Seems like we can find all kinds of stuff to discuss on this matter, here is some more from wikipedia. This discussion could go on for ever, but, each has his (or her) opinion and with this post, I am moving on to other things myself and trying to make it understood that I am in no way trying to argue with anyone and am concerned that this could end up with that problem. With that being said, here's my last post on it and I will nicely bow out of this one.
Defining the class
The 1964 Mustang provided the template for the new class of automobiles.[6][7] The term itself "was coined by Dennis Shattuck, who was editor of Car Life magazine" at the time.[8] The term "originates from the equestrian sounding Ford Mustang".[2]
Although the Mustang was based on the platform of the Falcon, it had a unique body (offered as a hardtop coupé and a convertible) with distinctive, "long hood, short deck" proportions. In basic form it was mechanically mundane, with a 170 cu in (2.8 L) six-cylinder engine coupled to a three-speed manual transmission. It carried an attractive base price of US$2,368 that included bucket seats, carpeting, floor shifter, sport steering wheel, and full wheel covers. The Mustang also had an extensive option list offering a range of V8 engines, Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission or four-speed manual gearbox, radios, air conditioning, power steering, and other accessories.[9] A V8 Mustang with all available options would cost about 60% more than a basic model with a six-cylinder engine, which made it an extremely profitable model for Ford.[10]
The requirements for these two-door, four passenger capacity models were therefore set:[11][12]
* Stylish and sporty styling that included "long hoods, short decks, and open mouths"
* Assembled from "off-the-shelf" mass production components
* Affordable base price (under $2,500 — in 1965 dollar value)
* Wide range of options to individualize each car
* Youth-oriented marketing and advertising.
While most of the pony cars offered more powerful engines and performance packages, enough to qualify some into muscle car territory, a substantial number were sold with six-cylinder engines or ordinary V8s.[13] For the most part, the high-performance models saw limited sales and were largely limited to drag racing, road racing, or racing homologation purposes.
[edit] Pony car competitors
1965 Plymouth Barracuda
1968 Chevrolet Camaro
1969 AMC Javelin
Despite the immediate success of the Mustang, many (including some within Ford) feared that the bubble would soon burst, and other manufacturers were relatively slow to respond. The first competitor was the Plymouth Barracuda, which actually went on sale on April 1, 1964, about two weeks before the Mustang.[14] The Barracuda was not a direct response to the Mustang, which had not yet debuted (although Chrysler was certainly aware of the upcoming model), but a low-cost way to expand the sporty appeal of the Valiant. Chrysler's precarious financial situation meant that the Barracuda was compromised, with insufficient distinction from the Valiant and styling that drew mixed reactions; its sales were a fraction of the Mustang's. It has been described that if the Barracuda was successful, as well as the similar fastback Rambler Tarpon introduced as planned before the Mustang,[1] the term for this class of automobile might have been "fish car," rather than "pony car."[2][15] However, the Mustang, unlike the Barracuda, featured a completely unique body style from the car on which it was based (the Ford Falcon), making it the first true pony car.[16]
Initially, General Motors believed that the restyled 1965 Corvair would be an adequate challenger for the Mustang, but when it became clear that the Corvair itself was doomed, the more conventional Chevrolet Camaro was introduced,[12] going on sale for the 1967 model year, at the time the Mustang received its first major redesign. They were presently joined by the Camaro-based Pontiac Firebird, the Mercury Cougar. "By 1967 the market was filled with pony cars ... however the 1968 AMC Javelin was not the last pony car to hit the showrooms—it was Dodge's 1970 Challenger", an enlarged version of the Barracuda.[17]
The pony car classification was applied to all versions of these nameplates, from the base economy models, as well as models with more equipment, features, or the "muscle" performance models.[18] The intention of these performance models and factory support in racing was on developing a competitive marketing image for their pony cars.[19] The automaker's marketing department's strategy was to promote a perception of these as "sports-type" muscle and performance to promote sales. The competition between the manufacturers was so fierce that the Trans-Am Series from 1966 to 1972 is described as "The Pony Car Wars".[20]
While sales were strong throughout the end of the 1960s, the greater value of the pony cars was in bringing buyers, particularly the crucial youth market, into the fold. In 1970 Car and Driver reported that while very few pony car drivers bought a second pony car, around 50% moved on to purchase another car of the same make. Nevertheless, even by 1969 sales were beginning to slide, dropping to 9% of the total market, from a peak of 13% in 1967.
The pony car was primarily an American phenomenon, but in 1969, with the continuing growth in this market segment Ford managers decided to introduce a European equivalent in the Ford Capri.[21] Sharing most of its underpinnings and some engines with an ordinary model, (the Ford Cortina), it had a combination of style and image very much in the spirit of the Mustang. The European Ford Capri (sold in the U.S. as a Mercury Capri through 1978 at Lincoln-Mercury dealerships) was last imported for the 1978 model year, and the nameplate was placed on a rebadged Fox-body Mustang through 1987.
The following is a list of muscle cars and their manufacturers (along with the pony car of the same company):
Manufacturer Pony car Muscle car
AMC Javelin AMX
Chevrolet Camaro Chevelle
Dodge Challenger Charger
Ford Mustang Torino
Mercury Cougar Montego
Oldsmobile none 442
Plymouth Barracuda Road Runner
Pontiac Firebird
Straight from Wikipedia, for where ever they got their information
