Could The Recent Muscle Car Sales Decline Indicate A Bigger Issue For The Segment?

Could The Recent Muscle Car Sales Decline Indicate A Bigger Issue For The Segment?
Sales of new American muscle cars are falling, raising questions in Detroit and elsewhere about whether a nostalgic, high-horsepower cruising culture that dates to before the 1950s is in peril.

Part of the drop can be blamed on the shift from cars to SUVs that began more than a decade ago, but there are demographic factors that signal a decline. Baby boomers, who buy many of the muscle cars, are getting older.

Muscle car fans consider the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro and Corvette, and the Dodge Challenger and Charger to be the mainstays of Detroit performance cars. But their combined sales fell 7 percent in 2016, 11 percent last year, and are down almost 10 percent for the first half of 2018, according to numbers provided by Kelley Blue Book.


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PUGPROUDPUGPROUD - 9/4/2018 4:23:23 PM
+3 Boost
Let's see 1) the new Challenger has been delayed forever, 2) the Mustang GT500 is nowhere to be seen, 3) prices have been rising and dealer markups on best performance models are ridiculous, and 4) the new Camaro mid-life styling is not appealing. The manufacturers are not providing muscle car customers with fresh new product or what they want at reasonable prices...all good reasons for a decline in sales I say.


TomMTomM - 9/4/2018 5:19:23 PM
+2 Boost
Add in that the dealers often add additional "features" to raise the prices of these vehicles as well. Often to sell WELL ABOVE list prices. Also add that the FCA American contingent are even older than Matty is.

The question I have is - what cars and models are included in the above statistics.


absentabsent - 9/4/2018 8:58:10 PM
+1 Boost
Good summary.....


Tiberius1701ATiberius1701A - 9/4/2018 5:41:58 PM
0 Boost
Could the Bonobos Effectâ„¢ be the reason???


PUGPROUDPUGPROUD - 9/4/2018 6:24:06 PM
+1 Boost
Please explain to this old timer meaning of "Bonobos Effect?" Thanks in advance.


MDarringerMDarringer - 9/4/2018 6:58:24 PM
-1 Boost
Well the Mustang looks like a Fusion coupe. The Camaro got made ugly. The Challenger is old as sin. HMMM


ricks0mericks0me - 9/4/2018 7:04:58 PM
+1 Boost
PUGPROUD nailed it !!!


mini22mini22 - 9/7/2018 11:03:32 AM
+1 Boost
Today if you want a decent performing muscle car(V8) with an average number of bells and whistles you really need to spend 50K. When you take that dollar figure people simply want more practicality. Muscle cars 5 and 6 years ago could be had with V8's with average bells and whistles in the 30's. So Ford, GM, and Dodge should offer stripper specials for 35 grand. Both Ford and GM should equip Mustang and Camaro with handling packages above stage 1 with a slightly upgraded infotainment package for 35 grand. And why charge 48 grand for a Bullit. That should be a 38 grand car. If you look back at the original movie it was a pretty simple car with some performance goodies and green paint. That's all it was. You want to sell more muscle cars bring the price down and offer value packages up the yin yang. But then Ford will complain its not making enough of a profit. Solution raise it up 4 inches and call it a Mustang Escape!


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