* Pony cars: This term often overlaps with muscle car, but generally refers to smaller, more affordable muscle cars like the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro. Not all muscle cars are pony cars, and not all pony cars are necessarily considered muscle cars in their purest definition.
* American muscle: This emphasizes their origin and the general characteristics.
* High-performance cars (of a specific era): This is a broader category that muscle cars fall under, but doesn't exclusively describe them.
So, while there's no perfect alternative, "pony car" comes closest but isn't a complete synonym.
