Consider a base model and save Thousands$$!!

I've talked before about mid-level models-Firebird Formulas and Rally Sport Camaros and Coronet R/T's being great buys-but for some of us even these are getting priced out of our pocketbook's range. You can still have a cool musclecar however-you just need to lower your sights a bit. In fact, this may be the best way to get the car of your dreams. For example only 19,000 Z/28 models were built in 1969. That means of the 243,000 Camaros built that year-over 200,000 were base models. Chevrolet only sold 86,000 SS396 Chevelles in 1969. However, they sold over 400,000 Malibus that year. Now some of those were 4-door sedans and wagons, but over a quarter million were 2 door V8 models. And that's only one year. The body was basically the same from 1968-72. Ditto for Pontiac LeMans and Olds Cutlasses.  Even in a strike-shortened year-Pontiac only sold 1,286 1972 Trans-Ams, but nearly 30,000 base model Firebirds rolled off the line. Chrysler made over 100,000 Darts in 1971, but only about 7,700 were 340 Demon models. Of the 80,000 plus 1970 Challengers sold, only about 18,000 were R/T models. Ford sold over 70,000 fastback Mustangs in 1969, but that's a fraction of the quarter-million plus other models, in that single model year! The bottom line is, there are a ton of viable Camaros,Firebirds,Chevelles,Satellites,Dusters,Challengers,Mustangs, etc out there that people don't even consider because their not premium models. However-3 or 4 grand for a pristine base-model Firebird is a lot better buy than 10 or 12 grand for a "restorable" Disco-era Trans-Am. You can use the difference to trick out the car-engine improvements, suspension, tires,wheels,etc. And it may free you to make something really badass-Instead of restoring an SS396 to the nth degree,you might drop a 720hp 572 into a '68 Malibu! Or forget that 383 Road Runner-how about a 528 Hemi Satellite? Don't despair, just use a little imagination. Mastermind