as it followed a lot of design conventions of that model year. 

The basis of the A Body intermediate was a very straight-line design language. The body would be built on top of a frame, as was convention for GM at the time. Yet, there was little body panel sharing between the four models built off this platform. Not to mention that each GM division had their own engine lineups to put underneath their respective hoods.

Each division had five body styles to choose from. Basic models would be offered in a two-door sedan, a four-door sedan, and a four-door wagon. You could find two-door hardtop and two-door convertible models in the middle-to-upper trim levels.

The Chevrolet Chevelle would be the volume seller of the four models. That would be followed by the Pontiac Tempest, Oldsmobile F-85, and Buick Special. Pricing conventions would be in that exact order, with the Buick ending up being the most expensive. 

Starting with this first generation of the A Body Intermediates, some iconic names would appear on their respective body panels. Pontiac introduced the Le Mans name ss an upgraded trim level the generation before. It would continue into this next generation and would become popular among consumers. That would be the same trajectory for Oldsmobile’s F-85 Cutlass and Buick’s Skylark when they become more prominent during this generation.

This generation also saw the proliferation of more powerful and iconic nameplates. Chevrolet introduced the Chevelle Malibu Super Sport in 1964 as a sporty trim option. This would be the first time we would see the Malibu nameplate on a Chevrolet. The SS model would also elevate the Chevelle with a 250-plus horsepower 327 V8 underneath its hood powering the Chevy combining the lighter weight of the intermediate with more power.

Oldsmobile also introduced a sporty 4-4-2 onto the F-85. They dropped the 330 cubic inch engine putting down 310 horsepower. Buick would add the Gran Sport option to their Skylark line by 1965 by adding the division’s 325-horsepower 401 cubic-inch V8 underneath its hood. 

However, Pontiac broke out with its “goat” – the GTO. The 1964 Tempest Le Mans GTO would be the spark that would kick off a wave of muscle cars. The first year model saw the introduction of a 389 cubic-inch V8 and its four-barrel carburetor. The engine was tuned to put down 325 horsepower – a huge number for the era. Subsequent years saw horsepower rise to stay on top of its success and leadership amongst muscle cars. 

This first-generation A Body Intermediate would also see the return of the Chevrolet El Camino pickup truck. The smaller frame lent to a much nimbler vehicle to match Ford’s Ranchero. The latter was transferred to the Falcon platform, which GM took advantage of when the El Camino was developed. Pitting size and nimbleness, the El Camino’s future was set using this platform – a perfect move for GM and customers alike. 

Across all four divisions, GM’s A Body Intermediate was a huge success. It gave consumers a roomy, more economical car than its full-sized siblings. Yet, they would not eat into the sales of their larger stablemates. Instead, these intermediates augment sales for their chosen brands. Spearheading this growth in sales would be the performance models. Pontiac’s GTO was the main draw for Tempest customers. The GTO’s affordable price was attractive enough to bring younger customers looking for a hot first car. 

That same affect was seen at Chevrolet dealers. The Chevelle SS attracted customers with its enticing price point and the promise of performance. Soon, customers of the full-sized Impala SS saw the attraction and savings in the smaller Chevelle, but enough to cannibalize sales from the larger sedan – a point that will be repeated through the rest of the 1960s. 

Again, the new intermediate muscle cars from GM followed a simple formula. Consumers figured out that their smaller, lighter cars would handle the increase in performance. In turn, their muscle cars were quicker off the line and faster than their larger counterparts. With attractive pricing on their Moroney stickers, this was the best value one could attain at the time, 

Jumping to 1968, GM created a new generation A Body Intermediate that would spawn the greatest era in muscle cars. It all started with a body that was starting to develop from a simple Coke-bottle shape. A shape that threw curves to where straight lines used to form the beltline and the roofline. The 1968 models became a visual revolution, changing the way GM designed and developed their products. Thus, solidifying their leadership in the segment and the industry. 

Defining the new generation A Body for 1968 was Pontiac’s introduction of the Endura nose to its intermediate lineup. This front clip design would integrate the bumper and grille area into a singular piece. This would further define the GTO as a style and performance leader towards the end of the 1960s. 

While the 1968 A Bodies changed the way we saw the intermediate car, the 1970 models would be its peak. 

The mid-cycle refresh across all four brands saw some of GM’s boldest design moves to that point. This model year would yield its most powerful engines underneath the hood of its muscle car models. All four brands offered the finest muscle cars ever. 

The Chevelle SS was an immediate icon with its bold new front clip and rear end. The same would be said for the GTO, 4-4-2 and Skylark GS. By 1970, you could have the largest engine from each brand powering your muscular two-door hardtop coupe with a four-speed manual gearbox and the license to make drag strip history. 

You also had GM’s divisions pushing the limits to their intermediate muscle cars. One of those iconic muscle cars was Buick’s GSX. What the luxury division did was take a GS 455 and raised it several notches. The Stage 1 tune yielded 510 pound-feet of torque – the highest such performance number of all time. That was until Dodge released the Viper 33 years later. 

The GSX also had a lighter curb weight than a competing intermediate Mopar product with a 426 HEMI V8 by 150 pounds. Combined with massive torque, it was literally a supercar wrapped in a Skylark hardtop coupe body and signature Buick luxury. 

That formula would repeat itself in the 1980s with the Regal Grand National and the GNX – both powered by turbocharged V6 engines. 

Oldsmobile also offered their 4-4-2 W30 upgrade that also became another unsung hero of the muscle car era. They would share a plinth with the GSX Stage 1, Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 and Pontiac Le Mans GTO 455 HO.

With everything at the end of 1970, all things must come to an end. By 1973, a new Colonnade body design took hold, while emissions, safety, and horsepower rating standards came into play. The iconic body style that was introduced in 1968 was yield the last of the muscle cars – eventually neutered by these standards and regulations. 

If there was a prime example of a muscle car, GM’s A Body Intermediates would be it. Their exemplified the notion of what the genre should be – a smaller footprint, a lighter weight, and lots of performance from its V8 engines. 

Looking back at 1970, the six-year-old me was fortunate to have lived and experienced this quartet of icons – each playing their own tune while following the formula. We were fortunate that year to have witnessed the apex of the muscle car era in all its glory. 

All photos by Randy Stern