Luxury cars that have some muscle....And make cool drivers to this day...

The term "Personal Luxury Car" came into vogue in the late '70s but they've always been around, and some of these can be great fun, and bought for a lot less dough than "Regular" muscle machines-Chevelles, GTOs, Road Runners, Mustangs, etc. Heres a list of my Personal favorites. #1.1961-63,1967-71 Ford Thunderbird. A lot of people love the styling of the '61-63 "Bullet Bird" and with 390 cubes under the hood, they move pretty good too. The '64-66 "Thelma&Louise" model, I didn't like. The 1967-69 models had the cool hidden headlight bodystyle. I personally prefer the 2 dr models, but a lot of people like the "Suicide Doors" of the 4 door model as well. And they have 390 or 428 cubes under their long hoods. The 1970-71 models are my personal favorites. They have swoopy Nascar-inspired styling, and 429 cubes for motivation. # 2. 1963-65, '66-69 and '71-73 Buick Riviera. The 1963-65 Riviera was on of Bill Mitchell's masterpieces. The styling is still cool today, and with 401 cubes, they run pretty good too. Patrick Swayze drove 2 of these in the action flick "Roadhouse", and Nicholas Cage had one in the opening of "Drive Angry." The 1966-67 model had the swoopy fastback, hidden headlight styling of the revolutionary Olds Toronado-but the Riv's styling was cleaner and the car was rear wheel drive. This is one of the best-looking cars GM ever put out in my opinion. The '68-69 models are very similar-but the grille and front end was changed slightly, and are not as clean as the '66-67, but their still a great-looking car. 430 cubes backed by a TH400 all years,so they move as good as they look. The 1970 model was ugly and one-year only. 1971-73 is the famous "Boat Tail" design. 455 cubes standard all years. Like their ad used to say-"Wouldn't you really rather have a Buick?" # 3. 1962-68, 1969-76 Pontiac Gran Prix. 1962-66 models have 389 or 421 cubes under their long hoods. They also have cool two-tone interiors,eight-lug wheels and many other cool features. 1967-68 models have hidden headlights and 400 or 428 cubes under the hood. Ray Liotta drove a '68 model in "Goodfellas". In 1969 Pontiac downsized them onto the "A" body platform and it was a runaway hit. While 99% of Monte Carlos in the '70's were small-block powered, Gran Prix's had 400 cubes standard all years and a fair number of 70-76 "SJ" models had 455s. My cousin had a 455 powered '73 GP in high school. It had power everything, and it felt like a GTO. She showed her taillights to many a supposedly "Bad" Camaro and Mustang. # 4. 1969-72 Plymouth Sport Fury. These have cool styling and 383, 400 or 440 cubes under the hood. Peter Graves drove one on "Mission: Impossible". #5 1967-73 Mercury Cougar. While most Mustangs of this vintage are base models, Cougars usually have much more cool options like upgraded leather interiors, front disc brakes, bigger motors, and factory air. I personally think the 1967-68 models are one of the best-looking cars Ford ever built. 289, 302 or 390 cubes are your engine choices, and you really can't go wrong with any of them. 1969 and 70 models had similar styling, but were a little bigger. Engine choices are a 351W, 390 or a 428. 428 models will be overpriced, but you can still get a deal on 351 and 390 models. 1971-73 models had classy, but racy styling, and most had 351C's for power. I guess maybe because they were originally sold to older people Cougars are usually better maintained, and can usually be bought cheaper than a same-year Mustang. Any of these are cool choices-much better than the "Rich Corinthian Leather" and "Lean Burn" choked Chrysler Cordobas pitched as "Personal Luxury Coupes". Mastermind