By Jen Dunnaway

Editor

I remember one time walking into a junkyard in New York and seeing two of these old Hornets–recently arrived, but almost totally stripped, sitting side by side near the entrance. Multiples of cars like this is always a sad sight at the boneyard–because you just know that it was probably some old guy or gal hanging onto those hulks, who finally kicked the bucket only to have their ingrate relatives send their cars off to the scrapper. I’m hoping a more gentle fate awaits this very complete Hudson Hornet, and judging from the bidding, it looks like it’ll probably end up with a good home. Check out the auction on eBay.

By Jim Brennan

UDMan

Welcome to the year end wrap-up of the Obscure Muscle Car Parking Lot. If you recall, this series was all about uncovering obscure makes, and redefining what a Muscle Car could be. We have discovered that Muscle originated during the 1950s, blossomed during the 1960s, and continued on through the 70s and 80s in a somewhat de-tuned state only to find a re-birth we are enjoying today. My focus was not to highlight the already established Muscle Cars like the Chevelle SS, the Pontiac GTO, or the Hemi Chryslers, but to find hidden gems that you may not have known about.

So during this week, it is now up to you, the Car Domain reader, to vote on your favorites. There will be specific categories, like today’s example, the 1970′s OPEC Cruisers. In the end, sometime after the New Years Holiday, there will be one car crowned as your favorite Obscure Muscle Car, and park it in the Parking Lot, with a few CarDomain Members rides highlighted.

So what is your favorite Muscle Car dominated by 2 OPEC Oil Embargos, as well as the Disco Era?
- The 1977 Pontiac LeMans Can Am. This was suppose to be the new GTO!
- The Mercury Marauder X-100, and this turned out to be one of the more popular posts in this series!
- The 1970 Chrysler 300 Hurst, one of the last of the Full Sized Muscle Cars.
- The 1970 Oldsmobile Rallye 350, or what it really was, the 442 Light!
- The 1971 AMC Hornet 360 S/C, a follow-up to the S/CRambler.
- The 1971 – 72 Plymouth Sport Fury GT. This was a full sized Muscle Car that sold in small numbers.
- The 1974 AMC Matador 401 Coupe. A New styling direction for AMC.
- The 1970 AMC Rabel Machine. Just as cartoonish as the S/CRambler, but even bigger!
- The 1977 – 79 AMC AMX. An anemic AMC, built off the Hornet platform.
- The 1974 Pontiac Ventura GTO, built off the Chevy Nova Platform. This would be the last domestic GTO.
- The 1973 – 74 Ford Grand Torino Cobra Jet, the very last CJ equipped Torino.
- The 1973 – 74 Chevrolet Laguna S-3, equipped with a 454 Big Block.
- The 1973 Chevrolet Chevelle SS Wagon, built in very limited numbers.
- The 1970 1/2 Ford Falcon with the 429 Cobra Jet!

By Jim Brennan

UDMan

Welcome to another installment of the CarDomain Obscure Muscle Car Parking Lot, a regular feature which aims to expand the definition of what a muscle car is, and to get readers to exclaim “WTF” in the process. American Motors was once again in the middle of a financial meltdown, desperately trying to find the right product, while at the same time cutting development costs to stay afloat. One way of bringing in the showroom traffic the dealers so desperately needed was to offer a performance model built from an existing model. However, by the late 70′s, most of these performance models were merely tape stripe and wheel additions, and without any real enhancements to the engine, or the handling. AMC did manage to offer a pretty good V8 option for the Hornet, and the hatchback two-door Hornet body style was only three years old, and still looked sharp. But because of AMC’s financial situation, there were actually based on three different models. Let’s take a look at the 1977 through 1979 AMC AMX.

Continue reading after the jump!

Continue reading "CarDomain Obscure Muscle Car Parking Lot – The 1977 – 79 AMX by American Motors" »

By Jen Dunnaway

Editor

The big-wheel look seems right at home on this AMC body style–the Hornet’s later and burlier cousin, the Eagle, was 4WD after all. Though the Nutz and the knock-off 22′s would make more sense on an Eagle wagon, the combo somehow works on this rear-drive Hornet Sportabout as well. More pics after the jump, via Jalopnik.

Continue reading "Primered Hornet Wagon on 22's, with Truck Nutz" »

By Jen Dunnaway

Editor

If you think that high-end designer trim packages on limited-edition vehicles is some new thing, you’re dead wrong. Back in the day, AMC was all over that, and personally I think they made it a little less boring than the current offerings (like Hyundai’s yawn-worthy Prada edition Genesis sedan. I mean really, what’s so Prada about it? Woo, it’s got leather seats–big deal). At the Tom Mack AMC auction this weekend at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Rich Truesdell spotted this heavy-on-the-green 1973 Gucci edition Hornet Sportabout. Rich thought it was hideous, but I like ugly things–and I totally want this! Come on, how often do you see a car with emerald green carpeting? I’d make this my Fremont car in a second. More details and pics at Automotive Traveler.

By Jim Brennan

UDMan

Welcome to the CarDomain Obscure Muscle Car Parking Lot, a regular feature which aims to expand the notion of what a muscle car is, and to shine a little light onto vehicles that certainly deserve a second look. At the beginning of the 70′s, when muscle cars were at their pinnacle, the signs were there for those who chose to look. Federal safety watchdogs, state and national emissions regulators, insurance companies, and even a changing social climate took aim at the high-performance car. For ’71, the shots began to hit the target. Compression ratios retreated to accommodate regular-grade fuel, gross horsepower ratings reverted to net figures, and public relations-conscious automakers backpedaled. Into these turbulent times stepped the 1971 AMC Hornet SC/360.

Continue reading "CarDomain Obscure Muscle Car Parking Lot: The 1971 AMC Hornet SC 360" »

By Jim Brennan

UDMan

Welcome to the CarDomain Obscure Muscle Car Parking Lot, a regular feature which aims to expand the notion of what a muscle car is, and to throw all conventional thinking out the window while we’re at it. For this installment, we are reaching back to the dawn of the 50′s, when most cars has less than 100 HP under the hood, handling was scary at best, and brakes were an afterthought. However, the racing tracks across the country were breeding innovation. Engines were being tuned to produce power, braking systems were being upgraded to handle the extra power and speed, and the cars were becoming more and more reliable on the track. In NASCAR racing, one car was busy winning races all across the country from 1951 through 1955. Let’s take a look at the Fabulous Hudson Hornet.

Photo by Bob Krueger

Continue reading "CarDomain Obscure Muscle Car Parking Lot: The Fabulous Hudson Hornet" »

By Jen Dunnaway

Editor

Josh’s Hornet has already been through a full restoration, and he promises a built AMC 360 is on the way to replace the little 232 straight-six. Check out his page–I dig how he almost matches the car in his graduation robes.

Admit it–you never thought Hudson Hornets were performance vehicles until you saw the character Doc Hudson in the animated film "Cars." Although feared on American streets and tracks back in the day, the Hudson Hornet has remained almost anonymous to multiple generations of enthusiasts.

In the years following WWII, cars were largely pre-war designs tweaked for luxury, utility or performance. American manufacturer Hudson rocked the world in 1948 with the Commodore’s entirely new "step-down look," a low, long and sleek design in direct contrast to the bulbous 40’s ethos.

In 1951, Hudson dropped another bomb with the Hornet. Looking like a chopped and channeled hotrod right from the factory, the 124-inch wheelbase Hornet was offered in sedan, coupe, hardtop and convertible forms. At the heart of the Hornet was a quick revving 308ci inline-six delivering 145 hp–ten more than Oldsmobile’s “Rocket” 88 V8.  At around $2600, its price was comparable to a Buick Super. Continue reading…

Continue reading "Paging Doc Hudson" »

The Hornet prevailed by a slim but healthy margin in our latest Showroom Showdown, beating out the Nissan Cube by 22 to 17. A lot of you cited either domestic or import loyalty for your choice, while many pointed out that the Cube, and its accompanying aftermarket, is already available on the international market. The majority, though, just went on looks. Me, I’m just a little disgruntled that Dodge is recycling a name with such a storied racing past for a cheap microcar. But what the hey, the Hornet nails it!