If you’ve been paying attention to the trends in the auto industry, you’ve probably realized by now that the muscle car is an endangered species. We only have a handful of muscle car models still in production, and with many automakers set to fully transition to EV production in the next few decades, that number will soon be zero.
As a result, muscle cars are becoming increasingly expensive, especially rare ones like the Pontiac GTO Judge and Plymouth Hemi’cuda. However, not all rare muscle cars are expensive. We did some research and found ten rare muscle cars that are still affordable today.
10 AMC AMX – $19,000
AMC is one of those defunct car manufacturers we hope will be revived in the future. AMC made many awesome cars back in the day, and the AMX was arguably the best.
The AMX used the mechanical underpinnings of the Javelin, but since it was meant to be a Chevy Corvette competitor, it had just two seats and a shorter wheelbase. Powering the AMX was a 6.4-liter V8 dishing out 325 hp, giving it great performance.
9 1993 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra – $25,000
Most renowned automakers have special divisions that make high-performance versions of their ordinary cars. In 1991, Ford established the Special Vehicle Team to do just that. Two years later, the SVT division introduced its first model – the 1993 Mustang SVT Cobra.
This awesome car was still based on the outgoing Fox platform but was offered with a much better engine – a 4.9-liter V8 making 235 hp and 285 lb-ft of torque.
8 Mercury Cyclone GT – $25,000
The fourth-generation Mercury Cyclone debuted in 1970 with many changes, most notably in the design department. 1970 was also the year that Mercury introduced the Cyclone GT – an upscale version of the Cyclone for gearheads who valued style more than speed.
The Cyclone GT came with comfort weave bucket seats, twin racing mirrors, a full-length console, hideaway headlights, and a unique lower-body line trim. Since the Cyclone GT was only in production for two years, it’s pretty hard to come by.
7 1968 Dodge Coronet R/T – $27,850
The fifth-generation Coronet is, without a doubt, the greatest Coronet generation ever. Introduced in the late ’60s, the fifth-generation Coronet had a new design that looked a lot cooler than its predecessor.
The Coronet was also a joy to drive, particularly the high-performance R/T model. The Coronet R/T debuted in 1967 as a two-door hardtop or convertible and had two engine options – the 369-hp Magnum V8 and the 425-hp Hemi V8.
6 1994–96 Chevrolet Impala SS – $20,000
The seventh-generation Impala SS left many gearheads puzzled when it debuted in the ’90s. Despite having the fabled SS badge, it was a large four-door sedan that didn’t inspire much confidence among performance car lovers.
Don’t let its sedate styling fool you, though, as the Impala SS was powered by a 5.7-liter LT1 V8 engine belting out 260 hp – the same engine as the Corvette C4. With a 0-60 of 7.0 seconds and a top speed of 142 mph, it’s easy to see why the Impala SS is considered to be one of the coolest classic sleeper cars.
5 1979 Pontiac Firebird Formula 400 WS6 – $28,000
Late ’70s Firebird Trans Ams have seen their prices skyrocket in recent years, largely thanks to the iconic 1977 model. The 1977 Firebird Trans AM’s role in Smokey and the Bandit has made it a highly sought-after collectible, which is why you should avoid it if you are on a tight budget.
Thankfully, there’s another late ’70s Firebird you can still buy at an affordable price, and that’s the special 1979 Firebird Formula 400 WS6. This awesome car was only available with Pontiac’s 220-hp V8, which gave it much better performance than most ’70s muscle cars. It also had the WS6 handling package that added four-wheel disc brakes and the superb “snowflake” alloy wheels.
4 Plymouth GTX – $27,000
Before its demise in 2001, Plymouth was a Chrysler division responsible for building economy cars. However, like many automakers, Plymouth had a crack at the growing muscle car market in the ’60s with models like the Barracuda and the GTX.
Barracudas can be expensive, which is why the GTX is a great choice. Introduced in 1966, the GTX was based on the Belvedere but could be differentiated by its blacked-out grille, fiberglass hood scoops, and a tachometer mounted on the center console. If you can find the 1971 GTX, we recommend getting that one as it’s one of the best-looking muscle cars we’ve seen.
3 Chevrolet Nova SS – $25,000
Chevrolet’s best-known muscle car is the Camaro, but the marque had several other muscle cars in its lineup in the ’60s. The Nova was one of them, and even though it was among the smallest muscle cars of the day, it still had everything one could want in a muscle car.
The Nova got even better in 1968 when Chevy introduced the SS package. Equipped with a 369-hp V8, the Nova SS was insanely fun to drive.
2 1989 Pontiac 20th Anniversary Trans Am – $24,500
The third-generation Firebird Trans AM was built during the ’80s when emission restrictions had forced Pontiac to ditch its most powerful engines. In 1989, Pontiac wanted to build a special Trans Am to celebrate its 20th anniversary, but it had to be more powerful than the other third-generation cars.
So instead of its weak engines, Pontiac equipped the 1989 20th Anniversary Trans Am with Buick’s turbocharged V6 with 250 ponies on tap. With a 0-60 of just 4.6 seconds and a top speed of 153 mph, the 20th Anniversary Trans Am was among the quickest American cars of the day.
1 Dodge Dart Demon – $23,500
The Dart is an underrated muscle car that Chrysler introduced in the late ’50s. The Dart was positioned below the Charger and Challenger nameplates, which is why it largely stayed in their shadows.
Dodge built several versions of the Dart, with one of the best being the Demon. The Dart Demon debuted in 1971 with a 275-hp V8 and visual upgrades like hood scoops and blackout hood treatment.