What are the World’s Most Expensive Muscle Cars?
Rare models can easily go for $500,000 or even more
Expensive muscle cars have become a fixture in the world of motoring. With a fanbase willing to shell out fortunes to own a muscle car, prices on these beauties continually shoot up. A fully restored muscle car, especially rare models, can easily go for at least $500,000 or even higher.
Models from the 60s, the heyday of muscle cars, are some of the world’s most expensive muscle cars. These two-door sportscars designed for high-speed driving attract numerous followers with the power they’re built with and the speeds they can achieve. Some boast of impressive handling, like the Chrysler 300 of the late 1950s. By the 1960s, muscle cars gained followers large enough to tempt companies like Pontiac, Ford, and Mopar to venture into that market as well.
To date, fanatics who own expensive muscle cars remain a thriving segment of muscle car fans. Their gusto to restore muscle cars to their former glory is what drives the cost of these babies to shoot up. To paint a picture of just how expensive a muscle car can get, let’s list down the three most expensive models in the market:
3. 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL-1 ($1,000,000)
First up on our list of the most expensive muscle cars is the ZL-1. Only 69 units were ever built, making it one of the most sought after models in the world. If muscle cars had a holy grail, this is probably it.
The 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL-1 has a four-speed manual transmission that runs on an OHV V8 engine with a maximum power of 430hp. It can accelerate to 60 miles per hour (mph) in 5.3 seconds and run a quarter mile in 13.2 seconds at a speed of 110 mph.
The high value that the ZL-1 enjoys these days is mockery of its poor market reception when it was released. Its original price, $7,200, turned off most buyers and only 13 units ended up getting sold. The rest of the units produced were sent back to Chevrolet as there were no people interested in buying them.
2. 1968 Shelby Mustang Green Hornet Prototype ($2,200,000)
1968 Shelby-NOT the Green Hornet prototype
Next on our list of the most expensive muscle cars is the car used in the original Green Hornet movie. It was not designed for mass production, so only one unit was made. This baby runs on a 428 Cobra Jet engine.
Designer Carroll Shelby was initially provided with a 1968 hardtop running on a 390ci engine for the prototype. He decided to use the Cobra Jet engine and retain some of the original features like its 9-inch rear, coil springs, and rear antiroll bars. He modified its body by adding a ram-air hood and a tail panel designed to borrow the tail lights of a 1965 Thunderbird.
The Green Hornet Prototype runs on an OHV V8 engine with a dual exhaust system that features a multi-port fuel injection pump. It can reach 60mph in 5.7 seconds and run a quarter mile in 11.4 seconds with a speed of 110mph.
1. 1970 Plymouth Hemi Barracuda ($4,000,000)
© Raytags | Dreamstime.com – Plymouth Hemi Cuda Convertible Photo
Topping the list of the world’s most expensive muscle cars is the 1970 Plymou5h Hemi Barracuda. Otherwise known as the ‘Cuda’, it was designed by E. Herlirz based on the Chrysler B platform.
The ‘Cuda’ is powered by a 7.0L Hemi V8 engine with a maximum power of 425hp. It runs on a three-speed automatic transmission with solid disc front brakes and drum for the rear. It can accelerate to 60mph in 5.8 seconds and run a quarter mile in 14 seconds at a speed of 102 kph.
Only 14 units of this model were made in 1970 and were sold at $4,000 apiece. Nowadays, a beaten up 1970 Plymouth Hemi Barracuda sells for at least $2,000,000 while fully pimped out ones reach up to $4,000,000.
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