13 Classic Muscle Cars That Are Suspiciously Cheap
History has taught us that classic cars are expensive acquisitions. The news was everywhere when the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé was sold at auction for £114.4 million ($147 million in today’s money) in 2022. People cared less about the identity of the anonymous buyer, instead focusing on the fact that the Uhlenhaut Coupe could fetch such a staggering amount. It remains the most expensive car ever sold in history.
It’s rather interesting that the world’s most expensive cars are not modern marvels like the Paganis, Bugattis, and Ferraris. Despite their million-dollar price tags, the Zonda, Veyron, and Enzo barely scratch the surface of the sum raked in by some rare classic cars.
Customers had to offload $4.8 million to claim one of the 29 Koenigsegg CCXR Trevitas. That’s a lot more than many Americans will ever see in two lifetimes. But still, the Trevita wouldn’t make the top 100 most expensive cars ever sold.
In a market like that, it’s always good to know there are classic muscle cars available for under $40,000, even though that sounds suspiciously cheap seeing as classics can be million-dollar collector items. These 13 are an exciting yet affordable entry into the world of vintage automobiles for enthusiasts.
Ford Torino GT
Ford produced the Torino GT from 1968 to 1976. The Torino lineup included family-oriented sedans and high-performance muscle cars, which the midsized Torino GT was part of. It was a sportier Torino variant, benefiting from more powerful engines and performance-oriented styling.
The Torino GT is an affordable classic muscle car because it never attained the level of iconic status as contemporaries like the Ford Mustang. It’s hardly as glamorous, and some specific parts are expensive due to their rarity.
Pontiac Grand Am
Like the Torino GT, the Pontiac Grand Am is a midsized car that lasted five generations and various redesigns spanning 1973 to 2005. The large production volume helps keep prices low, while the various body styles, including coupes and sedans, offer the benefits of variety. The first generation (1973-1975) sought to blend performance with luxury, flaunting the famous “Endura” nose and relying on various V8 engines for propulsion.
The second generation was further downsized, on par with GM’s effort to adapt to the market and regulatory realities of the late 1970s. The 3rd gen (1985-1991) emerged as a compact car, riding on GM’s new front-wheel-drive platform. The Grand Am continued to evolve as a compact car until replaced by the Pontiac G6 in 2005. It is not as pricey as some more expensive muscle cars from its era thanks to its mid-priced, middle-ground positioning.
Mercury Cyclone GT
The Cyclone GT is also a midsize muscle car initially introduced as part of the Comet lineup before evolving into a standalone model. Ford offered it between the late 1960s and early 1970s, equipped with potent engines like the 289 cu-in V8, 390 cu-in V8, and later the 428 Cobra Jet and 429 Super Cobra Jet V8s.
The Cyclone GT is comparatively cheaper because it was not respected as much as contemporary muscle cars like the Camaro, Mustang, and Charger. Demand for this car is not as high among collectors and enthusiasts even though Ford produced it in relatively modest numbers.
Ford Maverick Grabber
The Grabber was the sportier Maverick. Ford introduced the Maverick in 1970 as a pocket-friendly economy car aimed against imports and smaller domestic models, while the Grabber package catered to customers who fancied a sportier Maverick.
The Grabber is typically cheaper on the market because it isn’t as coveted as other performance-oriented muscle cars. It was primarily a cosmetic package that added nothing to the Maverick’s performance, with styling elements like dual dome hoods with non-functional hood scoops, and Grabber stripes, decals, wheels — and sometimes, a rear spoiler.
Dodge Dart Sport 360
The Sport 360 was a Dodge Dart performance-oriented variant offered as an affordable alternative in the muscle car market. It sought to attract a market struggling with rising insurance premiums and tightening emissions regulations. The Dart Sport 360 sure packed a punch for an economy muscle car.
It featured a 5.9-liter V8 producing around 245 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque, making it one of the more powerful options in the compact car segment. Although Dodge introduced the Dart in the early 1960s, the Sport 360 was not offered until the early 1970s. Its original positioning as an affordable muscle car still influences its market value today.
1964 Ford Mustang
The 1st-gen Mustang can be suspiciously cheap. Over four hundred thousand were produced in the first year alone, so there’ve always been more than enough to go around. This is also why collectors dare to be picky with the early Mustangs.
With the Mustang’s value heavily influenced by condition, originality, and specific options, the base, regular models of the same era inadvertently appear less desirable and cheaper. Furthermore, the Mustang is one of the most restored and modified classic cars, prompting a robust aftermarket and eliminating the word “rarity.”
Chevrolet Camaro Z28 (Fourth Generation)
A Z/28 Camaro isn’t supposed to be cheap unless it’s the 4th generation Camaro offered between 1993 and 2002. Like the 1st-gen Mustang, the relatively high numbers of the 4th-gen Camaro help keep their prices competitive. Collectors and enthusiasts will always respect the Z/28 designation, but earlier models from the 1960s and early 1970s command more respect and higher price tags.
Furthermore, the 1990s and early 2000s tend to depreciate faster. Even though prices for well-maintained examples from this era appear to have stabilized, they are still generally more affordable compared to older classics.
1970-1974 Plymouth Duster
The Plymouth Duster was a compact car that Chrysler built on the Valiant platform to compete with similarly cheaper performance cars of the era. Enthusiasts loved the Duster’s combination of affordability, performance, and styling.
The smaller, lighter Duster tends to be cheaper than its larger Mopar siblings because it was produced in large quantities and has always been known as a budget-friendly compact performance car. The market brims with parts for the Duster thanks to its shared components with other Chrysler models of the time.
1971-1977 AMC Hornet
Even though this car offers a lot of muscle for the money, the Hornet is usually the last name on people’s minds when considering a classic muscle car. AMC produced it for seven years (1970 – 1977) in various body styles, including sedan, hatchback, and station wagon.
The base models featured straight-six engines like the 3.3-liter and 3.8-liter displacements, while the higher-performance models benefited from a 4.2-liter straight-six and 8-cylinder options like the 5.0-liter V8.
Though coming to the market as an economy car, the Hornet was accompanied by performance variants like the V8-powered Hornet SC/360, capable of 245 horsepower. This was the Hornet muscle car, featuring a dual exhaust system, heavy-duty suspension, and power front disc brakes.
1968-1974 Chevrolet Nova
While more a compact economy car than a muscle car, the Nova SS version enhanced its muscle car appeal. Introduced in 1962, the 1968-1974 Nova models were part of the third generation and noted for their compact size, affordability, and performance options.
The base models used six-cylinder engines like the 3.2-liter and 3.8-liter 6-cylinders, while the top models used small- and big-block 8-cylinder engines like the 283, 307, 327, and 350 cu-in V8s.
The Nova is relatively cheap in the classic muscle car market because even the performance-oriented SS variant did not match that of more exclusive muscle cars or sports cars from the same era. It had the Ford Falcon and Dodge Dart as competitors.
1970-1976 Dodge Dart
The ‘70s Dart rode on the same platform as the Plymouth Duster, resulting in a similar performance and market perception. The ’70s models fell in the Dart’s fourth generation and were offered as practical, compact, economy cars.
Though accompanied by performance-oriented models, the Dart’s budget-friendly market positioning continues to influence its value today. Also, an estimated 1,056,332 units were produced between 1970 and 1976, ensuring an abundant supply on the used car market and keeping prices down.
1977-1981 Pontiac Firebird
The Pontiac Firebird, particularly models before the Trans Am’s popularity surge in the late ’70s, come relatively cheap today. The second generation (1977-1981) received a significant redesign and continued the Firebird’s popularity among enthusiasts in the face of the oil crisis.
Even so, the 2nd-gen Firebird was not spared of the woes of new emissions regulations that affected and effectively brought the golden age of American muscle cars to an end. While still positioned as a performance car, this Firebird had lost much of its muscle and punch to tighter regulations.
1973-1977 Oldsmobile Cutlass
The Cutlass, often equipped with V8 engines, is generally cheaper than the earlier 442 models. The 1973-1977 models fell in the third generation and stood out with their stunning “Colonnade” body style, characterized by frameless door glass, fixed rear quarter windows, and a semi-fastback roofline on coupe models.
The Cutlass was highly popular to the point of slotting in as one of America’s best-selling models during its production run. Its popularity and large production numbers, especially the Cutlass Supreme, ensured its lasting presence and affordability in the used car market. Well over 2 million units were produced between 1973 and 1977. Additionally, the Cutlass was more a stunning, comfortable cruiser than a performance muscle car.
