Muscle cars were once the bread and butter of the primary market. Although this has changed with time, we will never lose our love for this vehicle type. In fact, so many muscle cars are still talked about today, as they were total gamechangers for their manufacturers. However, like with everything in the automobile world, there were a ton of lemons that definitely have gotten worse with their reputation as time has gone on.
This article will be looking at 10 classic muscle cars that have aged well, as well as 5 that did not. These cars will be coming from many different release years, as well as brands. At the end of the day, the good ones are absolutely the type of cars that collectors are looking to add to their garage. However, the bad ones were honestly not worth driving even when they were on the primary market. Thus, there is no reason to put yourself through stress driving them.
Now, let's take a look at these muscle cars!
15. Aged Well: 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado
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The 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado is one of the coolest cars to ever be released. It was a complete culture change for its brand, as they never made a car that solely focused on performance before it. It would be a slam dunk for them, as it got them out of the background from GM.
14. Aged Well: 1965 Pontiac Catalina 2+2
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The 1965 Porsche Catalina 2+2 was a marvelous release from this manufacturer. It actually is one of the most important cars of the muscle car movement, as its design would change the way they were built forever. If located near you, this is certainly a car to collect as soon as you can.
13. Aged Well: 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
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The 1968 Plymouth Road Runner is one of the best cars of its era. This is due to the fact that the manufacturer smartly aimed to make it affordable, yet did not take away its power. Ironically today, this is a classic that has now jumped up in value. I mean, it is understandable, as this is special.
12. Aged Well: 1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
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The 1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am is an absolute classic. This vehicle is one that is recognizable to all, as it was the bread and butter for its brand. Its unique stylistic choices and strong performance made it an amazing car. It is still one that can keep up with modern vehicles too.
11. Aged Well: 1970 Plymouth Barracuda
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The 1970 Plymouth Barracuda is definitely a car that we have not lost love for. This is because of the clear fact that it was built in a perfect manner. Structurally, it was able to handle harsh weather with ease, while also being very fun to drive with its high speeds. It is one of the greatest to come from Plymouth.
10. Aged Well: 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona
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The 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona was quite a special vehicle for this brand. This is due to the fact that it mixed amazing style with an intense level of speed. It truly would help this manufacturer grow in popularity with their muscle cars, as it clearly was one of the best ones of its release year.
9. Aged Well: 1968 Dodge Dart
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The 1968 Dodge Dart brought new life to this series, as it would focus more on its speed. This move would surely be the right one, as it would become one of the most beloved cars of its decade. It is a shame that the brand could not replicate the success of this one with the Dart's return in 2013.
8. Aged Well: 1970 Ford Torino Cobra
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The 1970 Ford Torino Cobra is a vehicle that honestly deserves to be talked about way more. This is because of the clear fact that it not only was immensely fast, but it would thrive with its handling too. Therefore, it was the perfect car to drive around off-road, which was a cool feature.
7. Aged Well: 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge
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The 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge is a car that every collector wants to get their hands on. This is entirely understandable, as it was a very important project for GM. Its performance would make it outclass the vast majority of its competition with ease. Overall, it is hard to find a single flaw.
6. Aged Well: 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429
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The 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 would definitely help continue the legacy of this series. It brought upon a new sense of style, while also being a lot tougher than earlier models. It is a classic that will forever be talked about, as it would help shape Ford into the top manufacturer it is today.
5. Worthless: 1979 Oldsmobile 4-4-2
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The 1979 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 was a step in the wrong direction for this now defunct brand. This is due to the fact that it was not only hard on the eyes, but it lacked in any true amount of both speed and performance. It was poorly built too, so it would need repairs regularly.
4. Worthless: 1982 Chevrolet Camaro Iron Duke
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The 1982 Chevrolet Camaro Iron Duke is definitely a vehicle that would fail miserably as a muscle car. This is because of its abysmal engine, as it not only was weak, but it would break down very quickly. It is a rare lemon from this otherwise spectacular series.
3. Worthless: 1971 Ford Pinto
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The 1971 Ford Pinto may be the worst muscle car of all-time. This is because of its tendency to set on fire during the smallest of rear end collisions. Without much surprise, the manufacturer would face a lot of scrutiny and lawsuits for this absolutely terrible model.
2. Worthless: 1980 Mercury Capri RS
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The 1980 Mercury Capri RS had a ton of potential to be special. There is no question it had a great luxury look, but the primary issue was that its engine was immensely faulty. As a result of this, these cars would break down far too early. Thus, the reputation of this Capri model has made it worthless.
1. Worthless: 1978 AMC Gremlin GT
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The 1978 AMC Gremlin GT is the type of vehicle that would hurt this manufacturer to massive degree. Its ride quality was absolutely awful, as its steering delays would ruin its quality. At the end of the day, it makes sense that these cars are worthless today. They never should have made it to the public at all.
Sources: autolist.com, vocal.media
