Where to find a muscle car?
 

I've got some inheritence money now, and I can finally get a good muscle car (can prob finance around $25,000). So, with that I could probably get a fairly nice late sixties camaro RS or SS, maybe a GTO, I'm looking for suggestions on what to buy and where to look. I've been through Hemming's, I've looked int the papers, in Autotrader, and online, and it just doesn't seem like the cars are out there in the private sector. Is it just that I'm in Southern California and all the luxury dealerships have bought up the nice cars?

The short of it is, where can I find the best deal on a late sixties muscle car?

I'm in Southern California too and am having a tough time finding any muscle cars that stay on the market for more than a couple days after an ad is put out.
My approach so far has been to go a 7-11 every week and get the new Auto traders of every type. They have ones specifically for older cars which is where I look first.

Yeah it's tough to find older cars......pretty much if you find anything your gonna have to trailer it and drive a great distance. The only way I have found muscle cars is you have to know people into cars. Like I know a few mopar nuts..they can find almost anything with a price in a week if it's a dodge...$25,000 won't get you a spectacular muscle car (big block manual with all the option) but you can find something nice that may need a little work.

Go to a car show, everything is for sale! No kidding, as I am currently restoring a Muscle Car. If I had to do it all over again, I would have educated myself in spotting the proper numbers matching car, taken my 35K and went to a reputable show (Like MoPar Nationals, Super Chevy) Trust me, if your not a chassie/body/suspension/motor guy, suck up your money and go to one of these shows. You can not educate yourself too much. If its a GM product, get a code book, find out what the numbers mean, and where to find them not only on the tags but on the componants themselves. (rearend, transmission, bellhousing, assorted brackets,etc.) Dont wear your good clothes, dont let anything bother you. If the guy is wanting to sell the car, you have every right to go over it with a fine tooth comb. Chevy's are easier to bootleg. One should be very carefull with a GM product, as the documentation of lets say an RS, SS or Z/28 is quite easy to replicate. Mopars are another matter altogether (and Mopar is what I am working with) Im no expert, but I know some (now)

Buy exactly what you want,spend your money smart the first time, it will save you alot of headaches

Best of luck to you. Muscle Cars are very cool. When I was in high school they were a dime a dozen.... I should have borrowed 300K, used 70K to build a heated building, and spent the rest on obtaining Camero's, Mustangs, Challengers and Cuda's.

That is so true, About 15 or 20 years ago I bought a 1969 Charger, 440, 18 spline 4speed and a dana rear. It did not have a battery, intake or carbs. I got it for $75.00.
I bought an intake and a Holley and a battery and drove that car for a few years and sold it for 2500.00. It was a 440HP, obviously it was not complete cause it no longer had the 6pack.

Damn should have kept that car

I agree with them just watch for car shows in your area. Even if you cant find what your looking for take the time to meet some people who own cars similar to what you are wanting and they should be able to help point you in the right direction at least.

a HEMMINGS magazine, or online you can find some MINT beautiful classics, things youd never think of, and eBay is also a nice place to find lots of classics. good luck and let us know what you get!