Have you ever dreamed of driving a classic muscle car to work, every day, as you sit behind your boring if new sedan or SUV? Driving a classic muscle car is a thrill unlike any other, and we don’t just mean all that road attention you get, though that’s good too!
The rumble of the engine is sweet and just the feel of driving a piece of automobile history in itself is a thrill. What's not very thrilling is an old car with old parts, that tend to overheat in heavy traffic and give you the sweats because the aircon doesn’t work all that well either. Plus overheating is often a problem… It’s best to go with a classic car meant to last because some of them are nigh well indestructible.
Here’s our pick of the lot when it comes to great classic muscle cars that go on and on as your daily driver and are easy enough to find parts for.
10 1964-1970 Pontiac GTO: Perfect Classic Luxury
Ah, the Goat. The Pontiac GTO was the classiest of them all and one of the elders of the muscle car tribe, truly a legend. The downside to driving a GTO, fully restored with perhaps some modernization as well, is that they don’t come cheap and fuel economy is a pain.
The upside to them is that after work is done on them, they tend to last for a long time, and finding parts is not a toughie. Driving a GTO is as fun as it is luxurious and the independent rear suspension makes sure you don’t “feel” the road too much.
9 1965-1973 Ford Mustang: Cannot Go Wrong With A ‘Stang
The first generation of the Mustang sold more than 2.9 million examples, so there is something about Mustang (if not about Mary). Since there were so many of these, there are plenty of classics to go around at all levels and prices, from the barn finds to the resto-mods.
Plus there’s a whole aftermarket for just the classic Mustangs, meaning anytime any part gives you a problem, you got plenty of replacements to bank upon. Mostly, they come cheap and look pretty good on the road, because nothing beats a classic ‘Stang!
8 1967-1969 Chevrolet Camaro: Eats 'Stangs For Breakfast...
Don’t like Ford? How about Bumblebee, aka the Camaro. And not just any Camaro, but the very first iconic generation that was launched to chew and spit out the Mustang. While it could not "dethrone" the ‘Stang, the Camaro managed to eke out a place for itself in the muscle/pony cars, in looks and power.
Even you find one without an engine, any Chevy small-block V8 can go into it. The upside is again the price, and the fact that driving a Camaro is undoubtedly more fun than a Mustang of that time even if the comfort is a little lesser.
7 1970-1974 Ford Torino: A More Classy Muscle
For those who find the Mustang and the Camaro too common, the Ford Gran Torino is a great choice. Especially if you manage to find one with one of the Ford big-block V8s that jetted legendary power. The best thing about the Torino is that it comes cheap and has a Clint Eastwood swagger, if you may.
The second and third generations till 1974 were both good and rather iconically different in looks, but do not get the strangled models post-1974. Mopar ensures enough availability of parts and the ride is a dream.
6 1969-1972 Chevrolet Chevelle: The Gorgeous Chevy
The 1969-1972 Chevrolet Chevelles were very popular cars, and more than a million of these were sold. But only a 100,000 of these were the SS models and even lesser 25,000 carried the 7.0-liter V8. But 25,000 is a good number and going for a classic Chevelle SS 454 is one of the coolest things you can do to your life as well as ride quality.
It’s like driving a road rocket. If the budget seems too high, even a normal Chevelle remains a pretty good classic car to buy and their numbers ensure enough parts, actual and aftermarket. Plus aren't they stunning?
5 1970-1974 Plymouth Barracuda/Dodge Challenger: E-Body Wonders
Why did we put both of these in the same bracket? Because they were both Chrysler E-body cars, the Dodge Challenger being a tad bit smaller than the Plymouth Barracuda. Cool enough in all their V8s (please forget about the inline-6 though), their Hemi versions were powerful enough to put you in the orbit if not aim for the moon.
Body panels were different for both, and it is more a matter of which of the two body panels and logos you prefer. Plymouth is defunct as a marque so parts may not be as freely available as with Dodge, but there is always the aftermarket to consider.
4 1968-1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass: Classy & Luxurious
This is the car that made Oldsmobile. One look at the Cutlass and you think mafioso. It’s a big car, stylish and luxury pumped. Plus it’s no weakling under the hood. They sold aplenty and were popular buys back in the day, especially for those who did not want to be seen in yet another muscle car.
The 7.4-liter V8s made enough power to make the heavy Cutlass a fairly zippy drive and its an affordable and easily available classic car today. Especially since aftermarket parts and suspension lifts are pretty easy to get by.
3 1968-1974 Chevrolet Nova: The Most Powerful Pony
For all who love a classic Chevy but do not care as much for a Camaro or even a Chevelle, you have to try a Nova. These were the pony-est of muscle cars from Chevy and drove like a bat out of hell, especially when they came powered with 6.4-liter V8s.
If you can find and afford a Yenko Nova (much like the COPO Camaro), you have a car you would never want to step out of. It’s pure power along with those classic good looks, sure to be the cynosure of every eye out on the road.
2 1966-1970 Dodge Charger: The Classy Rocket
The second-generation Dodge Charger still has our heart, and it's such a widely known muscle car, much like the Mustang, that it's instantly recognizable. And because these were pretty popular in their time, you can find all sorts of them: highly-priced fully restored models to barn finds missing their engines.
The large engine bay can house a good V8 of today's times pretty well, so even a shell of a classic Dodge Charger can turn into your ideal daily driver with ease. Just remember, people love to steal classic cars, to a good insurance policy is in order.
1 1967-1970 Mercury Cougar: Cattier Than The 'Stang
If you are or ever have been a pet owner, you know that getting a new pooch expands your social circle. And if it’s a Cougar, as in a Mercury Cougar you decide to adopt, that friend circle will get a lot bigger as long as everyone gets to go for a spin in this gorgeous little classic.
This was Mustang’s Mercurial cousin, smaller and more aggressively styled. Despite bad advertising, the Cougar did not come lacking in power. These are also cheaper than the Ford Mustang so make for a great buy for any cash-strapped classic car buyer today. The ride is exhilarating.