10 Muscle Cars That Are Surprisingly Affordable

Muscle cars are silly and ridiculous things that don’t really make a lot of sense, which is kind of the point. Owning a muscle car is like having a really big dog – it is impractical, costs a lot of money to keep, and makes a mess everywhere it goes. That being said, we would do whatever we can to keep it safe.In today’s motoring world, the cost of buying a new car has kept on climbing and took a huge leap during the COVID-19 lockdown. Luckily, the market seems to be stabilizing and cars are returning to their normal prices – just very slowly. Older cars don’t seem to be affected as much, as they do not have the technologies most people want. As a result, older muscle cars – the non-special ones anyway – are still quite affordable for most enthusiasts. Stuff like the older Mustangs, Firebirds, and Camaros still cost less than most new cars and definitely makes more power than them – which is excellent for us.Muscle cars are fantastic vehicles to cruise in and make a lot of noise with, putting great big smiles on the faces of everyone around. Here are ten muscle cars that are still surprisingly affordable.

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10

Pontiac Firebird – $12,000

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The third-generation Pontiac Firebird wasn’t the most exciting of muscle cars, but at least it got big V8s and the turbocharged V6 from the Buick GNX. The Firebird range started with a 2.5-liter inline-4 and rose to a 6-cylinder and even a 5.7-liter V8.

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The Firebird – apart from the awesome name – is a fantastic muscle car that got a whole host of aftermarket upgrades over the years, including some supercharger kits. Thanks to its performance, a good-condition Firebird is available on the used market for around $12,000.Related: Here’s What Makes The 1989 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am A Cool And Affordable Classic

9

Chevrolet Camaro – $17,000

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The second-generation Chevrolet Camaro inherited most of the engines from the first generation, but with performance losses due to the energy crisis of the 1970s. The range still boasted the entry-level 3.8-liter inline-6s but retained the big 6.5-liter V8 from the SS.

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Today, the second iteration of the Camaro is quite popular for first cars or drag racing vehicles. They are also among the most restored on the market and many owners opt to swap out the old V8 for a new LS3 or equivalent.

8

Ford Mustang ‘Foxbody’ – $15,000

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The Foxbody Ford Mustang was always considered to be quite the disappointment compared to the original model, but at least it had a V8 engine from the start – unlike the Mustang II. The Foxbody has gained popularity in recent years as it is a brilliant platform for drag cars.

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With the sudden popularity, the prices have climbed quite a bit, but they are still fairly affordable since most collectors want special versions such as the SVO and Saleens. The Foxbody Mustang is a brilliant car that seemingly only gets better with age.

7

Mercury Cyclone – $18,000

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The Mercury Cyclone is built on the same platform as the Ford Torino, but with a more GT car approach. It still had all the same engines and performance as the Torino, but it was more comfortable – much the same as the Mercury Cougar.

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The Cyclone GT featured the famous 427 Cobra Jet 7.0-liter V8 with its 4-barrel carburetor and 370 hp. The Cyclone Spoiler got the Ram Air intake upgrade, boosting power to 375 hp. Today, the lesser versions of the Cyclone are available for around the $20,000 mark, with some dipping below.

6

Dodge Coronet – $19,000

The Dodge Coronet started out in 1949 as the brand’s highest trim level and moved to the lowest for the 1953-1959 model years. It shared body styles and designs with many Chrysler-owned cars, including the Dodge Charger, Monaco, Dart, and the Plymouth Fury.

The fifth-generation model was a bit on the boring side but featured some great engines in the forms of the famous 6.3-liter Magnum and 7.0-liter HEMI V8s – the latter of which would be found in the Challenger a few years later.

5

Chevrolet Impala – $20,000

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The Chevrolet Impala has a long history of being awesome, but the later models of the late 1990s and 2000s weren’t all that exciting. The last proper Impala was the famous seventh-generation model with the modified 5.7-liter V8.

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The Impala SS is a really cool vehicle with enough oomph and noise to keep things interesting. The 4-speed automatic was a bit slow, but it worked. Impalas of this era are currently going for around $20,000, but it would be wise to look for a nice one.

4

AMC Rebel – $20,000

The AMC Rebel is one of those really cool classic muscle cars that never really vanishes from the conversation – certainly not the ‘The Machine’ version. While the red, white, and blue monster is cool, the regular Rebel is still a fantastic vehicle to have.

The Rebel had a series of great engines, including the 6.4-liter used in many AMC and Chrysler models of the time, producing between 325 and 340 hp – depending on the trim. The Rebel is an awesome car with an awesome name.Related: This Is Why The AMC Rebel ‘The Machine’ Is One Of The Coolest Muscle Cars Ever

3

Chevrolet Nova – $19,000

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The Chevrolet Nova is among the smaller of the GM muscle cars designed to do battle with the likes of the Dodge Dart and Ford Fairlane. The third generation Nova was considered a compact car at the time but was really only one inch shorter than the Chevelle in wheelbase.

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The Nova was offered with a 4-cylinder in base trim, rising to a few straight-sixes before ending with a choice of five V8s. The Nova was also offered with a 2-speed semi-automatic transmission in addition to the 4-speed manuals and 3-speed automatics.

2

Dodge Dart – $7,000

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The Dodge Dart was the compact of the 1960s and 1970s, as opposed to the Alfa Romeo Giulietta-based Dart we got in the 2010s. The Dart may have been a ‘small’ car, but it still packed a big punch under the hood.

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The 1968 to 1972 Dart was available as a proper muscle coupe, featuring a spoiler on the trunk, vibrant colors, and a massive 6.3-liter V8 producing 340 hp in the case of the Dart Swinger. Darts are quite difficult to get a hold of, but ones in fair condition can be picked up for as little as $7,000.

1

Ford Torino – $20,000

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The Ford Torino is a pretty cool car. First launched in 1968 as a family-orientated sedan, coupe, and wagon, it quickly morphed into a muscle car that starred in 1970s-era police detective shows. The third-generation Torino was one of the coolest of the lot.

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The Torino was available with mostly V8 engines, including the 5.0-liter Cleveland V8 found in the Mustang, and the 7.0-liter Lima V8 from the Ford medium-duty F-Series pickups. The Torino is an awesome classic muscle car that still remains surprisingly affordable, despite its popularity over the years.