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Detroit, or the world, has never produced an automobile that rivals the muscle cars of the 1960’s and early 1970’s. They were big, powerful and wonderfully unrefined. No one would call them sports car in the traditional sense. They were not nimble and curves were dangerous at most any speed. However, what they lacked in sophistication they made up for in brut force. In many ways the GTO’s, Mustangs, Road Runners and their brethren represented the American character better than any vehicle past or present. Simplicity, dependability, strength and singularity of purpose were their calling cards. No one could confuse the purpose of these beasts. It was plain for all, and it was straight-line performance for one quarter of a mile. Nothing else mattered.

Contrast that with today and the lore of days past becomes even more apparent. A new Corvette will defeat even the most powerful Corvette of old in every category. The current generation of performance cars thumps the muscle car in safety, comfort, reliability and, yes, performance. But, that does not tell the whole story and it doesn’t explain the current interest in and corresponding sky rocketing values of classic muscle cars. The clarity of purpose these super cars exuberated just feels good. It awakens the cave man in each of us! These automobiles have a particular hold on the generation that came of age in the late 1960’s. Many feel that this is their last chance to re-live their youth and they are willing to pay for the opportunity.

For example, a 1970 Dodge Hemi ‘Cuda sold for $4,035 new and well-preserved models are routinely offered and $150,000 today. That represents and 10.6% annual return. Not a bad return considering the stock market has returned 7.4% annual over the same period. Similarly, and 1970 Chevy Chevelle SS convertible with a 454ci engine sold for $4,200 new and to will cost around $115,000 or a 9.7% annual return. Finally, a 1969 Boss Mustang with a 429ci Engine originally cost $4,150 and today trades for $115,000. That is a 9.6% return over the same period.

Granted these are examples of the rarest and most sought after muscle cars. However, even “common” muscle cars have experienced notable gains. The 1970 Plymouth Road Runner with a 440ci engine sold for $3,500 and today trades at $55,000. A 1967 Pontiac GTO cost $3,750 and now goes for $45,000. That’s a 6.8% compounded rate of return.

The investor in muscle cars must consider a few very important points. First, all investments have risks. This market, like real estate or technology stocks, could fall as fast as it has risen. Second, unlike stocks and money market investments, muscle cars do not pay dividends or interest. Indeed, they cost money to maintain, store and restore. Third, rarity matters. As the numbers above show, the rarest muscle cars have preformed the best. Finally, get a second opinion when considering a classic muscle car. Mechanics are a good choice and a mechanic that has actually restored a few cars is the best choice. Nothing beats experience.

Obviously, one of the most important variables to consider when considering muscle cars as an investment is the condition. Only the most original and accurately restored examples fetch these prices. More common versions or cars in lower conditions will sell for significantly less. For the collector that actually wants to drive their cars regularly these more common versions may actually be a better value.

The choice of a rare collector muscle car or a common daily driver depends on the budget and the purpose of the collector. Both offer unique benefits to the owner and much enjoyment. The chance to re-live our youth is always a pleasant experience.

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Well guys after reviewing the good points of the camaro just a bit more, I think I really understand what’s going on here, I don’t really think the camaro needs that much work, some of the pictures just don’t do it a lot of justice, Chevy has put a lot of hard work in to this car and they deserve kudos, and yes they will get those kudos from me.

I’d said in a earlier post here that the camaro had a lot of work to do to catch up to the new Dodge challenger, and now I withdraw that comment, the camaro is nothing less then the best, and really the challenger has nothing over it, and this is by no means bagging on the challenger, it’s a tough car, and Dodge deserves a lot of respect for building it.

I do believe this is shaping up to be a good muscle car battle, the camaro vs. mustang vs. the Dodge challenger, and it’s hard for me to pick a winner, I know if it boils down to a road race, the camaro and the challenger stand a better chance then the mustang to win, but if this battle comes down to 1/4 mile performance, each of these cars will be very competitive right to the end.

It will boil down to how good the drivers handle the cars and how good the tuners tune them, it will be a close call on that one, being the biggest Chevaholic on the planet, it’s hard for me to not be biased, but these cars are very close in the performance areas, none of them have anything to be ashamed of, they are all mean cars that deserve a lot of respect in the end.

This is just shaping up to be a good battle, and if you’ve seen the specs on these cars then you can’t deny that, the big boys are playing with the big toys again, the big three motor companies are really pouring it on in a good way, and it’s about time.

I think this is going to help remind us gear heads of the old days, when the big three motor companies were in heavy competition for the top honors in the muscle car wars, but now they have a new weapon to fight with, and it’s called technology, the computers and electronics are doing amazing things for the new muscle cars, they make power easier then they used to by far.

In the old days, we’d spend a whole weekend changing carburetors and camshafts and heads just to gain 45 or 50 hp, now that can be done with a chip, and if you get a kit that has a camshaft matched to the chip, the possibilities are endless, and it takes a lot less time and effort these days to do the mods then it did back then, this is why I say it’s shaping up to be a good battle.

As you can imagine I’m a very excited man, I’m going nuts waiting for these new cars to hit the showrooms, I love the muscle cars and this just makes me all giddy just like a little school girl waiting to go on her first date, the anticipation is killing me, so if I should keel over dead before this all happens, then someone please do take over where I left off.

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Hot Rods & Muscle Cars

If you are of the 50’s 60’s or 70’s era generation you know that hot rods and muscle cars dominated the average male gender, and yes, even the females couldn’t help but turn their heads when a slick vintage car drove by. The times have changed but the desire to see those vintage cars has not. Those who have preserved those classic cars are as appreciated as the disc-jockeys today, that spin the classic tunes of yesteryear.

Hot Rods and Muscle Cars are forever etched into our being as the ultimate personal statements that we proudly display to one and all who see them at car shows or if you should see one pass by on the highway. Hot Rods and Muscle Cars say a lot about what makes America the proud nation we are. To delve into the psychic just a bit, hot rods have always been notorious for rebellion and attention getting tools for whatever the teenage group of the times was encountering. Whether it was rebelling against their parents, or rebelling against the establishment, hot rods and muscle cars are and always will be a nostalgic part of our culture.

Hot Rods and Muscle Cars come in every imaginable shape condition and modification. The amount of customization done to a hot rod is the extension of the builder’s imagination and frustration of his views on conventional styling. This in itself is not a bad thing. One can draw from one perspective as a new dimension on life and style in the hallowed United States. A sense of pride in country cannot be dismissed by the mere existence of hot rods and muscle cars.

To catch a glimpse of the ever-popular hot rods and muscle cars one merely needs to ask around their local auto repair shop for any upcoming car shows. The auto mechanics are forever mindful of those elusive hot rods and muscle cars from years gone by. The near forgotten auto mechanics or shade-tree mechanics we choose to refer to them, have all but waned away due to the computer diagnostic age. A mechanic now-a-days must be equipped with all the latest in electrical diagnostic equipment to compete with the dealerships to eek out a living. But fear not, there are still those die hard mechanics who love nothing more than to get there hands on a classic hot rod or muscle car just to rekindle the rumble of those quadra-jets or three duce’s in a slick bodied car from days gone by.

We found one gentleman that has taken his love of the classic t-bucket roadsters and set up his garage to produce new roadsters from yesteryear designs. He can build one from his laser sighted frame jig, all the way to completion right from his own shop. Every detail is hand crafted so he knows what went into making the finished roadster. He will gladly build you a custom made roadster for a very reasonable price. It’s his way of keeping the tradition and styling alive for generations that missed the golden years of hot rods and muscle cars.

To see more about Hot Rods and Muscle Cars :

http://wealthsmith.com/hot-rods-muscle-cars.htm

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