Plymouth Fury
When reeling off iconic muscle cars from the past, you can't forget about the Plymouth Fury. It was an absolute stunner. The motor just screamed Americana. So it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that the '50s classic was comprised of American parts. Good luck spotting an overseas component here!
Ford Model T
Arguably one of the most famous cars ever created, the Ford Model T changed the game when it first appeared in 1908. More than 15 million of them were sold by the time production stopped in 1927. And boy, this car just oozed stars and stripes! The Model Ts were put together in two manufacturing plants across Michigan.
Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
As the '60s were coming to an end, Pontiac rolled out a future classic that left motorists salivating. Yes, the Firebird Trans Am made its bow in 1969, and quickly became the muscle car of choice for many. Thanks to its U.S. production, the vehicle wasn't reliant on foreign parts, either.
Ford Thunderbird
We'll be blunt here — the Ford Thunderbird is an absolutely beautiful car. It's so stylish! The model made its debut in the mid-1950s. And it didn't take long for folks to fall head over heels with it. The first generation Thunderbirds were manufactured from existing Ford parts in America.
Cadillac Eldorado
When it first introduced in the early 1950s, the Cadillac Eldorado blew the minds of many motorists. It was an incredibly luxurious car, boasting some awesome features. And guess what, folks? The earlier models didn't rely on parts from abroad. They were about as all-American as you could get.
Lincoln Continental
The Lincoln Continental was a hard car to ignore when it first came out in 1939. It was pretty big! You couldn't argue with its luxurious features, either. Despite its name, this model was American through and through, relying on domestic components across its production. Pretty cool, right?
Chrysler Airflow
The Chrysler Airflow was a real trailblazer upon its release in the mid-1930s. Not only did it look very modern for the time, but the car adopted groundbreaking aerodynamic features as well. There were few American-made vehicles like it. Mind you, while the Airflow ultimately flopped, it did start to receive its flowers years later.
Ford Galaxie
It didn't take long for the Ford Galaxie to become a beloved motor in the U.S. — it was an excellent car. Even Elvis Presley owned one! But did it rely on overseas components? Nope. The Galaxie was largely composed of American parts during its time in production.
Pontiac Bonneville
There's no other way of saying this, folks — the Pontiac Bonneville was gorgeous! This eye-catching motor made its bow towards the end of the 1950s, stealing the hearts of motorists across the country. From a production standpoint, the first generation Bonnevilles were all-American. There wasn't a reliance on overseas parts.
Duesenberg Model J
The Duesenberg Model J is an absolutely stunning motor, even by today's standards. The car just radiates class and style. But was it an all-American vehicle? You bet! The Model J, which made its debut in 1928, was manufactured in Indiana, while the engine came from Pennsylvania.
Chevrolet Corvette
One of the coolest sports cars ever created, the Chevrolet Corvette has been turning heads ever since it debuted in 1953. It's an undeniable classic. And there's very little sign of overseas parts in the first generation models. Beneath their stylish bodies, those Corvettes boasted American transmissions, chassis, and engines.
AMC Eagle
The AMC Eagle was first introduced in the summer of 1979, and it certainly had a unique look. You wouldn't have trouble picking it out from a lineup! This popular car model was designed and manufactured in America. It also stands as one of the final motors to come from AMC.
Lincoln Town Car
Lincoln introduced the Town Car model in 1981, taking the place of the older Continentals. It was a fabulous motor to drive and look at. But did it rely on foreign parts under the hood? Not really! The first generation Town Cars were mainly comprised of domestic components.
Ford Mustang GT
It's hard to take your eyes off the Ford Mustang GT. Cars don't come much cooler than this one. Its use in the Hollywood classic Bullitt certainly helped! As far as its production goes, the first generation models mainly used American parts. Overseas components were scarce under the hood.
Buick Riviera
You can't say that the Buick Riviera wasn't a stylish motor. It was absolutely stunning! Muscle cars didn't get prettier than this, folks. But did the vehicle have to rely on foreign parts? Not really. The vast majority of the Riviera's main components came from America.
Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu SS
Compared to a lot of other muscle cars from the 1960s, the Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu SS had a pretty reserved look. But don't let that fool you — this model was a dream to drive. It was primarily all-American under the hood as well. All the major parts were domestic.
Plymouth Barracuda
At a time when Ford Mustangs were dominating the muscle car market, Plymouth looked to one-up their competition with a new rival. So that led to the birth of the Barracuda — a mid-'60s classic in its own right. The earlier models didn't have a reliance on overseas parts, either.
Cadillac V16
When it comes to naming rare classic cars, the Cadillac V16 has to be in the conversation. After all, no more than 4,076 of them were built in the 1930s. They've certainly left their mark, though. On top of that, the V16 was entirely made up of American parts, too.
Chevrolet Impala
With three production runs under its belt, the Chevrolet Impala has been around for decades. It's a true American classic. What's going on beneath that shiny bodywork, though? Well, the first generation models mainly utlized domestic parts, and didn't have a huge reliance on overseas components.
Pontiac Tempest Le Mans GTO
An undeniably slick motor, the Pontiac Tempest Le Mans GTO caught a lot of attention in the mid-1960s. It was a great muscle car to drive, and it looked the part, too. As for its production details, this vehicle heavily relied on American components. Overseas parts were few and far between.
Ford GT40 Mk IV
An iconic race car from the 1960s, the Ford GT40 was quite the motor. But it wasn't all-American to start with — the first three iterations came from a U.S. and British partnership. The Mk IV was different, though. That vehicle was engineered and constructed in its entirety in America.
Chevrolet Camaro
The Plymouth Barracuda wasn't the only car to challenge the dominance of the Ford Mustang during the 1960s. Yep, the Chevrolet Camaro was in the mix as well. And the first generation vehicles largely relied on U.S. components, especially those that were manufactured in America. Don't forget, five of the Camaro's assembly plants were overseas.
Ford Torino
While it was only in production for eight years between the '60s and '70s, the Ford Torino still managed to establish itself as a classic. That's some effort, right! It's a beautiful motor. It was also manufactured in America, and didn't have to rely on parts from overseas.
Ford Taurus
The Ford Taurus had everything that you could want from a car when it first debuted in the mid-1980s. It was stylish, quiet, and, most importantly, a joy to drive. The first generation Taurus was specifically designed to rely on American parts, as opposed to foreign options.
Ford Bronco
A classic off-road motor, the Ford Bronco made its bow in the mid-1960s. It was seemingly retired in 1996, but went on to enjoy a comeback in 2021. Now, the first generation Broncos didn't rely on overseas parts. A majority of the main components came from America.
Through: Chris J. Moffett