Muscle cars

[ixiboneheadixi]

Well just a question on muscle cars. I want one and am trying to decide which make and model and year. I like the late 60s early 70s style but won't be opposed to suggestions of other eras. Now basically other than a charger, gto and mustang and few other big names, I don't really know any muscle cars. I've seen them around before a lot but don't know what they are. Preferably I would like something a bit less common but not 100 grand rare. So please help suggest some good muscle cars

also please ignore and spelling or grammar mistake I'm on my iPod as my laptop broke on me and have to buy a new one when I sve up

 

[brianw]

Road Runner and GTX. Best of the best.

 

[Greybeard]

The peak for muscle cars was probably 1969 since emission standards started to toughen up considerably in 1970. That and the inrease in gas prices started the gradual decline in cubic inches. For looks you probably can't beat a GTO, 2nd gen. Charger or Boss Mustang but for performance
1969 Dodge Dart with the 426 or 440 cu. in., 425 hp Hemi engine. Much lighter than the Charger with as much power. Wolf in sheep's clothing. The Plymouth version was the Barracuda also known as the Hemi-Cuda. Winner of many NHRA drag races.
1969 American Motors AMX SS. 390 cu. in., twin 4bbl, 420 horses. Short wheelbase. Handled more like a Corvette than a dragster.
1969 Chevy Nova SS with the 396 cu.in., 375 horsepower engine. Just as fast as a GTO due to less weight.
The real sleeper muscle car. The 1970 Chevelle SS with the LS6 high compresion, 454 cu. in. engine with cowl induction. 470 horsepower with 500 lb./ft. torque.

 

[njpaddy]

I always favored the mid-60's GM muscle cars since I had a '66 LeMans V8. I was in college and couldn't swing the GTO option at the time. If I had the money, I'd be looking for a '66 Buick (Skylark) GS. Not the fastest (401ci/340hp), but rather uncommon since they made less than 14,000. I also wouldn't mind having an '87 Buick Grand National turbo.

 

[Legion]

One word. Torana.

 

[Legion]

Unless you can get hold of the last of the V8 Interceptors...

 

[Judge Dredd]

Legion, you can't be both a Ford and a Holden man! Work it out!

 

[ouch]

How did I go from a '67 Firebird with a four speed to a Prius with a CVT?



Where's my friggin' flying car already?

 

[Judge Dredd]

How did I go from a '67 Firebird with a four speed to a Prius with a CVT?



Where's my friggin' flying car already?

A Prius?! With CVT? That's like the Philishave of motoring.

 

[Commander Quan]

If it was me, I'd be looking for a 1970 Olds 442. My dad has a '70 Cutlass that was actually his first car. He sold it, and ended up buying it back a years later after it had been sold twice after he originally sold it. His isn't a muscle car just a something you don't see a lot of.

I'm probably the only one that thinks so, but I really like the AMC Javelin cars too.

 

[ouch]

A Prius?! With CVT? That's like the Philishave of motoring.

Actually, I'm now driving a vehicle that makes the Prius look like a Humvee.

 

[Slash McCoy]

Lots of great suggestions here!

Don't overlook the humble early/mid 60s Nova. A very pedestrian looking ride, but a lot of space under the hood. And a 350 V8 from a wrecked vette is very nearly a drop in / bolt up engine swap. Just needs a different oil pan, water pump, and for lots of stop and go driving, a bigger radiator. A '63 Nova with the 350 in it will run like a turkentine cat, and nobody looking at you sitting at the light would ever suspect that you can absolutely smoke many of the so-called muscle cars until you pop clutch and stomp gas. If you get a real expert to match the engine, rear end, tranny, carb(s) and headers, that granny car will impress and delight you but not break you at the gas pump. I had a '63 and most of the identifying chrome was gone, making it almost a mystery car. The car is fairly light for that era, and surprisingly roomy inside. Plus, no seat belts. In most states, they can't force you to add seat belts to a car that was manufactured without them. Since I don't wear them, and I hate paying tickets for not wearing them, not having them in the first place makes a lot of sense for me. Kids don't try that at home!

Having said that, the Chevelle with the 454 is a serious hunk of rolling roaring testosterone.

 

[JustAnotherDude]

Relevant. http://ericpetersautos.com/2011/10/11/muscle-cars-were-slow/

You want performance at a good price, buy something modern. I remember seeing a comparo of the Impala SS by generation ... the 1990s cleaned the clock of the classic in all events (slalom, quarter, braking), and the modern FRONT wheel drive SIX cylinder cleaned the clock of the 1990s V8 version.

You want a rolling piece of self-expression a.k.a. "car jewelry" then by all means buy a classic "muscle" car. Just be prepared to have the average fart-mufflered rice rocket kick its buttocks, unless you drop a LOT of coin into it. A LOT.

My personal style, I would lean towards less-well-known and off-the-beaten-path items like the 442. Or build a real sleeper resto-mod, i.e. instead of old tech drop in a modern crate engine with EFI, upgrade the brakes etc., the works.

 

[brucea]

Don't forget the Buick GSX and GS 455 which had some sick torque and later on the grand national. Yenko did some nice stuff to camaros and corvairs. A buddy of mine has the hurst olds also a torque monster. So many cars half the fun is the research

 

[chuckr9]

Come to the "Dream Cruise" in Detroit (August each year) and see almost anything - great way to sort out your "needs"!

 

[ouch]

In the late 70's, my gf asked me to pick out a car for her. After grilling her-

Q: What kind of car would you like?
A: A black one.

I made my decision and found a nice reasonable one. She was very disappointed when she saw it was a Vega, but she liked it nonetheless. Soon she started asking me, "Why do people pull up to me and ask about my car?" I told her
#1

Spoiler

#1 is obvious

#2

Spoiler

It's a Cosworth Vega

It was a kick. Wish I still had it.

 

[Clarifixer]

Z-28 Camaro from the late 60's to very early 70's. After 1973 things went downhill fast for muscle cars in general.

 

[Wendy]

I loved my View attachment 276069

 

[oc_in_fw]

66 GTO- still had the stacked headlight (Pontiac's best look) and the only year with the louvred tail lights

 

[El Mysterioso]

For a first American muscle car, I would go with a Ford Mustang. They made an awful lot of them, which means you can still get them relatively cheap (have you priced old Camaros or Corvettes lately?) You can find parts and mechanics just about anywhere, and that goes for both stock and aftermarket. They are smaller and lighter than most other muscle cars, which means that you can go fast with less motor. Ford Falcons and Mercury Cougars are a little more rare, but offer the same benefits, as they both shared a chassis and drive train with the Mustang.

Chevy Novas from the early 1970's are another inexpensive choice. This would include Lagunas and Malibus as well, because they were essentially the same car. They were not true muscle cars back in the day, but you can put any Chevy engine you want in them and go as fast as you dare. The '72 Nova is a particular favorite of mine: it always looked like a cross between a Camaro and a GTO to me.