a buddy and I were talking about this can and we disagreed. He said it was the last of the 1st Gen muscle cars, I said it was the start of the 2nd gen.

which do you see?

 

I'm not sure what you mean by generations.

Most people believe the early 70s were the end of the 1st muscle car era, especially when the fueling crisis hit the US.

 

The 94 to 96 Impala SS was the 7th Generation Impala this one still had the Rear wheel drive, they quit the Impala in 97 and then picked it up again in 2000 and they were front wheel drive cars then.
What I see is the Muscle cars started in the 60's 63,64, to 72 and that was the last of the that era with Factory HP on up to 375 or better. I owned several of them.

Unfortunately it spoiled me and I can't look at a front wheel drive but anything more than a family car. The Monte SS are good looking cars but the last on my list for a Race Car in Front wheel drive.
Body style wise I love them, bringing back the Monte in 94 to Nascar was a good idea, they survived for along time. Then the Impala took over.

Now I see only 2 Chevy muscle cars 1. the Camaro, 2. the Corvette. other brands the Mustang, and the Challengers. Anything else doesn't get a mention.

All that said if you take into part that the Muscle Car era ended in 1972 and got a rebirth in 1994 with the Impala. You could say that it is a 2nd Generation Muscle Car.
That just my realization of what it means to me.
Hope that helps some!?!?!

 

I just want one.

 

That was the last generation of the real "muscle car" Impala - V-8 & RWD.

 

I agree, I've never heard of muscle cars divided into old and new generation, but I can certain see the 60s/70s cars being old school muscle and the 90s and up being considered new muscle. Since its an arbitrary line anyways, I guess it's up to the individual as to what their qualifiers are.

I don't really understand how a 90s impala would be lumped in with the old cars though. Sure it's big and rwd, but so is a 300c, charger, marauder, etc, and I sure wouldn't call any of them old generation muscle either.

I would personally draw the line with the introduction of electronic port fuel injection, with either a newer generation or subset for the new DI muscle cars.

Regardless how you divide them, I just hope the current trends continue!

 

That's a good point, I wasn't thinking of it in terms of just the impala line. I guess I could see that making more sense if you were just looking at the impala generations and your only qualifier was rwd.