A refreshingly untechnical look at the American muscle car, written from the perspective of a non-mechanic enthusiast. The era of great performance cars is traced from its advent in the 1950s through the seminal appearance of the Pontiac GTO in 1964 to its waning in the 1970s. Leaving aside engine specs and restoration how-to, this approachable history puts the bygone muscle car in its cultural and aesthetic contexts, describes developments in styling, performance and marketing, and revels in the joys of muscle car ownership in the 21st century.