We all love a muscle car. Nothing beats the thrill it provides, often with large V8 engines under the hood that create incredible sounds and unleash large amounts of power onto the tarmac.
Muscle cars, however, aren’t always cheap. Classic ones, in particular, can have quite a price tag. However, that isn’t always the case. In fact, you can buy an excellent sports car for less than $50,000.
This list contains the fastest cars under $50k that money can buy today. To give the list some variety, we’ve included a mixture of classic and new muscle cars.
2024 Ford Mustang
Remarkably, the latest generation of the Ford Mustang is for sale, brand new, for less than $50,000. The base EcoBoost Fastback currently retails for $31,920, and the price goes over $50,000 only when you get to the GT Premium Convertible.
The GT Premium Fastback, however, is just under $50k at $49,980, and for that money, you do get the 5.0-liter Ti-VCT V8 engine that produces 486 horsepower and 418 lb-ft of torque.
2015 Cadillac CTS-V
When does a muscle car not look like a muscle car? When it is the 2015 Cadillac CTS-V. The 2015 CTS-V is an excellent luxury vehicle that has all the performance credentials of a muscle car, thanks to its 6.2-liter LSA V8 engine.
Based on the C6 Corvette ZR1s engine, it produces 564 horsepower and propels the CTS-V to a top speed of 199 mph. The 0-60 mph time is just 3.8 seconds, and with a price tag of around $35,000 secondhand, the 2015 CTS-V makes for a compelling choice.
Chevrolet Camaro LT1
Over the years, some unique versions of the Chevrolet Camaro have been produced, enhancing the standard car’s performance. One of these is the Camaro LT1, a monster of a muscle car with a vast 6.2-liter V8 under the hood, the same as in the Camaro SS.
That engine produces 455 horsepower, and all for an asking price of $37,500 when new. There are a few other extra performance features installed too, such as its enhanced Brembo brakes and race-tuned suspension.
Chevrolet Camaro SS
Prior to Chevrolet withdrawing it from its range, the Camaro was still available for under $50,000, including the Camaro SS trim level. In 2023, the MSRP for the Camaro SS was $39,900, and for that, you had access to the incredible small-block Chevrolet V8.
That engine produces 455 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque, allowing the Camaro SS to go from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.0 seconds. The Camaro SS will likely remain one of the fastest modern muscle cars for some time.
2022 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS
We are going to feel the demise of the Chevrolet Camaro for years to come. With a starting price of $42,500, the 2022 Camaro 2SS was one of the best versions of the muscle car before it left production, and it packs a considerable punch.
Power comes from a 6.2-liter LT1 V8 engine that makes 455 horsepower. The Camaro 2SS is a rapid machine, able to sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just four seconds, and thanks to its LT1 engine, it creates a brilliant soundtrack.
Cadillac CT5-V
You could easily argue that the current Cadillac CT5-V is every bit a muscle car as the V6 versions of the Ford Mustang or Dodge Challenger. Under the hood of the current CT5-V sits a 360 horsepower 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine, which means this luxury sedan is no slouch.
Depending on whether you buy new or secondhand, the CT5-V will cost you either just over $50,000 or just below it. But even if you go slightly over the $50k budget, you are still going to get an excellent sedan with a true muscle car pedigree under the hood.
Dodge Charger Scat Pack
Like Chevrolet, Dodge has also withdrawn its muscle cars from sale. The Challenger and Charger are no more. However, the Charger will make a return with V6 power and as the world’s first all-electric muscle car.
However, the Dodge Charger Scap Pack is still available secondhand, and when new, this fearsome package costs just $48,745. The Scat Pack produced 485 horsepower, more than the Camaro SS, thanks to the 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine under the hood. Fuel economy wasn’t excellent, however, with just 15 MPG in the city and 24 on the highway.
First-Generation Ford Mustang
Despite its popularity and legendary status, first-generation Ford Mustangs don’t have to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. In fact, a look at Classic.com reveals that the lowest sale price for a Mustang was just $800, with the average around $55,000.
The sheer number produced and their popularity have helped keep prices at a reasonable level for muscle car enthusiasts. The original Mustang will always remain an icon, thanks to its timeless design and its revolutionizing effect on the muscle car landscape.
Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack
Like the Charger, the Dodge Challenger is no longer in production. Unlike the Charger, however, the Challenger isn’t likely to return anytime soon, so your best bet is to keep an eye on the secondhand market in order to buy one.
Amazingly, the higher-level packages, such as the R/T Scat Pack, could cost less than $50k. The Challenger R/T Scat Pack costs $46,400 when new, and it gives you access to the 392 ci Hemi 6.2-liter V8 that produces 485 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque.
2017 Chevrolet SS
When you think of muscle cars, the 2017 Chevrolet SS might not be the first that comes to mind. Yet this bog-standard-looking sedan is anything but, as under the hood, it packs the same 6.2-liter V8 engine from the C6 Corvette that produces 415 horsepower.
The SS was built on the chassis of the Holden VF Commodore SS-V, and the Australians certainly know how to build an excellent muscle car. At a starting price of around $40,000, the SS was a heck of a way to enter the muscle car segment.
2015 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
While later versions of the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 have higher costs, the 2015 model is still available secondhand in good condition for around $40,000. With a 6.2-liter V8 engine under the hood, that is a price that is hard to ignore.
That supercharged V8 produces 580 horsepower and 556 lb-ft of torque, meaning the 2015 ZL1 can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just under four seconds. It comes with a six-speed manual transmission, and a six-speed automatic is also available for those seeking an easier ride.
2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
The demise of the Chevrolet Camaro has us reminiscing about all the past versions of the muscle car, including the 2014 Camaro Z/28. This was one of the ultimate versions of the Bow Tie’s muscle car, packing in a 7.0-liter V8 engine that makes 505 horsepower and 481 lb-ft of torque.
Add in the various upgrades, such as the track-tuned suspension and higher-performance brakes, and the Z/28 was an absolute demon on the track. Its 0-60 mph time of just 3.9 seconds was also impressive, and you can just about find them for sale at less than $50,000 in 2024.
2014 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
Shelby Mustangs are some of the most iconic versions of the muscle car ever created. The 2024 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is one of the best from modern times, with it packing a mighty 5.8-liter DOHC supercharged V8 under the hood.
That V8 produces 671 horsepower, which can push the Shelby GT500 to a top speed of around 202 mph. You can still pick these up on the secondhand market for less than $50k, with them costing roughly $45,000 in total.
