22nd Apr 2016, 10:13

I didn't mention that I still am ahead by flipping muscle cars before to reach the current prices I paid. I know guys with 6 figure cars that didn't spend that as a first muscle car. They appreciated and the cash went into the next ones. But not all cars appreciate. Some have condition issues that people buy cheap and then put countless hours into. Sending them out adds up. But there are exceptions with even that.

I buy the best I can afford. It's almost always cheaper than restorations. Even paint is high today. I have seen people buy cars in primer and think they got a great deal. Or people that buy less popular cars or 4 doors. OK and many you break even. But the ones that do really well from the 70s are rarer and highly optioned.

I have done best with 1970 as the pinnacle muscle car year. And late 60s. I made mistakes along the way, but have really learned. I don't think most AMCs are great investments. But fun factor and having something different has a different kind of value. I remember watching the AMX go from 5k to 10k to 15k. And now higher. The other AMCs less so. They are a special interest vehicle.

I am glad I was driving especially in the late 60s and especially 1970. That year alone across the board was an exciting year for muscle cars. I recall parents buying Olds 4-4-2s and Buick 455 GS cars that were more of a luxury segment with muscle. We got to drive our parents' cars to high school at times. And later bought our own.

As a baby boomer with my home long paid off and kids educated, it's even more of a time to buy these cars again. There are a lot of us driving cars of our youth. And sharing a new type of performance model in our garages. Many of my friends have lifts and large garages. My one friend says there's nothing like having over 1000 horses in his garage (2 cars). We do have a Motorsports park nearby to legally use that power. And it's great to do selected bursts at other times.

My only recommendation is buy a manual trans car vs an automatic. You never tire of it. And power steering and brakes. I can't wait til Saturday to drive mine.

22nd Apr 2016, 12:00

And that blanket statement is based on what factual data?