Best '70s/Early '80s Muscle Car For Beginners
Discussion
I'm in the very early stages of getting into American muscle cars. On a visual level, I really like Camaros, Trans Ams, Novas, etc. I mentioned in another forum that I don't really know much at all about car maintenance and repair, but I'd like to start learning while I save up. I just sort of want an idea of what I should be aiming for, so I guess my question is what would be a decent muscle car (built sometime in the '70s or early '80s) that would be a good learning experience for a beginner but not really throw them into an overwhelming deep end that would send them running and screaming in the other direction?
Just to provide a few examples of some cars that I really like for their aesthetic...
The Hemicuda from Phantasm: http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l9flzzDgLA1qa9fbg.j...
Not a big Transformers fan but I dig the look of the '77 Camaro: https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4N8QJKdk1mY/maxresdefault.j...
This '77 Trans Am is sort of my mental idea if what I'd see myself driving: http://www.seanzarinegarcars.com/wp-content/upload...
And I'll just throw this Chevy Nova in here because it was my mother's dream car so I grew up liking them too: http://www.autoinfluence.com/wp-content/uploads/20...
The Hemicuda from Phantasm: http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l9flzzDgLA1qa9fbg.j...
Not a big Transformers fan but I dig the look of the '77 Camaro: https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4N8QJKdk1mY/maxresdefault.j...
This '77 Trans Am is sort of my mental idea if what I'd see myself driving: http://www.seanzarinegarcars.com/wp-content/upload...
And I'll just throw this Chevy Nova in here because it was my mother's dream car so I grew up liking them too: http://www.autoinfluence.com/wp-content/uploads/20...
I'm starting from square one so my current budget is $0 LOL I'm actually just starting to save up but I guess that gives me time to do lots of looking before I decide. I'm quickly learning that rust is a pretty big deal for a lot of muscle cars so I might try to learn body work before I get into any other types of repair.
CharonCriss said:
Yeah, I knew Hemicudas were pricey...I didn't know they were THAT pricey! I knew Mustangs had parts that were plentiful compared to other classic cars but I'd heard the same thing about Camaros too and was hoping I might be able to get a Camaro cheaper.
Plenty of both, and everything else, on here: https://www.carsforsale.com/CharonCriss said:
Yeah, I knew Hemicudas were pricey...I didn't know they were THAT pricey! I knew Mustangs had parts that were plentiful compared to other classic cars but I'd heard the same thing about Camaros too and was hoping I might be able to get a Camaro cheaper.
Not only the 'cudas, most of the Mopars - Chargers, Challengers - are pricy for the desirable examples. None are really suitable as a first muscle car either.Personally, if I knew nothing about this type of car, I would be looking at something common, probably made by GM, and with a 350 under the bonnet.
Bellini said:
Out of interest, why isn't a Mustang considered a muscle car?
I hear some call them 'Pony cars', but clarification would be appreciated.
IIRC a 'muscle car' is a full sized car a 'pony car' is a size or 2 below (ie Mustang sized, the Mustang being the first in this class). All that being said generically they are all muscle cars these days to non-puristsI hear some call them 'Pony cars', but clarification would be appreciated.
Going back to the time I first started working on cars, which was when these things were new, with apologies for a bad memory, I remember things this way.
The term Pony Car was coined first to the Mustang, both small and big block cars. Later, it was used on Chargers (also a kind of horse) and Chevelle (think the french word "cheval" incorrectly spelled). In the early days, the term was also used for Camaros, Firebirds, Cougars, Roadrunners...
It was a good few years later when I first heard the term Musclecar. I suspect this was because cars were named after things other than horses. The problem here was that there were cars such as the Chrysler C-300. Any car with a Hemi must be a musclecar in the eyes of some, and not in the eyes of others! So things got confused....
As regards the first musclecar....For me, that would be either one of the Letter Series 300's, or, the 1962 Max Wedge Dodge Polara or Plymouth equivalent. Not the Mustang though.
The term Pony Car was coined first to the Mustang, both small and big block cars. Later, it was used on Chargers (also a kind of horse) and Chevelle (think the french word "cheval" incorrectly spelled). In the early days, the term was also used for Camaros, Firebirds, Cougars, Roadrunners...
It was a good few years later when I first heard the term Musclecar. I suspect this was because cars were named after things other than horses. The problem here was that there were cars such as the Chrysler C-300. Any car with a Hemi must be a musclecar in the eyes of some, and not in the eyes of others! So things got confused....
As regards the first musclecar....For me, that would be either one of the Letter Series 300's, or, the 1962 Max Wedge Dodge Polara or Plymouth equivalent. Not the Mustang though.
Yeah, I'm learning a lot about the terminology too. I was using the term "muscle car" as a broader term than I should have. With proper muscle cars wrapping up in '71 or '72, I think the type of car I'm looking for would be like "the son of the muscle car". All joking aside, these are all great suggestions and I appreciate everyone's input!
IMO opinion buy what you really like the look of.
They are all great cars with crap 70's interiors.
Rust is your enemy.
I consider my Mustang to be a muscle car.
1200kg. 289 CI, 440bhp on the old cast manifolds as it has to run to appendix K FIA regs.
I bloody love this car and what a blast to race.
They are all great cars with crap 70's interiors.
Rust is your enemy.
I consider my Mustang to be a muscle car.
1200kg. 289 CI, 440bhp on the old cast manifolds as it has to run to appendix K FIA regs.
I bloody love this car and what a blast to race.
Edited by SRT Hellcat on Wednesday 21st September 22:50
Matt Harper said:
Bear in mind also that a Hemi 'Cuda even in shabby condition would cost a minimum and $50k - restored ones are now $125k and up.
That's really funny. Multiply your figures by at least 10. I'm talking about factory Hemi cars here.If you could buy a Hemi Cuda for what you think I'd be in the US looking for one right now.
The 80s were the malaise era for performance.
The 3rd gen Camaro/Firebird ran from 1982 to 1992 and started off at 145hp and struggled up to 225hp. Most are 5.0s and manuals are rare because the gearbox they had, the T5, couldn't handle the power.there are a few 5.7s but they are rare and many claim to be 5.7 but are 5.0.
Essentially, you have the carburettor cars (Z28s/Trans Ams mainly), the single point throttle injection models (usually RS/Formula) and the tuned port injection models which are usually IROCs/Trans Ams GTA or, in the early 90s, Z28 when Chevy lost the rights to use the name so fitted a big rear spoiler instead.
The 93 replacement came with 275hp so was a big performance jump but it got the unpopular Optispark ignition until the LS1 came along in 1998.
Mustang IIs should be avoided but they are very rare and we enter the era of the Fox body Mustang which survived through various iterations but always looked particularly dull, next to the Chevy. Similarly poor in the performance stakes with even the GT struggling to scrape 215hp. The later Fox Cobra claimed 305hp and some had it, some didn''t but they are more complicated engines than the GT.
None are very complicated to maintain. They have very good parts back-up inthe US but it's the shipping that is the killer. that said, bigger parts can be shipped in by container, via Ron at STS imports.
The 70s cars rust like the devil bt all American cars are slowly going up in price. They generally have a pattern of slow depreciation, doldrums and then a slow ascent in value. The 3rd gen is having that renaissance at present.
Have a look at this Facebook page for cars for sale: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AmericanCarsUK/
Something like this would let you in for peanuts and get you used to LHD etc https://www.facebook.com/groups/AmericanCarsUK/per...
The 3rd gen Camaro/Firebird ran from 1982 to 1992 and started off at 145hp and struggled up to 225hp. Most are 5.0s and manuals are rare because the gearbox they had, the T5, couldn't handle the power.there are a few 5.7s but they are rare and many claim to be 5.7 but are 5.0.
Essentially, you have the carburettor cars (Z28s/Trans Ams mainly), the single point throttle injection models (usually RS/Formula) and the tuned port injection models which are usually IROCs/Trans Ams GTA or, in the early 90s, Z28 when Chevy lost the rights to use the name so fitted a big rear spoiler instead.
The 93 replacement came with 275hp so was a big performance jump but it got the unpopular Optispark ignition until the LS1 came along in 1998.
Mustang IIs should be avoided but they are very rare and we enter the era of the Fox body Mustang which survived through various iterations but always looked particularly dull, next to the Chevy. Similarly poor in the performance stakes with even the GT struggling to scrape 215hp. The later Fox Cobra claimed 305hp and some had it, some didn''t but they are more complicated engines than the GT.
None are very complicated to maintain. They have very good parts back-up inthe US but it's the shipping that is the killer. that said, bigger parts can be shipped in by container, via Ron at STS imports.
The 70s cars rust like the devil bt all American cars are slowly going up in price. They generally have a pattern of slow depreciation, doldrums and then a slow ascent in value. The 3rd gen is having that renaissance at present.
Have a look at this Facebook page for cars for sale: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AmericanCarsUK/
Something like this would let you in for peanuts and get you used to LHD etc https://www.facebook.com/groups/AmericanCarsUK/per...
malc350 said:
Matt Harper said:
Bear in mind also that a Hemi 'Cuda even in shabby condition would cost a minimum and $50k - restored ones are now $125k and up.
That's really funny. Multiply your figures by at least 10. I'm talking about factory Hemi cars here.If you could buy a Hemi Cuda for what you think I'd be in the US looking for one right now.
I have some knowledge of the value of these cars, one of my neighbors owns this 1969 factory hemi areo-car.
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