Obscure cars that are great buys!

Sorry I haven't posted in a few days, I was out of town! There are a lot of very cool cars that people don't think of as a "Mainstream Musclecar" but have great potential. I'll list them in no particular order. #1 1973-75 Pontiac Grand Am, 1977 Pontiac Can-Am. When The Grand Am was introduced it was supposed to have "The luxury of a Gran Prix, the performance of a Trans-Am." It tanked, as luxury buyers bought Gran Prix's and performance buyers bought Firebird Trans-Ams. However for used car buyers they are a screaming bargain. 400 power standard all years, with the 455 optional. Most had the bulletproof Turbo 400 for a transmission, but there were Muncie four-speed versions built as well. Wrist-thick front and rear sway bars, ( "Radial Tuned Suspension" ) and front disc brakes, make these cars incredible handlers for such a big car. Any suspension or brake upgrades that fit a Chevelle or Monte Carlo also fit these cars. Because of low sales, the model was dropped in 1976. Because of the phenomenal success of the Trans-Am, Pontiac tried again in 1977. The Can-Am was based on the A-body LeMans platform, and featured Radial Tuned Suspension, a 400 Pontiac or 403 Olds V8 ( Depending on whether you had Federal, California, or High-Altitude emissions ) and a Turbo 400 with a performance shift kit. The package also included a Trans-Am style "Shaker" hood, a unique rear spoiler, special graphics, and a Gran Prix dash. Their fairly rare, because Pontiac was selling so many Gran Prixs that there were production delays due to dash shortages. Then the molds for the spoiler broke, further delaying production. Pontiac collectors have driven the prices up some, but they are way cheaper than any GTO or even a restored same-year Trans-Am. It only lasted one year because in 1978, although the 400 cube motors were still available in the Firebird line, the GM A-bodies were greatly downsized, and renamed "G" bodies, and the largest engines available were 301 Pontiacs and 305 Chevys that put out about 145 hp. #2 1975-78 Plymouth Sport Fury/Dodge Monaco. They may have been emission-choked, but you could still get a 400 or 440 V8, a 727 Torqueflite, and an 8 3/4 rear end and sport suspension. "It's got a cop motor, cop tires, cop shocks, cop brakes..."  If you can find one, they are usually cheap, and have great performance potential. 2 dr models are actually pretty nice looking. # 3. 1974-76 AMC Matador 2 dr Coupe. The rounded, aerodynamic ( for the time ) fastback body actually had modest success in NASCAR, and you could still get a 360 or 401 V8 backed by a 727. # 4 2003-2004 Mercury Marauder. Because of the "Cult" following of the Impala SS, Ford came out with this model. Based on the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, these cars had a 302 hp four cam V8 pirated from the Mustang Cobra, a high-stall converter in the four-speed automatic, a custom interior with Auto Meter guages, fat 18" tires and wheels and a sinister black paint job. For some reason, they weren't promoted by magazines, or Ford/Lincoln-Mercury dealers, and didn't sell well. But they are an awesome performance platform, and any blowers or speed parts designed for Mustangs or Lightning Trucks can easily be adapted to these cars. Dynamite!  Something to think about if you want something that not everyone else has!  Mastermind