One or Two year wonders that make fun drivers...and may be collectible!

VH1 has a show called "One-hit Wonders" obviously about musicians who had mega-popular singles and then never did anything else. As it relates to musclecars there are many models that the big three ( GM, Ford and Chrysler ) introduced to try to increase sales that only lasted a year or two and were discontinued because of a platform change, or poor sales, or whatever. However, these somewhat rare cars did have cool features, and then as now, offer tremendous "Bang for the Buck". I'll list them in no particular order. # 1 1971-72 "Heavy Chevy". This was a base-model Malibu with a blacked-out grille, domed SS-style hood, "Heavy Chevy" decals and slotted Rally Wheels. Engines ranged from a 307 to a 402. Oddly, the 454 wasn't offered. 6,727 were built in 1971 alone, and a few thousand more in '72, so you should be able to find one. Just don't expect SS396 money if you try to sell it. # 2 1971 Dodge Charger Super Bee. The Charger got a new body for '71, one that would last until 1974, and give Richard Petty a slew of NASCAR victories. However, for this one year only Mopar decided to put the Super Bee package on the Charger instead of the Coronet. The standard engine was a 383, with the 340,440, and 426 Hemi optional. Obviously Hemi and 440 /Six-Pack versions are priced in the stratosphere, but 340 and 383 versions are quite reasonable. # 3 1973-75 Pontiac Grand Am. Touted to have "The performance of a Trans-Am and the Luxury of a Grand Prix" this model never caught on. Luxury buyers bought GPs in record numbers, and performance buyers bought T/A's. Low sales numbers aside, these are awesome cars if you can find one. 400 cubes standard all years with the 455 optional. Wrist-thick front and rear sway bars, and front disc brakes make them great handlers too. Any aftermarket suspension or brake upgrades that fit a Chevelle or Monte Carlo also fit these cars. I'm still kicking myself for not buying a 400 /4-speed 73 model before I bought my H/O. # 4 1974 Pontiac GTO. Enthusiasts and magazine writers alike both howled to the high heavens and derided the car when Pontiac switched the GTO name from the A body LeMans platform to the X body ( Nova ) Ventura. However, I call them "The best Nova ever built." Power front disc brakes were standard, as were Firebird style front and rear sway bars, so they were great handlers. They also had a T/A style "shaker" hood. The only engine was a 350 Pontiac backed up by a 4-speed or a Turbo 350 automatic. A 400 or 455 would make one of these an awesome sleeper. 7,058 were built, so their rare, but not "moon rocks". And their snubbed by Pontiac enthusiasts, ( NOt a "real" GTO ) so prices are surprisingly low.  #5 1978-79 Dodge Li'l Red Express Truck. Except for the  L82 Corvette and WS6 Trans-Am, these were the fastest production vehicles in the dark days of disco. A two-wheel-drive, short-bed, stepside pickup, with Chrome wheels,Semi-style vertical exhaust stacks, and a warmed-over 360 V8 comprised this package. And of course, the loud red paint job. 78 models are more sought after, since this was the last year that 1/2 ton trucks had catalyst-free exhaust. 79 had greater production numbers, so they might be easier to find. Then, as now, they make cool drivers and do awesome burnouts. #6 1974-76 "Starsky and Hutch" Torino. About 2,000 or so of these were sold nationwide, and probably a few hundred more "Dealer" specials. There actually just a 2 dr Gran Torino with the red and white stripe paint job and slot mags. Most had 351C's or 351M's under the hood, although there are a few 460 versions out there. If your not a fanatic, just buy a plain Torino coupe and paint it that way. # 7 2003-2004 Mercury Marauder Based on the Crown Vic platform, these cars had a 302 hp 4.6 liter V8 pirated out of the Mustang Cobra, a 4-speed automatic with a high-stall converter, 18 inch wheels and sport suspension and Auto Meter guages in the dash. For some reason, Ford never promoted this car, which is why it didn't sell. But they are way cool, like a '90's Impala SS.  Mastermind