Photos by Dean Larson

The muscle car era was, arguably, the most impressionable time period in automotive history in the United States. For its relatively short duration, 15 years tops, this time period left a lasting impression on car enthusiasts the world over, and continues to captivate current and future generations. It's the power, the aggressive body lines and the unapologetic soundtracks from Six Packs, Cobra Jets, 350 Rockets, 455 WIldcats, 426 HEMIs, BOSS 429s and plenty more charismatic cars and motors of the 1960s and ’70s. Now, some four decades later, the automotive landscape in the U.S. is largely bleak, accept for a few exciting pony cars from domestic manufacturers, throwbacks to a bygone era.