The TRUE Muscle Car: Pontiac GTO Or Cutlass 442?

There are some that consider the Pontiac GTO, or Goat, to be the first real muscle car while others claim that honor goes to the Oldsmobile Cutlass 442. Let’s take a look at both.

Beginning with the introduction in 1964 as an option package on the F-85, those three little numbers pretty much took on a life of their own. And, during the late 1960’s and early 1970’s they were considered the ultimate in sleeper cars; you had the ability to cruise around serenely in high style or you could terrorize the competition at the stoplight.  You may be wondering what the official meaning of the 442 was, well that depends as it did change over the years from: 4 – barrel carburetor, 4 – speed with dual (2) exhaust to: 4 – cylinders with 4 valves per cylinder and 2 camshafts.

The Pontiac GTO is really considered by many to be the epitome of the muscle car even if its name was “borrowed” from Ferrari. When Pontiac decided to take a potent V8 and dump it into a formerly mild mannered coupe the American version of the GTO became as much, if not more, notorious as the Italian namesake. Pontiac then made the wise decision to stop putting such a label on their cars when during the 1970’s horsepower took a nosedive. And then, just as wisely, decided to revive the legend again in 2004.

So, GTO or 442, which was the “real” muscle car; you can decide for yourself or perhaps we can just call it a tie.