What classic American muscle cars sell for

[Hum]

A muscle car might be defined as simply a high-performance two-door car made in the U.S., but to its fans it's much more than that. The muscle car is the basis for an entire subset of car fans, and movies such as "Bullitt" that have featured them prominently have helped create a lasting high-speed subculture.

Karl Brauer, editor-in-chief of the online car review aggregator Total Car Score, is a self-described muscle car fanatic who characterizes these vehicles as his "primary passion." He provided CNBC.com with his list of 10 classic American muscle cars and some eye-popping estimates of their current market value.

"Vintage car collectors consider these must-have muscle cars, which is undoubtedly driving up the prices," Brauer said. He said that prices are likely to keep climbing, so if there's any time to buy a muscle car, it's now.

"The 1969-1970 Boss 429 Mustang, for instance, has skyrocketed in value over the past two years," he said. "If you're looking to buy you should act sooner rather than later. These vehicles will all likely cost more six to 12 months from now.

1974 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am SD455

According to Brauer and to many fans, the muscle car's golden age came to an end in 1971. However, a small but determined group of engineers at Pontiac remained undeterred, and created an evolved Ram Air IV engine, which turned up under the hood of the 1974 Firebird.

Despite its late vintage, Brauer called this Trans Am "a fully capable muscle car." The current market value of the 1974 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am SD455 is $75,000.

1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS6

The 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS6 was a beast, plain and simple. The 450 horsepower assigned to this Chevelle V-8 is the highest power rating ever given to a car from the original muscle car era, according to Brauer.

The high rating, however, was an understatement. "Even this rating was below the engine's actual horsepower, which was likely somewhere between 470 and 500 horsepower," he said. This Chevelle's current market value is $75,000.

1970 Pontiac GTO Judge Ram Air IV

"Pontiac's GTO started the official muscle car era in 1964," Brauer said. "By 1970 the competition on the street, and in the showrooms, required every automaker to step up their efforts."

Even Pontiac itself had to raise its game, which it did by introducing the GTO Judge. According to Brauer, it's "powered by the Ram Air IV engine, a 400 cubic inch V-8 with special high-flow heads and unique exhaust manifolds." Its current market value is $80,000.

1968 Ford Mustang GT500KR

"Carroll Shelby has a history of hot-rodding Mustangs that started in 1965," Brauer said of the late Ford Motor designer. Production of his Mustangs switched from his own shop to the Ford facilities in 1968, when the GT500KR was built.

Brauer called this muscle car "one of the most attractive and capable Shelby Mustangs ever created." He added that only 933 coupes were built, along with 318 convertibles. Its current market value is $130,000.

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[Growled Member]

I hadn't realised how much the prices for those cars had increased, That's a nice hunk of change.

[cork1958]

That Trans Am and Chevelle are both priced to high, IMO!

I just saw this story on Yahoo and sent the link to my brother.

My classic muscle car, '66 Plymouth Satellite, was bought for $13,000. Totally original and as clean as the day it was driven off the show room floor.

[+Mirumir Subscriber¹]

(male voice from the ads) What classic American muscle cars sell for...

find out at http://www.autotraderclassics.com/ !

[moloko]

My dad builds and sells them every few years. wish he would give me one

[Leomilter]

Oh when I've bought 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle couple of years ago it as much cheaper, it's unbelievable how much the prices for those cars had increased :huh:

[AJerman]

Crazy how much these go for. I've always wanted to do a restoration project when I setting into a place with a garage, but these days even a shell costs as much as a decent car for some models. That's ok though, I want to do a car you don't see as much, so hopefully less popular will help lower cost!

[LaP]

Crazy how much these go for. I've always wanted to do a restoration project when I setting into a place with a garage, but these days even a shell costs as much as a decent car for some models. That's ok though, I want to do a car you don't see as much, so hopefully less popular will help lower cost!

 

Go to Cuba i think you'll be able to find a shell for a decent price. The problem will be to get it out of the country though lol

[AJerman]

Go to Cuba i think you'll be able to find a shell for a decent price. The problem will be to get it out of the country though lol

Raft trip!!!