Which Muscle Car Should I Get

[meh_33333]

As much as I hate making this thread, I need a place to start. I want to purchase a muscle car, something pre-1980ish. I haven't really decided on a budget but something under $7000 is good and under $5000 is the sweet spot. However I'm not sure of the price range of these vehicles so the budget can fluctuate a little. This will be my first vehicle and I want a manual transmission. What I was looking for is a car that can get me from point A to point B, so if it needs little body work that's ok. I also want a car that has the most potential, so as I learn I can invest time and money into it and make it a beast. So like a project car, but one that I can use weekly (I go to university, and want to travel back home). So does anyone have suggestions about years, makes, and models. Also comment on the price range if necessary. Thanks

[CSK'sMom]

I think you need to do some serious research about muscle cars. These days, in your price range, you'll be pulling out of a farmer's field and it probably won't run. If you're looking for a muscle car that looks good and has a decent engine you're looking at much more. All us old folk want to relive our youth and get those old muscle cars back. ;) This is a more realistic price...

http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-classic-cars-1970-Chevelle-W0QQAdIdZ24238407

[corrupt123]

Yeah, there isn't really a good way of using a project car as your A-to-B car.

You're probably better off buying a cheap beater and saving more coin.

[FerrisB]

- Pre 1970's muscle car in good running condition for under 7K.
- Your first car and the only thing you'll have to drive.
- You want to use it as a daily driver so it needs to be reliable.

LOL, you need a big reality check.

[meh_33333]

woops i ment pre 1980ish, thanks for your replys. i see my money won't get me far. whats a price bracket of a pre1980ish that i should consider.

[dasaylay]

Stop watching Transformers -- it will not turn into a new camaro when you insult it :twisted:

In all seriousness, just check out autotrader. Every now and then a few cars will pop up, so I'd check there.

[meh_33333]

In all seriousness, just check out autotrader. Every now and then a few cars will pop up, so I'd check there.

that's exactly what i want to do, but i don't know what years and makes to look for...

[ES_Revenge]

"Muscle" cars around the 1980s really weren't the greatest. Because of all the fuel crisis nonsense at the time and the fact that manufacturers didn't have any means at the time to decrease fuel consumption, it just meant the cars suffered horribly in terms of power. You had like big ~6.0L V8 engines outputting like 250hp. Sure most of them can be modded up for big power, but don't expect stock type motors to really be that impressive. And yeah they still drain gasoline like there's a hole in the tank, by today's standards LOL.

Just sounds like a bad idea to me...

[CSK'sMom]

meh, listen to ES_Revenge. Muscle cars are very rarely daily drivers. That is unless you have an unlimited amount of money stashed away somewhere to fill it up at the gas station. I would imagine that just about every city has a spot for the Sunday night cruisers to hang out. Go and talk to them. You'll quickly get a feel for just what kind of money you're talking about to maintain and keep those beasts on the road. We're still looking for a '70 Chevelle to replace hubby's....

[antime1]

u can get an old impala for under 20k and can be real nice with a black paint job, but it isnt exactly the best of the classics. i dunt think ur gonna get a working classic car in your price range. maybe a fixer upper with more investment required.

forgot to add link:
http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-classic-cars-1966-Impala-W0QQAdIdZ24251151

[Ben Jr]

I don't think I've known anyone to have a muscle car as a daily driver and as their only means of transportation. Friends have 70's camaro's/vettes and cuda's and are forever tinkering with them. I've always wanted an early 60's vette, maybe later on I guess.
Your probably gonna have to accept you likely won't have a cool car as a first time owner and uni-student.

[Alvito]

1979 camaro. do it.

[MkmBandit]

It doesn't matter if its your first car, just remember no amount of maintenance can keep a car running forever, let alone a domestic, and the fact that they're engines from the late 70's - early 80's. For $7k you're most likely not getting anything with a shiney new crate engine (or shiny hubcaps for that matter). A muscle car should NEVER be driven as a daily driver. You'll also find classic auto insurance, while quite cheap, won't cover things that make the car a daily driver (parking in mall parking lots for example).

If you really want a suggestion for a car from the early 80's for $7k, my suggestion would be the Buick Grand National, or an Oldsmobile Cutlass. I know several people who drive these cars as daily drivers, and while they do have their problems, its do-able.

http://adcache.collectorcartrader.com/10/5/0/90053650.htm

[radeonboy]

It doesnt fall under 70's-80's but can I suggest a Camaro IROC in black? :D :idea:

[frogger]

As already mentioned, a GM G-Body chasis from the 80's is probably your best bet...
http://www.trader.ca/powerpage/details.aspx?vlotid=91057&adid=6439784

[Whitedart]

that's exactly what i want to do, but i don't know what years and makes to look for...

Pricing will vary considerably from a generic mid 70s or earlier classic car to a late 60s/early 70's classic muscle car. We have 2 of them (66 Chevelle, and 67 Dart), so have some experience with this. Depending on purchase price, you will buy a cheap car and spend a lot of time and money with restoration work with a project car, or buy an expensive restored car and want to preserve it in excellent condition.

And as others have pointed out, you wouldn't want to use this classic car as a daily driver.

[stevethewheel]

From the 80's, as already mentioned, monte carlo SS or Buick Grand National for real muscle. (Grand National as fast as same year Vette)

Not as muscular, but still decent, easy to maintain, reliable - regular monte carlo, buick regal, pontiac grand prix, olds cutlass. Any of these with a V8 will have rumble, and are good looking cars even though they won't have all-out muscle.

From the 70's maybe a Chevy Nova SS, or Dodge Dart would be cheap, reasonably reliable, although the affordable ones won't be big muscle. Also Impala, Lemans, Valiant, Cutlass. The truly muscular 70s cars will either be out of your reach or they would not be something you want to drive every day. I would stay away from Camaro or Trans Am if you want to drive at all in the winter. You can potentially get a Vette in this price range but I'd be suspicious, and again not a winter car.

Oh, here's a car that would surprise you, and affordable too. This is known as the "poor man's Mustang". A great sleeper car with decent speed and a good muscle look and sound. Looks like it is in very good shape from the picture. http://www.trader.ca/Search/Details.asp?mknm=713&Region=-1&subcategory=&CAT=1&ADID=6440174&ADS=6440174%7C But don't pay anything like $8000 for it, it is not that popular a collector.

[galanz]

A little newer than you're looking for, but I'd recommend an 80's LX Mustang with a 302. Decent reliability and gas mileage while still having good performance.

[UrbanPoet]

camaro, or a 82 mustang GT.
you might be able to get a corveette.

[Bullseye]

Agree with going with the 80's instead. Fox-body Mustang's have been going up in value, but you may still be able to get a decent one for 5-7K that isn't rusted out or high mileage.

I would have loved an old muscle car, but for the money I wanted to spend (similar to yours), I couldn't even get anything CLOSE to decent. I ended up buying an 87 Mustang GT with low mileage and in great shape. I've been driving it the past three summers with no real problems, just a couple small things I was able to fix myself (sensor, bursted hose) cheaply and easily. These are great looking cars, and still very popular, they are destined to be classics, if they aren't already. I know I could easily sell mine for what I paid for it, plus all the money I've sunk into it (paint and wheels).

[Samir]

Mustang 5-oh?

[ss7]

Cant really think of anything pre 80's for that price. But you might be able to find good price on 91-92 Camaro Z28.
http://www.thirdgen.org/tech/images/gallery/1992ChevroletCamaroZ28Twisted92Z28.jpg

[T-DOT]

Will definitely be out of your price range, but I'm surprised (OK, I may have missed it because I skimmed the posts) that no one mentioned a Cuda.

[tico 1948]

Well, IMHO you are not going to find much in Canada. Not with the copious amounts of road salt etc. that you find on our highways. Look in the U.S. There are tons of used vehicles from the late 60's into the mid to later 70's for reasonable $. Google this: www.vegascarman.com and you'll see what I mean. There are literally 100's of similar sites to that one. Go ahead, walk on the wild side! cheers, happy shopping.

[hagbard]

My 1978 Camaro was nice back in 1984. Going 100mph was like going 100km/h, smooth.

[stealth]

My vote is for a C3 vette, which can still be had for bargains.
http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-cars-under-5K-1981-Chevrolet-Corvette-Coupe-W0QQAdIdZ25653172
Not the most driveable by any means though, for that I'd also recommend an -85+ v8 Mustang. I've owned both, and they each have their pros and cons. You're trying to have your cake and eat it too....rarely works with cars :)

[feet_]

um how old are you?

will you have enough $$ to feed a big v8?
dont get a car, if you have to determine if you have enough $$ to get there.

" Huh What!! Party full of Single Girls, sorry guys, i dont have enough Gas $$ to get there. Dam i wish i bought a honda Civic."

You want a poor man's muscle car?
get a early 90's Pontiac Sunbird with the 3.1L V6.
Those car were fast for their size.

And reasonable on gas.
Easily find one for $2000, then you ll have 3000 left over for oil changes and neon lights.

[feet_]

Cant really think of anything pre 80's for that price. But you might be able to find good price on 91-92 Camaro Z28.
http://www.thirdgen.org/tech/images/gallery/1992ChevroletCamaroZ28Twisted92Z28.jpg


a mullet wig come with that car?
FUBAR!!!!

[Ben Jr]

please refrain from mentioning sunbird/cavalier in a muscle car thread....
its not a substitute for anything...its just a poor mans car
:confused:


um how old are you?

will you have enough $$ to feed a big v8?
dont get a car, if you have to determine if you have enough $$ to get there.

" Huh What!! Party full of Single Girls, sorry guys, i dont have enough Gas $$ to get there. Dam i wish i bought a honda Civic."

You want a poor man's muscle car?
get a early 90's Pontiac Sunbird with the 3.1L V6.
Those car were fast for their size.

And reasonable on gas.
Easily find one for $2000, then you ll have 3000 left over for oil changes and neon lights.

[feet_]

hey those cars were fast for its day.
the 3.1 L v6 is really a chevy v8 minus 2 cyls

a perfect car for a hi skool kid.

[Bullseye]

please refrain from mentioning sunbird/cavalier in a muscle car thread....
:confused:

:lol:

Definitely far from a muscle car, to be sure. I did have a 91 Z24, though, with the 3.1L, and it was indeed a torquey little thing. Nothing compared to my 5L Mustang, of course, but they were pretty fast off the line for an econobox.

[stevethewheel]

:lol:

Definitely far from a muscle car, to be sure. I did have a 91 Z24, though, with the 3.1L, and it was indeed a torquey little thing. Nothing compared to my 5L Mustang, of course, but they were pretty fast off the line for an econobox.


Agree the Cavalier/Sunbird with 3.1 can make you feel like you have a muscle car with the torque off the line, but it is not a serious competitor beyond the launch. The engines are bulletproof, not bad on gas, smooth running.

[blainehamilton]

Double or triple your budget for the car and then have another $7000 set aside for gas each year.

Now, back to earth. What the hell are you thinking?!?