Why the GM XP-836 is Called the Black Panther

Posted on May 4, 2011 by jmalcolm

The GM XP-836 has had the nickname “Black Panther” due to the mystery around it. While there were big wars going on in terms of muscle cars offered by Chevy and Ford, GM snuck in the door with this particular vehicle. This was a prototype that was similar to some of the Chevy great muscle cars of that time. The GM XP-836 was introduced in 1965. It was a very basic model but had some great features to offer.

GM quickly got to the marketing end of things, comparing the Black Panther to the Ford Mustang in terms of speed and control. Market studies showed that consumers enjoyed the Black Panther name more than they did the XP-836 term, so that is what stuck. What was interesting is that as the concept for the body and the marketing of the XP-836 continued, it started to follow some of the leads in the muscle care world set by the Mustang. GM took the approach that if such elements worked in Ford’s favor, they could work for them, too.

In 1967, the GM XP-836 became known as the Camaro but not the traditional Camaro muscle car that we all remember from that time frame. Instead it was the Black Panther model with emblems of wild cats on the side. Only a limited number of Camaro cars were modified to fit this Black Panther option, which also had a gold pinstripe on the sides of the body and a gold interior.

Getting your hands on the GM XP-836 today is extremely difficult. There are very few of them out there to be restored or for parts. This often results in people who once owned them wishing that they had held onto what they once owned. However, there was never any indication at that time that it would end up being an elusive vehicle worth quite a fortune today.

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The Guts of the 1969 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am

Posted on April 15, 2011 by jmalcolm

The vision of Pontiac wasn’t fully understood when they introduced the 1969 Firebird Trans Am. They just knew that they needed a way to compete with the Ford Mustang, Chevy Camaro, Chevy Corvette and the Dodge Charger. This was their answer and it was to become part of their company legacy as well.

This vehicle was something of a secret and before it was launched, many dealerships and consumers had no idea what to expect. Unlike for other muscle cars of the time, there wasn’t any marketing or creating a buzz about it before the launch. Officially known as the Trans Am Performance and Appearance Package, only a total of 697 coupes and 8 convertibles with the package were put on the market at the time. Its name came from the popular Trans American Racing Series, although it was never a part of the actual competition.

The limited number of 1969 Pontiac Trans Ams that were initially manufactured all had the same color scheme. The interior featured a royal blue. The outside was called polar white. In addition to being very visually appealing, it didn’t take long for the word to get out that the 1969 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am had guts. It was a great car for speed, it handled smoothly, and it had a very advanced brake system.

Within 3 years, this vehicle took over the spot of the GTO as Pontiac’s top muscle car. The success of the 1969 Firebird Trans Am even surprised Pontiac. They never believed it would become the legend that it did. Today, collectors strive to find some of those few 1969 Pontiac Firebird Trans Ams that remain. These vehicles are a diamond in the rough in the muscle car collectors market.

The base price was $3,600 in 1969, and in 2010 that price was about $36,000 for one that was in poor to moderate condition. If you are talking about one that has been fully restored, you can expect to pay at least $50,000 for it. That is a lucrative restoration and resell market picture that is sure to guarantee that the 1969 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am will be an in-demand vehicle for a long time to come.

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Using a Cowl Trim Tag When Buying a Classic GM Car

Posted on March 7, 2011 by jmalcolm

There is a little-known method that true classic GM car collectors know about to find out the “inside scoop” about any vehicle they are considering for their collection. That inside scoop is referred to as the cowl trim tag. It is important to know where to find the cowl trim tag and what it will tell you, and what it is not, as well. While the cowl trim tag of a classic GM car can make all the difference when buying or selling that classic muscle car, it is not a complete diary of the car or the “Holy Grail” as some people think it to be.

This small identification tag will not jump out at you because of where it is located. As implied by the name, the cowl trim tag is exactly that. It is a small aluminum strip similar to the tag that is found in many cars on the door or dash with the vehicle identification number on it. The cowl trim tag is located instead on the firewall of the classic GM car or the “cowl trim.”

There is a significant amount of information on the cowl trim tag of a classic GM car, but it helps to know what you are seeing there because it might seem like a code to you. There can be as much as 8 lines of information on the cowl trim tag and each line has its own designation.

Line one of the cowl trim tag will show the make and model of that classic GM car. A code for the production date of the car is usually on line 2 of the cowl trim tag. Line 3 is packed with information including the body style, the model year, the chassis number and the assembly plant where that classic GM car was made. Line 4 are the trim codes and paint details that give you specifics about the original look of the classic GM car. This information is important when you set out to do a restoration of the car.

Lines 5-8 contain information about accessories and add-on options. These codes may need some interpretation or these lines may be missing or incomplete if the original classic GM car was not sold with a lot of options.

Even if you already own a classic GM muscle car and haven’t looked at it, the cowl trim tag can be very informative. This is the kind of insider information that separates the amateur collector of classic GM cars from those who know what they are doing. Learn all you can about how to use cowl trim tag information, because it will benefit you as you enjoy your passion for classic muscle cars for many years to come.

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Hello world!

Posted on January 17, 2011 by admin

Welcome to American Muscle Car Sites. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

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