Muscle cars are some of the finest performance vehicles in the world. They are fast, loud, powerful, and brilliant machines perfect for ripping up the drag strip. What makes them even better is that thanks to their demand, they are likely to sell well second-hand.
Muscle cars remain very popular despite the advent of the electric revolution. Which means you could get good money for yours if you decide to sell it. This list contains ten muscle cars that have the best resale value based on their desirability, rarity, and performance.
First-Generation Ford Mustang
No matter what other muscle cars are on the market, the first-generation Ford Mustang will always have excellent resale value. They are always in demand, and many view the original Mustang as the greatest muscle car of all time.
Mint examples can fetch big money, as can rare versions such as the 1969 Mustang 429 Boss. In terms of design, few muscle cars can ever rival the original Mustang, thanks to its long hood, short deck, and excellent proportions.
Plymouth Superbird
The iconic Plymouth Superbird of the 1970s is one of the best-looking muscle cars by far. The streamlined nose-cone and huge rear wing indicate the speeds it could reach, as it was one of the “aero-cars” that took NASCAR by surprise due to its impressive speeds.
Power for the Superbird came from either the 440 ci 7.2-liter V8 or the 426 ci 7.0-liter Hemi V8 engine. So few were made with the 425 horsepower Hemi that these are now some of the most sought-after muscle cars on the classic market.
Dodge Charger Daytona
The Plymouth Superbird’s biggest rival was the Dodge Charger Daytona, which made its debut in 1969 and previewed the Superbird. It, too, could reach speeds of around 200 mph, and this ultimately led to NASCAR outlawing the cars from 1972 onwards.
Power was from either the 440 ci 7.2-liter Magnum V8 or the 426 ci 7.0-liter Hemi V8 shared with the Superbird. Hemi Charger Daytonas are also incredibly rare, making them just as desirable as their Plymouth cousin.
Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170
If any modern muscle car was going to have excellent resale value, then it is the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170. This is the final call for the legendary Dodge Challenger, as it finally bows out of production.
Power comes from a vast 6.2-liter Supercharged Hemi V8 engine that makes 1,025 horsepower. This makes it the world’s most powerful production muscle car, and Dodge has only produced a handful of SRT Demon 170s to mark the occasion.
Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
No one is going to criticize you if you hike out a small fortune for a Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. This is perhaps the ultimate form of the Camaro, with it taking everything Chevrolet has done with the muscle car to a whole new level.
This is a Camaro for the racetrack. It has a 6.2-liter Camaro V8 under the hood, producing an exceptional 650 horsepower. The ZL1 also makes one of the best soundtracks of any muscle car, and the large rear wing and aggressive aerodynamic components really enhance the vehicle’s design.
Ford Mustang Mach 1
While it currently isn’t a part of the new Mustang range, the previous Mach 1 edition has good resale value purely because of its name. The Mach 1 can trace its roots back to August 1968, and the 2023 Mach 1 so far is the last produced.
It has a 480 horsepower V8 engine under the hood, which provides plenty of power for blasting down the 1/4 mile. The fact it carries the Mach 1 name alone makes it exceptionally cool.
1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
While the modern Camaro ZL1 is genuinely exceptional, most people will probably gravitate towards the 1969 Camaro ZL1 when it comes to special versions. This happens to be one of the rarest muscle cars ever made, further enhancing their value.
The all-aluminum V8 engine under the hood produced 500 horsepower, allowing the 1969 ZL1 to reach a top speed of 125 mph. Plus, few muscle cars have ever actually looked this good.
Buick GSX
Buick used to be synonymous with the muscle car, although today, it’s a brand with a more significant presence in China than in North America. The GSX, however, is one of its best products. With a 7.5-liter V8 engine producing 400 horsepower, it turned the standard Gran Sport into something extraordinary.
With its stage 1 GSX upgrade, the muscle car was good enough for 1/4-mile times of just over 13 seconds, something that some modern sports cars aren’t able to achieve.
Plymouth Road Runner
Plymouth’s Superbird isn’t the only excellent muscle car the manufacturer has produced. With the muscle car craze in full swing in the late 1960s, it came out with the exceptional Road Runner, which was marketed as a more affordable muscle car that was a bit more back-to-basics.
Power for the first generation comes from a range of V8 engines. These were the 335 horsepower 383 ci 6.3-liter V8, the massive 426 ci Hemi V8, and the giant 440 ci 7.2-liter V8. As a muscle car for the masses, the Road Runner was a massive success.
1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS Convertible
Amidst all the love for the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, and Dodge Challenger, the Chevrolet Chevelle is one of the most overlooked muscle cars. Particularly in SS (Super Sport) form, with the 1970 SS convertibles being some of the rarest ever made.
Power came from a massive 454 ci 7.4-liter V8 engine and the LS6 V8, which produces 450 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque. Chevrolet only made around 26 examples of the 1970 Chevelle SS that were convertible with an LS6 engine.
