A Small History Behind A Big Car - Muscle Car

Everyone out there loves a muscle car. From the roar of that huge engine to the flames on the hood, it is hard to resist looking when you hear one rumbling down the road. But, most people don t really know the history behind the muscle car , like who created the first one and when were they introduced on the market?
Almost every historian and car buff credits Pontiac with the first muscle car on the market, which was a variation on the Tempest, the 1964 GTO. This first muscle car offered a huge V-8 engine that boasted 389 cubic inches and a floor-shift manual transmission instead of on the column. With a newer, sleek look and trim inside and out that was to die for, who could resist the car that was born that year. These cars sold like hotcakes, even though Pontiac was in direct violation of a General Motors policy on the size of the engines that are placed in their vehicles. It didn t matter, the muscle car was born, and everyone rushed to get in on the action.
These muscle cars had great performance that was fit for the street or the races, and allowed them to completely dominate every race that they were placed in. It wasn t long before other auto companies wanted a piece of the action, and more styles of muscle cars were born. While some of these other muscle cars bragged about bigger engines and more options, the youth market in America didn t care. The muscle car was all the rage because they embodied rebellion, style, and coolness . But, with every era comes an end, and in the later 1960 s there was an uprising about the prices and weights of these muscle cars, which prompted the auto manufacturers to create a budget muscle car , which carried names like the Road Runner .
Though they were wildly popular, the muscle car didn t quite sell as many as their manufacturers would have liked, but their rise in popularity has not been matched since. No other type of car in history has been able to create such an air of personality as the muscle car has. But, toward the mid 1970 s, these smaller, budget muscle cars once again got a boost. The competition in the auto industry was heating up once more, and the muscle cars produced during this time boasted some of the biggest engines ever thought of, like the 450 big block. Although this created yet another spike in sales and popularity, concerns about the safety of these cars gave way to more protests and problems. With some of the other industries, like the insurance agencies, protesting the larger muscle cars and refusing to insure them, the sales of these powerful icons plummeted. Then, another crushing blow to the muscle car, the oil problems that plagued the world in the late 70 s and early 80 s ended the muscle car altogether, and auto manufacturers removed them completely from the market.
But, even today, the muscle car is still sought after by car buffs, collectors, motor-heads, and rebels in general. They are sought out, fixed up, and rumbling down the road in every town across the United States, and even all over the world. No matter how old or young you are, the muscle car still holds unquestionable bragging rights as well as an instant pass to coolness .
Author: Gerry Askew is an experienced webmaster and publisher. For more information check out - http://musclecars.informationvalet.com



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Light Your World With Xenon Headlamps!

Lighting has certainly changed over the years...for cars, that is! No longer do drivers have to rely on halogen headlights as Xenon lighting is coming into vogue. Nor do owners have to go with stock tail lights, as European [or Altezza] lights are in fashion. Even fog lights have come a long way, baby! Let s take a look at the newest kid on the block, Xenon headlamps, and how they can light up your world of driving.
If you could have a set of headlamps that produced twice the light of Halogen bulbs while expending only half the power, that would be a good thing, right? Yes it certainly would and that is the idea behind Xenon headlamps which are fast gaining acceptance as standard equipment on luxury vehicles from around the world as well as finding their way on certain popular, mass production vehicles too.
A key feature of Xenon headlamp technology is that they produce a clear white light closer to natural daylight, which has been proven to improve driver concentration. Lessened eye strain means that drivers can do what they need to do best: get to where they and their passengers are going, safely and securely.
Road markings and signs are easier to read with Xenon headlamps compared to Halogen bulbs. Indeed, Xenon headlamps are a strong, safety improvement as the field of vision for the driver increases sharply, thereby improving reaction time in emergency situations. Traveling along dark, unlit back roads can be a safety hazard even in broad daylight. However, with Xenon headlamps that buck you might have hit with your halogen-powered car will enter your field of vision much sooner with Xenon lights installed, allowing you to avoid potentially deadly contact [for the buck definitely!]. Popular surveys reveal that as much as 80% of all accidents occur because of poor visibility.
In European markets, cars with Xenon technology also come equipped with a headlamp cleaning system to ensure optimum visibility as well as an automatic leveling system to allow limited swiveling of the headlamp projector as you turn your vehicle. Some systems take Xenon technology one step further: Xenon Dynamic Bending Light or DBL technology are special headlamps that rotate the light beam according to the angle of the steering wheel. Working in both high and low beam mode, bi-Xenon headlamps help to enhance vision in wide curbs by up to 90%.
Naturally, Xenon technology is expensive and you cannot convert halogen powered headlamps to Xenon or Xenon to bi-Xenon...yet. However, some manufacturers are selling auxiliary lights that can be added to your bumper to give you an alternative.
Of course, price is one factor why Xenon technology isn t yet widespread. Even on luxury cars I have seen bi-Xenon headlamps offered as an option, to the tune of $750 extra! As with all technological advances, you can expect that some one, somewhere is refining the technology which hit the market in 1992 in order to bring Xenon headlamps to the masses. This is good news for everyone as accidents associated with poor visibility should begin to drop accordingly.



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The Blast of Atomic Automobiles

Ford has initiated several remarkable discoveries and changes in the automotive industry. One of which is the introduction of Ford Nucleon. The latter is a nuclear-powered concept car divulged by Ford Motor Company in the year 1958. Said car is powered by a small nuclear reactor found inside the trunk. The miniature version of which can be viewed at the Henry Ford Museum in Detroit, MI.
The most ambitious project of Ford is the Nucleon. It was called automobile-of-the-future because of its outstanding qualities and unique design features. It is a silent car with sleek futuristic look, zero harmful emissions, and incredible fuel mileage. The most unusual about this car is that it has a pint-size atomic fission reactor in its trunk.
Nucleon has a power capsule found at the rear portion between the twin booms. The capsule holds the radioactive core that controls power by acknowledging the performance needs as well as the distance traveled by the car.
In the passenger compartment, Nucleon incorporated luxurious Ford parts which include one-piece windshield and compound rear window which was topped by cantilever roof. Power Ford auto parts are also used in Nucleon. The drive train was integral to the power module. Further, it was reported that cars like nucleon is capable of traveling 5,000 miles or even more without the need of recharging.
The car was never built and produced. One reason for said delay is the development of charging stations which are designed to supplant petroleum fuel stations. Moreover, the more influential reason was the fact that the general public has become more aware of the perils of atomic energy and the concerns about nuclear waste.
However, today there is a loud query about the coming of Ford Nucleon. Will Ford Nucleon blast in the automotive industry or blast in the vastness of oblivion? That is the query that Ford respond to soon.



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How To Make Great Savings On You Car Insurance

As anyone who has a motor car knows, car insurance can be expensive. However there are many ways in which you can save money when it comes purchasing for the first time or renewing your car insurance. Here are some simple ways that you can make some small and some substantial savings.
The premium you pay for your car insurance can vary a lot from company to company so it is in your best interests to shop around. You can do this yourself by trawling the internet or get a specialist broker to do it for you.
Work out what type of insurance you want, be it third party, fire and theft cover or fully comprehensive. If your car is an older model, for instance, then consider just taking third party, fire and theft car insurance.
Once you have determined the level of cover that you need, then get at least three separate quotes from different companies.
Getting a quote online will vary from company to company and you do need to compare quotes on a like-for-like basis.
One great way to lower your premiums is to offer to pay more for the voluntary excess you would pay if you were to make a claim. By doing this you can make savings.
If you choose to go with an insurance company that does home cover, sometimes if you take your household insurance cover along with your car insurance then you can make noticeable savings.
Finally, if you have taken advanced driving lessons or have no claims bonus for a number of years then it is worthwhile asking about any special considerations you might be entitled to receiving. While the majority of insurers ask about things such as this when filling in an enquiry regarding car insurance, it is also worthwhile mentioning if they don t.



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