Those of us who remember cars from the ’60s and ’70s think of a muscle car with a big V8 and rear-wheel drive. This gave those magnificent vintage cars great acceleration. There are a number of muscle cars on the road today, including beautifully restored versions of those old cars, and a number of new cars that deliver great performance. Let’s look at some of the options if you’re considering buying a muscle car anytime in the near future. Even if you’re not buying one, daydream a bit and look up photos of your favorite muscle car, past or present.
Let’s start with one of the companies that made several vintage muscle cars, Dodge. Going through the classic car directories will give you two of this company’s favorite vintage cars, the Challenger and the Charger. The Mercury Cougar is also a sought after muscle car from that era, as are the Chevy Impala and Camaro. Some of these names may no longer be familiar, but the Impala and Camaro have been made for many years after their heyday. Plymouth has made some highly sought after classic cars, the Barracuda and especially the Duster. And of course, who could forget the GTO. You may be surprised when you look up the value of some of these cars online, even those that “need to be restored.” A complete Duster (one with all major original parts) can be a substantial addition to anyone’s annual paycheck.
However, with current gas prices, Americans are still in love with fast and beautiful cars. Let’s look at several of the traditional muscle cars and then some interesting current ones. Let’s start with the Mustang Mach 1. It looks like something out of an old Steve McQueen movie, with a scoop, body stripes and a wing spoiler. The seats are black leather and the odometer goes up to 150 miles per hour. This car compares favorably in styling to older Mustangs, and the performance of these cars is excellent when you’re behind the wheel.
Chrysler, or DaimlerChrysler, recaptures interest by using rear-wheel drive and a Hemi V-8 engine. Your 300 series can go from zero to 100 in about seven seconds or so. Although some of these cars don’t have the styling of some classic muscle cars, they pack a lot of power and acceleration. Also, this company produces Mercedes-Benz, and some of their models will travel over 200 mph without any hassle. Even if these cars may be beyond the price range of the average person, a test drive in one of them is truly memorable. The fastest Mercedes-Benzes cost more than $300,000.
Now for the car that has turned heads for many years, the Corvette. It’s as flashy as ever, and it’s still a tight-handling, powerful sports car. The car itself is lighter than some of the more classic models and the suspension has been improved for a smoother ride. If you remember the Stingray from years ago, the new Corvette will remind you. The Corvette ownership group is very particular about their cars, preferring the line to remain recognizable in both style and performance. These cars are also much more affordable, in the $60,000 range for a memorable and powerful car.
Finally, you can consider Cadillac as an option when looking for a powerful and smooth-driving car. Cadillac now makes two-seaters with rear-wheel drive and a comfortable ride. The ride in this car is very different from the classic Corvette, but for those used to softer suspension, this can be a great option for a powerful car.
Muscle cars are back! Some companies have kept the classic styling going for the past 30 years, and others have introduced beautiful and powerful new cars. Treat yourself and go down and try one out at your local car dealer.
