Did you know that the term pony car almost came to describe the class of two-seater mid-engine sports cars? That’s right, we could today be describing the Porsche Cayman as the best pony on the planet if not for Ford going a different direction with the car that wgave name to the category. The Mustang I was in fact, a low-slung sports car that used the drivetrain from the German Ford Taunus cleverly repositioned behind the open passenger compartment. Flip-over headlights and an integrated (but woefully low) roll bar gave the car a racer’s flair. None of that made it to production however.
Instead we got a cool looking coupe and convertible—and later fastback—based on the Falcon’s pedestrian mechanicals. Oh but that was only the beginning. The Mustang wasn’t just wildly successful, its clever mix of sexy body, cheap greasy bits and available romper-stomper motors created an entire category that arose in its image. The pony car that we know and love today is a direct descendent of those original Mustangs, Camaros, Firebirds, ‘Cudas, and others, and brought the muscle car ethos into a more compact and hence higher performance package.
What we want to know today is your opinion on which member of that pony car clan you think is history’s greatest. Do you think it’s the Yenko Camaro? How about the Boss 302? What is history’s best-ever pony car?
Image: Car and Driver
Hooniverse Asks: What History’s Greatest Pony Car?
About
18 responses to “Hooniverse Asks: What History’s Greatest Pony Car?”
-
Obvious answer.
-
1967 Penske Racing Camaro
http://www.racingsportscars.com/tn/photo/1969/TN_Michigan-1969-05-11-006.jpg -
The first rule of Hooniverse: Never disagree with The Glucker.
http://www.auctionsamerica.com/images/lots/CA15/CA15_r0257_21.jpg -
Uncontested. Won the Piston Cup countless times!
https://s12.postimg.org/ts3y5w0vx/1954-hudson-hornet-2-door-coupe-brooke-roby.jpg -
-
http://wpmedia.driving.ca/2014/04/hyundai_pony_-2.jpg
I don’t see how we can have a discussion on small RWD vehicles without honouring the vehicle that inspired the class name.-
Technically, they should be fish cars.
http://st.hotrod.com/uploads/sites/21/2014/04/1964-plymouth-barracuda-muscle-car-rewind-plymouth-barracuda-rear-left-side-view-promo.jpg-
A guy in my Army unit had a first-year Barracuda; I have loved them ever since.
-
My Dad bought a new first year Barracuda while in the army. Daily drove it until 1982. He almost bought a Mustang, but wanted to be different.
-
-
-
-
-
Some easily-offended type appears to have given this a downvote. To them I must say:
Please leave the Hooniverse & never return.
-
-
-
-
Obviously the ’68 GT 390 Fastback. In green.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7e278c129c5888f73fb0d65261832d30b4db0b512d68a2edf7a7ff322133a34c.jpg -
The Shelby Mustang. The NEXT one to be specific.
-
https://officialamblog.files.wordpress.com/2016/12/1965-hertz-shelby-gt350h-mustang.jpg
This might be my favourite, but a lot of it is just that it’s a purpose-built rental car. -
1969 Plymouth Barracuda- beautiful, mighty MOPAR engines, and Chrysler quality when such a thing existed. Torsion bar handling. Even with the humble 340- 0-60 in less than 7 seconds and the quarter in the 14’s… -and you could get the 383 or the 440 if you were only planning to go in a straight line.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/115f14424017d910988f4a819c24c588c26d0ab5830434a63307f4bad2d937d1.jpg -
I have a 68 Mustang restomod coupe with 302/auto in my garage. I don’t mind looking at it, but damn, that car is snug and uncomfortable. I like hearing the engine (headers and Flowmasters), but beyond that, I don’t much care for driving it. I remain a bit puzzled how they became so iconic.
Leave a Reply