The Street Fighters True muscle cars make no apologies. They had one primary job: get the driver from Point A to Point B as fast as law, and the driver's driving ability, would allow. They started off in the early 1960s as mid-size sedans and coupes stuffed with oversized engines–Bel Airs, Catalinas, and Tempests–and it wasn't long before crazy hi-po machines came in all shapes in sizes.