For as many models of cars exist in the world, there are as many individual factors that people are drawn to in a car. Whether it's a comfortable interior, good fuel economy, or monstrous tire-shredding power, or beautiful exterior styling, everyone has their own unique priorities that they look for in a car.
For those who love American classic cars, these priorities are usually predictable. Clean and crisp body lines, V8 power, RWD, and simple construction that gives a hair rising experience on road, are some of the awesome characteristics that drive people to buy a classic American car. Those clean, crisp lines are no trivial matter either, instead being one of the defining characteristics of muscle cars.
But, with desires for a car being so unique depending on the person, the world of car modifications is an immense one. Allowing you to make your car perform and look better than ever, or simply make it your own unique vehicle – for better or for worse, modifying an American classic can yield some badass results. So, read on, to see 10 affordable American classics that look beyond sick when modified.
10 Chevrolet Corvette C3
An often polarizing generation for Corvette fans, the C3 was a design departure from the irresistibly gorgeous C2, and later in its life saw its power fall to pathetic levels as the Oil Crisis and CAFE laws choked it down.
But, the C3 is still everything that makes a classic Corvette so great. Jaw-dropping in its sleek, aggressive design, those later weaker C3 'Vettes can be had for fairly cheap, still, look awesome, and can be brought to serious power levels with the abundance of modern performance parts available.
While giving a C3 the muscle it deserves is downright sick, modifying the exterior aesthetics makes the car even sicker. Thanks to the sleek aggressive lines, lowering a C3's suspension makes it look like a weapon on wheels, and when combined with new wheels, new paint, and exterior touches like blacked-out accents, the C3 becomes one of the meanest looking Corvettes out there.
9 Chevrolet Nova (1968-1974)
While the Corvette stands out as a classic sports car, the Chevy Nova stands out for its potential. Aside from the SS variant (which isn't cheap to collect), the Nova was a simple and affordable compact car.
Originally a name for trim levels on the Chevy II compact, all Chevy IIs would be referred to simply as the Nova starting in 1968. Making 90 hp in its lowest trim, and up to 295 hp as the Nova SS, the Nova soldiered on through to the '70s as a popular, affordable compact car. Simple in both looks and design, the '68-'74 Nova looks great without modifications and makes for a solid affordable classic.
That simple engineering means it's a prime candidate for modifying in the classic muscle world, with Novas being a popular choice as the basis for badass drag racers. The simple looks too, are perfect for modifying. Turning from cool, to downright menacing, blacking out the Nova's chrome accents makes it mean, lowering it makes it aggressive, and adding new wheels and bodywork turns the classic compact into a beast.
8 Pontiac Firebird (1974-1981)
Pontiac's legendary pony car, the Firebird Trans Am may be dead and gone today, but at one point was part of the old guard that kept American muscle cars alive through the worst of times.
Similar to the Mustang and Camaro, the Firebird was devised as a smaller cousin to the monstrous muscle cars that dominated the '60s. Initially offered with some serious big block power, the Firebird would lose steam as the mid-'70s rolled around, but remained one of the most powerful muscle cars. With its 2nd generation-spanning 1970 to 1981, the first 4 years of it remain fairly valuable, but the post Oil Crisis examples can be had for relatively cheap.
Famous for its outrageous decals (starting in '76) and aggressive looks, the 2nd gen Firebird looks great even when stock. But, add some modifications like nicer wheels, aerodynamic elements, other tweaks like fender flares, and a new, modern-looking coat of paint, and the 2nd gen Firebird looks downright sick.
7 Ford Mustang II
Yes, the Mustang II is remembered as a dismal joke of a muscle car, but in a sense, it was a victim of changing times. Modifications though, allow the Mustang II's flaws to be ironed out, letting the unloved pony can become a surprisingly sick muscle car.
First released in 1974, replacing the first-generation Mustang, the Mustang II dramatically shook things up, and was now based on the cheap compact Pinto (another poorly remembered Ford). Offering negligible power, even in its Cobra II form, the Mustang II's slogan of "Mustang: II - Boredom: 0" was questionable at best. As well, most of the first-generation Mustang's great design points were gone, replaced by awkward curves, and a rather sad looking front end.
But both of those problems can be fixed, especially thanks to how cheap a Mustang II is to buy today. Go the full custom route, and the few beautiful lines on the Mustang II can be accentuated by some new body panels and aero accents, or go the performance route and turn it into the proper muscle car it was meant, either way, the Mustang II can look surprisingly sick with a bit of work.
6 Ford Mustang (Fox-body)
One of the longest-running Mustang generations, the Fox-body was ignored for many years, only recently coming into its own as a classically boxy design and well-known platform for some insane modifications.
Replacing the Mustang II in 1979, the Fox-body was the third generation of Mustang and lasted on sale all the way until 1993. As such a long-running generation, several facelifts of the Fox-body were carried out, giving it a variety of different looks, but all adhering to the same overall design and form factor.
Aside from the SVT Cobra, the Fox-body really wasn't all that powerful of a Mustang though, and that's partially why they've been so cheap for so long. But, the tuner world has known about the Fox-body's potential for a while now, and a massive selection of aftermarket parts exist to modify a Fox-body to your liking. Whether it's a drag racer, drift car, street warrior, or show build, Fox-body's take well to a whole assortment of mechanical and aesthetic mods, and looks absolutely sick when dressed up with them.
5 Ford Model T
The car that started it all, the Model T was not the first car, but was one of the single most revolutionary ones ever to exist, transforming the very concept of a car from high-end luxury, to affordable transportation for the masses.
It may seem strange to the uninitiated, but in the world of hot rodding, Model Ts have been a popular choice to modify for many decades. Even today, despite being a 100-year-old antique, the massive production numbers for the Model T makes them still cheap to buy. It should be said though, that modifying a Model T into a hot rod is not as simple a matter as doing some performance and aesthetic modifications to a '60s or '70s classic.
However, the result of those efforts can be truly spectacular, combining show quality (unless its a rat rod) parts with a meticulous paint job, and turning the unwieldy Model T's body into a bucket that barely holds you in as its V8 furiously roars - without any driver aides, or stable modern construction to speak of. It's a dying art, but a modified Model T is one of the sickest anachronisms in the car world and a terrifying thrill ride that's awesomely unique.
4 Chrysler Conquest
Technically not a fully American car, the Chrysler Conquest was what's know as a captive import. Made by Mitsubishi as the Starion, the Conquest was a fairly simple re-badge.
One of the better sports cars of its day too, the Chrysler Conquest was introduced in 1983 and was also sold as a Plymouth. Offering 150 hp in its base model, and 176 hp as the TSi, the Conquest was actually more powerful than a lot of V8 offerings from the mid-'80s. With RWD as well, the Conquest was a proper sports car, but was also a slow seller, and continues to remain rather unappreciated to this day.
With a gloriously sharp '80s design, the Conquest is a sick looking car, to begin with. Add some modifications like lowered suspension, aftermarket wheels, or aero bits like a front diffuser, and it can become a mean angular looking beast, as well as an excellent performer.
3 Jeep Cherokee (XJ)
Considered a boring vehicle for quite a while, the XJ generation Jeep Cherokee is one of the defining models, as when it comes to what a modern SUV stands for, offering a more comfortable everyday experience, while still having impressive off-road capabilities.
Introduced in 1984, and sold until 2001 without major changes to its design, the Cherokee's XJ generation looks great to this day thanks to its crisp lines and classic proportions. A faithful and rugged SUV that can haul the whole family wherever you desire, almost 3 million XJ Cherokees were sold during its production run.
Thanks to those high production numbers, its reputation as a rather boring vehicle, and it is eclipsed by the more dedicated off-road jeeps, an XJ Cherokee can be found for cheap. Throw on the typical set of Jeep modifications though, and the XJ Cherokee can hold its own on the trail, and become a properly badass looking Jeep with classically boxy looks to boot.
2 AMC Matador Coupe
A mostly forgotten muscle car, the AMC Matador Coupe was one of several styles the Matador came in, and the '74 to '78 models were thoroughly unique.
Originating as the Rebel in the mid-'60s, the Matador debuted in 1971 as AMC's mid-level offering and came in sedan, wagon, and 2-door hardtop forms. Starting in 1974 though, AMC began offering the Matador as a coupe, turning the rather average daily driver into a wildly unique stand-alone muscle car. Offered with up to a 401 cu-in V8 making 315 hp in '74, by '75 that engine was no longer offered, and the Matador coupe could only make up to 180 hp,
It may not be to everyone's taste, and prices reflect that, but the Matador Coupe in stock form is one of the more unique and attention-grabbing classics of the mid-late '70s. When modified though, the Matador Coupe looks properly aggressive on top of its uniqueness, grabbing attention with its strange but cool "tunneled" headlights, rectangular grille, and smooth fastback design.
1 Rambler/AMC Marlin
Much like the Matador, the Rambler Marlin is a classic that most people forgot about. Unlike the Matador though, the Marlin was a personal luxury coupe that dazzled with high-end features, yet was mostly an unloved failure.
First shown to the world at the 1964 Chicago Auto Show as the Rambler Tarpon concept, the production car would be built on the Rambler American platform and debuted for sale in 1965 as a luxurious fastback coupe called the Rambler Marlin. Despite its intentions as the crown jewel of AMC's lineup, and performance and luxury virtues, the Marlin sold poorly and was considered ugly due to its unconventional sloping fastback. Updated in '67 based on the AMC Ambassador platform, the Marlin was now called the AMC Marlin.
A flashy car typical of '60s glitz and glamor, the Marlin's once hated design looks several times sicker with a dark coat of paint and minor exterior modifications. As well, when lowered and given aggressive wheels, the Marlin looks like the powerful high-end beast it was always meant to be.