For the longest time, the American auto industry has been defined by muscle cars. There's nothing more American than the sweet roar of a mighty V8 under the hood of Detroit's finest machines. Unfortunately, the muscle car segment seems to be on its deathbed.

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The number of muscle car models still in production is at an all-time low, and with their demand declining as customer tastes and preferences change, there's a good chance that muscle cars will be extinct sooner than you think. This is extremely sad news for the automotive industry as a whole, but more so for gearheads who've never experienced the thrill of a proper muscle car. Don't worry, though. There are still plenty of amazing used muscle cars that are perfect for first-time buyers today. Let's explore ten classic cars that are perfect for first time buyers.

10 Pontiac Firebird

Pontiac Firebird 400
Via: Heacock Classic

Let's kick off with one of the best Pontiacs ever — the Firebird. The Firebird may not get nearly as much love as the GTO, but it's still part of the golden generation of muscle cars. The Firebird is loved for its understated styling, great proportions, and classic Pontiac power.

Pontiac Firebird
Via Mecum

The first-generation Firebird is arguably the most desirable, as it has the classic muscle car look and was built before the emission restrictions of the '70s. The second-generation Firebird was a bit toned down, but it was still a beast compared to other muscle cars of the '70s. You might want to avoid the 1976-1977 Firebird, though. Thanks to its starring role in Smokey and the Bandit, prices have skyrocketed.

9 Ford Mustang

1964 1/2 Convertible Ford Mustang
Fast Lane Classic Cars

Ask any gearhead to name the greatest muscle car, and their answer will likely be the Ford Mustang. The Mustang single-handedly started the pony car segment in the early '60s and kept the muscle car wars alive in a way that no other model could.

1985 Ford Mustang
Via-Old Cars Weekly

The best thing about Mustangs is their abundance. Ford sold millions of Mustangs in the '60s and '70s, which means that finding a cheap one in good shape is not difficult. Mustangs are generally reliable, but should any part break down, aftermarket support is second to none. ​​​​​​​

8 1967 – 1970 Mercury Cougar

1970-mercury-cougar
via Hot Rod

The Mercury brand has been dead for over a decade now, but it will always be remembered for building upscale versions of Ford cars. When Ford introduced the Mustang in 1964, Mercury quickly got to work and developed a bigger, more luxurious version of the Mustang — the Cougar. ​​​​​​​

RELATED: 10 Sickest Mercury Cars Ever Made

1969 Mercury Cougar Boss 429 3
via Hemmings

The Cougar was an instant hit, even winning the Motortrend Car of the Year award in 1967. Since it was powered by a variety of Ford engines, parts are easy to find these days. Cougars also tend to be more affordable than Mustangs and Camaros of the day. ​​​​​​​

7 1967 – 1976 Dodge Dart

1967-1976 Dodge Dart
Auto Classics

The Dart was a huge success for Dodge throughout its 17-year production run. Part of the Dart's success is attributed to the constant changes in body styles and powertrains. The changes made buyers believe that every Dart generation was an upgrade, leading to a boost in sales.

1967-1976 Dodge Dart
Via mecum.com

The Dart muscle car fans want is the fourth generation variant, which was produced from 1967 to 1976. It is the best-looking of all the Dart generations and comes with a range of six and eight-cylinder engines. With so many still on the road today, the Dart is one of the cheapest classic muscle cars. ​​​​​​​

6 1968 – 1974 Ford Torino

1968 -1974 Ford Torino
Via mecum.com

Let's face it, high-performance Mustangs from the late '60s and early '70s are out of reach for most first-time muscle car buyers. Thankfully, Ford's other performance muscle car from the era — the Torino — remains surprisingly affordable. ​​​​​​​

Gorgeous 1970 Ford Torino Cobra
Via: Mecum

The Torino is, to Ford, what the Chevelle was to Chevy — a muscle car alternative for Ford fans who didn't want the Mustang. The Torino is big, stylish, and available with legendary Ford engines like the 302, 351, and 429 cubic-inch V8s. As is the case with Mustangs from the era, aftermarket support for the Torino is still strong. ​​​​​​​

5 1968 – 1974 Chevrolet Nova

1970 Chevrolet Nova SS
Via: Mecum.com

From the time it was introduced in 1962 up to 1967, the Nova was one of the most disappointing Chevrolet models. The design was boring, and it was underpowered compared to other sedans. That all changed in 1968 when Chevy gave the Nova a much-needed redesign. ​​​​​​​

1970 Chevrolet Nova SS 2 Cropped
Via mecum.com

The 1968 Nova had a new muscular design and in the top SS trim, it came with a 396 cubic-inch big-block V8 blurting out 375 hp. The Nova may not be as sexy as the Camaro, but its no-nonsense attitude makes it a coveted car among muscle car enthusiasts. ​​​​​​​

4 1965 – 1970 Chevrolet Impala

1965 Chevrolet Impala SS Hardtop Coupe, blue
via oldcarsweekly

By the late '60s, midsize muscle cars like the Mustang and the Camaro dominated the market. However, that didn't stop manufacturers from producing big cars that could outperform smaller models. The Impala was one of the big cars that offered more space and comfort. ​​​​​​​

RELATED: Everything You Need To Know About The Chevy Impala

blue 1966 Chevrolet Impala profile
Via ClassicCars.com

It also offered plenty of performance, particularly in the Super Sport trim. The Impala SS had a 427 cubic-inch L72 V8 cranking out a whopping 425 hp, making it a beast. Non-SS versions are also desirable, as they have simple mechanicals and a healthy supply of spare parts. ​​​​​​​

3 1968 – 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass

1969 Oldsmobile Cutlass
Via Pixels

Oldsmobile is long dead and gone, but it will always be remembered for giving us one of the most popular muscle cars — the Cutlass. The Cutlass was one of the best-selling cars in the '60s, and it's easy to see why. It shared some styling cues with the iconic Pontiac GTO, had an upscale interior, and offered great performance. ​​​​​​​

Oldsmobile Cutlass
Via Mecum Auctions

Since the Cutlass was based on GM's s A-Body platform, it's easy to work on and parts are easily attainable. With a small budget and some elbow grease, you can turn a Cutlass into an aggressive-looking tire roaster. ​​​​​​​

2 1970 – 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle

Red 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS on the road
Mecum Auctions

In 1970, Chevy gave the Chevelle a major refresh that made it one of its most popular models. After the refresh, Chevy sold more than one million Chevelles, with around a tenth of them being the go-fast SS models. ​​​​​​​

1970 - 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle
via Hagerty

Prices for SS models are through the roof these days — particularly those with the highly coveted 454 V8 — but the base models are still affordable. The Chevelle's muscular look makes it a customizer's dream, which means that parts are not hard to find. ​​​​​​​

1 1966 – 1970 Dodge Charger

1970 Dodge Charger
via Mecum

When Ford introduced the Mustang in 1964, Dodge knew it had to build a worthy competitor. So after two years of development, Dodge unveiled arguably its best car ever — the Charger. ​​​​​​​

dodge charger 1968 blue
Via Mecum Auctions

The Charger was instantly popular thanks to its looks and power, particularly the first and second-generation models. Well-maintained models are incredibly expensive these days. However, if you find one that needs a bit of work to get back on the road, everything from engines to entire bodies is still in production to date.