Collecting Classic Detroit Muscle

The big, ground-pounding machines of the 60's and early 70's are heavily sought-after classics. From the Coke bottle styling of the '68 Dodge Charger and its Big block Hemi's, to the low slung lines of the '63 split-window Corvette, Detroit had something for everyone, and the same still holds true for private collectors and connoisseurs today.

It doesn't take much detective work to find something you would be proud to have maturing in your driveway. And you might be surprised at just how little you would spend to get it. While many classics are going for prices that easily put your mortgage payment to shame, a lot of great examples are still out there and are still very affordable. Mustangs, Novas, and a whole host of Chryslers can still be had for less than $5,000 - you can believe it; it's true.

For the really great deals though, you need to think outside the box. Two words: Station Wagon. Yep, you read it right; the much-maligned family favorite is making a serious comeback. And you might want to get yours while you can, because prices for these babies are on the up and up. Back in the day, many of those station wagons came with the same high horsepower plants their big brothers were using to terrorize the local drag strips every Saturday night. Big blocks were common, and a few even came with a factory four-speed. The Impala, Nova and Dodge Coronet all had wagon models, and from the windshield forward, were nearly identical.

And, contrary to popular myth, there were in fact other car manufacturers besides the big three. AMC is one that turned out a few cool-looking, hot rides. The fastback Marlin, Javelin and the Rebel 'machine' are a few of the names that can still be had for a decent price nowadays. Badges like Oldsmobile, Buick, Pontiac and Mercury are still to be had without breaking the bank though.

This was an era when manufacturers were going head to head to see who could build the biggest, 'baddest' hot rod of them all. This was a time when you really could drive a car off the lot knowing that it shared the same motor and sheet metal as the guy who had just won the Daytona 500. Unfortunately, this was a time we won't see the likes of again. Dad was right; "they don't make 'em like that anymore."

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Find Classic Muscle Cars For Restoration

We all know that it can be a hard thing to find just the right classic muscle car for restoration. Obviously you need to be very picky if your going to get just the right car to start with. It's just not an easy process to locate a good car for a restoration project.

In this article I will try to demystify the process of locating just the right car for you. If you have done one of these projects in the past, you can obviously handle a little tougher of a project car. But for this article like most of my other articles I will stick to the beginner theme.

A restoration project is supposed to be a fun thing. You should not get a complete junker to start with, the idea is to find a car that you can complete the restoration on. A car that won't be pushed to the back yard to rot in the elements.

With that in mind let's talk about the price you should plan to spend on a good car for restoration. There is no such a thing as a $2,500 dollar classic car that is anything more then junk. Remember what I said at the first. Unless you have already done a restoration you should stay away from junk to start with.

You should put aside about $10,000 for a good starter restoration project car. In my eyes a good starter car is one that has very little to no rust in the body and no burned electrical wiring. Get a sound car mechanically, you can find this for about $10,000.

You should evaluate your skills to restore the car, and get a car that fits in to your skill set. If you're a good mechanic you should look toward a car that may need more mechanical work then body repair, or electrical work. Keep in mind that you will enjoy the project a lot more if the car leans more toward your skill set.

I'm by no means saying that you can't learn all of the processes that you need to know to perform a car restoration. What I am saying is this, if you are able to get a lot of the work done by yourself it will build your confidence and you will have more fun.

When looking for cars for restoration, you should consider how hard the parts my be to find. If the parts are readily available for the car that you choose to restore the project will flow a lot smoother. If you think of all of the things that may slow you down during the project, and look for the ways around those problems you should be all good with the work.

It's a good day when you realize that you have found the perfect car for restoration, and you know that you can afford to buy that car and start the project. You buy the car and load it on the trailer, or if your the lucky type of person you drive it home.

Now you can begin the project, you can inspect the car and start to develop your parts list. Yes the time has come to do your first car restoration project. Good luck enjoy the process and learn all you can about the car "KUDOS" to you for having the balls to do it.

I've been in the automotive business for about 20 or 25 years, I have worked in all facets of the industry, from parts to restoration, all different makes and models, I just want to keep people interested in the old cars because it's where my heart is.

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Muscle Car Restoration

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Chevy Knows Muscle Cars

Chevy has a long established history of creating cars that not only looked fantastic but proved durable and let us face it, classic Chevy cars turned and still turn people's heads. I want all classic Chevy fans to join me as I travel down memory lane in giving these classic cars their due.

Do you remember the 67 Camaro? This car was Chevy's answer to the Ford Mustang. The engine in the SS model was 350 V-8 that produced three-hundred horsepower. The car lasted through five generations of design upgrades. Sadly, production ceased in 2002 but was reintroduced to Chevy fans in 2010 and was awarded the Design of the Year Award. The Z28 was produced and designed for racing enthusiasts and competed in the Trans-Am series.

One vehicle that still turns heads to all who see it is the El Camino. Originally, this car was viewed as a small SUV (small utility vehicle). No one ever thought this car would join the ranks of "Muscle Cars." What made this car so unique is that back in 1966 the 396 engine was offered which was also available with the Chevelle. The Super Sport Edition was equipped with a Turbo Hydra-Matic Transmission and a 350 V-8 that allowed this Muscle Car to run the quarter mile in 14 seconds.

One vehicle that fought hard to park beside the Classic Muscle Cars is the Chevy Nova. This car was not known for fashion but rather was known for its compact form, speed and light-weight. The design that was given to the Nova was originally planned for what was called The Chevy II. The 64 models contained a V-8 engine that was 195 horsepower, 2-barrel 283.

If you grew up in the fifties, you might not remember the Bel Air. Why is this you might be wondering? The answer proves straightforward, the Bel Air was not as popular as Chevy imagined or hoped in the fifties. Popularity gained for this car in the sixties with the help of the Beach Boys hit "409".

The Chevy 150 is remembered specifically for the number in the title. The numerical designation originated from the production series number which was also utilized in Chevy's company reports. Production of this car ceased in 1957 and was replaced with the Delray. The 150 is not as valuable for collectors in comparison to its relatives the Bel Air and Two-Ten models. On a positive note, 150s that contain a V-8 engine are popular with hot rod collectors and enthusiasts because of the lower prices and curb weight.

The topic of COPO came up in a recent discussion about muscle cars the other day. For the record, COPO is an acronym that stands for "central office production order". This term was used frequently during the muscle car era in flagging vehicles that could be ordered directly from the factory. I will officially announce that the recent COPO I viewed was sparsely equipped with no rear seats and did not have air conditioning. If you are racing enthusiasts, you will enjoy the racing bucket seats in the recent versions of these cars.

If you are seeking to obtain a Muscle Car while saving some of your hard-earned cash, you should consider the Biscayne. The reason collectors are not beating the doors down for this model is because it has always lacked luxurious interiors and exteriors. You can find these models significantly lower in price in comparison to the mid-line Impala.

If you enjoy four-door sedans, the Chevy Deluxe was introduced to the world in 1941. The following year, they offered a fastback two-door "aero sedan." The production of this model was delayed because of War World II. Chevy stopped regular production of these models and instead focused on producing sedans and coupes for military usage.

Classic Chevy fans can all agree that Muscle Cars are sights to behold. We all have our memories of these cars and no matter how Ford wants to try; they will never be able to hold a candle to Chevy's finest, no matter how hard they try.

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Classic Plymouth Fans: History of Plymouth and Their Muscle Cars

Classic Plymouth fans know that muscle cars from their favorite auto production company were known from the beginning for their fancy-looking cars and their sportiness. In the sixties and seventies, Plymouth prided themselves on large engines and inspiring consumers.

Somewhere in between all this madness, they branded themselves with the Big Boys of Muscle Cars. Plymouth has proved competitive when it comes to horsepower. One exception was the 413 Wedge, but out of the ashes, came the success of the Mopar's 410 bhp 413 V-8.

The Roadking P9 was priced higher than the other Plymouth cars of their generation in 1939. These cars were offered in four-door and two-door and two-passenger coupe models. The four-door models proved most popular with consumers.

This company was known for their hot engines and winning races on the track. In 1967, the first muscle-imaged collection was placed in the GTX. This Satellite-based car stood tall with a 375 bhp 440 cid V-8 engine and only offered the Hemi as the engine option. This car was the first of its kind in midsized cars to display sport-up hood scoops, bucket seats, exciting emblems, large wheels and redline tires. This car was the epitome of Muscle Cars.

Plymouth proved their innovation with the Valiant-based Barracuda in 1964. The first cars of this type were strong performers. The 1965 Barracuda contained balanced handling with a 235 bhp 273 cid lifter V-8 engine. In 1967, the company went all out with offering a 383 cid big-block to the options. In 1969, the "Cuda" had a 440 cid V-8 engine.

In the early seventies, the Hemi Cuda proved arduous, and remains a highly-desired choice among Muscle Car enthusiasts. The most sought after version of the car is the seventy-version with the spoilered, and striped exterior. The Cuda and Duster were laid to rest in 1975 and was nothing but a memory when the division that produced the cars closed for good in 2001.

The Satellite was introduced in 1965 as part of the Belvedere production line. This car proved strong in sales until 1967. With the decline in sales, it was converted to a middle of the line priced model with the GTX. The Fury name was then transferred to Plymouth's middle-sized models in 1975. Plymouth then allowed the Satellite name to quietly disappear.

Plymouth at one point decided to gussy up the Valiant Scamp calling it a Brougham and consumers went totally nuts over the car with purchasing over 127,000 of them. The company admits that this car was never a high-performing car, but they delight in the memories of its popularity at one time in history.

In 1997, the Prowler was born (later becoming Chrysler Prowler). This car was also built in 1999 and 2002. The first version could reach 62 miles an hour in 7.2 seconds. The top-speed of this model was 118 miles per hour. The 1999 and 2002 model could reach 62 miles per hour in 5.9 seconds with a top-speed of 126 miles per hour. The 2001 and 2002 models were sold as Chrysler Prowler's, but DaimlerChrysler strategically marketed the car as a Plymouth in Canada for the 2000 models with this car being the last Plymouth ever sold in Canada.

Classic Plymouth car fans enjoy finding these muscle cars for restoration, or if they have the money, and luck, in mint condition. Plymouth Muscle Cars is still an obsession with the sport car enthusiasts. No matter how innovative or fast the current "muscle" cars seem to be, one thing is for sure, they will never have the clout of the Plymouth Muscle Cars.

Original article

1969 Chevy Camaro - The Classic Muscle Car

When it was introduced, the 1969 Chevy Camaro was unlike any other muscle car or sports car at that time. Chevrolet understood Americas need back then for style and power, offered at a lower price point.

The Camaro had the long, lean look of its sports car cousin, the Corvette. It had the Corvette muscle too, with a 210-hp 327 V8 standard. Other V8's available to order ran all the way up to a 325-hp Tubo-Jet 396.

Someone looking for a lot of muscle in their Camaro could also purchase the1969 Camaro SS. The SS was so popular it had been chosen the Pace Car for the Indy 500 multiple times. The engine choices started with a 300-hp 350 V8 and worked their way up from there. The SS also came with a special intake hood that, during acceleration, would gulp huge amounts of air to the engine increasing the power.

The 1969 Chevy Camaro SS also had beefed-up suspension, white-lettered wide oval tires on 14" x 7" wheels, power disc brakes and a special transmission with at that time, a unique floor shift. For those who wanted even more muscle car, there was a 4-speed available with a Hurst shifter.

The 1969 Chevy Camaro wasn't called "The Hugger" for nothing. Its wide stance and nimble wheelbase made for cat-quick maneuverability, which made it popular with the street racing teenagers of the day.

Inside the Camaro, you would have thought you were in a luxury car back then. This unique muscle car sported complete door-to-door carpeting and supple vinyl seats, which gave the Camaro a family ride atmosphere that the housewife enjoyed also.

When you went to the dealership to purchase a new 1969 Chevy Camaro, you had the option to make it more personal to fit your driving style. You could add a three-speed Turbo Hydra-matic transmission, 4-wheel power disc brakes and even an AM-FM radio!

Back in 1969, the Camaro was no ordinary muscle car. It was everything a family man, a housewife, and street racing teenager had been looking for...and then some.

The Z28 Camaro was promoted as the closet thing to a Corvette back then.The Z28 style Camaro was the only American car besides the Corvette that offered 4-wheel disc brakes. Add on the dual exhaust with deep tone mufflers, rear air spoiler, a special supension system, stylish round headlights, and the 1969 Chevy Camaro was a classic muscle car ahead of its time.

L J Crowe is the webmaster and author at Drive A Muscle Car.com http://www.driveamusclecar.com/. Drive A Muscle Car is a web site dedicated to connecting buyers and sellers passionate about driving, and most importantly muscle cars.
To view all of the 1969 Camaro for sale visit us today.
Unlike other classifieds web sites, we're specific to Muscle Cars so all our users are qualified potential buyers!

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10 Signs That Your Classic Muscle Car Is Rusting

10 signs that your classic muscle car is rusting; this is one of those articles that could encompass a lot of different ideas. I will stick to the things that I have seen over the years restoring classic cars. I hope you don't mind if I ramble on a bit I always get back to the theme of the article.

Over the years I have dealt with rust in a lot of different forms, and I may present this articles in a way that is a bit different but by the time you read it you will know if your car is beginning to rust, or if it has full blown body cancer.

First I will forge on with a numbered list of the 10 signs that your classic muscle car is rusting.

1. Paint bubbling this is always a tell tail sign that rust has started in your car
2. Paint flaking is another definite sign of rust, these two are the obvious ones
3. Rock chips are turning black or brown
4. The edges of doors, hoods, or trunk lid are starting to crack
5. Small pin holes in the body of your car (any body panel)
6. Any area that feels weak to the touch has rusted from the inside (Body Cancer)
7. Paint changing colors, and you can't fix it, this is a sign of the beginning of body cancer
8. Bigger holes in the floor board, rocker panels, or trunk floor (Body Cancer)
9. Fender wells are a common spot to get Body Cancer, they will develop holes
10. The fire wall in your engine compartment is a common place to rust, it will usually come from between the areas where they join two pieces of metal together.

The one thing that you need to remember about rust is that it is very hard to stop it from destroying your car once it has started the process. The biggest reason that rust starts in the first place is that people don't wash their cars enough.

Dirt; leafs and road grime will get in every crack and cranny of your car; these things hold moisture in and cause your car to rust. There are always things like rock chips in the paint, or bad body work that can cause rust also, so make sure that any work done on your car is done right.

In every case with body cancer the affected area must be cut out and replaced there is no easier, or shorter way to do it. Surface rust can be fixed by grinding the affected area clean, and repainting it. I know it all sounds like a ton of work, that is because it is.

Your best bet is to wash your car at least once per week if you drive it. In my next article I will talk more about rust prevention. This happens during the restoration of a car, you can make cars almost rust proof if you do it right, but that is in the next article.

I hope the 10 signs that your classic muscle car is rusting has helped some of our readers, please let us know if your like it.

I've been in the automotive business for about 20 or 25 years, I have worked in all facets of the industry, from parts to restoration, all different makes and models, I just want to keep people interested in the old cars because it's where my heart is.

http://autorevival.com/

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Americas Top Three Muscle Cars

The muscle cars wars are back in full force, now that all three of the major American manufacturers are producing one. In most cases, it comes down to personal preference when deciding which one you like the best, and which one you want to own. Below we will discuss the Camaro from General Motors, the Challenger from Dodge, and the Mustang from Ford.

When you start a debate on muscle cars, many enthusiasts believe that all discussions should start and end with the Mustang. After all, it has been around for a very long time, and it is certainly the most popular model in this highly distinguished class of cars that has ever been produced.

Ford, recently was very proud to announce that its new 2011 model is selling at a record pace. It first months orders exceeded over 11,000 units from the previous year. They attribute this to its new V6 engine which substantially improved its performance, while at the same time vastly increasing it gas mileage. In fact, they are stating it is now getting 25% more miles to the gallon, as compared to the 2010 model, which is no small achievement.

When Dodge brought back the Challenger in 2008, there were many fans all over the county that were extremely happy that this iconic model was finally going to be available again. For the first year, it was only available in the SRT8 Trim style, which produced a tremendous amount of horsepower, but at the expense of gas mileage.

In 2009 they made a few small adjustments to their line and introduced the V6 and R/T engine options. They also realized that to get more consumers to purchase the car, a manual transmissions option would help in the process.

In April of 2009 the Camaro got back into the competition with the 2010MY car. It had a pair of excellent engine options, which were the V8 that could produce as much as 422 horsepower. The other option was the V6, which generated a very respectable 304 horsepower, while allowing drivers to achieve a staggering 29 miles per gallon while driving it on the highway.

It appears that both Ford and General Motors are so happy with their efforts that they are going to see how these exceptional cars will do in the international markets. Both companies plan on releasing them in Europe. It remains to be seen how well they will be accepted though. Europeans are notoriously finicky when it comes to their cars, and are known to value performance over speed. In addition, gas prices in Europe can be two to three times as much as America, which certainly could put a damper on their sales.

Most if not all muscle admirers are extremely pleased that the Camaro, Mustang, and Challenger are all back in action testing each other once again. Only time will tell with gas prices increasing seemingly daily, if the producers will be able to continue to sell enough of them to make a profit, and justify their long-term existence.

If you want to learn about all the latest and greatest news happening in the car industry, please be sure to click the following link Automotive.

For one of the most comprehensive websites anywhere that keeps you up to date on everything about cars, please click on the following link to visit us Motorsports.

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