This list carries a bit more credence than Pat 1 did. There are a few cars that somewhat qualify to be called muscle cars, take away the fact that Federal Emission Laws choked the horsepower right out them. Insurance companies also had a part in the decreased horsepower.
Nonetheless, here are the remaining five cars, plus an additional bonus car.
6. 1979 Pontiac Firebird Formula 400 WS6
It's funny, when this car was brand new, I knew a couple that had two of these, bet they wish they still had them.
It was during the 1979 model year that the Formula was available with the 220-hp true Pontiac 400 (6.6 liter) V-8 and the WS6 handling package that brought four-wheel disc brakes and the glorious “snowflake” alloy wheels along with it.
Late-’70s Trans Am prices have been inflated by a generation of Bandit wannabes, but the less flashy Formula is lagging. There were only 24,851 Formulas made during ’79. How many of those had the 400 and WS6? Not many.
Values: $11,200/$16,600
7. 1985–90 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z and Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
The Third Generation Camaro is probably my personal favorite, I had a 1989 Camaro RS. Truth be told, it only had a 2.8 L V-6, with that said, I purchased the vehicle to hand to my daughter, when she turned 16. She learned to drive on this car. We ended up sharing it.
New Jersey cool is now entering the collector-car market, so the objects of their teenage lust remain relatively affordable. The generation that grew up worshiping these icons of 1980s, can now buy them at a reasonable price.
There are dozens of variations of the IROC and Trans Am available, and most are dirt cheap. The 225-horse, 5.7-liter TPI V-8 was phased in during ’86 and ’87.The third F-body didn't hit its stride until the 215-hp, tuned-and-port-injected 5.0-liter V-8 and gorgeous IROC-Z arrived for ’85.
Values: IROC-Z, $4500/$9050; Firebird Trans Am, $5475/$8650
8. 1989 Pontiac 20th Anniversary Trans Am
***Here’s the section that matters in Car and Driver’s test of the 20th Anniversary Trans Am: “Our test car scorched the drag strip with a 0-to-60-mph blast of 4.6 seconds and a quarter-mile run of 13.4 seconds at 101 mph. That means, as we go to press, that the turbocharged Trans Am is the quickest 0-to-60 sprinter available in any U.S. production-car showroom—at any price.” Top speed: 153 mph.
The car is more than worthy to be a Muscle Car, and be part of this list.
The 20th Anniversary Trans Am is special because only 1500 were built and because they were all powered by Buick’s turbocharged 250-hp, 3.8-liter V-6 that had been used in that division’s storied Grand National.
Values: $19,600/$23,800
(***Credit Car & Driver)
9. 1993 Ford SVT Mustang Cobra
The Cobra was the first car to come out of Ford’s Special Vehicle Team. Only 4993 were made. Another 107 were built as “R” models, but those are pricier.
Riding on a specially tuned suspension and 17-inch wheels, powered by a 235-horse version of the classic injected 5.0 V-8, and perfectly decorated to be distinctive and handsome.
Of all the 5.0-liter (er, 4.9 liter) Mustangs built from 1979 to 1993, this one is the best.
Values: $8450/$12,550
10. 1994–96 Chevrolet Impala SS
A very special friend of mine, who has since passed away, managed to obtain one of these fine pre-owned creatures. We were both working at a GM dealership together at the time, He fought tooth & nail with the General Manager to get his price, I was very happy for him. This car fit him like a T.
Comfortable, surprisingly nimble, great-looking, and engineered like a girder bridge, the Impala SS is still too new to be considered a “classic” for pricing purposes. But there are people out there already hoarding prime examples.
So big it can be used as a banquet hall, the mid-’90s Impala SS is essentially a redecorated Caprice 9C1 cop car powered a 260-hp version of the Corvette’s old-school LT1 small-block V-8.
Values: $9350/$13,450
11. BONUS MINI-MUSCLE: 1986–87 Dodge Omni GLH-S
OK my Muscle Car fans, here's the bonus care I promised you. It's incredible the dollars this cars is commanding.
You already knew that GLH stood for “Goes Like Hell” and the S for “Some More.”
If you buy the GLH-S as a collectible, you’ll love it for all its antisocial tendencies bred when Shelby tweaked the Omni GLH model.
This mini monster is a front-wheel-drive five-door based on the unloved Omni and powered by a turbocharged and intercooled 175-hp, 2.2-liter four usually found in several undistinguished K-car variants.
The Omni GLH-S has Shelby heritage, a reputation for ludicrous performance, and turbo lag that lasts a century.
Values: $9850/$20,000
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