Lower your sights a little, stop whining, and get a musclecar to drive and enjoy!!...

I see it in magazines and in internet chat rooms all the time. Some cry-baby whining that he can't find his dream car at any price-and how ridiculous prices have gotten, how you can't get a decent car for under 50 grand, blah,blah,blah. These people have two problems-one-they fixate on ultra-rare premium models, and even if they find them their too picky. I wrote about this in an article I wrote for Musclecar Review back in 2010. I won't reprint the whole article-but here's the gist of it that I think everyone will agree is sound advice.  # 1. Lower your sights a little. Let's say a 1970 LS6 SS454 Chevelle is your dream ride. You and about a million other people. Do the math. Chevrolet only built 4478 LS6 Chevelles in 1970-so finding one for sale at any price-can be a problem. Conversely-Chevrolet also sold 49,826 SS396 models in 1970. Except for the engine they are the exact same car. And stock or modified-do you really NEED more punch than a 396 has to offer? This is not an isolated example. 1969 GTO Judge is your fave? Of the 72,225 GTOs built in 1969, only 6,833 were Judge models. Want a Boss 302 Mustang? Good luck as Ford only built 1,603 in 1969 and another 7113 in 1970. By contrast Ford built over 70,000 fastback Mustangs in 1969 alone, most of them with 351W power, which is a much better street engine anyway. By considering less than the ultimate model, you increased your chances of finding a car tenfold, and that's if your stuck on a one or two year model. Which brings up # 2. Consider different model years of the same car. If our Chevelle enthusiast would also consider a '68 or '69 SS396 he has 144,000 more examples to choose from ( 58,000 in 1968, and 86,000 in 1969.) Ditto for the GTO buyer. If he could live with a 1968 or 1970 model he has another 127,000 chances. ( 87,000 in 1968 and 40,149 on 1970. ) Pontiac only built about 10,000 Trans-Ams from 1970-1973. However-from 1974-79 they built over 350,000 Trans Ams, most of them with 400 cubes under the hood. With very little work-intake, exhaust and an axle-ratio change these cars can easily equal or surpass the performance of the earlier, more prized models at a fraction of the price. # 3. Don't be an idiot. I know many people who passed on very cool cars in good condition at fair prices because they weren't "Exactly what they were looking for." Idiot # 1.Wanted a 1970-72 LT1 powered Z/28 Camaro. He passed up an unrestored, but exceptionally well-maintained '70 model because it was an automatic. He also passed up a gorgeous 4-speed '72 model because it had headers, traction bars and Cragar mags-it wasn't "Totally original". Idiot #2. Wanted a 1968-70 GTO with a 400 and a 4-speed. He passed up a gorgeous '68 model because it didn't have the hood tach and disc brakes. He also passed up a loaded, low mileage '70 model that had the hood tach, factory air,everything-because it was a 455 automatic.When he turned up his nose at an immaculate triple-white, 400 , 4-speed '71 LeMans Sport Convertible that was done to look like a Judge-"Because it's not a REAL Judge-". I had to restrain myself from slapping him. # 4. Look past the end of your nose. Yes-I saw a 1971 Mustang Mach 1 that was a show winner for sale for $49,000. I've also seen dozens of 351C powered '71-73 Mustangs in excellent shape for $12,000 to 20,000. I've seen people asking $50,000 for "Smokey and the Bandit" '77-78 T/A's. I've also seen a '79 400, 4-speed, WS6, T-Topped 10th anniversary model with 66,000 original miles for sale for $14,900!! So quit whining and go find a car. There's still plenty out there at reasonable prices. I'm having trouble selling my one of 1,097 ever built, numbers-matching '73 Hurst / Olds 442 for $6,500!!!  People say-"It needs a paint job." "The Center Lines look good, but where's the original wheels?" If it was frame-off resto ready for the cover of Musclecar Review-I'd be asking $25,000 for it instead of 6 you moron!!  Just had to vent that. Mastermind