Update: Prices in Kissimmee were INSANE. As you'll see below. I'll write more on the current state of the market in coming days. No shortage of Malaise Muscle honies for Kissimmee 2022. C4, Fox bodies, 2nd & 3rd generation GM F-bodies, it's all there. I selected five that I find of a slightly different flavor, a bit more unique and certainly the ones I'd be bidding on. You know, the stuff you're not really seeing at cars & coffee. 1973 Chevrolet Chevelle SS Now we can debate whether or not this is malaise muscle. From my perspective the era starts in 1975 with the catalytic converter. Between 1972 and 1974 things start down a path of low compression and power. Still, there was good stuff happening from the factory. Like this Chevelle SS with a 454 and 4 speed manual. It's also got the swivel seats, 3.42 Positraction rear. Supposedly 72,000 miles, the original spare tire and good documentation. The car presents real clean and well cared for. I'd hope to get it at $18K, bidding as high as $25K. It would not surprise me to see bidding halt just under $30K. SOLD: $55K 1975 Oldsmobile Hurst/Olds I like this for many of the same reasons as the SS above. Like the big block and swivel seats with reversible seat inserts. I think the Chevy is the more attractive Colonnade with clean sporty lines but the Hurst/Olds has T-tops a.k.a. Hurst Hatches. Are those nifty hood air extractors functional? No manual transmission here but you get the Hurst Dual Gate shifter. A/C and tilt wheel provide even more comfort. This car isn't as clean and near perfect like the Chevy. I expect bidding to top out $26K, I'd be out at $22K. SOLD: $37.4K 1976 Buick Century Pace Car I've written about one of these recently. It just really captures the wild look of the malaise era in a way that the later cars from the 80's do not. This pace car replica still has it's original 350 V8, the 2 barrel has been swapped with a four on an Edelbrock intake. Edelbrock heads and performance exhaust with headers are tasteful mods. No A/C but it has T-tops, Vintage Air no doubt has perfect fit kit. This car is driver quality. You can show it proudly, enjoy driving it, just don't pay more than $12K for it. Under the Mecum lights I could see someone paying concours money, don't be that guy. SOLD: $22K 1979 AMC AMX It's no secret the malaise era till the mid-eighties was more style than substance. This AMX is high on style, all the spoilers, flares and decals the era is infamous for. Damn that looks hot. It comes with a 304 V8 for one to modify with go-fast parts. This one is presented as an 8,000-mile survivor with original paint that looks great. A/C, PS, PB, power locks but hand crack windows is weird. Great looking sport steering wheel and full gauges. Lower it two inches, give it a four barrel and performance exhaust. Drive it like that for a few years, then treat the engine to a performance rebuild after putting some miles on that AMX. The downside is the AMC unobtanium parts, steal it at $8K, pay no more than $16K unless it's the one and only thing missing in your life. SOLD: $35.7K 1987 Oldsmobile 442 This one I'd consider using as a well-treated daily driver. These GM G-bodies of the mid-eighties were a sign that the manufacturers were finally getting the new world of emissions and MPG mixed with fun figured out. On a platform that muscle car fans were familiar with, almost like the good old were back. It's a shame they would be soon replaced with FWD appliances. Aftermarket support for these cars is very good. V8 and T-tops, the perfect base to build a fun cruiser. This one is listed as having 39,000 miles, A/C and a four-speed automatic. I'd bid up to $20K for this. SOLD: $40.7K Let me know if you snag one of these or chime in if you think my valuation is way off. My valuations were WAY OFF.
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AuthorJohn is a GenX car enthusiast who grew up driving classic muscle cars. He enjoys the new modern muscle cars that can out perform the classics in every way. In the sportscar world his banners are Viper and Corvette. John has a guilty pleasure. The disco era street machine. Those unloved, underpowered cars festooned with scoops, spoilers and stripes. Archives
November 2021
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