With the recent discontinuations of the Dodge Challenger and ICE Charger, as well as the Chevrolet Camaro, the Ford Mustang is the last muscle car standing. There is the Charger Daytona EV and the pending Charger SIX PACK, but neither of those are V-8, so technically not muscle. With Muscleville now being a one-horse town, however, things can get a little boring, and some folks may want something that isn’t a Mustang. There isn’t anything to choose from in 2025, but there are generations of classic cars to take care of that muscle itch.
Granted, the 2025 Mustang is pretty awesome and with a $35,000ish starting price, a solid deal, but some may want something a little more raw and retro. Our mission, which we’ve chosen to accept, is to find underrated classic muscle cars that can grace your driveway for less than the price of a new ‘Stang. You could end up dropping the cost of a moderately-sized mansion on some Golden Age rides like Hemi-equipped Mopars and ultra-rare big-block convertibles, but there are so many lesser-known classics that are just as cool, but easier on the wallet.
To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including J.D. Power, Hegerty, and Bring a Trailer. Cars are ranked by average retail price, lowest to highest.
10
1971 Pontiac LeMans T-37
Average Used Price: $20,400
For those thinking that the 1971 Pontiac LeMans T-37 looks suspiciously familiar, that’s because, for all intents and purposes, it’s a GTO. For one year only, Pontiac created this performance version of the LeMans, presumably for buyers who didn’t want the Judge graphics on their speed machine. Equipped with the 360-horsepower version of the 455-cubic-inch H.O. V-8, this was every bit the muscle car the GTO Judge was. Unlike the Judge, which is frequently a six-figure collectible, the T-37 is dirt cheap.
1971 LeMans T-37 Prices and Values
- J.D. Power Average Retail: $20,000
- Hagerty Good Condition Value: $12,500
- Average Auction Price: $33,378
- High Auction Sale: $90,000
- BaT Best Deal: N/A
J.D. Power reports that the average retail price is a measly $20,000, and they base their figures on actual cars sold, so the T-37 is an underrated muscle car that’s cheaper than a Kia Soul. Hagerty’s good condition value is even better at $12,500, which is probably cheaper than a 10-year-old Soul. The auction prices are a bit more expensive, but are skewed higher by rare convertibles and custom jobs. There have not actually been any T-37s sold recently at auction, including on Bring a Trailer, but several similarly-equipped LeMans models have gone for under $20,000.
9
1970 Plymouth Duster
Average Used Price: $20,700
The Plymouth Duster, introduced in 1970, is sort of the forgotten classic Mopar, but it is decidedly badass, and its relative anonymity is great for budget collectors. The strange thing is, the car was insanely successful back in the day, so much so that Dodge demanded their own version of it, which became the Demon. While the Demon has recently heated up on the strength and hype of the 2023 Challenger SRT Demon 170, the Duster is still an amazingly affordable ride that is guaranteed to draw attention.
1970 Duster Prices and Values
- J.D. Power Average Retail: $20,700
- Hagerty Good Condition Value: $17,200
- Average Auction Price: $46,392
- High Auction Sale: $99,000
- BaT Best Deal: $24,000
The average used price paid, according to J.D. Power, is barely over $20,000, while Hagerty drops the good condition value from that by more than $3,000. The discrepancy between these numbers is that J.D. Power’s price is for the Duster 340, while Hagerty only has values for 318-equipped cars. The top auction sellers, which are closing in on $100,000, are perfect low-mileage examples, including one that only has 108 miles on the odometer. Bring a Trailer has sold several ’70 Duster 340s between $24,000 and $61,500, so it’s possible to find one in the J.D. Power price neighborhood.
8
1969 Plymouth Barracuda Formula S
Average Used Price: $22,900
1970-1971 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cudas are arguably the most famous Golden Age of American Muscle rides, but there’s no discussion that they are the most collectible, with rare convertibles fetching millions at auction. Second-generation Barracudas, on the other hand, have been virtually ghosted by collectors and represent one of the best coolness-to-cost ratios in the hobby. A 1969 Barracuda Formula S, equipped with a 330-horsepower 383-cubic-inch V-8, is a kick-ass compact that could swim with the sharks of the classic era, but comes with a goldfish price nowadays.
1969 Barracuda Formula S Prices and Values
- J.D. Power Average Retail: $22,900
- Hagerty Good Condition Value: $24,400
- Average Auction Price: $54,127
- High Auction Sale: $132,000
- BaT Best Deal: $26,000
Both J.D. Power and Hagerty are in agreement that a ’69 Barracuda Formula S is an under-$25,000 car. The auction prices seem to disagree that this is a budget classic, but the big-money rides crossing the block are ultra-rare M-code cars that came equipped with the 440-cubic-inch V-8, including the top six-figure seller. Bring a Trailer hasn’t sold any Formula S 383 cars, but they’ve moved several 340s in the $25,000 range, which is still a fun ride. It may take some legwork, but finding one of these babies for the J.D. Power/Hagerty price is doable.
7
1973 Pontiac Firebird Formula
Average Used Price: $25,200
The Pontiac Firebird isn’t exactly an obscure classic, but the Formula trim is certainly less legendary than the Trans Am, and besides the name, there’s no real difference. In 1973, both the Formula and Trans Am came available with a 400-cubic-inch V-8, and the engine performed identically regardless of what trim it was equipped in. A ’73 Formula actually had a couple of “Screaming Chicken” decals on it, so it was every bit as cool as the Trans Am. On today’s market, the Formula represents a cheaper alternative to the Trans Am, with a used price that can’t be beat.
1973 Firebird Formula Prices and Values
- J.D. Power Average Retail: $25,200
- Hagerty Good Condition Value: $16,600
- Average Auction Price: $69,664
- High Auction Sale: $260,000
- BaT Best Deal: $37,250
At just over $25,000, J.D. Power’s average retail price is music to collectors’ ears. We’re not quite sure what’s going on with Hagerty’s super-low good condition price, but if you ever come across one that cheap, snap it up. The auction market is for all ’73 Firebirds, so the 455 Super Duty cars obviously take the average way up. That white Firebird Formula 400 pictured above sold for $37,250 on Bring a Trailer a couple of years ago, which is slightly higher than the J.D. Power price, but it’s a spectacular example with only 55,000 miles on it, so it’s totally worth it.
6
1971 Dodge Charger Super Bee
Average Used Price: $26,700
The second-generation (1968-1970) Dodge Charger was the defining car of the Golden Age, but the third-gen, launched in 1971, wasn’t even considered collectible until recently. G3 got its revenge in 2023 when a ’71 Hemi R/T sold for $550,000, becoming the most expensive classic Charger ever sold. A much more affordable ride is the 1971 Charger Super Bee equipped with the underrated but awesome 383-cubic-inch V-8. The Coronet-based Super Bee was discontinued in 1970, but lived on for another year as trim for the third-gen Charger. Much like the Super Bee’s original purpose to deliver power at a reasonable price, the Charger Super Bee was the stripped-down performance trim.
1971 Charger Super Bee Prices and Values
- J.D. Power Average Retail: $26,700
- Hagerty Good Condition Value: $44,600
- Average Auction Price: $76,414
- High Auction Sale: $550,000
- BaT Best Deal: $35,000
Once again, J.D. Power and Hagerty are in disagreement over the value of a ’71 Charger Super Bee. Hagerty sets their good condition value at $44,600, but also lists the 440-equipped version as $700 cheaper at $43,900, which makes very little sense. Luckily, Bring a Trailer has a real-world sale to settle this, with that Blue Bumblebee above going for $35,000 recently. The car had its 383 replaced by a 440, so it’s not a matching-numbers car, but it has a definite power upgrade. BaT has also sold 383 Charger Super Bee for $30,000, so this is an attainable classic Mopar.
5
1967 Buick GS 400
Average Used Price: $28,400
Buick’s answer to the 1960s muscle car craze was to create a high-performance version of the two-door Skylark coupe they dubbed the Gran Sport. While certainly cool, it never got the recognition of its more famous A-Body cousins, the Pontiac GTO and Chevrolet Chevelle SS. By 1967, the Buick muscle was its own model known as the GS 400, and it is another classic that hits with great styling, performance, and price ratio. As the name would indicate, all these cars came equipped with 400-cubic-inch V-8s, so there are no wimpy engines to settle for.
1967 GS 400 Prices and Values
- J.D. Power Average Retail: $28,400
- Hagerty Good Condition Value: $23,000
- Average Auction Price: $37,899
- High Auction Sale: $71,500
- BaT Best Deal: $29,000
In a rare undervaluation, Hagerty comes in more than five grand cheaper than the J.D. Power average retail price, but either way, this is some classic muscle that is priced right. Even the average auction price isn’t too outrageous, and the cars that cross the block are generally extra-special examples. J.D. Power says the ’67 GS 400 is an under-$30,000 car, and Bring a Trailer proves it with a hardtop four-speed that sold for $29,000 earlier this year. It has a replacement engine and, for some reason, was repainted from Apple Red to Arctic White, but otherwise is a perfect restoration for an even more perfect price.
4
1966 Ford Fairlane 500 GT
Average Used Price: $30,200
The Fairlane is hardly anonymous, as Ford‘s luxury land cruiser has inspired songs and film, but for one brief moment, it was an intermediate-sized muscle car that hardly anyone remembers. From 1966 and 1967, the Fairlane became a very aggressive-looking mid-size ride in the two-door configuration that rivaled anything GM or Mopar had going on then. Equipped with a 335-horsepower 390-cubic-inch V-8, the 1966 Fairlane 500 GT was a definite player on the street that has somehow been lost to time. That obscurity, however, means this is a bargain-hunter’s dream.
1966 Fairlane 500 GT Prices and Values
- J.D. Power Average Retail: $30,200
- Hagerty Good Condition Value: $31,400
- Average Auction Price: $45,128
- High Auction Sale: $296,000
- BaT Best Deal: $27,000
Once again, J.D. Power and Hagerty are on the same page in valuing this car at around $30,000, and there’s some real-world proof to back that up. The auction prices are totally bonkers, but that’s because in 1966, there was also the Fairlane Code-R factory drag car. Equipped with a conservatively rated 425-horsepower dual-quad 427-cubic-inch V-8, the Code-R was produced in extremely small numbers (57 to be exact) and is a highly desirable collectible. The Plain Jane ’67 500 GT is, conversely, a steal of a deal with Bring a Trailer selling one recently for $3,200 under the J.D. Power average retail price.
3
1970 Mercury Cyclone GT
Average Used Price: $31,300
The 1970 Mercury Cyclone GT is easily the most criminally slept on car of the entire classic era. With a muscular style and stance, it wasn’t shy around a ’70 Charger, Chevelle SS, or GTO Judge, and had the performance to hang with any of them. Unlike most cars on this list that were equipped with great, but not top-tier engine options, the Cyclone GT came with a 370-horsepower 429-cubic-inch Cobra Jet V-8. With all the looks and hops of any elite Golden Age ride, it’s scandalous that the Cyclone GT isn’t remembered as one of the greats, and even more shocking at how affordable they are today.
1970 Cyclone GT Prices and Values
- J.D. Power Average Retail: $31,300
- Hagerty Good Condition Value: $23,700
- Average Auction Price: $55,745
- High Auction Sale: $198,000
- BaT Best Deal: $15,700
While J.D. Power sets the average retail price of the ’70 Cyclone GT at around $30,000, Hagerty thinks a good-condition version is worth almost $7,000 less. Both of those numbers are for the 429 CJ-equipped version, so these are not lower-trim values. The top auction price is radically high, but that is for an immaculate 1-of-73 configured example. Back here on planet Earth, Bring a Trailer sold that black beauty picture above for the low, low price of $15,700. The car is all original, in nearly perfect condition, and equipped with the 429 CJ engine, so whoever bought it got the steal of the century and should be investigated for Grand Theft Auto.
2
1969 Dodge Coronet R/T
Average Used Price: $33,800
The Dodge Coronet was the all-time best-selling Mopar during the Golden Age, but most of those were non-muscle four-doors and wagons. The 1969 two-door Coronet R/T was pure muscle, but was overshadowed by the flashier Super Bee and nearly identical Plymouth Road Runner and GTX. That back-burner status, however, makes it a dynamite pick up for the thrifty collector. R/T was Dodge’s designation for dedicated muscle car models that were guaranteed to kick ass, which meant they came with powerful V-8s. In the case of the ’70 Coronet R/T, the 383 wasn’t even available, so the 440 was the entry-level engine, which is as awesome as it sounds.
1969 Coronet R/T Prices and Values
- J.D. Power Average Retail: $33,800
- Hagerty Good Condition Value: $41,300
- Average Auction Price: $48,364
- High Auction Sale: $134,400
- BaT Best Deal: $35,500
J.D. Power sets the average retail price in the low $30,000 range, while Hagerty goes into the low $40,000 neighborhood for a good condition car. Either way, those are incredible prices for a 375-horsepower classic Mopar beast. The average auction price ain’t too bad, and the expensive top sale is easily explained by the rare Hemi-equipped car that brought the gavel down. Bring a Trailer has sold several ’69 Super Bees as well as 440 Coronet 500s for around $30,000, but the greatest deal on a 440 R/T was the $35,000 some lucky buyer got one for a few years ago.
1
1969 Mercury Cougar Eliminator
Average Used Price: $34,600
Being a Mercury muscle car in the classic era was kind of like being the child of a superstar athlete, in that it was impossible to come out beneath that shadow and shine. Unlike Bronny James, who is only okay compared to his dad, King James LeBron, the 1969 Mercury Cougar Eliminator was every bit as potent as a Boss Mustang or GT. While the Eliminator 429 gets some love from collectors, one with a 351-cubic-inch V-8 – which is still pretty killer – is ignored for the most part. The Cougar Eliminator had some radically different sheet metal, and while it’s impossible to say it was better-looking than the Mustang, it did make for an amazing-looking ride.
1969 Cougar Eliminator Prices and Values
- J.D. Power Average Retail: $34,600
- Hagerty Good Condition Value: $31,900
- Average Auction Price: $62,064
- High Auction Sale: $127,500
- BaT Best Deal: $25,000
Both J.D. Power and Hagerty firmly put the price of the ’69 Cougar Eliminator under the cost of a base-model 2025 Mustang, which was what we were going for here, so this is the ultimate ride on our list. The auction prices are high, but that’s due to the aforementioned 429 CJs and SCJs that collectors eat up. For a 351, Bring a Trailer delivers a price anyone can handle, with a recent $25,000 sale. That exact car pictured above is a matching-numbers ride in nearly pristine condition, with only 82,000 on the odometer. This amazing deal beats J.D. Power’s average retail price by almost 10 grand, which is a tremendous deal on a tragically underrated classic muscle car.