It's going to be a long, cold, lonely winter for carmakers, but spring could be heavenly for hot rodders (if they have some dough).
An all-new Chevy Camaro and a refreshed Ford Mustang are about to make it to showrooms, with prices starting in the low- to mid-$20,000 range, along with a new sub-$30,000 car making more than 300 horsepower from a surprising place -- South Korea.
Together, the offerings represent a revival of the pony car -- the stylish, moderately priced rear-wheel-drive coupe exemplified by the 1960s Camaros and Mustangs that originated the class.
At the Los Angeles Auto Show, Mike Kaluza, 60, looked happier than an Obama backer on election night as he watched a 2010 Camaro rotating on a platform. "It's an amazing time, when you consider what's being offered by Ford, Chevy and Hyundai," he said.
Yes, Hyundai.
The South Korean automaker is joining the budget-performance-car party with its first rear-wheel-drive coupe, like the others due out by spring, though the manufacturers have not set firm release dates. Along with Chrysler's recently released Dodge Challenger, that makes four rear-wheel-drive sporty cars in a segment that was pretty much solely occupied by the Mustang until this year.
Unlike in most years, when new models would command a premium over the sticker price, buyers may be able to snag the new ponies at bargain prices from dealers struggling to stay afloat during a time of stagnant sales. It also might not cost as much to run the cars if gas prices stay as low as they are now.
In the past, pony cars were typically derived from other model platforms -- the first Mustang, for instance, was based on the Ford Falcon compact-car platform.
Beginning in the mid-1970s, the dominance of front-wheel-drive auto platforms, high gasoline prices and tougher fuel economy standards dimmed the pony car segment. Engines became less powerful, and in the late 1970s the Dodge Challenger was actually a re-badged four-cylinder Mitsubishi. In 2002, General Motors stopped production of Camaros and Pontiac Firebirds, leaving the Mustang the last horse on its feet.
There was also something of a demographic void, as baby-boom drivers shifted to roomier cars and minivans as they raised families. Young adults and teens still showed a need for speed, but their money and time went to souping up Honda Civics and other imported compacts.
