Car collectors, automobile enthusiasts, and fans of the automobile scene showcase their love and interest in cars in different ways. While some fans dream of working for their favorite automaker, some people choose to collect vehicles for fun. The vehicle selections are usually dependent on what the collector fancies, but a common choice is always rare classic muscle cars.
This refers to the pure-bred American ponies that have once ruled the streets of the US until the oil crisis rolled in, and along with it new power regulations that suffocated any sort of power American cars had for a full decade.
Some of these muscle cars can still be seen being driven around the streets and are even up for sale. But just like how fans know which muscle cars are ideal to buy, there are also those muscle cars that are best avoided such as these ones.
10 1969 Dodge Charger – Major Body Roll Issues
The 1968 Dodge Charger is a certified eye candy that embodies the classic muscle car spirit that has long departed the automotive scene. It bears sharp linear detailing at the front while curves adorn the roof and the rear. It’s further made unforgettable with an impressive 290 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque supplied by a 383 cubic-inch V8 engine.
Unfortunately, even with those winning points, this classic muscle car beauty isn’t as perfect as it seems. The vehicle is notorious for its body roll issues that come with it straight from the factory. Fortunately, the correct sway bar can do a lot to fix this problem.
9 1977 Plymouth Volaré Road Runner – Leaks As Good As It Looks
People tend to have different reactions to this particular masterpiece from Plymouth. Although the overall exterior design is not entirely pleasing to many, fans insist that it’s gorgeous nonetheless.
But apart from the debatable looks, the 1977 Plymouth Volaré Road Runner is questionable in all aspects in general. To start off, it comes with very little hp even with a V8 keeping it on the move. There have also been numerous reports about leaking problems from the roof of the vehicle.
8 1978 Ford Mustang Cobra II – Handsomely Underpowered
One of the most promising American automakers in history is Ford. And if you have one of their classic selections like the 1978 Ford Mustang Cobra II, trust that you have a part of that long and eventful history.
Whether you choose to ride it in the streets, however, is entirely your choice. A fair warning is that even though this car may look good, it definitely doesn’t go fast. Fastestlaps record that the King Cobra takes up almost 10 seconds to get to 60 mph thanks to the bulky frames and 140 hp.
7 1980 Ford Mustang – Lacks Power Severely
While many of Ford’s selections are straight-up first-placers in many categories right off the factory, there are also those that are better off not leaving the workshop. The 1980 Ford Mustang, for example, is a muscle car best known for its poor power that barely makes it a muscle car.
With a 4.2 L V8 engine that produces 118 hp and 194 lb-ft, this just goes to show that even Ford can produce some of the weakest and worst daily drivers out there.
6 1980 Mercury Capri RS Turbo – Top Speed Is As Bad As Its Horsepower
The word “Turbo” is usually added in to name something that’s bound to have extremely fast speed as its winning point. By merely adding it into a car’s name, it’s piques curiosities and builds a fandom just like how the 1980 Mercury Capri RS Turbo did.
Unfortunately, the “Turbo” in the 1980 Capri RS Turbo’s name is a mere joke. The car came with a 2.3 L four-cylinder power mill that produced only 117 hp. As for speed, it takes up to 10 seconds to get from 0 to 60 mph.
5 1982 Chevrolet Camaro Iron Duke – 0 To 60 In 20 Seconds
One of the toughest American automaker in the muscle and sports car market today is Chevrolet with their Camaro lineup. Certainly, they didn’t get where they are today by building weak, slow and boring vehicles, right? That is unless we’re counting in the 1982 Chevrolet Camaro Iron Duke.
This long-nosed Chevy muscle car was actually one of the less popular muscle car choices back then for good reason. It had a laughable 90 hp and even took up to 20 seconds just to get to 60 mph! To this day, this is still one of the many reasons that people stay away from this car.
4 1982 Ford Thunderbird – Big In Size But Lacks Power
When an automaker brands their product as a “luxury car”, trust that it’s bound to be “bigger” in almost every way. Most luxury cars are expected to have bigger power, a bigger price tag, and to make the everyday driving experience more luxurious, luxury cars are often bigger in size.
The 1982 Ford Thunderbird certainly ticked the boxes on the last two qualities – but that’s as far as it goes. This handsome 1980s classic comes with a few engine options with the 4.7 L V8 ticking in at only 120 hp and 205 lb-ft of torque.
3 AMC AMX – Rear Rusting Issues
It’s easy to say yes to an attractive car but it’s much easier to say no to one that’s extremely prone to rust. This is the dilemma that the car lovers of the ’70s had to face when they realized that the AMC AMX wasn’t really built to last long.
Everybody knew just how powerful and fast this forgotten muscle car of the 60s was that many believed it should have sold better than it did. But despite being good-looking until the ’70s, it didn’t take long for everyone to realize that the AMX had rear-end rusting issues which quickly gave it a bad rap.
2 Ford Mustang Boss 302 – Piston Blows Up Way Too Often
Contrary to the other Fords in this list, this one is packed with so much power that some people would question just why we would avoid it like the plague.
The Ford Mustang Boss 302 is indeed a boss thanks to its 4.9 L V8 engine that gives this muscle car up to 290 hp. It can go from 0 to 60 mph in only a matter of 7 seconds. From the looks to the performance, almost everything about this car is splendid – almost. That’s because along with all that, are poor pistons that require attention often. And due to the car’s growing rarity over the years, it will make it harder for owners and potential buyers to get their hands on parts.
1 Mercury Montego GT – Underside Rust Issues
With a classic, elongated, boxy look, five V8 engine options, and two and four-door body style variations, it’s easy to see just why so many car enthusiasts love the Mercury Montego GT.
However, despite being so seemingly perfect, this gorgeous classic is actually plagued by severe rust issues. Early signs may also be hard to spot as the rusting is commonly seen on the vehicle’s underside. This makes it hard to notice which can result in a full-blown problem if the vehicle is not checked thoroughly. Future versions of the Montego were also believed to have helped them permanently leave the automaking industry.
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