A question What is the difference between a street machine and a muscle car?

[bobthehobbyguy]

I am curious to know what the difference between a muscle car and a street machine.

What are you thoughts?

Thanks,

Bobthehobbyguy

[SuperStockAndy]

IMO, a muscle car is built for everything-street, racetrack, and normal driving.

A street car, well is a car for the street

[Darin Bastedo]

Muscle car is a term used to describe a factory performance car, usually an intermediate size car with a big engine. A street machine is a term often used to describe a modified car built for the street based on a post 1948 car. 1948 and earlier modified cars are usually called street rods.

[Bartster]

Λ What he said!

[Longbox55]

You're really comparing apples to banannas here. Musclecars are generally considered to be a mid size car with a large displacement engine (though that isn't 100% the case, dending on who you ask), with said engine as factory equipment or installed by an authorized dealer, ex. Yenko. Street machines, on the other hand, are more of an extension of Hot rods, a car that's been altered from stock for more performance, which can include bigger/more powerfull engines, suspension alterations, body modifications, etc.. A Musclecar can be used to build a Street Machine. Also, plenty of Street Machines see track use.

[Rick Schmidt]

Muscle car

Street Machine

[Craig Irwin]

Muscle cars came from a factory, street machines are home built.

[Rick Schmidt]

good example pics posted by Rick.

when i think of "street machines" i think of a time or era, specifically the 70's and 80's. while they weren't just modified musclecars i think that's what the majority of them were, or began as. i kind of think that the pro street trend and that era killed off what had been the street machine style, trend and era previous to that. i include the street freak trend in with street machines as i think that was sort of the extreme side of that

Dave I agree about the street freaks. I kinda look at them as the original Street Machines. Guess that also ties Gassers into the same category too. I don't see em as killed off..... they simply evolved

[scalenut]

a street machine is a modified muscle car

[Rick Schmidt]

All Street Machines are not Muscle cars ...... I think my pics above prove that

[Harry P.]

a street machine is a modified muscle car

Not necessarily a modified muscle car. It can be a modified something else...

[scalenut]

All Street Machines are not Muscle cars ...... I think my pics above prove that

but isn't a 67-69 camaro considered a muscle car ?

[SuperStockAndy]

but isn't a 67-69 camaro considered a muscle car ?

Some consider it a muscle car, some consider it a pony car. I personally call it a muscle car.

[Draggon]

A muscle car is a classic. A street machine is an exercise in bad taste. Having been a member of the Northern California Street Machine Association circa the middle to late 70's, I know of what I speak.

Edited February 13, 2012 by Draggon

[Harry P.]

A street machine is an exercise in bad taste.

It can be. Depends on who created it. They're not all like the photos you posted, you know!

[scalenut]

from smart car to street machine

[Craig Irwin]

On the above Camaro question, Z/28 or Super Sport Camaros are muscle cars, standard Camaros are not, but can be built into street machines, but not muscle cars. That requires a factory build with a high preformance option factory installed.

Likewise, a GTO is a Mucsle car, a Tempest is not.

[bobthehobbyguy]

Thanks for all of the feedback.

The reason why I am asking is the gearz model contest the theme is muscle cars. However on of the kits in the list has a blower sticking out of the hood which is why I've asked the question.

Thanks again.

Bobthehobbyguy

[JMChladek]

A muscle car can be MADE into a street machine. But as we see above, not all street machines come from muscle cars (thank goodness as that Smart car Lambo is UGLY!).

[HotRodaSaurus]

A muscle car is a classic. A street machine is an exercise in bad taste. Having been a member of the Northern California Street Machine Association circa the middle to late 70's, I know of what I speak.

I remember these two, especially the van with its double Rover P6 grill. What book are they from?

I also knew it was the UK before I saw the plate on the Escort van simply by looking at the guy coming out of the tent

Street machines were BIG in the UK in the 70s and 80s, mainly based on ..errrr British cars.

Do you have a pic of Henri HiRise you could post up Or better still Dodds Beast(but thats more a Custom

Johnny

[Junkman]

Oh, sweet memories. UK Street machines of the seventies...

Can't believe the cameras didn't explode...

The Continentals coined the term 'fished and chipped' when referring to UK customs.

Edited February 13, 2012 by Junkman

[SuperStockAndy]

A muscle car is a classic. A street machine is an exercise in bad taste. Having been a member of the Northern California Street Machine Association circa the middle to late 70's, I know of what I speak.

That Camaro wouldn't be bad if it didn't have that Mickey Mouse paint job...

[Junkman]

That Camaro wouldn't be bad if it didn't have that Mickey Mouse paint job...

Neither would this one:

But one of the hallmarks of the seventies British scene was to spend a lot of money and effort on what essentially was a nice car, then ruin the whole thing with a hideous and tasteless paint job that must be seen to be believed.

Edited February 13, 2012 by Junkman

[Junkman]

Christian, the dark red Anglia and the Mini, that's some VERY cool stuff there!

So ijustpukedmyredwine-metallic topped with a slab of mustard is cool? Or a hungover bloodshot orange? Well, in a way you are right I guess.

[SuperStockAndy]

if you think the paint is bad, you missed the interior.

Oh, now that's gross! Looks like he used shag carpet

Christian, that Camaro isn't nearly as bad as the first one. The paint scheme does kind of fit into the 70s.

Edited February 13, 2012 by SuperStockAndy