Muscle cars have always been an integral part of car culture, especially in America where the love for the hulking machines remains stronger than ever. Muscle cars are by design, big and brawny and of course, they usually come with loads of tire-shredding power. It is what makes them so special and endearing to car purists.
Some of these muscle cars don't come cheap; limited edition specials that will take a chunk out of your wallet. There are others though that are more forgiving on your bank account and are quite affordable even if they are not exactly easy to find.
8 Buy For Cheap - 1975 Dodge Dart Sport 360
The Dodge Dart Sport 360 was launched at the time when America was feeling the pinch of the fuel crisis. The big gas-guzzling engines that powered the muscle cars were gone, replaced by more sensible fuel-efficient options. That's why this Dodge muscle car, with a 200 hp V8 engine, was still pretty impressive.
The Dodge Dart Sport 360 could sprint to 60 mph in a little over 7 seconds and had a top speed just north of the 120 mph mark. Only about 4,000 units were built in 1975, the last year it was a stand-alone model and an average price of $10,000 represents a great deal if you find one today.
7 Cost A Fortune - 1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda Convertible
This classic beauty is one of the rarest American muscle cars ever made; a production run that was limited to only 21 cars in total. Interestingly, the Hemi Cuda Convertible was not a race-spec car or homologation model. It did pack quite a bit of a punch though, due to its 7.0-liter HEMI V8 engine.
These cars rarely pop up for sale but when they do, a bidding war inevitably ensues. In 2014, a collector splashed out $3.5 million to acquire one of these.
6 Buy For Cheap - 1993 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra
Less than 5,000 units of the SVT Cobra were built for the 1993 model year, making this quite rare for a Ford vehicle. 1993 was the debut year for the Mustang SVT Cobra and it also happened to be the last year of the fox body Mustang.
The Mustang SVT Cobra was built for performance and it packed enough firepower to back that claim in the form of a Windsor V8 engine that generated 235 hp and 280 pound-feet of torque. Today, you can get these cars for less than $30,000 making them a great bargain indeed.
5 Cost A Fortune - 1966 Ford Fairlane 500 R-Code
This was one of the rarest Ford models that emerged during the '60s. Only 57 units rolled off the production line before Ford pulled the plug. The 500 R-Code fair lanes were about double the price of a standard Fairlane back then.
This was mostly down to the expensive powerplant under the hood; a thumping 7.0-liter V8 that also happened to be Ford's most powerful engine at the time. It was rated at 425 hp and 480 pound-feet of torque. This model rarely pops up for sale but in 2019, a fine example came up for auction and was sold for over $275,000.
4 Buy For Cheap - 1979 Pontiac Firebird Formula 400 WS6
In 1979, about 25,000 units of this muscle car were made but only a few came with the Pontiac 400 engine. Interestingly, that also happened to be the only year that the Pontiac Firebird Formula was offered with the 400 and the WS6 handling package in one bundle.
The handling package came with features like the 4-wheel disc brakes which greatly improved the car's handling. It will take a bit of diligent searching to find one in great condition today but values that range from $11,000 to $16,000 make it totally worthwhile.
3 Cost A Fortune - 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle 454 SS LS6
The Chevelle 454 SS LS6 was one heck of a muscle car, one that was referred to as 'King of the streets' in America. There was a good reason for that too. The Chevelle packed one of the most formidable engines of that era; a 454 cubic-inch powerplant that cranked out 450 hp and 500 pound-feet of torque.
It could barrel its way to 60 mph in just 5 seconds and complete the quarter-mile in 13.1 seconds at 107.5 mph. It is considered a prized collectible today and prices in excess of $200,000 are not uncommon, especially for the convertible variant.
2 Buy For Cheap - Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS
In the 1980s, this was Chevrolet's response to the insanely quick Buick Grand National. The design of the muscle car placed emphasis on smooth aerodynamic flow and there was also a decent engine to help with momentum.
The car debuted in 1983 and was available in only 2 colors - white and dark blue. The Monte Carlo SS may not be as rare as the Buick Grand National but then they are not as expensive too with prices that hover around $20,000 for the best examples.
1 Cost A Fortune - 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
The 1969 Camaro ZL1 easily ranks among the most desirable classic muscle cars. It's quite unfortunate then that they are so rare. Only 69 units of this model rolled off the assembly line, forever preserving its exclusivity.
It's the engine that makes this car special; a unique all-aluminum 427-cubic-inch V8 engine designed with racing in mind. The engine was officially rated at 430 hp and 450 pound-feet of torque. In January 2020, one of these cars sold for over $1 million at a Barrett-Jackson auction.