Import inspiration, domestic execution - /BIG MUSCLE 

It is simple guys. Drive could not afford to run this channel on the current system they had going. Money out was greater than Money in, meaning the business strategy they had was not sustainable as they were making a loss on each video they put out. Now they have managed to save themselves by going to 'Pay to subscribe' and you guys are complaining? It was either this, or no videos at all.

Buy a muscle car instead of a import? Sure I would fucking LOVE to but i can't because every mother fucker in his 40s are buying up all the cool old muscle cars and driving the prices up! I bought my Honda for $2000 I couldn't get a running reliable cool muscle car for that much ! Hell I just looked on craiglist for my area a 1970 Challenger covered in rust no mottor or trans $4400 and any decent running one for around $13k! 1970 Camaro with a fucked inline 6 with shit paint and interior and most of the trunk and rear quarter panel rusted $4000 a 1973 z/28 with stripped interior and primer paint and a rebuilt 350 $10k! 1965 mustang coupe that has faded paint and thrashed interior and doesnt run well is $4500! Any of the foxbodys that are STREET LEGAL are at least $7000! You wana know why all the younger guys are into either trucks or import cars? Because none of us can afford to get into muscle cars! Yet all I ever see in RU-vid comments or hear at muscle car shows "oh kids these days are never interested in muscle cars" or "the muscle car enthusiasts are dying out with none of the younger guys trying to get in on it" or the classic "when I was your age I had a *insert muscle car name here* and I would go crusing with my buddies blah blah blah" while mumbling "no replacement for displacement" or "fuckin ricers and imports" under their breath. A TON OF US WOULD LOVE TO GET INTO MUSCLE CARS BUT MY GENERATION IS MADE UP OF NOTHING BUT BROKE ASS STUDENTS OR COLLEGE GRADUATES UP TO OUR EYES IN DEBT AND LIVING OFF RAMEN! Quit fucking complaining that all the younger guys are into imports! I go to import car meets occasionally and I have a ton of "ricer" friends and they all respect and love muscle cars but none of them can afford to have a muscle car! The only guys that can are old farts that withdraw early from their 401k to pay out the ass to try and regain their youth! And lord knows I have heard a million times "well you could just buy a lesser known/loved A body or something for cheap!" And do what?? Peddle around in a inline 6 or v6 car whos only redeeming value is its vintage looks but I can't afford to put a v8 in it or much less make it reliable or safe?? If you old fuckers would stop throwing cash at anything that came out before 1985, had an american badge and went "vroom" maybe the average age at the next mopar or chevy meet would be below the 50 year mark!

Thank you Mr. Alvarez, for your service to your country. Here's hoping it remains a common interest and bond for you and your family for many years to come. And thanks yet again for building such a kick ass car. Love the build philosophy, the look, the sound and the attitude. Thumbs up!

LOL as if anyone shopping in a S2000 or Miata price range is going to be able to afford a Cuda in decent shape. Anything in the $15k or less range is usually a rusted out shit box with no drivetrain. Also, fuck Drive+.

"Head on over to Drive+"? Nah i think i'll just head on over to Daily Motion instead.

340 is one the most underrated engines of the muscle car era.

that is one absolutely beautiful car

This new drive + thing is so incredibly fucking stupid. RU-vid isn't about making money, it was started as a way to share moments, ideas and feelings with people who you wouldn't know exist without it. This new paying for a subscription thing undermines the initial idea of You Tube. Why can't you people just be happy with the lifestyle you already lead? You already have the best job I could ever imagine, can't you just bring some of that happiness to the rest of us too? Two of my favorite shows on youtube are now inaccessible to me without me paying a substantial amount of money. The best way I know how to relax and forget about all the shit that goes on on a daily basis is now gone. Way to go, guys.

It reminds me of an old SCCA Trans Am series race car more than an import.

I'm 17 and fixing a 69 chevelle, screw the plastic stuff now adays.

Ariel seems like a great guy and the Cuda like a great car. Good to see a personal take on this, spanning generations.

I guess I could call myself a young hot rider, I got a 65 mustang that I worked 2 jobs to get and I love it

Awesome cuda bro. Thanks for your service to America as well young man. Keep on rocking in the free world.

Who would dislike this video?

the flat paint mad max look is cool sounds cool to.

You know, I am a huge import kind of guy, I'm all about the JDM stuff, but I've began to watch these videos, and I'm starting to realize that when I sort of lump all these cars into a "Generic Muscle Car" category, I forget that all these cars are something different, that no two muscle cars are the same. There's a culture here, that isn't just a bunch of old guys muttering about the "Good Ole Days". People like you or me, all in this culture with something of their own to bring forth. It's not just GM, there's Mopar, Ford, and like the other ones like AMX or whatever. And that's pretty fucking cool. I'm still not gonna LS swap any RX-7's, but still. This scene is pretty awesome.

The deep, grunty sound alone makes me wanna trade in my Civic for this. Damn, I just love to see cars like these. Cars built with passion and logic. A car built for the driver and no one else.

This is a real mans car... Love it... Always loved the cuda model...

This drive plus thing is killing me. I get it though, coz youtube suck shit.

I’m 16 and drive a 78 Firebird. I love the sleeper feel of my car. Nothing beats punching it down a backroad

Miss my 72 'Cuda. Great ride!

Restomod is the only way to go. Those old cars from the 60s & 70s & early 80s looked GREAT but stopped & turned like crapola. Plus they were heavy as hell.

I'm 17 and I own a 2 door 1969 amc rambler that I put a 355 in. I wish kids my age had the passion for these cars but they just don't. We will see in the years to come if they stick around. I'm praying they don't die off.

Awesome car, great approach to the build. Cars like this are like kinetic artwork, and any true art is never finished, it continues to evolve until it is abandoned.

Amazing Cuda! Ariel's channel is named RylisPro, and he has a website detailing and keeping up with his projects. Ariel is a really cool guy representing what I think the car community should be....transforming a car into exactly what you have dreamt it to be!

I wouldn't change a thing to this car it's pure badass and perfection

Give me Old School over New any day!! However, finding one now that doesnt cost $56k-$90k is tough. Keep that car bro! My fam sold my Daddy's '70 AAR 'CUDA 340 6-PAK when He passed. 😔 Thank you for your Service, too! X💖

Well guess I just won't watch the shows on drive plus. I know people say they need money but to me it is not worth the money. I know I am not alone on this one. Thanks for all the big muscle we got up to this point. It was one of my favorite shows to watch.

here in australia ford gave us the xb falcon in 73 its amazing how similar these cars look

Thanks for not making this the ordinary muscle car with chrome everywhere especially the wheels. Glad he put black wheels and good aggressive looking wheels that fit the looks of the car perfectly.

When he said "high-revving small block", I had a strong feeling it was a 340

I bought drive+ subscription, please hate me in comments

Awesome,old "Cuda my fellow Mopar friend... I feel the same way...Shiney DON;T haul the mail...I have a '73 also...for 29 years now .....been through 4 small blocks...NOW a Indy cylinder head 440,solid roller.. light rotating assembly..,torqueflite,w/4500 stall..forward manual valve body..full TTi 3 inch system......NOPE it don't handle great but it does run 7.0 @ 101.2 mph in 1/8 mile....on pump gas..i MAY never PAINT IT ..PEOPLE DON'T TAKE IT SERIOUS...i love it.. hAVE A hAPPY mopar holiday...

This car needs to be in a film.

I hate how this is all about money now...like why cant you just show content like you guys used to..

Only now I found out people in America don't like Cudas? I think they're beautiful. Who wouldn't like them? They're like one of the meanest looking muscle cars.

I disagree with Mike. JDM cars are totally capable of holding "presence", "aura", and that special "feel". Take my Z32 for example. 21 year old car that still captivates people's attention and curiosity.

I've always wanted to do this to a 69 fastback mustang. One day.

On my 3rd S2k. 03, 05, and now the rare 08 Club Racer edition. I know its a plastic car, you don't have to tell me. I will never get rid of it. That being said, this Cuda spoke to me. I have always wanted another Cuda, since my birth right of my deceased fathers 72 with 440 6pack was foolishly parted out in the early 80s when I was just a little kid by my dope head uncle. Being that you can't pick any Cuda that runs around here for a reasonable price, it may be awhile before I get one. I unfortunately dont have the time, space or skills to restore and build one, or I would have done that already.

That's my dirty 2015 Challenger SRT... I LOVE IT!!! Don't change a thing, well maybe supercharge her.

I really like it... a lot. I can respect this. Thumbs up Mr. Alvarez! Thanks for your service as well.

That car is an animal. Awesome muscle. It is nice to see someone have a different take on a car. But honestly, at full speed, you can‘t have a conversation. Stunning, bad ass MOPAR!

Get the Farmtruck on here bro !!!!

If ye do enough Big Muscle episodes with cars like this I will pay the $3.

I'm proud to be an old school gear head! My high school ride in 1993 was a 1972 Plymouth Duster 340 4 speed Hemi orange black hood with factory twin hood scoops!!!! While all the other kids was driving mommys 1980s accords or daddys s10 pickups I was old school before old school was cool but was cool in my eyes!!!! I'm now 38 years old and have a 500 horse power Trans Am!!!! Still love to get out and rip some rubber when the mood hits me right! Nothing is more exhilarating then unleashing 500 horse power and chasing the ass end of a car from one side of the road to the other!!!! All you import kids with your fart cans on your lawn mowers will never know what real driving experiences is!!!!

Love these cars in black. If I ever get an opportunity to own one of these black would be my color if choice.

perfect car build that is how all cars should be built that thing needs a big fuc**** punisher painted on the hood, good job dude

Inspiring, yes. Unique, yes again. I love it, keep up the great work Ariel.

I love the sound of that car very much. The paint/unfinished look, not so much. But to each his own. As long as the owner is happy with it, that's all that matters.

Thank god! EVERYBODY makes a drag car out of these mopars. I’m building a 72 dart with this same idea for badass muscle car.

Very cool, the Cud'a has always been my favorite car. Hope that they don't let rot to much.

This is the most tempted I've been to shell out for plus - what a car.

Ah, the 340, the forgotten gem. Fuck the 350 Chevy, give me a 340 any day of the week. MOPAR or no car.

This channel has become an advertisement. I'm glad /Drive can make money with NBC sports and /Drive+. Its great that they made it big and they turned this little RU-vid channel into something much bigger. Its just a damn shame they had to gut the old platform and suck it dry in order to move on. Good for you guys being able to produce shows with supercars and helicopters and exotic locations. I'd still rather watch a fat guy in a clapped out horsepower beast with a couple of Go-Pro cameras burn rubber. I just don't want that enough to pay $3 a month to subsidize the supercars when I only want to watch these sorts of videos that probably don't cost much more than a few cheeseburgers and some e85.

The passion for muscle cars does not consist of physical beauty, but mental beauty.

I can see something like this in my driveway in retirement. Fun car to tool around in!

Yea i would take a chance on a cuda, however they cost about 10 times as much as my srt4. so yea not all of us were handed down a 6 figure muscle car to build.

My son can't wait till when he joins the Marine Core. And his cars will be waiting for him when he returns home.

I will thumbs up Big Muscle even if its only 5 mins long.

More teasing. I will subscribe and waste a good week watching all the videos when I do.

By far my favorite muscle car

I thought I was going to hate this car. I love it!

I think Drive+ might have a chance of success if other competitive channels weren't free, but since they are the only ones charging people for videos .. I think it's a long shot! Anyways, awesome car and awesome video as usual Mike!

my saturn aura holds an aura

I love that Cuda, love the paintjob too !

This guy makes it sound easy to own a muscle car. If it was you would see them everywhere. With a miata or s2k you can use them to track or go to work and still have money for food

I love the Cuda !

That thing is badass!

i still cant believe how this channel really went to shit with their subscribers, i havent seen any other channel do the same

Matt Farah is the kiss of death to car shows other than TST. If DRIVE is Doing it Wrong, someone will be doing it right soon.

i love your videos, i understand why you did this. i'm eighteen years old and living on ramen, no drive+ until i step up to at least subway.

Pretty bumbed that I have to pay if I want to see my favorite series on drive which is big muscle for sure. Best muscle car and classic car reviews. I always look forward to seeing big muscle over the other segments. Pretty sad that nothing is free anymore , even RU-vid videos.

Mike, I would love to see a show about the Targa Truck... I don't know if Canada is out of your reach.... but I believe what that guy has done with his truck is awesome.

Chris Harris reason for DRIVE+: www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=30564 Thumbs up so people see it, and spread it yourself to reason with haters. I expected much more of car "enthusiasts".

From whatever angle you look at it, it looks really menacing.

This car is so very similar to what I'm doing to my 1980 firebird..... Loving it man good fucking work.

in austarlia our 73 xb ford falcons looks a lot like these guys

The dude has a RU-vid and Instagram. He’s tracking a lot at Sonoma I believe. @Rylispro

does anyone know the brand of those rims

Trans am inspired formidable track car that can still be a daily driver. Now that's cool.

God damn this thing at high revs is pure testosterone.

Even as euro guy, that looks FUCKING SICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's some Mad Max looking shit right there. Love it.

Mike Musto, sorry if spelling wrong , start your own show, we will follow, True car guys like me enjoy this type of programming. Your great but I aint payin

Great car and story to go with it!! I have a '73 A51 Barracuda original Basin Street (Petty) blue with white stripes and roof just like that was originally. (not like yours mine is just a shell right now) Great project but probably a little heavy on the scaffolding. Plug up the holes, finish up the exhaust and you will get more enjoyment out of it. And watch your head in there ;)

My never ending dream...

Why hasn't there been an episode of Big Muscle in such a long time? Even just a preview. I thought a new season had started when this was posted

My dream car right there!

Great car and it sounds amazing! It looks evil.

Would love to see this in a perfectly sprayed matte black. Nice...

Come on guys...you gonna charge us for "BIG MUSCLE"...That truly SUCKS..

SWEEEET BARACUDA!!!

That is one beautiful ride

I won't be going to "drive+". Part of the charm of these vids was the price. Soon they'll be full of infomercials anyway... Nice car Ariel. Sorry it had to be overshadowed by corporate powerplays.

I love this car keep up the good work holla if you hear me

sic lookin cuda tho for a 73

That car is beautiful

Nice looks great.. I wouldn't change a thing.. But faster.

Love the car. Have a hemi Cuda myself.

what a cool car!