HPG21 Index Preview: American Muscle Cars
Of the 15 component cars in Hagerty’s Index of American Muscle Cars, more than half appreciated and only three fell in value over the past four months. Two of those three were significant enough slips though (9% each for the expensive Hemi Cuda convertible and Hemi Superbird) that the index stumbled overall with a 3% decline – which is the same amount the group is down year over year.
No need to fear another freefall, however. The truth is that while some of the more expensive cars of the genre continue to search for footing, pony cars (early Mustangs and Z/28s in particular) and some cheaper models (such as Bandit-era Firebirds) showed impressive gains since January. No matter the numbers, we feel that present day is a great time to get behind the wheel of one of these cars. You may not be able to flip it in a year for twice what you paid, but you aren’t likely to see prices get too much lower, either.
| Index value: | 78.5 | All-time high: | 116.5 (September 2007) |
| Five-year high: | 90.8 (September 2008) | Five-year low: | 72.2 (September 2010) |
| Four-month change: | -3% | 12-month change: | -3% |
| 36-month change: | 8% | 60-month change: | -12% |
| Component cars: | 15 | Gainers: | 8 |
| No change: | 4 | Losers: | 3 |
Component cars
| 1969 AMC AMX 390/340 | n/c | 1970 Buick GS455 convertible | 1% |
| 1964 Chevrolet Impala SS 409/425 convertible | 1% | 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Yenko 427 coupe | n/c |
| 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS6 coupe | 3% | 1969 Dodge Charger 426/425 Hemi 500 hardtop coupe | n/c |
| 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429/375 SportsRoof | n/c | 1968 Mercury Cougar GTE 428/335 coupe | 2% |
| 1970 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 W-30 coupe | 1% | 1970 Plymouth Superbird 426/425 coupe | -9% |
| 1970 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda convertible | -9% | 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda AAR coupe | 4% |
| 1965 Pontiac LeMans GTO 389/360 Tri-Power convertible | n/c | 1965 Shelby GT350 | -1% |
| 1968 Shelby GT500 KR convertible | 2% |
