Due to the increasing prevalence of stock car racing, muscle cars came to power in the 1960s, known as golden age of muscle. Between 1960 and 1972, muscle cars experienced more than a decade of horsepower and, unfortunately, a four-decade hibernation. Over the past six years, muscle cars have re-emerged in the form of the Charger, Challenger, Mustang and Camaro. The styling of the new cars pays homage to their Golden Age predecessors. We're in a new muscle car era, with competition and corporate pride higher than ever. Some say that auto racing began with the construction of the second car. For over a hundred years, competition has driven innovation in the automotive industry, hence the industry maxim “Win ​​on Sunday, sell on Monday.” NASCAR and drag racing have contributed greatly to the success of muscle cars. Muscle cars emerged from these competitions as factory-built racing cars. As a result, the muscle car quickly went from being a specialized product in small quantities to the image of the American automotive scene. Every brand had to have one and each needed better performance and personality than the next. The golden age began in the 1960s with the introduction of higher performance models such as the Chevrolet SS Impala and Ford Galaxy Starliner (Auto Editors). In 1960, the American automotive landscape itself expanded when Detroit began offering "compacts" in addition to their full line. -size models. Many drivers, however, were looking for something between these full-size and compact models; this interest gave way to a new class, the intermediaries. With many innovations between 1960 and 1964, such as Ford's 406 cubic inch V8, General Motors' 389, and Chrysler's wedge V8s, the golden age of muscle cars began in 1964. The Pontiac Tempest G ...... middle of paper ......New York: Routledge,1994.Lamm, Michael and John Hooper. “History 1967 Z/18.” Homepage of 67Z28.COM. Internet. November 15, 2011. .Lealos, Shawn. "10 Modern Muscle Cars | Manually Built." Mademan.com. Break Media, August 22, 2010. Web. November 8, 2011. .MotorTrend, comp. “2010 Dodge Challenger.” Automobile Trend Magazine. Source Interlink Media, November 2, 2010. Web. November 8, 2011. “History of the Muscle Car.” Muscle Cars – Reviews and Performance Stats. Internet. November 08, 2011. . Daniel, Dan. "2010 Consumer Guide Automotive Editors. "How Muscle Cars Work" January 16, 2007. HowStuffWorks.com. November 3. 2011.