Fast cars with big, powerful V8 engines and affordable price tags made the 1960s one of the best times to be a car enthusiast.

Crippling oil embargoes and the ensuing emissions regulations caused the segment to shrivel up and die in the 1970s but, closely following Detroit’s own evolution, it began undergoing a renaissance several years ago. Here’s how it all began, how great it got, and where it’s going in the coming years: