If you are a fan of classic muscle cars, you need to know which one to buy. There are the classics, such as the Plymouth Superbird, but those can be very expensive. You should think more sensibly if you want one for a project or to enjoy.
If you are in the middle class, though, there are plenty of options. This list showcases 13 muscle cars, each a testament to the affordability and charm of classic muscle cars. They are perfect for anyone in the middle class to buy and own, or even buy in a rusting state and restore as their project.
First-Generation Ford Mustang
It doesn’t matter what class you are from, but the first-generation Mustang is an excellent choice for anyone. Ford produces so many that spare parts are not just available but plentiful. There is always one for sale somewhere in either pristine or slightly decaying condition. Thanks to their popularity and the abundance of spare parts, restoring a first-gen Mustang is a journey that is not just possible but also enjoyable.
The first-generation Mustang remains an icon for over six decades after its creation. Its long hood and short deck still ensure it stands out from the crowd, and it is a muscle car that kicked off a new muscle car revolution.
Ford Mustang II
If you wish to have a muscle car that can cause more controversy, consider the Mustang II. The Mustang II undo almost all the excellent work of the original Mustang, mainly because the design deviated from the general aspects of the first Mustang, with a slightly tamer design.
Yet, it still had some positives. It was 490 lbs lighter than the previous Mustang and 19 inches shorter. However, not helping the Mustang II’s reputation was that initially, only an inline-four and V6 were available, and it took another year after its introduction for Ford to add a V6 to the lineup.
2006 Pontiac GTO
Look no further than the 2006 Pontiac GTO for those wanting a modern classic. Its exterior appearance hides the fact that this is an actual sleeper car. Under the hood, the 2006 GTO packs a 6.2-liter V8 with 400 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque, enough power to take on some modern sports cars.
General Motors products of the mid-2000s could age poorly, especially concerning the interior. Yet the 2006 GTO has aged quite well and has a few cool features, such as the red gauges on the dashboard. For a final fling of one of the most excellent muscle cars in history, the 2006 GTO did well.
1988 Chevrolet Camaro
The 1980s were not an excellent time for muscle cars as the segment was still reeling from the effects of the gas crises of the 1970s. However, as the 1980s wore on, things began to get better and better, and by 1988, power was slowly starting to come back.
Chevrolet simplified the Camaro lineup for the 1988 model year, first discontinuing the LT model but keeping the IROC-Z package, which had proven very popular among consumers. Examples of the 1988 Camaro are cheap on the used car market, with mint-conditioned ones available for less than $20,000 and as low as $4,000 for a restoration project.
1971—1975 Ford Maverick Grabber
It might not look like an actual muscle car, but the 1970s Ford Maverick Grabber certainly had the power of one. Before the gas crises massively impacted horsepower levels, the Maverick Grabber had a 302 ci 4.9-liter V8 under the hood, producing 210 hp. However, that dropped dramatically in 1972 to 140 hp.
It dropped even further in 1975, to 129 hp, as emissions regulations strangled the power output of muscle cars even more. Despite this, the Maverick Grabber was still a lot of fun to drive with the bonus that it was straightforward to work on, which has the bonus of making restoration projects fun. Arguably, the Maverick Grabber is a better-looking car than the Mustang II.
1994—1996 Chevrolet Impala SS
By the 1990s, muscle cars were worlds away from the 120-hp dreary slabs of the mid-1970s and starting to push upwards of 300-hp once again. Often forgotten, however, is the 1994-1996 Chevrolet Impala SS, one of the finest muscle cars of the 1990s.
While it is a lumbering beast, under the hood is a 260 small-block V8, a modified version of the Chevrolet Corvette’s LT1 V8. Yet despite its large size, it is surprisingly agile in the corners and tough as nails. The size aids its muscular appearance and has plenty of grunt to make a good fight across the quarter-mile.
1974—1976 Dodge Dart Sport 360
A mid-’70s muscle car making this list might seem crazy. But there were a few glimmers of hope at the time. During that time, Car and Driver organized a top-speed test of four cars and a pickup truck, with the Chevrolet Corvette winning the race.
However, the rather ordinary-looking Dodge Dart Sport 360 came in second and beat the legendary Pontiac Trans Am. The car helped by having 200 hp from its 360 ci 5.9-liter V8 engine under the hood, a rare occurrence when a 1970s muscle car produced at least 200 hp. If you fancy a more understated muscle car that dupes your rivals, you don’t need to look any further than a Dart Sport 360.
1969 AMC AMX
Amidst all the talk of Dodge’s, Ford’s, and Chevrolet’s, it is easy to forget AMC could produce an excellent muscle car. For those in the middle class, a chance to own the rare 1969 AMC AMX might be too good an opportunity to pass up.
The AMX features typical late 1960s styling, possibly the golden age of the American muscle car. Several engine options were available, with one of the most popular being the Super Stock edition, with the 6.4-liter V8 under the hood producing 340 hp. According to Classic.com, the average price for an AMC AMX is around $40,000, which is on the higher end of things, but without getting into too crazy figures.
2008 Pontiac G8 GT
Some of you may not realize, but another Pontiac muscle car was available in the mid-late 2000s. Enter the 2008 Pontiac G8 GT, an Australian version of the muscle car that was only around for two years before Pontiac discontinued it.
That hides the fact that Pontiac produced a brilliant muscle car with an incredible V8 soundtrack and enough performance to compete with its American siblings. Pontiac packed a 6.0-liter under the hood of the G8 GT, producing 361 hp. Prices vary for the G8 GT, although Kelley Blue Book has a typical price around the $16,000 mark.
1982 Pontiac Firebird Formula
If you want to choose a very unusual muscle car, look no further than the 1982 Pontiac Firebird Formula. Thanks to the popularity of the first and second-generation Firebirds, third-gen models can crop up at lower price points while still offering plenty of fun.
Thanks to the gas crises of the 1970s, power is different from what you would want. The 5.0-liter V8 under the hood sounds mighty, but it only produces 165 hp and 240 lb-ft of torque. Shop around, however, and you can find the later Firebird Formula with the 5.7-liter Chevrolet LB9 V8. But that stunning body and fun pop-up headlights will make you forget what you have under the hood.
1993 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra
By the early 1990s, Ford started seeing a renaissance with its muscle car. Nowhere was this more apparent than with the exceptional 1993 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra. A product of Ford’s Special Vehicles Team, the SVT Cobra was a sign that the Mustang was finally back.
Ford introduced the SVT Cobra for the 1994 model year, with a 4.9-liter V8 under the hood and 235 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. Thanks to the groundwork it laid, Shelby came up with the 2007 Shelby GT500, which took the Mustang to new heights and firmly cemented the return of the American pony car.
2000 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R
As the 2000s dawned, the Mustang SVT Cobra was still in production and would be until 2004. Despite a tricky start to the New Edge Mustang, Ford fixed things with the 2000 SVT Cobra R, with a 5.4-liter V8 producing 385 hp and 385 lb-ft of torque.
This was a big jump from the earlier 1993 SVT Cobra, and it meant that the Mustang could once again compete with some of Europe’s best. The SVT Cobra R could run the 1/4 mile in just 13.2 seconds, and it was equally at home in the corners thanks to the Eibach springs and lower ride height. Owning one makes you part of an exclusive club, with Ford producing just 300 units of this stunning machine.
AMC Rebel “The Machine”
What was initially marketed as the AMC Rambler Rebel in 1967 would soon become just the AMC Rebel, with the Rambler name gone in the following year. However, the AMC Rebel peaked in the 1970s with the truly brilliant AMC Rebel “The Machine.”
Characterized by its white, red, and blue paint job, the 390 ci V8 engine under the hood produced 340 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque. Power figures that muscle car fans could only dream of once the 1970s had come around. The engine would remain the most powerful AMC ever offered in a production car, and the Rebel “The Machine” is now a highly collectible muscle monster.
