These Cars May Be on the Collector's List but You Can Still Get Them for Under $25k
Muscle cars are an irreplaceable part of automotive history, but the real legends and classics that came to define the pony category in the '60s aren’t exactly easy to come by - that is, unless you’re armed with this list of ours, which features genuine classics, all under $25K.
1973 Ford Mustang Convertible - $24,995
The Mustang is one of the defining vehicles of the muscle car era, so it should come as no surprise to anyone reading this to see its legendary title crop up all throughout our list. This particular model is a ‘73 convertible, and an excellently well-maintained one at that, despite its 63,694 miles on the clock.
1987 Pontiac Firebird - $15,995
Next up is another American classic: the Pontiac Firebird. This particular model first hit the roads in 1987 and featured a sleeker design compared to its more aggressive (see also: muscular) forefathers.
1999 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Convertible - $24,995
At one point, everybody wanted to get their hands on a convertible, and the folks over at Pontiac were more than happy to oblige with this 1999 Firebird Trans Am. With leather seats and a sleek, silver paint job, it offers a premium muscle car experience like no other.
2002 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Convertible - $24,995
2002 was the final year of the fourth-generation Camaro Z28 - it was also the 35th anniversary of the Camaro nameplate as a whole. Fortunately, Chevrolet delivered a vehicle worthy of celebration, complete with a convertible roof and stunning red paint job to boot.
2011 Chevrolet Camaro SS - $23,995
It’s hard to believe, but fourteen years on, the 2011 Camaro SS has basically become a classic in its own right. While not as old as some of the other gems featured here, this is the model that pretty much redefined what a Camaro could be in the modern day.
2010 Dodge Charger - $8,990
Like the 2011 Camaro SS, Dodge’s own modern muscle machine set the standard for what all future models would aspire to. Despite its super-low asking price of just $8,990, this particular model is still in excellent condition.
1984 Chevrolet Camaro Coupe - $13,500
The 70s weren’t a great decade for muscle cars, but they were slowly starting to recover their footing (wheeling?) by the time the 80s rolled around. This ‘84 Camaro Coupe reflects Chevrolet’s desire to push their beloved muscle machine towards the future with a sleeker appearance than any other model that had come before it.
1982 Pontiac Firebird SE Coupe - $22,000
Like Chevrolet, Pontiac was also keen to restore some of their iconic muscle cars, well, muscle in the 80s. This ‘82 Firebird SE features a unique persimmon exterior completed by tan leather seats on the inside, allowing it to stand out from other pony cars of the time.
1988 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible - $20,000
Featuring a soft white exterior with (questionable) brown accents, this ‘88 Camaro still performs just as well today as it did back when it first hit the roads in 1988. Additionally, it has less than 20,000 miles on the clock and has had a full service to ensure it’s ready to drive as soon as it’s been signed over.
2005 Pontiac GTO - $24,000
At twenty years old, the 2005 GTO is a certified classic by now. This particular model features a striking blue paint job and subtle flame decals, complemented by sharp black leather seats on the inside for a truly premium driving experience.
1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Coupe - $18,000
In contrast to the likes of the Camaro and Mustang, the Oldsmobile Cutlass line of muscular machines didn’t draw quite the same level of interest as those more popular vehicles. Still, with Oldsmobile having since shut its doors for good, this is not only a fantastic muscle car, it’s also a rare bit of history.
1995 Ford Mustang GT Convertible - $15,000
The final model year to feature the pushrod 5.0L V8 engine, the 1995 Mustang GT has since become a highly sought-after collector’s item. This particular model is in near-perfect condition and has just a little over 22,000 miles on the clock.
1993 Ford Mustang LX Hatchback - $5,400
A departure from the typical coupe/sedan-style bodies typical of most muscle cars up until that point, the ‘93 Mustang LX featured a hatchback body style, making it something of an oddity. At that price, though, it’s a worthy collector’s item, though its body could definitely do with a little work.
2002 Chevrolet Camaro - $19,999
As we mentioned earlier, 2002 was the 35th anniversary of the Camaro nameplate, and Chevrolet released a special limited edition of their flagship pony car in celebration. That makes this model both incredibly rare and highly collectible.
2000 Chevrolet Camaro - $17,999
One of only 55 other vehicles like it, this 2000 Camaro is a special Brickyard 400 edition pacecar and features its own unique decals and paint job that you won’t find on any other vehicle (unless, of course, you come across one of the other 55 out in the wild).
1970 Chevrolet Nova - $23,999
While not the beefiest muscle car to bear the Chevrolet badge, the 1970 Nova is a classic nonetheless due to its compact size and no-nonsense design that made it exceptionally popular with hot-rodders.
1997 Chevrolet Camaro - $12,999
Remember that limited edition Brickyard 400 Camaro we mentioned just a second ago? It turns out that there’s another one available, after all! This ‘97 model features all original, all authentic decals and a premium white paint job that no other Camaro had at the time.
1965 Ford Mustang Convertible - $25,000
No, you didn’t read that wrong - this next entry is a genuine original ‘65 Mustang in immaculate condition. Needless to say, this isn’t something you’re likely to come across every day, and especially not at that price!
1966 Chevrolet Chevelle - $7,500
The ‘66 Chevelle was the Camaro’s Coke-bottle style sibling, a classic in its own right even if it doesn’t command the same level of respect. This model’s a bit of a fixer-upper, but an enthusiastic restorer would likely pay much more than the asking price just for a chance to go to work on it.
1965 Ford Mustang - $19,000
If you’re wondering why this original ‘65 Mustang is priced so low, it’s because, well, it’s not entirely original. It was a salvage find that’s seen plenty of modern upgrades, but at $19,000, it’s still a complete steal.
1994 Chevrolet Camaro - $2,500
The ‘94 Camaro Z28 featured a much sleeker design than most previous models, and a much more aerodynamic body, too. This particular model could be yours for a mere $2,500, but while it still runs perfectly, it’s going to need a good facelift to restore it to its former glory.
1980 Chevrolet Camaro Coupe - $8,500
One of the last Camaro models to feature that classic Camaro design and aesthetic, this 1980 Camaro is a bit of a project car - it’ll need a bit of work to get it running properly again, but it’s otherwise in great shape.
1991 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible - $23,500
1991 saw the return of the legendary Z28 badge, replacing the now-defunct IROC-Z. This particular model is still in its original, authentic condition, and drives great even after all these years.
1972 Chevrolet Nova - $16,372
Arriving just as emissions regulations began to choke the pony car category, the ‘72 Nova was nonetheless a popular and modestly powerful vehicle in its day. This particular model has been meticulously maintained over the years and has 81,882 miles on the clock.
2010 Dodge Challenger SE - $900
Surprisingly, there aren’t many classic Challengers to go around these days, so this 2010 model is about as good as you’re going to get. It’s definitely in serious need of some TLC and a lot of restorative magic to get it up to scratch again, but $900 is pretty much impossible to beat.
1984 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am - $24,000
1984 was a significant year for the Firebird, being the nameplate’s 15th anniversary as well as the first model year to feature a high-output L69 5.0L V8 engine. Needless to say, this model’s something of a collector’s item more than a daily driver.
1965 Ford Mustang - $24,995
We could wax lyrical about the impact of the original Mustang all day, so we’ll just stick to the basics with what makes this entry stand out. It’s an original model with a unique “Phoenician Yellow” paint job and has around 96,367 miles on the clock.
2005 Pontiac GTO - $22,999
The 2005 GTO was a significant departure from the previous year’s offerings thanks to its new 400 hp GM LS2 V8 engine, dual-split exhaust, and 18-inch wheels, all of which were included to make the model much more aggressive and - you guessed it - muscular.
1966 Dodge Coronet - $22,999
The ‘66 Dodge Coronet marked the introduction of the 426 Street Hemi engine to the nameplate, which gave it even more aggressive performance than many had seen before and ultimately cemented the vehicle’s place in muscle car history. Needless to say, many collectors would probably pay quite a bit more for this one!
1981 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 - $20,500
Despite its potential being ruthlessly curbed by emissions regulations, the ‘81 Camaro Z28 remains a special and highly sought-after vehicle for being the very last of the second-generation Camaro.
1977 Pontiac Trans Am - $22,000
Last but not least is this ‘77 Trans Am, a bona fide celebrity in the automotive industry due to its starring role in Smokey and the Bandit. While not a top-tier performer (thanks to emissions regulations), it remains a valuable and highly collectible bit of history.
