The document discusses collecting data on encounters with "muscle" cars over a week in Milwaukee to understand perceptions of these cars. It presents a methodology of recording details of 21 observed cars, including colors. It aims to compare traits commonly associated with muscle cars in popular media to what is commonly encountered. The goal is to understand differences between projected and actual images of muscle cars.
2. In popular culture there is a particular way that “muscle”
cars are projected onto the public. Through the collection
and compilation of information regarding the various
methods that the public are exposed to muscle cars, one
may begin to make suggestions as to what particular
details, body types, colors, and other characteristics define
our experience of the car. With a foundation of information
that is provided by popular culture, I will begin to compile
data of my physical exposure to the car in the context of
the city of Milwaukee. As a passive participant, the goal is
to understand the differences between the projected
image of the “muscle” car, and what we are exposed to
everyday.
thesis
EXPOSURE/EXPERIENCE understanding our perception of American “muscle” automobiles
map_Milwaukee County
3. EXPOSURE/EXPERIENCE understanding our perception of American “muscle” automobiles
map_Milwaukee County
methodology Displayed at left is a
grouping of 21 vehicles
encountered over a week
long period. The
circumference is dictated
by the observation of
physical traits that strongly
correlate with projections
consistent in popular
media.
By also recording various traits I
have the ability to manipulate
notational devices, hoping to
reveal patterns of exposure.
Perhaps the colors shown at left
depict paint color of the 21 cars,
which can be compared to
colors commonly chosen by the
media to most appropriately
capture the “essence” of the
car.
mustang red roush racing, pins, red rims North & Farwell
mustang red convertible I-94 Eastbound (State Fair)
mustang red _ Maryland & Bradford
mustang red racing lights Lake Park & Ravine road
mustang red black pinstripes Maryland Ave.
mustang red _ oakland & Bradford
mustang red _ newhall & north
mustang red black pinstripes Water & Knapp
mustang red convertible Murray & Bradford
mustang red white pinstripes Brady & holton
mustang red black pinstripes Oakland & Edgewood
mustang red Water & Juneau
mustang red convertible tan Hartford Parking
camaro red black pins 46th & Forest Home
camaro red _ Locust & Martin Luther King
camaro red Kenwood & Lake
charger red black scoop Hartford Maryland Parking lot
charger red Oklahoma & Forest Home
charger red _ Prospect & Mason
trans am red convertible 43rd & National
cougar red _ 14th & Oklahoma
mustang green _ milwaukee public market
mustang lime green _IMAGE_ Lincoln Memorial Drive
trans am green _ I-43 North
mustang yellow convertible, spoiler Howell & Rawson
mustang yellow _IMAGE_ Lincoln Memorial Drive
mustang yellow _ 22nd & rogers
mustang yellow _ Locust & Maryland
mustang yellow black racing stripes, rims Oklahoma & Forest Home
camaro yellow _ Locust & Martin Luther King
mustang charcoal _ SARUP parking
mustang charcoal cali license, convertible 1st & Oklahoma
mustang charcoal black pinstripes Bartlett & Locust
mustang charcoal _ North & Holton
camaro charcoal Capitol & Oakland
charger charcoal _ 26th & Forest Home
charger charcoal _ 46th & Forest Home
charger charcoal _ Maryland & Farwell
charger charcoal Maryland & Farwell
mustang black white trim Edgewood Klotsche
mustang black everfree humboldt & locust
mustang black hood scoop Capitol & Oakland
mustang black side scoop fins I-94 Westbound
camaro black spoiler 34th & North
camaro black spoiler I-94 Westbound
charger black blue pins,racing stripes, scoop Hartford Maryland Parking lot
charger black _ 58th & Cleveland
charger black _ Sarup Parking lot
charger black _ Locust & Holton
charger black _ I-41 North
charger black 43rd & National
charger black 24th & Rogers
challenger black _ 43rd & Lincoln
challenger black white pins 35th & oklahoma
challenger black 6th & North
challenger black R/T 68th & Cleveland
firebird black yellow pins, gauges 46th & Dakota
mustang powder blue white pinstripes Hartford & Cramer
mustang blue white pinstripes 27th & Oklahoma
mustang dark blue convertible Locust & Maryland
mustang powder blue black pinstripes 43rd & Greenfield
mustang blue white pinstripes, fins, spoilers, gt Marqutte Interchange
mustang powder blue white pinstripes Water & Clybourn
mustang blue White pinstripes St. Paul & Water
camaro blue Oakland & Edgewood
charger blue Capitol & Oakland
charger slate gray crashed 43rd & Capitol
corvette stingraysky blue Whole Foods
mustang white Oakland & kenwood
mustang white black pinstripes SARUP Parking
camaro white convertible Brady & Van Buren
camaro white Brew City Shooters
charger white _ Prospect & North
charger white 43rd & National
challenger white _ 43rd & Mitchell
challenger white Brew City Shooters
camaro silver rims 6th & North
camaro silver _ 43rd & Manitoba
camaro silver Hartford & Maryland
camaro silver Hartford & Maryland
charger silver _ 43rd & National
charger silver black pinstripes Water & State
charger silver _ SARUP Parking
charger silver _ 43rd & Greenfield
charger silver _ I-94 Westbound
charger silver "sheila" 43rd Sonic
charger silver SARUP Parking Lot
firebird silver dual hood scoop, convertible 48th & Forest home
camaro burnt orange _ water st. & wisconsin
camaro orange black pinstripes SARUP parking
camaro burnt orange convertible 43rd & Orchard
camaro orange Murray & Bradford
camaro orange black pinstripes, convertible I-94 Westbound
challenger orange black pinstripes, R/T 43rd & Greenfield
challenger orange black pinstripes, R/T Edgewood & Oakland
mustang gold custom gold paint I-41 North
camaro purple custom purple paint Oakland & Hartford
challenger purple white racing stripes I-41 North
charger maroon _ 35th& oklahoma
charger police police vehicle 43rd & Kinnickinic
4. EXPOSURE/EXPERIENCE understanding our perception of American “muscle” automobiles
methodology
mustang red roush racing, pins, red rims North & Farwell
mustang red convertible I-94 Eastbound (State Fair)
mustang red _ Maryland & Bradford
mustang red racing lights Lake Park & Ravine road
mustang red black pinstripes Maryland Ave.
mustang red _ oakland & Bradford
mustang red _ newhall & north
mustang red black pinstripes Water & Knapp
mustang red convertible Murray & Bradford
mustang red white pinstripes Brady & holton
mustang red black pinstripes Oakland & Edgewood
mustang red Water & Juneau
mustang red convertible tan Hartford Parking
camaro red black pins 46th & Forest Home
camaro red _ Locust & Martin Luther King
camaro red Kenwood & Lake
charger red black scoop Hartford Maryland Parking lot
charger red Oklahoma & Forest Home
charger red _ Prospect & Mason
trans am red convertible 43rd & National
cougar red _ 14th & Oklahoma
mustang green _ milwaukee public market
mustang lime green _IMAGE_ Lincoln Memorial Drive
trans am green _ I-43 North
mustang yellow convertible, spoiler Howell & Rawson
mustang yellow _IMAGE_ Lincoln Memorial Drive
mustang yellow _ 22nd & rogers
mustang yellow _ Locust & Maryland
mustang yellow black racing stripes, rims Oklahoma & Forest Home
camaro yellow _ Locust & Martin Luther King
mustang charcoal _ SARUP parking
mustang charcoal cali license, convertible 1st & Oklahoma
mustang charcoal black pinstripes Bartlett & Locust
mustang charcoal _ North & Holton
camaro charcoal Capitol & Oakland
charger charcoal _ 26th & Forest Home
charger charcoal _ 46th & Forest Home
charger charcoal _ Maryland & Farwell
charger charcoal Maryland & Farwell
mustang black white trim Edgewood Klotsche
mustang black everfree humboldt & locust
mustang black hood scoop Capitol & Oakland
mustang black side scoop fins I-94 Westbound
camaro black spoiler 34th & North
camaro black spoiler I-94 Westbound
charger black blue pins,racing stripes, scoop Hartford Maryland Parking lot
charger black _ 58th & Cleveland
charger black _ Sarup Parking lot
charger black _ Locust & Holton
charger black _ I-41 North
charger black 43rd & National
charger black 24th & Rogers
challenger black _ 43rd & Lincoln
challenger black white pins 35th & oklahoma
challenger black 6th & North
challenger black R/T 68th & Cleveland
firebird black yellow pins, gauges 46th & Dakota
mustang powder blue white pinstripes Hartford & Cramer
mustang blue white pinstripes 27th & Oklahoma
mustang dark blue convertible Locust & Maryland
mustang powder blue black pinstripes 43rd & Greenfield
mustang blue white pinstripes, fins, spoilers, gt Marqutte Interchange
mustang powder blue white pinstripes Water & Clybourn
mustang blue White pinstripes St. Paul & Water
camaro blue Oakland & Edgewood
charger blue Capitol & Oakland
charger slate gray crashed 43rd & Capitol
corvette stingraysky blue Whole Foods
mustang white Oakland & kenwood
mustang white black pinstripes SARUP Parking
camaro white convertible Brady & Van Buren
camaro white Brew City Shooters
charger white _ Prospect & North
charger white 43rd & National
challenger white _ 43rd & Mitchell
challenger white Brew City Shooters
camaro silver rims 6th & North
camaro silver _ 43rd & Manitoba
camaro silver Hartford & Maryland
camaro silver Hartford & Maryland
charger silver _ 43rd & National
charger silver black pinstripes Water & State
charger silver _ SARUP Parking
charger silver _ 43rd & Greenfield
charger silver _ I-94 Westbound
charger silver "sheila" 43rd Sonic
charger silver SARUP Parking Lot
firebird silver dual hood scoop, convertible 48th & Forest home
camaro burnt orange _ water st. & wisconsin
camaro orange black pinstripes SARUP parking
camaro burnt orange convertible 43rd & Orchard
camaro orange Murray & Bradford
camaro orange black pinstripes, convertible I-94 Westbound
challenger orange black pinstripes, R/T 43rd & Greenfield
challenger orange black pinstripes, R/T Edgewood & Oakland
mustang gold custom gold paint I-41 North
camaro purple custom purple paint Oakland & Hartford
challenger purple white racing stripes I-41 North
charger maroon _ 35th& oklahoma
charger police police vehicle 43rd & Kinnickinic
mustang green _ milwaukee public market
mustang red roush racing, pins, red rims North & Farwell
mustang red convertible I-94 Eastbound (State Fair)
mustang yellow convertible, spoiler Howell & Rawson
mustang charcoal _ SARUP parking
mustang charcoal cali license, convertible 1st & Oklahoma
mustang red _ Maryland & Bradford
mustang red racing lights Lake Park & Ravine road
mustang black white trim Edgewood Klotsche
mustang powder blue white pinstripes Hartford & Cramer
mustang red black pinstripes Maryland Ave.
mustang red _ oakland & Bradford
mustang red _ newhall & north
mustang yellow _IMAGE_ Lincoln Memorial Drive
mustang black everfree humboldt & locust
mustang lime green _IMAGE_ Lincoln Memorial Drive
mustang blue white pinstripes 27th & Oklahoma
mustang yellow _ 22nd & rogers
mustang red black pinstripes Water & Knapp
mustang black hood scoop Capitol & Oakland
mustang yellow _ Locust & Maryland
mustang gold custom gold paint I-41 North
mustang dark blue convertible Locust & Maryland
mustang red convertible Murray & Bradford
mustang white Oakland & kenwood
mustang white black pinstripes SARUP Parking
mustang powder blue black pinstripes 43rd & Greenfield
mustang red white pinstripes Brady & holton
mustang red black pinstripes Oakland & Edgewood
mustang black side scoop fins I-94 Westbound
mustang yellow black racing stripes, rims Oklahoma & Forest Home
mustang blue white pinstripes, fins, spoilers, gt Marqutte Interchange
mustang powder blue white pinstripes Water & Clybourn
mustang charcoal black pinstripes Bartlett & Locust
mustang red Water & Juneau
mustang blue White pinstripes St. Paul & Water
mustang charcoal _ North & Holton
mustang red convertible tan Hartford Parking
mustang gray convertible SARUP Parking
camaro burnt orange _ water st. & wisconsin
camaro silver rims 6th & North
camaro black spoiler 34th & North
camaro silver _ 43rd & Manitoba
camaro dark purple _ 47th & Forest Home
camaro red black pins 46th & Forest Home
camaro orange black pinstripes SARUP parking
camaro yellow _ Locust & Martin Luther King
camaro burnt orange convertible 43rd & Orchard
camaro purple custom purple paint Oakland & Hartford
camaro red _ Locust & Martin Luther King
camaro orange Murray & Bradford
camaro silver Hartford & Maryland
camaro orange black pinstripes, convertible I-94 Westbound
camaro blue Oakland & Edgewood
camaro black spoiler I-94 Westbound
camaro charcoal Capitol & Oakland
camaro silver Hartford & Maryland
camaro white convertible Brady & Van Buren
camaro white Brew City Shooters
camaro red Kenwood & Lake
charger maroon _ 35th& oklahoma
charger black blue pins,racing stripes, scoop Hartford Maryland Parking lot
charger red black scoop Hartford Maryland Parking lot
charger silver _ 43rd & National
charger white _ Prospect & North
charger charcoal _ 26th & Forest Home
charger black _ 58th & Cleveland
charger charcoal _ 46th & Forest Home
charger black _ Sarup Parking lot
charger black _ Locust & Holton
charger silver black pinstripes Water & State
charger black _ I-41 North
charger silver _ SARUP Parking
charger charcoal _ Maryland & Farwell
charger silver _ 43rd & Greenfield
charger silver _ I-94 Westbound
charger police police vehicle 43rd & Kinnickinic
charger black 43rd & National
charger white 43rd & National
charger charcoal Maryland & Farwell
charger blue Capitol & Oakland
charger silver "sheila" 43rd Sonic
charger black 24th & Rogers
charger red Oklahoma & Forest Home
charger silver SARUP Parking Lot
charger red _ Prospect & Mason
charger slate gray crashed 43rd & Capitol
challenger purple white racing stripes I-41 North
challenger black _ 43rd & Lincoln
challenger black white pins 35th & oklahoma
challenger white _ 43rd & Mitchell
challenger orange black pinstripes, R/T 43rd & Greenfield
challenger black 6th & North
challenger black R/T 68th & Cleveland
challenger white Brew City Shooters
challenger orange black pinstripes, R/T Edgewood & Oakland
firebird silver dual hood scoop, convertible 48th & Forest home
firebird black yellow pins, gauges 46th & Dakota
trans am red convertible 43rd & National
roadrunner lime green white racing stripes, spoiler, coll. 43rd & Manitoba
So far, 104 encounters have
been documented, and
already assertions can be
made about the popularity
of a specific vehicle type,
and color.
mustang
camaro
charger
challenger
color model
5. EXPOSURE/EXPERIENCE understanding our perception of American “muscle” automobiles
mustang red roush racing, pins, red rims North & Farwell
mustang red convertible I-94 Eastbound (State Fair)
mustang red _ Maryland & Bradford
mustang red racing lights Lake Park & Ravine road
mustang red black pinstripes Maryland Ave.
mustang red _ oakland & Bradford
mustang red _ newhall & north
mustang red black pinstripes Water & Knapp
mustang red convertible Murray & Bradford
mustang red white pinstripes Brady & holton
mustang red black pinstripes Oakland & Edgewood
mustang red Water & Juneau
mustang red convertible tan Hartford Parking
camaro red black pins 46th & Forest Home
camaro red _ Locust & Martin Luther King
camaro red Kenwood & Lake
charger red black scoop Hartford Maryland Parking lot
charger red Oklahoma & Forest Home
charger red _ Prospect & Mason
trans am red convertible 43rd & National
cougar red _ 14th & Oklahoma
mustang green _ milwaukee public market
mustang lime green _IMAGE_ Lincoln Memorial Drive
trans am green _ I-43 North
mustang yellow convertible, spoiler Howell & Rawson
mustang yellow _IMAGE_ Lincoln Memorial Drive
mustang yellow _ 22nd & rogers
mustang yellow _ Locust & Maryland
mustang yellow black racing stripes, rims Oklahoma & Forest Home
camaro yellow _ Locust & Martin Luther King
mustang charcoal _ SARUP parking
mustang charcoal cali license, convertible 1st & Oklahoma
mustang charcoal black pinstripes Bartlett & Locust
mustang charcoal _ North & Holton
camaro charcoal Capitol & Oakland
charger charcoal _ 26th & Forest Home
charger charcoal _ 46th & Forest Home
charger charcoal _ Maryland & Farwell
charger charcoal Maryland & Farwell
mustang black white trim Edgewood Klotsche
mustang black everfree humboldt & locust
mustang black hood scoop Capitol & Oakland
mustang black side scoop fins I-94 Westbound
camaro black spoiler 34th & North
camaro black spoiler I-94 Westbound
charger black blue pins,racing stripes, scoop Hartford Maryland Parking lot
charger black _ 58th & Cleveland
charger black _ Sarup Parking lot
charger black _ Locust & Holton
charger black _ I-41 North
charger black 43rd & National
charger black 24th & Rogers
challenger black _ 43rd & Lincoln
challenger black white pins 35th & oklahoma
challenger black 6th & North
challenger black R/T 68th & Cleveland
firebird black yellow pins, gauges 46th & Dakota
mustang powder blue white pinstripes Hartford & Cramer
mustang blue white pinstripes 27th & Oklahoma
mustang dark blue convertible Locust & Maryland
mustang powder blue black pinstripes 43rd & Greenfield
mustang blue white pinstripes, fins, spoilers, gt Marqutte Interchange
mustang powder blue white pinstripes Water & Clybourn
mustang blue White pinstripes St. Paul & Water
camaro blue Oakland & Edgewood
charger blue Capitol & Oakland
charger slate gray crashed 43rd & Capitol
corvette stingraysky blue Whole Foods
mustang white Oakland & kenwood
mustang white black pinstripes SARUP Parking
camaro white convertible Brady & Van Buren
camaro white Brew City Shooters
charger white _ Prospect & North
charger white 43rd & National
challenger white _ 43rd & Mitchell
challenger white Brew City Shooters
camaro silver rims 6th & North
camaro silver _ 43rd & Manitoba
camaro silver Hartford & Maryland
camaro silver Hartford & Maryland
charger silver _ 43rd & National
charger silver black pinstripes Water & State
charger silver _ SARUP Parking
charger silver _ 43rd & Greenfield
charger silver _ I-94 Westbound
charger silver "sheila" 43rd Sonic
charger silver SARUP Parking Lot
firebird silver dual hood scoop, convertible 48th & Forest home
camaro burnt orange _ water st. & wisconsin
camaro orange black pinstripes SARUP parking
camaro burnt orange convertible 43rd & Orchard
camaro orange Murray & Bradford
camaro orange black pinstripes, convertible I-94 Westbound
challenger orange black pinstripes, R/T 43rd & Greenfield
challenger orange black pinstripes, R/T Edgewood & Oakland
mustang gold custom gold paint I-41 North
camaro purple custom purple paint Oakland & Hartford
challenger purple white racing stripes I-41 North
charger maroon _ 35th& oklahoma
charger police police vehicle 43rd & Kinnickinic
conclusion
The notion of a classic “muscle” car no
longer exists at the scale it did during the
70’s, but until 2008 only the Ford Mustang
was a viable remnant of that storied past.
With the redevelopment of a few classic
cars for a contemporary society, the allure
of the muscle car no longer exists only in the
realm of the collector garage, or on a
hollywood film set. The hope of this study is
to reveal the consistency between the
media’s projection of what the muscle car
should be like, what we believe that to be,
and what we actually encounter.
6. EXPOSURE/EXPERIENCE understanding our perception of American “muscle” automobiles
mustang red roush racing, pins, red rims North & Farwell
mustang red convertible I-94 Eastbound (State Fair)
mustang red _ Maryland & Bradford
mustang red racing lights Lake Park & Ravine road
mustang red black pinstripes Maryland Ave.
mustang red _ oakland & Bradford
mustang red _ newhall & north
mustang red black pinstripes Water & Knapp
mustang red convertible Murray & Bradford
mustang red white pinstripes Brady & holton
mustang red black pinstripes Oakland & Edgewood
mustang red Water & Juneau
mustang red convertible tan Hartford Parking
camaro red black pins 46th & Forest Home
camaro red _ Locust & Martin Luther King
camaro red Kenwood & Lake
charger red black scoop Hartford Maryland Parking lot
charger red Oklahoma & Forest Home
charger red _ Prospect & Mason
trans am red convertible 43rd & National
cougar red _ 14th & Oklahoma
mustang green _ milwaukee public market
mustang lime green _IMAGE_ Lincoln Memorial Drive
trans am green _ I-43 North
mustang yellow convertible, spoiler Howell & Rawson
mustang yellow _IMAGE_ Lincoln Memorial Drive
mustang yellow _ 22nd & rogers
mustang yellow _ Locust & Maryland
mustang yellow black racing stripes, rims Oklahoma & Forest Home
camaro yellow _ Locust & Martin Luther King
mustang charcoal _ SARUP parking
mustang charcoal cali license, convertible 1st & Oklahoma
mustang charcoal black pinstripes Bartlett & Locust
mustang charcoal _ North & Holton
camaro charcoal Capitol & Oakland
charger charcoal _ 26th & Forest Home
charger charcoal _ 46th & Forest Home
charger charcoal _ Maryland & Farwell
charger charcoal Maryland & Farwell
mustang black white trim Edgewood Klotsche
mustang black everfree humboldt & locust
mustang black hood scoop Capitol & Oakland
mustang black side scoop fins I-94 Westbound
camaro black spoiler 34th & North
camaro black spoiler I-94 Westbound
charger black blue pins,racing stripes, scoop Hartford Maryland Parking lot
charger black _ 58th & Cleveland
charger black _ Sarup Parking lot
charger black _ Locust & Holton
charger black _ I-41 North
charger black 43rd & National
charger black 24th & Rogers
challenger black _ 43rd & Lincoln
challenger black white pins 35th & oklahoma
challenger black 6th & North
challenger black R/T 68th & Cleveland
firebird black yellow pins, gauges 46th & Dakota
mustang powder blue white pinstripes Hartford & Cramer
mustang blue white pinstripes 27th & Oklahoma
mustang dark blue convertible Locust & Maryland
mustang powder blue black pinstripes 43rd & Greenfield
mustang blue white pinstripes, fins, spoilers, gt Marqutte Interchange
mustang powder blue white pinstripes Water & Clybourn
mustang blue White pinstripes St. Paul & Water
camaro blue Oakland & Edgewood
charger blue Capitol & Oakland
charger slate gray crashed 43rd & Capitol
corvette stingraysky blue Whole Foods
mustang white Oakland & kenwood
mustang white black pinstripes SARUP Parking
camaro white convertible Brady & Van Buren
camaro white Brew City Shooters
charger white _ Prospect & North
charger white 43rd & National
challenger white _ 43rd & Mitchell
challenger white Brew City Shooters
camaro silver rims 6th & North
camaro silver _ 43rd & Manitoba
camaro silver Hartford & Maryland
camaro silver Hartford & Maryland
charger silver _ 43rd & National
charger silver black pinstripes Water & State
charger silver _ SARUP Parking
charger silver _ 43rd & Greenfield
charger silver _ I-94 Westbound
charger silver "sheila" 43rd Sonic
charger silver SARUP Parking Lot
firebird silver dual hood scoop, convertible 48th & Forest home
camaro burnt orange _ water st. & wisconsin
camaro orange black pinstripes SARUP parking
camaro burnt orange convertible 43rd & Orchard
camaro orange Murray & Bradford
camaro orange black pinstripes, convertible I-94 Westbound
challenger orange black pinstripes, R/T 43rd & Greenfield
challenger orange black pinstripes, R/T Edgewood & Oakland
mustang gold custom gold paint I-41 North
camaro purple custom purple paint Oakland & Hartford
challenger purple white racing stripes I-41 North
charger maroon _ 35th& oklahoma
charger police police vehicle 43rd & Kinnickinic
conclusion
The notion of a classic “muscle” car no
longer exists at the scale it did during the
70’s, but until 2008 only the Ford Mustang
was a viable remnant of that storied past.
With the redevelopment of a few classic
cars for a contemporary society, the allure
of the muscle car no longer exists only in the
realm of the collector garage, or on a
hollywood film set. The hope of this study is
to reveal the consistency between the
media’s projection of what the muscle car
should be like, what we believe that to be,
and what we actually encounter.