'Muscle Car' or 'Sports car'

[Welker2]

More of a curiosity than anything else, but I have noticed in recent years more & more people are referring to Camaros, Mustangs & Challengers as ‘sports cars’. I’m old school and grew up where these cars were ‘muscle cars.’ I’m just curious as to what other’s think and why. For me it comes down to the definition of a ‘sports car’ versus ‘muscle car’ such as those found in Wikipedia (see below).

Sports Car – “A sports car (sportscar) is a SMALL, USUALLY TWO SEATER, two door automobile designed for spirited performance and nimble handling.[2][3] According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the first known use of the term was in 1928.[2]
Sports cars may be spartan or luxurious, but HIGH MANEUVERABILITY AND MINIMUM WEIGHT ARE REQUISITE.[4] They may be equipped for racing, "especially an aerodynamically shaped one-passenger or two-passenger vehicle having a low center of gravity and steering and suspension designed for precise control at high speeds” *

Muscle Car – “Muscle car is an American term used to refer to a variety of high-performance automobiles.[1] The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines muscle cars as "any of a group of American-made 2-door sports coupes with powerful engines designed for high-performance driving."[2] A LARGE V8 ENGINE IS FITTED IN A 2-DOOR, REAR WHEEL DRIVE, FAMILY-STYLE MID-SIZE OR FULL-SIZE CAR DESIGNED FOR FOUR OR MORE PASSENGERS. Sold at an affordable price, muscle cars are intended for street use and occasional drag racing.[3][4][5][6] THEY ARE DISTINCT FROM TWO-SEAT SPORTS CARS AND EXPENSIVE 2+2 GTS INTENDED FOR HIGH-SPEED TOURING AND ROAD RACING.”

[68rssscamaro]

I'm in--One heck of a Muscle car!

[Ragnar]

Modern muscle = fun times!

[Mr. Stacy]

Sports Car: Goes fast around corners.

Muscle Car: Goes fast in a straight line.

5th Gen: Muscle Car

6th Gen: Sports Car?

[Welker2]

Originally Posted by Mr. Stacy

Sports Car: Goes fast around corners.

Muscle Car: Goes fast in a straight line.

5th Gen: Muscle Car

6th Gen: Sports Car?

Interesting differential between 5th & 6th Gens ... things that make you go 'hmmm'

[Wizard1183]

Camaro is a muscle car. The 67 Z/28 was made to go around corners. Does that make it a sports car? Lol

[Stormcloak]

Voted both, though I personally view the car as leaning more towards sport than muscle.

[Firebreed]

I just say it's a sport/muscle car

sent from the middle of nowhere, Pacific ocean

[JLSuperfly]

Originally Posted by Welker2

Muscle Car – “Muscle car is an American term used to refer to a variety of high-performance automobiles.[1] The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines muscle cars as "any of a group of American-made 2-door sports coupes with powerful engines designed for high-performance driving."[2]A LARGE V8 ENGINE IS FITTED IN A 2-DOOR, REAR WHEEL DRIVE, FAMILY-STYLE MID-SIZE OR FULL-SIZE CAR DESIGNED FOR FOUR OR MORE PASSENGERS. Sold at an affordable price, muscle cars are intended for street use and occasional drag racing

So where does the I4 and V6 Camaro fall into?

[Pace]

I have to agree

5th Gen = Muscle

6th Gen = Sports

[LT1Zob]

Originally Posted by Pace

I have to agree

5th Gen = Muscle

6th Gen = Sports

People with 5th gen Z28s and 1LEs would agree to disagree

[Docker]

the 5th gen is definitely a muscle car by definition. It is built off of a full sized sedan platform, has four seats. Chevy calls it a muscle car, I'm sure they know what the definition is seeing as how the camaro kick started the entire class.

You forgot "Pony Car":
Pony car is an American class of automobile launched and inspired by the Ford Mustang in 1964. The term describes an affordable, compact, highly styled car with a sporty or performance-oriented image.

The Camaro is affordable, sporty, styled, and is meant to compete with the mustang.

the 6th gen = Pony car: built off a compact platform, handles, has more than two seats.

[Moreair1]

I would just say it's a cross breed and fits in between the two now days

[gajagfan]

Originally Posted by gzobian

People with 5th gen Z28s and 1LEs would agree to disagree

Amen we would. It all depends which car you bought. The beauty of the 6th gen and up cars is the packages available to make them true sports cars. Without those packages, we would not have bought one. There is a bog block '69 in the garage that is all muscle.