Pony Cars: Origin And History
The term pony car refers to low cost, ultra light, performance oriented cars. Yes, the sweet fragrance of the hippy happy flower power 60s saw the grand beginnings of pony cars, which were smaller than their counterparts, were. The entry of the pony cars on the road is credited to The American Automobile Industry, which pioneered the steady growth of these cars globally. Pony cars were compact sized speed demons, which were light, zippy, and stylish and had a sporty look and feel to them.
History of Pony Cars
When the first lot of pony cars came on the road in the 1960s, people were amazed by the compact size and speed of these cars. They didn't occupy much space, were easy to maneuver, and ultra light compared to the other heavier cars available at that time. The 1964 Ford Mustang was responsible for inspiring a host of breakthrough designs in pony cars. The 1964 Ford Mustang made heads turn when it took to the road. This two door four-seat compact marvel with a price bracket under $ 2500 was a rage among the youth. The mustang came with a three speed manual transmission in two basic styles a convertible and a hardtop coupe. What caught the fancy of the crowds were the optional accessories that complemented the Mustang. From a range of V8 engines to power steering and cruise O matic transmissions to air conditioning it was all there.
Although, The 1964 Mustang with its light chassis components and stylish exteriors revolutionized pony cars in the years to come, it was the "Corvair Monza" from Chevy that started the trend for sporty compact cars. The "Covair Monza Spyder" with its six-cylinder turbo charged engine in the rear was a different high for drag racers and speed enthusiasts. The bucket seats and used in the "Corvair Monza" became hugely popular in all types of cars in the later years. The success of the Covair Monza led to Ford Motor Company coming up with "Futura Sprint" and "Futura" variants of the Ford Falcon. Other competitors such as Dodge and Chrysler came up with pony cars to have a slice of the pie. While Dodge launched the "Dart GT', Chrysler amazed people with their "Plymouth Valiant Signet".
Some of the other sporty vintage cars that took the world by storm in the 60s were the "Pontiac Tempest LeMans," the "Plymouth Barracuda", "Chevrolet Camaro" and "Buick Special Skylark". The pony car frenzy started in the United States and later on moved to other parts of the world. These compact cars with their masculine sporty looks were made keeping youth in mind. The affordable prices and variety of styles available sent sales soaring. Car manufacturers started offering a host of accessories and customized fittings in pony cars. From rebellious youth on a lonely highway to the bread earner of a small family, everybody owned a pony car. Although the sale of pony cars declined in 1969, newer versions of the compact pony cars emerged in the later years.