The Hooniverse Obscure Muscle Car Garage has been an interesting series of postings that I introduced here in April of 2013. It was my intent to expand your notion of what a Muscle Car could be, and to zero in on the more Obscure Ones you may have never known about. When this series was introduced, I always kept the option of voting in or out any of the entries profiled. Well, it is now time to make room in the Garage, and for the next six weeks, I will be providing a review of all the inductees, and sorting them by period or classification. This week, we go back and review all the cars and trucks that were profiled and built during the 1950’s, and were also voted into the Obscure Muscle Car Garage by you, our faithful readers. After this quick review, there will be a poll asking which inductee should be voted out (or maybe not…), and by the time we review all the Garage Members, we will have one final vote to see if we lose any members. Ready? Let’s begin…


In July of 2013, I posed the question as to whether or not the Dodge D500 should be considered as a Muscle Car, with not just one spot reserved in the Garage, but several. You see these cars were produced in two distinct series, across multiple body styles. The early cars produced 260 to 285 HP, and were built on a relatively light body. The cars produced between 1957 and 1961 were longer, lower, wider, and heavier, and had either the famous Hemi Head V-8 or the still stonkin’ wedge head v8 engines, producing between 330 to 345 HP, with better handling due to the new Torsion Bar Suspension that was new for these big Dodges. You thought they were worthy inductees, with a resounding 63% affirmative vote.Take a look at the original article here.

For 1957, Ford produced a one year only NASCAR Special (The Ford F-Series), with a 300 HP Supercharged 312 Cubic Inch V-8, and then offered the engine across the entire Ford lineup, including the Thunderbird, the Ford Skyliner Retractable Hardtop Convertible, and there was even a Ford Country Sedan with this engine installed. You voted this entry in by a margin of 68%. Take a look at the original article here.

When I started writing for various web sites, a good friend of mine, Richard Truesdell, lobbied for the 1957 Rambler Rebel, stating that this was the Original Muscle Car. He had a point, as this was a rather trim package, packing a powerful 327 CID V-8 that produced 255HP. It was the fastest car for 1957, with the exception of the Corvette. 82% of you who voted agreed with Truesdell, and was an early inductee. See the original article here.

In March of Last Year, I highlighted the 1956 to 1958 Studebaker Golden Hawk as an Obscure Muscle Car, and these cars were produced with two very distinct engines. The 1956 model was equipped with the 332 CID Packard V-8, while the 1957 ans 58 models came equipped with the 289 CID Supercharged Studebaker V-8, both producing 275 HP. These were light, stylish coupes, and fully 78% of you agreed that these were obscure muscle Cars. See the original Article here.

Pontiac is a name that is credited with the creation of the Muscle Car, but in the min 1950’s they were anything but… It took a new General Manager of the division to breathe new life into a brand that was seen as old fashioned, and unexciting. In comes the 1957 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible, with a Fuel Injected 347 CID V-8 that put out a conservative 310HP. And 65% of you that voted said it was an Obscure Muscle Car. See the Original Article here.

The Studebaker Packard Corporation was just a bit desperate during the late 1950’s, creating Studebaker Cars badged as Packards for the 1957 and 1958 model years. And of course, this included a version of the Studebaker Golden Hawk called (what else…) the Packard Hawk. It was cobbled together for one year only, equipped with the Supercharged 289 CID Studebaker V-8, and looked unlike most anything then produced. It was fast, luxurious, and very rare, and it was voted into the Obscure Muscle Garage by a margin of 70%. See the Original Article Here.

The Fabulous Hudson Hornet, specifically equipped with the Twin-H Flathead Six Cylinder Engine, is arguably one of the prototypical Muscle Cars of it’s day, and was dominate in the very early years of NASCAR Racing. By 1953, the Twin-H Powerplant was producing as much as 220HP, and figure unheard of in most engines, let alone a flathead six. It all came to an end after the merger with Nash in 1954, and the step down Hudsons were no more. You voted in these Hudsons by a margin of 71%. See the original article here.

One of the more Obscure Cars I highlighted was the 1959 Dodge Silver Challenger, something I never really knew about until recently. This is a nameplate that has gone on to great heights, and is currently in use today. The Silver Challenger could be equipped with a six, or with the Red Ram 326 CID V-8. This was the lightest body style available, so with this engine, it was a true performer. And 67% of you that voted agreed. See the original Article here.

So, those are inductees from the 1950’s. It is now time for you to vote one of these out…or not. Once I run the entire review, which should take 7 weeks, we will see how many of the vehicles will be thrown out of the Garage. Remember, you can make a difference here, so continue to follow this series, and tell me how much you seem to like it (or not…)
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Please Note: All Images are screen grabs from around the web. If you want credit for any image, please let me know in the comments section. Thank You…