Pony car

Pony car is an American car classification for affordable, compact, highly styled coupés or convertibles with a "sporty" or performance-oriented image.^[1]^[2] Common characteristics include rear-wheel drive, a long hood, a short decklid, a wide range of options to individualize each car and use of mass-produced parts shared with other models. The popularity of pony cars is largely due to the launch of the Ford Mustang in 1964.^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6]

There is much debate among enthusiasts about the exact definition of a pony car, and what differentiates the vehicle from a muscle car. The general consensus is that pony cars are smaller and more refined than muscle cars. A few intermediate-size vehicles, such as the Dodge Challenger, may be considered to belong to both categories.^[7]

In 2024, the Ford Mustang became the last remaining pony car still in production. The Challenger and the Camaro ended production in 2023; though the Camaro's final model year is 2024.

^ Borroz, Tony (17 April 2009). "April 17, 1964: Ford Mustang Starts Galloping". Wired. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
^ Squatriglia, Chuk (17 April 2009). "Mustang, the Ultimate Pony Car, Turns 45". Wired. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
^ Mitchell, Larry G. (2000). AMC Muscle Cars. MotorBooks/MBI. p. 17. ISBN 978-0-7603-0761-8. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
^ Grist, Peter (2009). Dodge Challenger Plymouth Barracuda: Chrysler's Potent Pony Cars. Veloce. p. 6. ISBN 978-1-84584-105-8. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
^ Linden, Steve (2008). Car Collecting. Motorbooks. p. 8. ISBN 978-0-7603-2809-5. Retrieved 20 May 2017. Mustangs are part of a group of cars called "pony cars"—a term that originated with the Mustang
^ Witzenburg, Gary L. (1979). Mustang ! The Complete History of America's Pioneer Ponycar. Automobile Quarterly. ISBN 978-0-525-16175-2.
^ Robinson, Matt (2017). "What's The Difference Between A Muscle Car And A Pony Car?". carthrottle.com. Retrieved 30 April 2023.

[1] Borroz, Tony (17 April 2009). "April 17, 1964: Ford Mustang Starts Galloping". Wired. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2017.

[2] Squatriglia, Chuk (17 April 2009). "Mustang, the Ultimate Pony Car, Turns 45". Wired. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2017.

[3] Mitchell, Larry G. (2000). AMC Muscle Cars. MotorBooks/MBI. p. 17. ISBN 978-0-7603-0761-8. Retrieved 20 May 2017.

[4] Grist, Peter (2009). Dodge Challenger Plymouth Barracuda: Chrysler's Potent Pony Cars. Veloce. p. 6. ISBN 978-1-84584-105-8. Retrieved 20 May 2017.

[5] Linden, Steve (2008). Car Collecting. Motorbooks. p. 8. ISBN 978-0-7603-2809-5. Retrieved 20 May 2017. Mustangs are part of a group of cars called "pony cars"—a term that originated with the Mustang

[Witzenburg-6] Witzenburg, Gary L. (1979). Mustang ! The Complete History of America's Pioneer Ponycar. Automobile Quarterly. ISBN 978-0-525-16175-2.

[7] Robinson, Matt (2017). "What's The Difference Between A Muscle Car And A Pony Car?". carthrottle.com. Retrieved 30 April 2023.

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