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 nearly 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: