HERE ARE 10 CLASSIC MUSCLE CAR YOU CAN AFFORD ( CAR & DRIVER , ) PART 1

Off  the record, I had a seriously tough time taking this list seriously.  Calling the aforementioned automobiles muscle cars is a stretch. My Idea of watching a reality show is tuning into a Barrett-Jackson Auto -Auction. The problem with the cars at Barrett-Jackson is, the are above my pay grade, and most peoples pay grade I'm going to give you the list, take away from it all that you can. I just can't take it serious.


1. 1970–71 Ford Torino GT and Mercury Cyclone GT 

 Ford Motor Co took a gamble and refreshed it's lineup in 1970. American consumer did not kike that very much.

In theory, it could be because Ford kept campaigning the long-nose 1969 Ford Torino Talladega and Mercury Cyclone Spoiler in NASCAR.

 Torino GT Cobra and Cyclone GT Spoiler models were often powered by the Super Cobra Jet 429 (7.0 liter) V-8 rated at 360 horsepower.  Most 1970 Torino GTs and Cyclone GTs came with the 250-hp, 351-cubic-inch (5.8 liter) V-8.

 

Values: Torino GT, $11,950/$15,900; Cyclone GT, $12,350/$18,400.

 

2. 1973 Pontiac GTO and 1973–75 Pontiac Grand Am

 

 The bodies for ’73, all got larger and heavier, for GM’s mid-size A-cars, it was the last traditional, mid-size GTO.

Pontiac put little effort into it,  the GTO was nearly a spent force by then. Most of the 4806 built had a 230-hp, 400-cubic-inch (6.6 liter) V-8; a 250-hp 455 (7.5 liter) was optional.

The Grand Am, using the same body as the GTO, many were built with the 400 and the 250-horse 455. More interesting, and more popular, was the squishy nosed Grand Am available as a coupe or sedan.

More interesting, and more popular, was the squishy nosed Grand Am available as a coupe or sedan.

 3. 1971 AMC Hornet SC/360

  The power for the '71AMCHornet comes from an AMC V-8, with a two-barrel Motorcraft carb rated at 245 gross horsepower or a four-barrel at 285 horsepower.

AMC built only 784 of these muscled-up versions of the AMC Hornet SC/360 compact. The various Javelins and AMXs are more flamboyant, but this might be the rarest AMC muscle of them all.

The earlier SC/Rambler and Rebel Machine are more prominent among collectors

Values: $22,800/$31,400

4.  1971–75 Ford Maverick Grabber

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.The Grabber could be had powered by a 210-gross-horsepower, two-barrel 302-cubic-inch (4.9 liter) V-8. Not so much a muscle car as a car that looks like one,



Not so much a muscle car as a car that looks like one,   That dropped to 140 horsepower when Ford adopted net ratings in ’72 and 129 horsepower when emissions strangled output in ’75.

Still, the Grabber was good-looking and simple to work on, and the Brazilians swear by their version.

Values: $6275/$10,200

5. 1974–76 Dodge Dart Sport 360

  Car and Driver organized a top-speed test of four cars and a truck. In second, behind the Corvette and ahead of the Trans Am, was the ordinary Dodge Dart Sport 360. “America's fastest sedan is also one of its most innocuous; it blends into traffic like a lane divider,” a young Don Sherman concluded about the Dart.

American performance was near its nadir in 1976. With 200 net horsepower from a 360-cubic-inch (5.9 liter) V-8 under its hood and no catalyst clogging its dual exhaust system, the Dart freight-trained to 121.8 mph for C/D. Awesome for the time.

Values: $5200/$8500