MUSCLE CARS ASSOCIATION
THE CLASSICS
If there’s one thing that brings together raw power, aggressive design and popular culture on four wheels, it’s an American muscle car. The roar of a V8, the long, low silhouette, the chrome gleaming in the sun.
At ICONS, you’ll have the chance to see more than 20 classic American muscle cars up close, all gathered in a single exhibition space at the entrance to IFA.
A unique opportunity for those who grew up dreaming of these cars on their TV screens.
20 muscle cars to see, smell and hear
What exactly is a muscle car?
A muscle car is typically a medium-sized or large car with a high-displacement engine, usually a V8, designed to deliver high performance, particularly in terms of straight-line acceleration. But beyond the mechanics, they are a symbol, as film and television culture played a key role in their mythologisation, with action films and series portraying them as symbols of rebellion and freedom. It was not until 1964, when the Pontiac GTO was introduced, that muscle cars began to reach their peak, defining themselves as cars with sporty, muscular-looking bodies.
CARS FROM THE 60s AND 70s
AMERICAN POWER
HOLLYWOOD STYLE
When Hollywood got things moving
The legend of the American muscle car would be inconceivable without Carroll Shelby. Taking the British AC Ace as his basis, the former American racing driver created the AC Cobra, a truly iconic roadster that replaced the original six-cylinder engine with a new Ford V8, becoming a racing legend by taking on Ferrari in the endurance championships of the 1960s.
Throughout their history, muscle cars have been more than just vehicles: they have been cultural icons.
