"Insurance Beaters" aren't always a deal......

Some one asked me the other day about an article he'd read in Musclecar Review several years ago about "Insurance Beaters". It told how in the late '60s and early '70's Insurance companies jacked up the rates on any car with an engine over 400 cubic inches. The manufacturers responded by building what the buff magazines called "mini-musclecars" or "insurance beaters". Anyhow he wanted to know of some that I'd recommend.  # 1. 1970-74 Plymouth Duster 340 / 360. With it's light weight and high-winding 340 V8 the Duster was a huge hit. It could rip off low 14 second 1/4s bone stock and with headers and slicks easily drop into the 13s. That's quick enough to beat many "full-size" musclecars.  The Dodge boys wanted a piece of the action and in '71 introduced the 340 Demon. Christian groups griped about the name and graphics and Chrysler caved in to the pressure and in 1973 the name was changed to "Dart Sport". Where were all these Christian buyers when Chrysler went bankrupt a few years later? Anyhow in 1974 the 340 was discontinued and replaced with the 360. Their a fun car if you can find one at a decent price, but that's getting harder.  # 2. 1968-70 Olds W31 Cutlass. "Dr Olds" took a base-model 350 Cutlass and added special heads, an aluminum high-rise intake, special exhaust manifolds and a cam so hot that the W31 was only available with a 4-speed manual and 3.90:1 or 4.33:1 gears, and couldn't be ordered with power brakes because the engine didn't make enough vacuum to operate them! They were grossly under-rated at 325 hp. ( The standard 350 was rated at 310 hp; all those go-fast goodies are only worth 15 hp? Please. )  They are really fast if you can find one. The problem is their rare, and usually bring prices that are equal to or higher than a 442 or Hurst / Olds. Dynamite if you can find a deal on one. # 3. 1968-69 Firebird 350 HO / Tempest 350 HO. DeLorean wanted a "Budget" GTO to compete with the less expensive and wildly successful Plymouth Road Runner. The engineers hot-rodded a 350 Tempest and in testing it's performance was equal to or better than a 383 Road Runner. DeLorean then said he wouldn't sell a GTO with an engine under 400 cubes and to re-think it. The Project-which had been nicknamed E.T.-( for elapsed time-get it? ) became The Judge. However, the engineers and the sales team liked the idea of base-model hot rod so the engine was offered in the Tempest and the Firebird. Not many were sold-because gearheads all wanted the 400. They area a nice driver if you can find one.  # 4. 1970-71 Pontiac Tempest T37, 1972 LeMans GT. These were called "The poor man's GTO". You got a base-model Tempest with a 350 V8 and a 3-speed manual. However the 400 and 455 engines were optional as was a 4-speed or a TH400.  In 1972 the name was changed to LeMans GT but the package was basically the same. Dynamite if you can find one, and if the seller doesn't want GTO / Judge money for it.  # 5. 1971-74 AMC Hornet 360SC. Responding to the sales success of the Duster-AMC engineers copied the Mopar guys and stuffed their 360 V8 into the sub-compact Hornet, with a 3 or 4-speed stick or a 3-speed automatic. They weren't sexy-but boy were they quick. A fun car if you can find one. # 6. 1971-77 Maverick "Grabber" / Comet GT.  The Ford guys jumped on the bandwagon by stuffing a 302 V8 into the compact Maverick / Comet. I had a 302 Maverick and it was really quick. Their short wheelbase and good weight distribution actually makes them a good drag racer. A buddy of mine with a 440 Road Runner was shocked one night when a guy in a hotted-up Maverick ( not me ) showed him his taillights.  # 7. 1971-72 "Heavy Chevy". These were a base-model Malibu with a domed SS-style hood, a blacked out grille, slotted Rally wheels and "Heavy Chevy" badging.  Most have 350 power but the 396 / 402 was optional. 6,727 were built in '71 and another 3,000 or so in '72.  Big-block versions will bring substantially more money.  The catch-22 of all these cars-except maybe a '70s Maverick-no one cares about them-is the sellers usually want big dollars for them. If you can find one at a decent price they are all pretty cool. But like I said-I've seen people asking more for a 350 Cutlass than others want for a W30 455 442!  I've seen people asking more money for a T37 Tempest than others want for a RAIII Judge!!  Just look hard and you may find a deal.  Mastermind