Wheels Mag: The Top 20 Aussie Muscle Cars

[SSbaby]

Originally Posted by BAxtER

your right ss baby they were not as quick as the EB GT or the GTS...here is a copy of dec1992 wheels magazine i dug up.

xr6 did 0-100kms in 7.8, both the GT and GTS did it in 7.3.
As for quarter mile xr6 did it in 15.6, where as the GT 15.2 and the GTS 15.3.

2nd pic shows it all if you can see it. (note the GT is on the right hand coloumn on the top). cheers

hope this is helpful.
cheers

Thanks Baxter. I don't often get too many agreeing with me here even though I might actually be (almost always) right.

Anyway, I agree, that muscle cars are most certainly not 'underpowered' 6 cyl cars based on taxis or cars much more nimble like LC Torana... although the E49 is quite clearly the exception. To this day, in the realm of Aussie NA 6 cyl cars, the E49 has not been beaten as far as quarter mile times are concerned... whereas today's V8's seem to be getting quicker.

A muscle car usually has a thumping big V8 but Ford has recently redefined the segment and the turbo 6 is clearly one of the quickest ever muscle cars this country has produced.

[XR Martin]

Pretty sure Wheels took them to Phillip Island and the EB XR6 was quicker around the circuit than any other Aussie car of the time.

[Carby]

Surprised the HK327 and Charger E38 did not make the list - esp. the 327 it was a Bathurst winner. I'd rather a E38 over a VG Pacer anyday.

EB XR6 ? hmmm, I think the BF or FG XR6T are more worthy.

[nugget378]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

My totally and unashamedly biased top 21 aussie Factory Musclecars in age order but not "ranked":

XRGT
XTGT
Pacer
HK GTS 327
XWGT windsor
XWGTHO Phase 1
HT GTS 350
XWGT cleveland
XWGTHO Phase 2
XYGT
XYGTHO Phase 3
E38
HG GTS 350
GTR XU1
XAGT + RPO
E49
XBGT
LH SLR 5000
LH SLR500 L34
LX SLR5000
LX SLR5000/SS/A9X

No XAGT RPO?

[SSbaby]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Pretty sure Wheels took them to Phillip Island and the EB XR6 was quicker around the circuit than any other Aussie car of the time.

You'll be believed when you provide the proof. Until then...

I do believe that the XR6 defeated the V8s in a Wheels test (once) but I'm not one to care for Wheels' subjective opinions in regards to the outright winner...

[Sprint347]

Originally Posted by shaynet

Only one I am uncertain about is the EB XR6/8. As good as they are I would have thought the EB GT would have got the nod over the XR's

agreed, i would have swapped the EB XR's for the ED Sprint personally but each to their own

[Sprint347]

Originally Posted by SSbaby

You'll be believed when you provide the proof. Until then...

I do believe that the XR6 defeated the V8s in a Wheels test (once) but I'm not one to care for Wheels' subjective opinions in regards to the outright winner...

it was common knowledge the EF XR6's outpaced the XR8's

[LTDHO]

Originally Posted by b2tf

XR GT
VG Valiant Pacer
Phase III HO
Phase II HO
E49 Charger
HT GTS 350 Monaro
A9X Torana
GTR XU-1
VK SS Group A
HDT VC Commodore
VS GTS-R
VN SS Group A
T3 TE50
EB XR6/XR8
VTII GTS 300
VT 1 GTS
FG F6
BA XR6T
HSV W427
VL SS Group A

Interesting that only 3 GT's andf the mention of EB XR and not EBGT. I own a EBXR8 and it is far from a muscle car. Where is XA and XB GT's? Biggest question is, Where the **** is the ED Sprint??

[Auslandau]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

My totally and unashamedly biased top 21 aussie Factory Musclecars in age order but not "ranked":

XRGT
XTGT
Pacer
HK GTS 327
XWGT windsor
XWGTHO Phase 1
HT GTS 350
XWGT cleveland
XWGTHO Phase 2
LANDAU
E38
HG GTS 350
GTR XU1
XAGT + RPO
E49
XBGT
LH SLR 5000
LH SLR500 L34
LX SLR5000
LX SLR5000/SS/A9X

............forgot LANDAU aswell. Must have been an over sight so I will add it for you



| [/url] |

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by auslandau

............forgot LANDAU aswell. Must have been an over sight so I will add it for you

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by nugget378

No XAGT RPO?

i combined it with XAGT to make way for some of the 6's otherwise the mopar boys would lynch me!
You're right though, maybe its my "top 22" ..... (or 19 if you remove the F@rt boxes )

[Nikked]

XR GT
VG Valiant Pacer
Phase III HO
Phase II HO
E49 Charger
HT GTS 350 Monaro
A9X Torana
GTR XU-1
VK SS Group A
HDT VC Commodore
VS GTS-R
VN SS Group A
T3 TE50
EB XR6/XR8
VTII GTS 300
VT 1 GTS
FG F6
BA XR6T
HSV W427
VL SS Group a

What i think Green being understandable, orange a bit 'meh' and red, no.

Out of the EA-ED's the XR6 is understandable because it was quiker then the 8's and brought the 6 back into the performance spectrum, but i think the XR8 sprint should of been mentioned over this...


The VS GT-R is a bit of a mistake IMO...VT GTS, why?

Funnly enough a couple of cars that i think would have made the list are Fords...RP0 83 and the Cobra...they could have repalced the VS and VT...but we cant have more ford then holdens can we now...

[Escort_RPDriver]

Originally Posted by Nikked

XR GT
VG Valiant Pacer
Phase III HO
Phase II HO
E49 Charger
HT GTS 350 Monaro
A9X Torana
GTR XU-1
VK SS Group A
HDT VC Commodore
VS GTS-R
VN SS Group A
T3 TE50
EB XR6/XR8
VTII GTS 300
VT 1 GTS
FG F6
BA XR6T
HSV W427
VL SS Group a

What i think Green being understandable, orange a bit 'meh' and red, no.

Out of the EA-ED's the XR6 is understandable because it was quiker then the 8's and brought the 6 back into the performance spectrum, but i think the XR8 sprint should of been mentioned over this...


The VS GT-R is a bit of a mistake IMO...VT GTS, why?

Funnly enough a couple of cars that i think would have made the list are Fords...RP0 83 and the Cobra...they could have repalced the VS and VT...but we cant have more ford then holdens can we now...

the cobra has no place on that list all it was was a paint job and body kit to sell some shells that wern't selling and what makes the sprint so special wat becouse it had a bit more powerful V8 than a xr8 and they only did a few of them?
but i agree about the vt gts why have 2 technically there the same car

[T3-STROKER]

Well after reading all replys.
I think that the TE3s need more Recugnition as being a Muscle car.
as said thay are the last of the AU versions a stroker V8 & a Torque Monster
and came closest to recreating the raw muscle of the 70s in a modern context
good to see it on the list,and mixing the new Muscle with the old Muscle.
and with a thumping V8 sound.

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by nugget378

That one flew right over your head :P

Must have :

[Windsor220]

Originally Posted by BAxtER

your right ss baby they were not as quick as the EB GT or the GTS...here is a copy of dec1992 wheels magazine i dug up.

xr6 did 0-100kms in 7.8, both the GT and GTS did it in 7.3.
As for quarter mile xr6 did it in 15.6, where as the GT 15.2 and the GTS 15.3.

2nd pic shows it all if you can see it. (note the GT is on the right hand coloumn on the top). cheers

[IMG][/IMG]

hope this is helpful.
cheers

Whats funny is the TX3 is faster over the quarter than the XRs. GT should of made the cut.

[bingoTE50]

Since sixes are mentioned ,what about rotaries ,the RX-7 Moffat drove was pretty handy at the time..Dare I say Sierra ...GTR Skyline...

Before you shoot me , I personally believe Muscle Cars need 8 cyl and vintage should be pre 1975 , however Classic Performance Cars are pretty much all of the above for mine.. :eclipsee_

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by bingoTE50

Since sixes are mentioned ,what about rotaries ,the RX-7 Moffat drove was pretty handy at the time..Dare I say Sierra ...GTR Skyline...

Before you shoot me , I personally believe Muscle Cars need 8 cyl and vintage should be pre 1975 , however Classic Performance Cars are pretty much all of the above for mine.. :eclipsee_

Australia made RX7s did they?

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Australia made RX7s did they?

We didnt make skylines or sierras either.. someone didnt read the OP...

[XR Martin]

We did make Skylines actually :P

[XR Martin]

[snakeoil]

These little buggers were fantastic to drive OK no V8 rumble but a very balanced car and under rated at the time the series two looked a bit better

[snakeoil]

An AP5 Valiant was hardly a muscle car but at the very least it was the only V8 on offer from the big three...............in the early days

[Escort_RPDriver]

the only way i reckon the EB GT should have been in there was if ford had put the 5.8L like in the prototype EA GT

[richa]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Brock Falcons/Fairlanes, SVO Falcons, FTE 'Experience', Tickford Mustang, CV6 Monaro, FPV Force, LE Monaro, 4 door GTS Monaros, Coupe 4, HSV Avalanche, XU6/8

Hey don't forget the CDT(country dealer team)Gemini

[GSH]

You know...because these where not part of history or anything..

[GSH]

And the XU1 is on the list..........*SLAPS HIMSELF* *shakes head*

[SpoolMan]

Originally Posted by ESP

And since the AIT Turbo had a factory compliance plate by Ford and you could get parts for the XE ESP turbo form your local Ford dealer..........

Is this one?
Took these pics Herrod workshop 2 years ago, it was a customers car they said it was factory fitted.


.

[Bad Bird]

Terrible list. Cars like an XR6 are not muscle car. Good cars, yes, but not muscle cars.

A muscle car, by the strictest definition, is an intermediate sized, performance oriented model, powered by a large V8 engine, at an affordable price. Most of these models were based on "regular" production vehicles. These vehicles are generally not considered muscle cars, even when equipped with large V8s. If there was a high performance version available, it gets the credit, and not the vehicle that it was based on.

Examples: Buick GS, Chevrolete Chevelle SS, Dodge Charger R/T, Ford Torino/Cobra, Plymouth GTX, Plymouth Road Runner, Oldsmobile 442, Pontiac GTO

http://www.musclecarclub.com/musclec...finition.shtml

[nugget378]

Yes but in Australia we have our own definition of muscle cars,road racing 4 door sedans and 2 door 6's with performance matching that of a V8...