Muscle cars have fantastic mythology to them. They can be beautiful cars and still loved for their power, style, and overall appeal. They can also be misunderstood by non-muscle buffs, from how well they work to how much can be done with them. Just look at the horrific modifications to many muscle cars to see how some owners don’t treat them right.
It’s sad that someone can luck out to have a classic muscle car only to make the worst mistakes with them. Too many owners may try to “modernize” these models, ignoring that “classic” means being in the past. Many older muscle cars just can’t handle modern touches or are treated like it’s just another car. It’s fine to drive them, but these ten things should be avoided as they can damage classic muscle cars and ruin an otherwise fine vehicle.
10 “Modernizing” The Dashboard
Here’s a case where a little change is okay but not massive. Most muscle cars barely had more than AM/FM radio, with others designed for a tape deck. Maybe fitting something for a CD player or iPod is okay. What’s not is trying to completely redo the dashboard into a modern “infotainment” system.
Once you cut open the dashboard to put that type of system in, it’s impossible to restore it, and some modern electronics may not work with the classic sound system. It’s best to settle for old-school music playing here.
9 Street Racing It
It’s actually a good sign if a classic muscle car has some mileage on it. It means it’s been driven enough to be dependable. What’s not good is if that driving was done in races. Sure, it’s tempting to take a Mustang or Camaro out for a drag race or just around a dirt track. But that’s a horrible thing to do as an older car is not ready to perform as it did when it was fresh off the factory floor.
Street racing is the worst thing you can do as it hurts the tires, more wear on already tricky restored parts, and the risk of damaging the car. A daily drive is much better than trying to outrace someone in a vintage muscle model.
8 Terrible Paint And Wrap Jobs
A paint job can be a very underrated aspect of a car. Get it right, and it shines beautifully. Choose the wrong shade, and a great car looks laughable. It’s trickier with muscle cars as some paint materials might damage an older car’s surface.
Wrap jobs are the same as the material of those can likewise be hurtful for cars made decades ago. It’s not just the looks that a bad paint job can ruin but the body of a vintage car to make the wrong color choice a bad one.
7 Cutting The Body
If you want a convertible, just buy a convertible. Please don’t take a beautiful muscle car frame and cut off the top to make it into an open-air ride. That’s only the start of the body mistakes owners make, from modifying it with bad kits to adding in butterfly doors or other alterations.
Not only can this make the car look uglier, but it can also hurt the stability and performance. Not to mention that slicing up a classic muscle car is like putting a dagger through a work of art.
6 Pointless Mods
A few modifications here and there can make a classic muscle car look great. But it’s a terrible idea to load scores of strange modifications onto a classic car. Stances, donking, lifting, horrible body kits, they can all make an otherwise beautiful car look like a joke.
That’s without ideas like scissor/butterfly doors or bizarre decorations. Less is truly more when it comes to modifying a muscle car rather than ruin its look.
5 EV Conversions
A major blow against muscle cars has always been their tendency to guzzle gas like crazy. With EV cars all the rage, it’s tempting to try and convert a muscle car to a “green” engine. But, as with any engine swap, it’s a risk putting the wrong motor into a classic muscle car.
That’s worse as the “old-school” design of classic muscle cars doesn’t lend itself to the modern EV machines. It’s better to accept a classic muscle car burning fuel than trying to make it eco-friendly.
4 Wrong Engine Swap
A muscle car engine can be a thing of beauty. Many are still astounding machines that can make for incredible rides. This is why it’s baffling some owners decide to swap it out for an engine totally unsuited for it. The dumbest are trying to swap with foreign-made engines not designed for an American muscle car.
Even great engines aren’t able to work with some classic muscle cars, from weighing it down too much to unable to handle the components. It’s essential to research any engine rather than assume a simple swap can happen.
3 Too Many Aftermarket Additions
A lot of classic muscle buffs prefer the car looking like it just rolled off the assembly line. Others might want to put on some aftermarket additions, and in a few cases, it’s okay. Some new wheels, maybe different lights, or even an occasional spoiler is okay.
But overloading the car with too many aftermarket additions (new license plate holder, vents, etc.)hurts its value, and going to the point where it’s almost a new car ruins the appeal. Some aftermarket cars are fine, but it has to be done in moderation rather than a full remake of the car.
2 Useless Power Upgrades
Thanks to the movies, there’s a belief that adding nitro or another power boost can turn any car into a Fast & Furious-style racer. Maybe a little tuning can help a muscle car, but they’re delicate beasts.
Many of those power upgrades aren’t meant for a muscle car, and mixing modern-day tech with machines built decades ago can be difficult. A turbocharge is fine but don’t think an ECU tuning chip or nitro is going to make a car from the 1970's any better.
1 Using Cheap Materials
A restoration job can indeed be a blow to the pocketbook. That’s especially true for some rarer muscle models where parts aren’t as widely available. But skimping on costs for a classic car of any type is a bad idea. Muscle cars are trickier due to the engines, so using cheaper items (especially ones from overseas) can ruin the performance.
Also, using “affordable” construction materials can throw off the body. It may be expensive, but a good muscle car is worth putting more money into.
Sources: motor1.com,jalopnik.com, reddit.com, autowise.com