Collectors Are Getting Rid of These Muscle Cars at a Rapid Rate
As symbols of what the American automotive industry can offer at its best, muscle cars will forever be in demand, especially amongst collectors and enthusiasts of the era they were made in. That said, not every muscle car is a must-have, and there are some models that collectors will avoid entirely.
1971 Pontiac GTO
The Pontiac GTO is an icon of the muscle car era, a lean, mean machine that directly competed with the likes of the Mustang and Camaro. Sadly, the ‘71 model - while still by no means a bad car - performed worse than most would have liked, mostly due to the Oil Crisis of the 70s. While still somewhat desirable, you’re likely to find more than a few ‘71 GTOs at auction.
1973 Ford Mustang Mach 1
Though the very first Mustang Mach 1 bore lived up to its performance-oriented heritage, by the time the ‘73 model came out, it was a shell of its former self. As was the case with many muscle cars released during that decade, the Mach 1 suffered as a result of the Oil Crisis, and most enthusiasts aren’t exactly eager to add it to their collections.
1974 AMC Javelin
1974 also brought with it the final model year of the AMC Javelin, an often overlooked classic muscle car that simply couldn’t compete with the likes of the Mustang, Camaro, and GTO. Despite its superb sense of style, AMC just doesn’t have the brand recognition to maintain collectors’ attention.
1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
The ‘77 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am was a genuine star thanks to its appearance in Smokey and the Bandit. Despite its celebrity status, however, most collectors aren’t eager to get their hands on the ‘77 Firebird due to its being so oversaturated in the market, as well as its underpowered engine.
1978 Dodge Magnum XE
A more stylish and more aerodynamic successor to the Dodge Charger, the Magnum XE was too niche for its own good back then, with even less appeal amongst collectors now. It was a blend of luxury and “muscle” that few were willing to buy into, and it didn’t help that it didn’t have the strongest engine either.
1980 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
The first Camaro established a legacy of performance and unmatched style - the 1980 Chevrolet Camaro Z28, unfortunately, did not live up to its heritage. While its appearance was certainly unique, it has become extremely dated in the decades since. Coupled with its diminished performance, collectors aren’t eager to get their hands on one of these.
1982 Pontiac Firebird S/E
Coming in between the third-generation Firebird and the Trans Am, the Firebird S/E was actually fairly advanced for its time and featured a sophisticated design that favored sleekness over muscle. Still, its niche appeal hasn’t exactly made it a hit with collectors, who tend to gravitate towards its high-performance competitors.
1984 Ford Mustang SVO
Positioned as more balanced and sophisticated than other Mustangs, the ‘84 SVO featured a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that was still weaker than standard V8s of the time. Combined with its costly maintenance and dated styling, this has made the SVO one of the least sought-after Mustangs among collectors.
1985 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS
The ‘85 Monte Carlo SS was marketed towards those who wanted everyday practicality wrapped up in a muscle car package. It was a decent performer for its time - both on the roads and on the market - but advancements in other models and the vehicle’s dated 80s styling have caused the Monte Carlo SS to be forgotten.
1987 Buick Grand National
The ‘87 Grand National was a huge departure from other Buick models of the time. It featured an all-black exterior with aggressive stylings that instantly set it apart. Unfortunately, the limited availability of parts and expensive maintenance costs have made it a hard sell for collectors.
1991 Dodge Stealth R/T
After the Oil Crisis, muscle cars were finally allowed to be, well, muscular once more. The ‘91 Dodge Stealth R/T was a high-performing, twin-turbocharged beast in a sleek package. But while it was certainly stylish, the complexity of its parts and the expensive maintenance it demands make collectors avoid it.
1995 Dodge Viper RT/10
The Viper nameplate is pretty much synonymous with aggressive performance and style at this point, and the ‘95 RT/10 certainly lived up to these standards. However, its impracticality and overly complex design have caused its lustre to fade over time. That, and collectors will often gravitate towards its higher-performing successors.
1968 Chevrolet Chevelle SS
There’s no denying that the ‘68 Chevelle SS is an iconic car, one of Chevrolet’s key models in the muscle car market at the time. Despite its significance, however, the Chevelle SS often struggles to find a place with collectors, given its immense popularity, since most prefer rarer models.
1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429
Named after the powerful 429 cubic inch V8 that roared underneath its hood, the ‘69 Mustang Boss was a high-performance variant of the original Mustang. Despite its immense prestige, economic factors and the ever-shifting interests of collectors have caused it to be overlooked.
1968 Chevrolet Camaro
Part of the first generation of Camaros, the ‘68 model is definitely iconic, and more than deserving of a spot in any muscle car collection. The problem is less to do with the car itself and more to do with how many of them there are to go around, leaving many “homeless”, for lack of a better word.
1968 Pontiac GTO
Another genuine, certified classic, the Pontiac GTO is a symbol of the muscle car era of the 60s. Similarly to the ‘68 Camaro, however, the model’s intense oversaturation has somewhat diminished its appeal, and the vehicle’s lack of originality (for that model year, at least) hasn’t helped either.
1968 Plymouth Barracuda
Known for its sleek, fastback design, the ‘68 Barracuda lived up to its ferocious namesake and became hugely popular. That unfortunately led to its downfall amongst collectors of today, since the car’s wide availability has diluted its rarity - and thus, its value.
1968 Dodge Charger
The original Charger was well-known for its “Coke bottle” design that emphasized lean features and mean curves. It’s certainly iconic, but like the Barracuda, its immense popularity made it so that its rarity would inevitably be diminished in collector circles.
1968 Oldsmobile Cutlass
Featuring a new body shape and style, the ‘68 Cutlass came with a much-needed redesign that instantly made it more attractive. Unfortunately, they were so popular and so heavily customized that few collectors will go out of their way to find one.
1968 Chevrolet Nova
Also known as the Chevy II, the Nova was one of the smallest muscle cars of its time, but that didn’t mean it was lacking in style. Far from it, in fact. Unfortunately, it became so widely owned that its rarity would eventually dissipate over time, and most collectors probably have one stored away already.
1976 Pontiac Trans Am
Arriving just before its celebrity successor, the ‘76 Trans Am was probably best known for its “Screaming Chicken” hood decal. Unfortunately, the novelty of the decal is somewhat lost on collectors of today, who prefer rarer models.
1968 Chevrolet Corvette C3
The first year of the C3 generation, the ‘68 Corvette brought with it a sharper design and overall sportier feel in comparison to its predecessor. Despite being something of a landmark vehicle, collectors tend to favor the C4 and C5 instead.
1965 Ford Mustang GT
Featuring a more powerful engine compared to the original’s, the ‘65 Mustang GT was essentially the same car with slightly higher performance capabilities. These days, however, collectors prefer models with even higher specs than the GT can provide.
1967 Ford Mustang Fastback
With its flowing roofline that made it sleeker than the average coupe, the ‘67 Mustang Fastback was an instant hit in its time. These days, however, prices on this iconic vehicle have dropped almost 20% due to shifting collector interests.
1968 Datsun 240Z
Though it wasn’t an American vehicle (and thus not a “true” muscle car to some), the Datsun 240Z still replicated many of the design choices of classic pony cars. It was a huge success, too, becoming one of Datsun’s most well-known models. Unfortunately, collector interest just isn’t there these days.
1986 BMW E30 M3
Like the Datsun 240Z, the M3 E30 wasn’t really a “true” muscle car, but followed many of the trends set by those iconic pony cars from the '60s. Unfortunately, collector interest has shifted away from it in recent years.
1966 Rambler Rebel
The Rambler Rebel was AMC’s own attempt at entering the muscle car market, one that went completely unnoticed by many. This had actually made the vehicle quite rare today, but collectors just aren’t interested in it.
1968 Dodge Super Bee
The Dodge Super Bee was based on the Coronet and designed to be an affordable muscle car alternative, offering great performance at a low price. Unfortunately, the model’s relative obscurity has pretty much reduced collector interest to zero.
1970 AMC Gremlin
Okay, so the AMC Gremlin isn’t really a muscle car so much as it is a vehicle inspired by muscle cars. Rather than offering great performance at an affordable price, it offered an ugly design and “just okay” performance. It’s something of a joke, and a pretty funny one at that, but not one any collector would pay serious money for.
1970 Chevy Nova SS
The third-generation Nova brought with it a 396 cubic-inch V8 engine and aggressive styling to boot. It’s a fantastic car that, unfortunately, is often overshadowed by other models from that era.
1974 Pontiac GTO
The ‘74 GTO - choked by emissions regulations - was based on the compact Ventura platform, completely stripping away all its muscle. Despite its age, it’s still considered the worst of the GTO nameplate, and collectors often avoid it at all costs.
1973 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu
Part of the third generation of Chevelles, the Malibu was still pretty neat in terms of style, but emissions regulations pretty much ruined any chance of it performing as well as it could have, and collectors greatly prefer older Chevelle models from the late 60s.
1977 Pontiac Firebird Esprit
Unfortunately, the Esprit was in direct competition with its own brand. When people think of Pontiac models in the 70s, they instantly remember the Trans Am. The Esprit was overlooked then, and it’s overlooked now.
1975 Ford Mustang II Cobra II
The Cobra II had an intimidating name, but that was the only aggressive thing it had going for it. These days, it’s remembered as perhaps the most embarrassing moment in the Mustang’s history.
1987 Chevrolet Camaro RS
The ‘87 Camaro RS was an entry-level third-generation Camaro that instantly drew plenty of buyers. Unfortunately, that’s left many of the models in a modified state, and its oversaturation in general has killed collector interest.
