We’re going to be posting Tips and Tricks and Recipes… we’ll do some video… we’re going to make you a success. Guns and Grills… Does it get any better?
We’re going to be selling the most incredible Rub you’ve ever tasted. This stuff is amazing. We’ve got some different Blends for different cooks. We’ve got shakers of Steak Season that you can throw on your steaks and burgers to put them over the top. We’ll have other stuff too. It’s coming.
Check our FB Page, as we are going to give 5 lucky Grillers sample packs our our Rub, 3 different flavors. And hopefully come Monday, the rest of you guys will be able to order it. This stuff is made for especially for us by TexasBBQrubs.com, so if you have any doubts about how good it is – this stuff is award winning. Seriously. It’s been winning awards at national competitions. You think your BBQ is good? I’m sure it is. This will make it better. I could eat this stuff with a spoon out of the bag.
Edit: I’ve deleted a couple comments about some other company’s Rub and how good it is and I should try that stuff. Namely because I’m selling a competing product here. And you can’t say that any other stuff is better than this stuff – if you’ve not actually tried it. Especially if this stuff has won awards at grilling/BBQ competitions and the other stuff hasn’t but is from a popular company that specializes in a completely different industry/business.
There are a lot of stuff that bugs true Gunnies in TV and Movies… But the number one thing that bugs me?
1. Pistols Akimbo
I’m not talking about just Dual Wielding… but pointing two different guns in two different directions. We see this in far too many otherwise decent movies. Note to Directors: STOP IT. Doing this can actually ruin what could otherwise be a decent movie. I’ve actually turned off movies I was watching when this stuff started happening. Worst offender:
2. Tea Cups.
It’s one thing if James Bond does it. He’s British and they are into Tea Cups and Saucers like no one’s business… But still. Bond is supposed to be the consumate professional with a license not just to carry a gun, but to use it at his discretion. I mean you wouldn’t see Jack… Oh come on… Jack Bauer too? He’s killed more terrorists than a dorm full of Call of Duty players. And he’s not even just Tea Cupping – but taking it to the extreme from of using his finger tip to brace the trigger guard. That’s some hard core tea-cupping there. Still… I’m looking forward to the new series of the Bam-Bam-Bauer-Power-Hour. But this photo right here makes me wonder why.
3. Crossed Thumbs.
This just makes the Trainer in me get all twitchy in my right eye. I hate seeing this. That image is from the movie HEAT. A movie that actually does very well in the gun handling department… until That Guy. That Guy is supposed to be a veteran detective, a pro. You see this all the time on TV and it grates my nerves. But in a movie with a director like Michael Mann? It’s distracting. Not only that, but…
It’s going to be painful… watch the 3rd shot. Try not to cringe.
4. Glock Safeties and Cocking.
That was almost enough to make me stop watching The Walking Dead. But we’ve seen this in countless shows… Phantom Safety Syndrome and Ghost Cocking sounds. Why do Directors insist that they actors do something that is mechanically not possible? What are they trying to accomplish? It’s worse than the Dramatic Cocking.
5. The Walking Dead. The Chickenwinging, no rear sight, laying his head down like he’s making out with it, Evil Governor. Who also does this:
Right Hand shouldering… to the blind eye. Let’s just point out that this doesn’t work.
And then there is RICK. Who can’t hold up the barrel of his Python.
I hate Rick… almost as much as I hated his wife. Most every episode of The Walking Dead is a parade of bad decision making and bad gun handling… The show gives me a headache every time I watch it. It’s morbid curiosity that I keep watching.
BTW, the only guy that has his wits about him is Glenn.: Glenn has the sense to at least put on some body armor. He also scored the Hot Chick as his Main Squeeze. And for a traveling companion here, a cute chick with luscious Ta-Ta’s. Glenn Wins.
I remain terribly jaded about new guns and I feel like I get more and more guarded the more new and more improved something claims to be. However there are two new rifles out that have raised my critical eyebrow.
#2. The Beretta ARX100.
This is the third choice to the SCAR or ACR question. This is the Dodge to the Ford vs Chevy debate. It brings to the table some new concepts, while keeping within the confines of the tradition auto-rifle layout that is familiar to most American Shooters. But it does so with a wicked truly modular approach reminiscent of H&K.
#1. The IWI TAVOR (TAR-21)
This rifle is special. In my opinion it’s the best new developed combat purposed arm since the AK-47. It’s the promise of the Bullpup Rifle Concept, finally fulfilled. And it’s been the one rifle that I’ve been wanting for over a decade now. Now that it’s out and people have been trying it out – it’s not disappointed. It really is that good. It gets the #1 Position for a many of reasons. First, it’s a Bullpup. Which means you don’t have to SBR it to make it short and maneuverable for CQB or Vehicle purposes. You don’t have to get it as a pistol and put on an Arm Brace to skirt the $200 Tax Stamp and months and months of waiting for the Approval to come back. You can cross most state lines with it (Just stay away from New England) without having to ask permission or document notification or other red tape BS. It gives you rifle length ballistics instead of SBR ballistics. This is a huge advantage with 5.56mm. And unlike most Bullpups, you can fire it off the left or rifle shoulder, or convert it to left or rifle as you wish. Best yet… It’s not Vapor Ware. I can go to two local shops and find one available. And when I do eventually get one – I’m getting one, just a matter of timing – I’ll be able to trust it with confidence. The Israelis have engineered this rifle extremely well… because it had to be. While it’s still quite new in the history of small arms, it’s been proven constantly in conflicts since it’s come out. You can buy it in different flavors… one, like the IDF’s version (but semi-auto of course) and the others with all full length Picatinny rail on top for all your Optics mounting needs. Black or Tan, and with 16″ or 18″ barrels. I think I’d take a black, 16″, flat-top version.
Before I go on – let me but this out there. Marlin lever action rifles are my favorite Lever Action Rifles. More over, they are my favorite rifles that are not auto-loading. Of all the Manual Loading Rifles, Marlins are my first choice. I can’t help but to love the Marlins. But Marlin has some issues going on and they need some serious help. Many people have lost faith in the Brand. And it’s understandable. So here’s my plan…
If Remington were to hire me to be the Brand Manager for Marlin, I’d have a list of changes to make.
First off, everyone that is charge of Quality Control that’s been there since 2007… Those guys are fired or demoted to push broom control. All the current executives since 2007 would all be fired as well. What they have done to the Marlin Brand is unforgivable.
They brought out the X7 series of rifles. Cheap Bolt Action rifles, which on the surface is just fine. But this isn’t keeping in with the Marlin Brand; the Marlin Image. Marlin should be a recognizable brand like Jeep is. But the X7 is like Jeep building a cheap little Sports Car. Sure it’s rather interesting, but it’s not keeping with the Brand. That makes it wrong. I know a couple guys that quite like their X7 rifles. Bully for them. But I’d most likely kill the line. Marlin is owned by Remington and Remington already has cheap bolt actions, so there is no need come compete within the company family. Of course, Marlin’s not had to have a Recall on these that I am aware of or remember, so I don’t know for sure… I’d have to look at the numbers. What do know though, is that I hate the X7. The stock feels cheap and flimsy and I just hate it. I’d perhaps ask Hogue to make a strong OEM stock for it, or look at a Laminate Wood option. This will of course raise the cost – but it would be a huge improvement. So I’d either have other stocks or I’d kill the line. Simple as that on the X7. Done.
The XLR series of rifles… Marlin’s longer range lever guns. You can get them in .308MX, .338MX, or .30-30. There is a note on the web page that says it’s also coming (in 2007) in .35 Remington. But I’ve yet to see that. I’d also like to see a .45-70 and .444 Marlin versions as well. These need the 24/7 rail, like what comes on the 1895 SBL. This rail should be on the XLR’s since everyone who buys them puts a scope on them. The longer 24/7 scope rail would allow more and better scope options for the rifle. It only makes sense to include it.
That brings us to the 1895 SBL. This is one of my favorite guns. The only problem is that it’s Stainless. Or I should say, that it’s ONLY in Stainless. There should be the option for one in Blue. Don’t you think?
Since Marlin doesn’t make one, I made one. This was the 1895GBL. But the GBL doesn’t come with that 24/7 Rail like the SBL has. This is an oversight that. I’m not all about railing up all the guns – but this rail for the 1895’s just makes too much sense. You can then use what ever scope up want and mount it where you like. These SBL and GBL rifles should also be available in .444 Marlin and .35 Remington. Again, it only makes sense to offer these guns in more calibers. Not everyone wants .45-70.
Marlin used to offer a 16″ version… And I shot one.
This was my GBL with the 24/7 Rail. It was fantastic.
I called it a “Guide Gun”, which is wrong… It had another name but I forget. But it was factory direct like that. That option needs to come back.
I would like to see an even bigger version of the Guide Gun. In .50 Caliber. The best .50 round that could work is the .500 S&W Magnum. This would require some resizing of the action – Something you are not wanting to do, but it needs to be done. Slightly larger and a lot stronger. Every option in the 1895 line should be available here. Including SBL’s and GBL’s. The guns would chamber both the .500 S&W Magnum and the .460 Magnum. Right now people who want one bad enough are shelling out over 2400 bucks to have one custom made – This is money Marlin could be making. If some company no one ever heard of is doing this – Marlin could be doing it too. Excuses are too late. This is why I had all the prior execs fired. Don’t tell me it can’t be done. Do it. Just Fricken Make It Happen, you lazy, slackwits. People will buy it. Because for 9 years people were constantly asking for it. So what if it would costs 1400 bucks per rifle – People would buy it.
This brings us to the 336 family. Again, the 24/7 Rail and Big Loop combo should be offered. There should also be a 16″ Barreled version. Before, there was a 16, in the 336Y model, which I can’t find anymore. The 20″ barrel is fine, but some people like them to be shorter. Basically I want the same options in the 1895 line as in the 336 line. .30-30, .308MX, .338MX, and .35 Remington should all have homes in all versions of the 336.
The Cowboy series has 2 guns. One in .30-30, and one in .45-70. Where are the other calibers? And why is the .30-30 so short? Where’s the long barreled option? It needs to 26″. The .45-70 option is a bit disappointing. Where is the classic tang mounted aperture sight? The Cowboy Gun needs a stepped up version for the Cowboy Action competitions. Those guys take their shooting seriously and to attract them in greater numbers, let’s do a 30″ barreled version, with Brass buttplate and end caps. A “Quigley” variant, if you will.
The 39A is a Classic. But it’s long and heavy and from spending 9 years behind a gun counter, selling these to young fathers for their young boys and girls… It’s a bit too heavy. Shortening the barrel down to 16 inches and offering it with a lighter weight synthetic stock as an option would really help that. So a light and short youth version is required. The 39Y. And since some guys like me like Carbines, a 39C, with a 16″ barrel. Now, let’s also offer a Stainless Steel version of the A and C guns, and call them simply the AS and CS.
The 39 series also needs to have a Magnum version. Call it the 49 series, with all the options as in the 39. .22 Magnum and .17HMR. Don’t tell me it can’t be done. Henry, Winchester, and Browning made them. Henry still does. And let’s do a special edition 49 Cowboy. Because that would just be amazing.
The 1894 line. First off… There needs to be the SBL version that was in the 2011 Catalog but never really made. It’s time to make it. Also, like as I said with the 336 line, the 1894 Line needs to have all calibers available in all versions. Where is the .45 Colt option? Over there in the Cowboy version. That’s it? What jackoff said that it can only be in the Cowboy? He better have his desk cleared off. .38/.357, .44 Mag/Special, .45 Colt/Casull.
I want this, in blued steel and walnut.
(Forgive my sloppy PhotoChop) Legacy, Rossi and Henry are doing Mare’s Legs. Where is Marlin’s? 12 to 13 inches. Also, as a factory option, offer the Mare’s Leg with a full sized rifle stock for the guys that want to turn them into a Short Barreled Rifle. Hell, we’d just throw the stock in the box with it. We’d have to come up with a different name… Bounty Hunter and Mare’s Leg are both taken. Maybe call it the “Outlaw”, or “Rustler”. And of course, make it available in all caliber options. Top it with that 24/7 Rail and a Red Dot, I’d call mine the Borderland Pistol, or the Jacob Pistol. Stainless and Grey or Blued and Laminate Brown Wood.
The internals on all the Levers I’ve seen have been HIDEOUS. I’ve had to disassemble every Marlin I’ve ever owned and hand finished and polished the internals as best as I could. Every time. Why? This should be done on every gun before it leaves the factory. Reason? Because the Marlin name is on every rifle that leaves the factory. I’ve had gouges and burrs on Internal Operating parts. On the levers. Ive had bolt’s so rough I thought they were threaded. The inside areas of these 1895’s, 336’s, and 39’s have all been drastically unfinished. It’s as if you were digging the metal out like you were carving a canoe out of a log. It’s tragic. It’s a failure. It needs to be addressed. For the love of all that is holy – Can’t you jackwagon’s just deburr the inside of the loading ports? I’ve cut myself on them more than once.
And where is a Centerfire Takedown Lever Action? Taylors and Wild West Guns can make them – Where’s Marlin’s Take Down? The 39A takes down… Come on now, let’s get with the program.
What do you say Remington? Pay me 200 grand a year and give me a bull horn and a Chainsaw… I’ll have people lining up to buy Marlins.
Interesting story coming out of Texas. A concealed carry permit holder used his weapon to not just stop a crime but to apprehend the criminals. The news story is here.
How would this have played out in other states?
HERO
Utah, AZ, AK, GA, WY, MT, ID… Probably would have gone over just as it did.
Other states – NY, CT, MD, VA, NC, IL, CA, OR, WA and many others… The story probably would have been taking a much different tone.
Had this situation come to a different ending before the police arrived, I’m sure the story would have been negative even though the person tried to do the right thing. Or what if the Hero didn’t have a Permit – but had the gun in his car and was able to get it out and get into action. Would that have changed the tenor of the report? I be it would have. Heaven forbid that someone other than a Permit Holder attempt to do what’s right.
Do what’s right. Simple phrase. But dire consequences here. And things could have gone very pear shaped very quickly in this situation. But this man did the right thing – because it turned out okay. But what if he did the right thing and it didn’t turn out well? If that had happened, the Hero would have been branded a Vigilante and the report would have been that he shouldn’t have intervened.
The Police were of course, as always in case like this – advising Citizens to NOT get involved and just get good descriptions. “Observe and Report”… like most Security Guards. Notice that the Security Cameras are not good enough to get Plates? You can’t depend on Cameras. Cameras don’t reduce crime. If they did – this wouldn’t have happened, no?
Vigilante
Here’s the deal… We have far more GOOD GUYS than we have COPS. Permit Holders, or GOOD GUYS With Guns that DON’T have Permits. You see, if it was a First Aid situation, the person trying to help is covered under the Good Samaritan Law. But for a guy like this, there is no Legal Coverage for attempting to stop a crime in progress. So if you try and succeed – you are a good guy. Try and Fail – You will become “Part of the Problem” and you will be the Bad Guy.
Should we extend the Good Samaritan Law to cover attempting stopping crime in progress? Oh, the Liberal Mind will boil and explode on that question! Many Gun Owner’s will too. There will be more George Zimmermans out there… More Vigilantes… and some day someone might actually wear a costume while doing it! Oh this will be great entertainment… Debating the validity of something Good Men have been doing ever since there have been Bad Men.
I think we should… Amend the laws to protect the Good Samaritans. Just like a LEO is protected by law. Just think of it… Instead of a few cops in a town – you have thousands. Just like in the old “Wild West”. Here’s the thing about the Wild West… NEVER has this country had a period of greater Peace and never had people been so removed from Government. Oh we know all about the Shoot Outs that happened there because there were so few, each one was documented and talked about in detail. Now days? There are so many the Internet can’t even keep track. Let’s bring back those days of Peace.
Also known as a Volley Gun. There was one on display at the NRA Convention last weekend that has attracted much attention.
We’ve been seeing photos of this gun popping up all over the place. It’s a cool gun. It fires all seven barrels at the same time. Like a shotgun, but more effective since each Ball was fired at much higher velocity than the shotguns of the time. You can read some more about this gun here.
Many have said that these guns would be cumbersome.
That is not so.
The Nock Gun was fairly short. And while not a light weight, was certainly not too heavy to be cumbersome.
The series of films “Sharpe’s Rifles” feature a Sargent that uses one to good and dramatic effect, dropping several foes in one grand blast.
You can watch the movies here… There are 14 films, Rifles is the fist.
Leonard Da Vinci. Thomas Jefferson. Benjamin Franklin.
Do you know why these men were so great? Because they were not Pigeonholed into thinking that they could only do one type of job. Yet the tradition of Corporate America is to Pigeonhole people and ID People by the Job they did before instead of everything that they are capable of.
You guys have noticed I’ve been posting about cars and trucks and such a lot more lately. Probably it’s because I love cars and trucks – always have. My first words were – and I’m not kidding here – “Vooma-Vooma”. Those might not be words according to Webster’s, but they were my first words. I’ve avoided looking at bikes too closely because, well, it’s painful to me because 1, I don’t have one and 2, I can’t afford one. But let’s go ahead and look at some Bikes. Because I’m in the mood to do so and it’s well past time. I’m looking at a relocation soon and first order of business once that is done, is acquiring a motorcycle, even if I have to sell my car to do it. There are some specific machines I’m looking at… They are shown in No Order:
The KLR-650. Like a Jeep Wrangler, I’ve always wanted one. And like the Wrangler, when it finally came down to getting something – I always got something else…. And I’ve always kicked myself for passing on the chance. But I’ve been on a new kick lately – I call it “Finally Getting What I’ve Always Wanted”. Those things that I’ve always wanted… I’ve been getting them. One of these days – I’ll get my Wrangler. And In the Garage next to it will be a KLR-650. Because. I don’t know why I’ve always passed it up. Maybe it’s because the WANT is better than the HAVE. Or the fear of that being the case. The newest version though addresses my two considerations that have caused me to pass it up. 1 is the KLR Doohicky and 2 is the seat. That being said, the KLR is most likely going to be the bike I end up with next. But we’ll see.
The STAR Bolt R Spec. It remains in my mind as a bike I really want. If I was to get a new bike – this is probably the bike that I should get, as it represents pretty much what I’ve been looking for… A simple runabout for pure cruising enjoyment. Nothing fancy or special… Simple. But satisfying… it scratches that “I need to take a ride” itch. It has short legs… So not interstate travel… but around town on a nice day to run light errands and goof around… The Bolt-R is probably ideal. That and I think it looks just awesome for what it is. But I think really this would be a horse for the stable if I had other horses for more specific purposes of Sport and ADV.
This bike… The FZ-09… I was with friends when I first got my hands on this one. It’s the new style of “Standard Bike”. But Yamaha took Standard and gave it a mohawk. This bike would bring out the Hooligan in me. It feels like it’s as light as a Mountain Bike, yet has Big Bore Punch. That’s a wicked combination. I could ride it nice and sedately passed the cops, and then when I get out of sight – instantly Wheelie like a total squid. I could probably get this one before the KLR or the Bolt-R, it’s that likable when I see it up close. And if you throw a leg over it – You will want it. This bike also makes way too much sense. It’s like that friend of yours that is way too smart for his own good and comes up with Evil Genius plans that sound perfectly well reasoned and logical and then they get you in trouble.
Because one day I want to ride across Continents and screw BMW. This is my Hail Marry dream bike. Load it up with some luggage and a backpack and go hunt Orc with this bike. It’s name is Adventure. No, seriously, it is… the KTM 1190 Adventure. There are two versions… Adventure and the Adventure R. And I don’t care about the differences. Either one would make me the happiest man on Earth… and then I’d want to go around that Earth. Or at least Coast To Coast following back roads and exploring what needs to be explored along the way. KTM should sponsored The Long Way Around instead of letting BWM take the show.
This is the evolution of the concept that Yamaha’s FZ-09 was playing with. KTM’s Super Duke. If the FZ-09 was Dr. Bruce Banner, then the Super Duke is The Hulk. It got big, gnarly and pissed off. It’s a monster. It’s brutal. It’s a rage beast. And that’s what I love about it. This thing is all about aggression, making no apologies for it. It’s the 2 wheel version of a Shelby 427 Cobra, but with less manners or concern for what is socially acceptable or politically correct. This is a Dream Bike right here. Should Hollywood buy the Uprising Saga and make movies out of them… I’ll have one of these bikes. And I’ll take it to the California Super Bike School and have Keith Code teach me how to control this beast.
Keeping with the theme of taking a bike type and having a reasonable version and an dream version of it… This is the Dream Bike option for the Star Bolt R. That Cruiser bike just for the sake of Cruising. This is the Victory Vegas. I looked at the 8-Ball version and love it… a lot… And then other versions. There was one locally that was eyeballing before I left my job. Had I not left that job – I probably would have got it. The Vegas “FITS” me. Head to Toe. Or should I say Bars to Pegs? This is America’s Other Motorcycle Maker… Victory pretty much has everything you would want in a Motorcycle like Harley, but done better. Seriously – if you even THINK you might want a Harley – go to a Victory Dealership and take a good hard look. The Victory is a step up. It just is.
Okay, now this is a bike that is intriguing me. If I could find one. This is a US HIGHLAND “Viking”. It’s a Liter Class V-Twin. Very light weight, very compact. It’s what I loved about my beloved Honda Superhawk… without what I didn’t like about the Superhawk. (Side Mounted Radiators) This bike could replace the all the other bikes on my list save for the ADV machines. There is something about this… I really want to get to know US HIGHLAND better. They put out a bike… Read the Review from 2011 here. It doesn’t look like they are marking the Viking or the Enduro that they were also developing. I hope they enter the US Market as a serious production Bike Maker and not just Engine Builders.
The Gun Community really goes overboard on THEMES. Someone comes up with something cool and 89,000 other people do spin offs of that theme and it’s a Forbidden that anyone else says anything about it. Well, let me break that ice.
Spartans. Molon Labe. TheFiringLine.com introduce the Gun Community to “MOLON LABE” back at the turn of this Century when Rich went up against the Anti-Gunners and used quite astutely “Molon Labe” as their battle cry. Combine that with the move “300” and holy freaking hell it’s been nothing but Greek Spartans all over the damn place. Tactical Greek Spartans of some sort must account for 1/6th of the entire Gun Industry now. Okay, I exaggerate… But come on… This theme is tired. The only thing more tired is the eternal battle of “Who is more tactical than Who”, which is only slightly more tired than “.45 vs 9mm”. Don’t get me wrong – 300 was the ultimate badass movie. We all love the Epic Sentiment found in the film that loosely correlates with actual history. But to say you are a Trainer and you want to come up with your own Training Company – and you pick Spartan as a Theme? You have a dramatic lack of Imagination.
Let me help you out if you have no imagination. You know who else is Badass, other than Spartans? Vikings.
Vikings raided and pillaged there way all around Europe and the Mediterranean, into the Middle East, and across to North America. They were Ultimate Badasses because they literally became the Boogey Men of all of Europe. I had one History Professor that even suggested that Vikings were one of the peoples that fought the Egyptians that were called the Sea People. They were all over the place. Scary. Monstrous. Why don’t you call your Ballistic Dojo something along the lines of the Vikings? The Pirate theme has some popularity in the arena of motivational patchworks… and that’s cool too. Unfortunately the popular motif is the Calico Jack standard. Yes, that image is very piratey but unfortunately John Rackham was terrible at being a Pirate. Sure, he was a smooth talking rouge that had a couple hotties on his ship with him… living it up like the very image of the label on a bottle of Captain Morgan’s… but he just sucked at being a Pirate. His biggest score was the taking of another ship… In plain view of Authorities and when they caught up to him – Calico Jack and his crew were hiding in the jungles as the Good Guys took his ship. Don’t use that as your Pirate Theme – but pick another. There are lots of awesome Pirates out there. And just think about how epic your Booth Babes will be one day at SHOT SHOW.
So who do you want to surround yourself with? A bunch of Magic Mikes or some beautiful Pirate Booty?
Years ago, Gundoc and I started CRUSADER WEAPONRY. We used the Crusader Knight as our icon and it worked. But now there are a lot of other guys out there… If I had a dollar for all the other rifle maker’s “Broadswords” out there – I’d have a Broadsword rifle of my own. Many Copycats…. And that’s fine… as long as they are not overdone like the Spartans are… Judas Priest… I’ve seen more Tactical Spartans at SHOT SHOW last year then their were in the Movie.
Keep the MOLON LABE – Get the Tat. Because that’s awesome. But if you are going to name your company something… BE ORIGINAL.
Hands down the Golden Era of Muscle Cars was 1966 to 1974 . Those years were the most awesome years in the history of the world. Through time frame American Car Makers were not afraid to try new things… to be as badass as they wanted to be. Forget the little British Sports Cars… with their silly little go-cart motors. American Muscle Cars were all about the big beefy V-8 engines and body stylings that blow a girl’s skirt up just sitting at a stoplight at idle. Muscle Cars were Awesome. All of them. But some, are more awesome than others.
Here’s my list in No Order.
The 1970 Boss 302 Mustang. This car was Ford’s top of the line Mustang the year I was born. Maybe why it’s been my favorite. The Elinore and the Bullit Mustangs are undoubtedly cool… But 1970 302 is my Unicorn. It’s one of those cars I’d go back in time, buy several, and put in a Time Capsule for my own pleasure back in the future. In 1971 though, the Mustang really started to go to hell. The ’71 and later Mach 1 body styles were disgusting, and then in 74 the Mustang II took over… *shudder* But in 1970 the Boss 302 Mustang was at the zenith. Handled better than the Boss 427, and actually tracked faster. It was just good. Ford hasn’t been able to hit again since the 2015 Mustang… which will become the best Mustang Ford has ever made. But we’ll see if it stands up to the mighty 1970 Boss.
The 1969 Dodge Charger. The classic Dodge Charger had great lines. Streamlined while still being “Muscle Car”. Bo and Luke Duke? Admit it – you watched The Duke’s because of the girl in the short shorts that drove the Jeep. We all did. But if you painted your Charger bright Orange to look like the General Lee – You suck at Life. Because of that one TV series – there is a drastic shortage of good classic Chargers. And too many of them are Orange. The show burned through so many of them, it’s criminal. But there are some left out there in the wild. And if you find a good one – It’s a rare thing of beauty now.
This is the Baddest of the Bad. The 1970 Chevy Chevelle SS 454. The most powerful factory installed engine of the Muscle Car Era. It was Big and Bad and embodied everything the Muscle Car stood for. If it was any more powerful it would come with it’s own Wookie Mechanic and would outrun Imperial Cruisers. These are the real “SS” cars that Chevy seems to have forgotten about. Later year versions of the Chevelle would feature only one headlight on each side – but I don’t think those are quite as menacing as the dual headlight cars. The SS looks like it wants to throw you a beating.
You can see these cars in action in DEMOLITION MAN, and JACK REACHER. Two movies which are worth watching just for the Chevelles. That and Sandra Bullock’s ass in her Police Uniform in Demolition Man… Wow. Just wow.
Yes. That was my reaction when I first saw that.
Edit: I was wrong. As pointed out by an astute reader, Demolition Man featured the Olds 442. I was wrong… My memory was faulty. And I’ve not watched DemoMan in a couple decades. Here’s the Olds 442:
They do look very similar, but the front grill is distinctly different. Forgive me… I was distracted….
Moving on… The GTO. Pontiac’s Greatest Thing Ever.
Specifically the 1967 Pontiac GTO. This is THE CAR… This is one that defined what a Muscle Car was all about. It set the rules. It established the very definition. This was Muscle Car Purity. There are a lot of different versions of the GTO, but in 1967 Pontiac got it just right. The right balance of size, weight, output, and looks. As far as car designs go, it shows that it’s a 60’s era car, but it’s a design that has aged very well…. so well in fact, that they actually look better now. These are the Jane Seymour’s of Muscle Cars. When one drives by, you can’t help but to stare at it. There is just something about it. Just like Jane Seymour.
The TV Show Supernatural has 3 Leading Characters. Sam Winchester, Dean Winchester, and the ’67 Impala. This is the show that eclipsed Firefly as The Coolest Show on Earth. It has Classic Rock Music, Guns, Monsters, and this Impala. The Impala is just flat out cool. Old School Muscle Car, with refined looks and a nice feature that makes it practical for every day use. Four Doors. Looking at my other choices – this is the only one with four doors. I find that kind of odd…. as I don’t have anything against four doors, but most look like grandmother’s sunday barges. The 67 Impala has something rather menacing about it that later Impalas lost in the 70’s… and really have never regained.
Out of this short list – If I could pick one that the Gods of Torque and Recoil could bestow upon me… It would be between the 302 Mustang and the Chevelle SS 454. I think I’d have to take BOTH. And of course the GOT&R would nod sagely and give me both… Because they are just awesome that way.
Honorable mentions going to the ’70 AMC AMX, the ’71 Olds Cutlass, and the Buick GSX. But really… those cars were just taking cues off of these cars.
