Restoring a classic car is one of those things that sounds simple until folks actually try it. Any classic car restoration can be tricky, but muscle cars are harder because doing them wrong ruins their impact and will anger purists (which may not be a bad thing though).

Updated June 2021: If you're looking to buy an old muscle car as a restoration project, or maybe you're wondering if your favorite classic muscle car will be problematic to restore, then you've come to the right place. We've updated this article with the latest available information to save any would-be restorers as much time and money as possible.

It’s even more difficult given the classic muscle era was the late 1960s-'70s, and trying to make a car that's more than 50 years old run like new is daunting in the best of circumstances. To make things even more difficult, several models were rare, so finding the right parts, whether it's for the engine, body, or interior, can be hard and very expensive — in some instances, people have spent years collecting all the parts needed to restore their car. However, all is not lost for those who want to restore a muscle car, but don't want to dedicate their entire life to do so.

There are some muscle cars that are surprisingly cheap and easy to restore. It certainly helps if it’s a popular model that sold in vast numbers, it's also a bonus if the manufacturer is still in business, at least these factors will most likely make it easier to source parts. As for the restoration itself, it can take anywhere from a few months to several years, even decades, to return it to excellent condition. We've gathered five muscle cars that are a breeze to restore and five that can be an absolute nightmare.

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10 HARD: 1970 Plymouth Superbird

You know you're in for a hard time when even Jay Leno had difficulties restoring a 1970 Plymouth Superbird properly. Not only is it rare, but it’s also famous because Ricard Petty won 18 NASCAR races behind the wheel of one, exceeding 200 mph in the process. Notable for its massive rear wing and long nose, the Superbird lived up to its name tearing up the tracks, but the rarity and high cost mean it's almost impossible to source the right parts.

One could argue it's better to just buy a pristine example, but unless you're a millionaire, chances are you'll never get your hands on one of these babies in anywhere near decent condition.

Related: 10 Things Everyone Forgot About The Dodge Charger Daytona And Plymouth Superbird

9 EASY: 1967-69 Chevrolet Camaro

The Chevy vs Ford debate is one that will never die among muscle car fans. But the Chevy fans might have an edge thanks to the 1967-69 Camaro being one of the easiest muscle cars to restore. A Chevrolet Camaro restoration job can be quite simple to tackle as parts are very affordable and, perhaps even better, it’s not a sophisticated engine to master.

1967 Chevy Camaro Z28

Indeed, an entire engine can be purchased at several dealerships, and the interiors are also readily available and quick change, making this one of the easier restoration jobs around.

Related: 8 Muscle Cars You Can Restore For Peanuts (And 8 That Require A Fortune)

8 HARD: 1973 Pontiac Trans-Am SD-455

There are rare muscle cars, and then there are really rare models, such as this one that was only produced in 232 examples. The Pontiac Trans-Am SD-455 boasted a unique design that many modern mechanics have never been trained to handle.

As noted by Hemmings, the proper parts for the frame and body panels haven’t been in production for many years. A pristine example can fetch some very respectable prices at auctions, but the upkeep might just outweigh the cost of this rare bird.

7 EASY: 1970-72 El Camino SS

1972 Chevrolet El Camino SS454 on the road

While the ‘68 El Camino SS might turn out to be a bit tricky due to parts, or rather a lack thereof, fixing a later model shouldn't be too much of a hassle. The car is based on an A-Body Chevelle, meaning aftermarket and reproduction parts are all over the place from various retailers.

Perhaps the most significant challenge will be the rusted sheet metal. Even though it’s straightforward to find parts to make this terrific old-styled muscle machine shine like it’s brand new, it's never fun to deal with rust. However, all things considered, this is a great muscle car to restore without too much difficulty.

6 HARD: 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T

An Extremely Flushed Dodge Challenger R/T

It seems finding the proper parts to restore a 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T is going to be the biggest, well, challenge. Ken Moiser had to wait eleven years to get one finished finally.

The elements can be harsh on Mopars, and the R/T tended to rust very quickly. As time has gone on, the parts just become rarer, so this is a muscle car living up to its name as a daunting restoration project. Once parts and labor have been factored in, we realize these cars are best left to someone who actually enjoys taking their sweet time and spend years getting it back on the road.

5 EASY: 1969-71 Pontiac GTO

Few muscle cars are as iconic as “The Judge.” The 366 hp V8 is still a masterpiece of muscle engines and married to a near-perfect frame. Amazingly, for a car that ceased production in 1971, parts for a Pontiac GTO are easy to come by from various dealers.

There is, of course, the minor issue that the GTO has more of a premium than certain other classic muscle cars, yet its popularity means it’s much easier to get this classic in pristine shape to become an authority on the road.

Related: 10 Sick Chevy Restomods We Can't Stop Staring At

4 HARD: 1970 Buick GSX

To put in perspective how rough a 1970 Buick GSX can be, it took Then and Now Automotive five years and $130,000 to restore one to prime factory condition. With just 678 built, parts for this have long gone out of circulation and challenging to find.

Now, we're sure someone who possesses the skills and has some contacts in the muscle car scene can manage to restore one for less than that, but it still won't be a cheap and easy affair.

3 EASY: 1968-70 Ford Torino GT

This classic muscle car has been notable from movies to TV shows and is quite common on the streets. Even a “lesser” Torino GT can offer some great thrills and has plenty of performance, even if it won't put most modern muscle cars to shame.

The best part is that you don't need to scour junkyards and meet with shady individuals in back-alleys to get parts, Ford openly sells them on their website, and most dealers offer them at great prices. Sure, a full-scale restoration will still take a bit of time, but that's just because actual work is being put into it, not because parts are impossible to source.

2 HARD: 1971 Corvette LS6

In the lists of rare Corvettes, the LS6 ranks high as just 454 were created in 1971. The 454 hp engine outpaced anything Corvette had put out before and quickly became a collector’s item.

A key issue with restoration is that this was the last of the aluminum-headed, solid-lifter Corvette engines. Finding parts for that is incredibly difficult, and the rarity means finding one undamaged is a Herculean task, so this is a mess to try and restore, and it's too rare to turn into a restomod.

1 EASY: 1965-70 Ford Mustang

1965-Ford-Mustang-289

If there’s a near-perfect example of a muscle car restoration for rookies, the 1965-70 Ford Mustang is it. With nearly 2.3 million models sold, finding one in good condition is no trouble — which basically means there won't be much restoration work to perform in the first place.

1967 Ford Mustang Pro-Street side

Also, parts for it are readily available and can be found very cheap both online and at various dealers. Whether we're talking body panels, mechanical parts, or interior parts, it’s really easy to find what's needed in order to make it look like it rolled off the late ‘60s assembly line.

Next: These Ugly Classic Muscle Cars Can Be Modified Into Works Of Art

Sources: hemmings.com, cargurus.com, restomods.com, chevydiy.com