Ford invented the Pony Car with its 1964 1/2 Mustang. The car got bigger and faster each year, until the 70's oil crisis and they got smaller and slower. My favorite year was the '69 'Stang with the dual headlamps (one pair in the grill and another outside it.)  My brother owned a '65 with the inline 6 cylinder engine.  To see more Mustangs, click on the photo above.

In 1967, Mercury entered the Pony Car race with its Cougar.  This was Mercury's version of the Mustang, but it was "fancier".  When it was introduced, you could only get a V8 (289 ci).  I had one of these a few years ago, however, mine was not in this kind of shape.  Because I had no place to store it and never got to work on it or drive it.  I sold it to my friend Lorette's brother-in-law who has since sold it.  To see more Cougars, click on the photo above.  To see pictures of My Cougar click here.

In 1967, Chevrolet countered Ford's Mustang with the Camaro.  It was an instant success.  In 1970 (about 6 months after most new cars had already been released), the second generation Camaro was introduced as a '70 1/2 model.  This body style continued with only minor front and rear end treatment changes until 1981.  The 70 1/2 through 73 Rally Sports are my favorite.  To see more Camaros, click on the photo above.

Not to be left behind by its GM sibling, Pontiac introduced the Firebird.  This is one of the most beautiful cars ever built.   In my opinion, this 'bird ranks up there with the Camaro RS's (To see more Firebirds, click on the picture above)

With the extinction of the original muscle cars, the Firebird Trans-Am and Camaro Z-28 inherited the muscle car moniker despite less than muscular performance in the '80s.  However, in the mid-'90s, GM had the two cars souped up by SLP Engineering and made them worthy of their muscle car status.  In 1998 both cars received facelifts that would last until they were discontinued after 2002.  These were the fastest and best looking of these cars in 20 years, but it was not enough to save them.  Will Pontiac and Chevrolet revive these cars with a brand new design in the future, like Ford did the Thunderbird?
We'll just have to wait and see.