I thought it would make sense to answer the big question that seems to come up most of the time when buying a muscle car: how do I buy a muscle car anyway? For some, there is not much to do: it is just love at first sight, a price is agreed and the car has a new owner. For others, it can be a bit more intimidating.
We will assume that you are starting from scratch and have decided to buy a muscle car as an investment and to enjoy it, but you do not have much experience or historical knowledge of the muscle car era. We’ll also assume that you personally want to like the car you plan to buy and that you don’t plan to buy it simply based on its investment potential alone. Now what?
In the next 4 posts of this series we will delve into the following topics:
1) Determine the make and model you want
2) Determine how you want to use the car (drive often, just show the car, etc.)
3) Determine your price range and payment method
4) Evaluate the car, take out the insurance and buy
Today’s topic: determine the make and model you want
The best method to determine the make and model of car you want is to start looking at all the available options first. GM, Ford, Chrysler, and AMC all made amazing muscle cars during the 1960s and ’70s, and they all had their own style. Follow these steps to clear up the car of your dreams. Remember: there’s a muscle car for you… and it’s been waiting a long time for you to find it!
Step 1) Start looking at the auto classifieds on the various online ad sites. The more you see, the better. Take note of the shapes you like first. Nothing else. See which one catches your eye and write it down. Having a lot on your list right now is a good thing. Look at the posture of the car. Look at it from all angles, not just from the front. Do you like cars with bulging fenders or do you prefer something a little straighter? Do you like something that looks like a race car or a street car? Do you dig hidden lighthouses? Take note of all these factors. Don’t get too hung up on colors at this point, as almost every model came in many different fantastic colors and paint schemes. Keep in mind that a particular car model can be EXTREMELY different from year to year (1966 Charger vs. 1971 Charger, for example).
Step 2) From the previous step, you may be interested in half a dozen or a dozen models at the moment. Now it’s time to do some more homework and see what trim levels, engine combinations, and the like were available on those cars (a few minutes of Googling can get you this information), and then move on to the automotive magazines (Hot Rod Magazine , Super Chevy, Mustang Monthly, etc.). These magazines will be abundant in your local mall, library, etc. Nothing will beat the benefit of seeing these cars firsthand, though, so attending a local car show is an absolute must, and try to make it to a big one (like a Good Guys show) if you can.
Step 3) After completing the first two steps, it’s time to get more specific. You’ve probably narrowed the list down to 2-3 by now, and now is the time to start looking at those cars, and only those cars. Look again through the Classifieds on the online sites. Look for car color combinations that you like, making specific note of what options they do or don’t have. If you like the stick shift and plan to keep the original car, just look at the manual transmission cars. The same goes for the combination of motors, wheels/tyres, etc. Even the paint colors can be changed if you don’t want to keep the original car. Go back to your research if you need more details or if you get lost on things that seem similar but aren’t (eg Chevy made 3 different versions of their 396 ci big block engine). If a particular pair of cars keep showing up (or you keep coming back to), that’s a good thing.
You may only have one model at the moment, but if you still have two or more, don’t worry, they’ll likely be discussed in the next section: Determine Your Price Range and Payment Method!
