It's okay to "Run What You Brung".....

Everyone is so enamored of the premium musclecars that we often forget that there's a lot of base models out there in good condition that would make great drivers or show cars or race cars if you wanted. For example of the 400,000 Chevelles produced in 1968 alone-only 58,000 were SS396 models. What that means is you can buy a 2 dr small-block Malibu a lot easier and cheaper than you can an SS396! And since it's not a numbers-matching premium piece of history-no one cares if you modify it. Swap in a 383 stroker, or a supercharged LS motor. There's tons of suspension upgrades out there for '64-77 GM "A" bodies-so you can build a corner-carving "G" machine, or a drag racer that will pull the front tires on launch. Of the 243,000 Camaros sold in 1969, only 19,000 were Z/28 models. Of the 299,000 Mustangs Ford sold in 1969, only 1,603 were Boss 302's, and only 13,000 were 428 CJ models. What I'm getting at here is there are a lot more base-models out there than there are "primo" models. So if you get a deal on a 318 Challenger, or a 350 Camaro, Chevelle, Firebird or LeMans, or a 302 or 351 Mustang or whatever-don't despair that it's not a big-block, and immediately start plotting how to clone the "big brothers". If that's what you want, fine. But not everyone needs or even wants a 500 hp fire-breathing monster. Like I said-if you have a 318 / Torqueflite Challenger and you'd like a just a little more zip-an Edelbrock Performer intake and a 4bbl carb, some dual exhausts and a shift kit in the trans will "wake up" the car's performance like you wouldn't believe. And that may be all you want. Drive it that way the next 20 years. Ditto for all the other makes. 302 and 351W / C Fords, 350 Pontiacs and Olds engines, 304 and 360 AMC's, 327 and 350 Chevys, all respond well to basic hot-rod tricks-a 4bbl carb and intake, headers and / or dual exhausts, a mild cam upgrade, etc. I've mentioned it before, but I know a guy who was looking for a '64-66 GTO, that bought a '64 442 that had a later-model 350 in it. He was torn between hunting down a 330 to make it Concours Original or swapping in a 455 to make it really badass. Five years and one paint job later, he's still driving it on sunny days and during Hot August Nights with the "unoriginal" 350 because-in his own words-"It runs so good and it's so damn much fun to drive that I can't bring myself to tear it apart."  And there's nothing wrong with that. Mastermind