No other market has drooled over muscle cars as much as the American one, and this is why they never stopped existing. With time, they went through different life cycles in order to incorporate changing technology and trends, but the basic DNA remained the same. Where some muscle cars of yesteryear got so famous they became legends and still enjoy the cult status, some could not manage to survive despite being similarly exciting, if not more.
Not many muscle cars made in the 1990s made much impact in the minds of the people, but some surely did. This is primarily because most of the used cars from that decade had boring, redundant, and boxy designs. But some cars did manage to break the mold. Here, we bring you five muscle cars from the ’90s that still attracts a premium, and five alternatives that cost less than half but are not half as boring as you think.
10 Great ’90s Muscle Car: 1993 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R – $125,350
The first Cobra R from Ford’s SVT arrived for the first time in 1993. These units were made only for track use, and did not have anything that was not needed like rear seats, radio, air conditioner, fog lamps, power windows etc. The fact that only 107 units were made, makes it one of the rarest of rare gems to own from the ‘90s. According to Classic.com, a 1993 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R sells for an average $125,350 with the maximum price at $143,000.
9 Cheaper Alternative That’s Almost As Cool: 1995 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 – $46,500
The last year of production of the ZR1, based on the fourth-generation Chevrolet Corvette, was 1995. Its 5.7-liter V8 engine delivered a staggering output of 405 hp and 340 lb-ft of power and torque to the rear wheels using a six-speed manual gearbox. The average price of a 1995 Corvette ZR1 is $46,500, with the most expensive one going for $77,000.
8 Great ’90s Muscle Car: 1995 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R – $43,889
Another masterpiece developed by Ford’s Special vehicles Team (SVT) was the Mustang Cobra R. The 1995 edition of the SVT Cobra R had a 5.8-liter V8 that delivered close to 300 hp of power. The reason for this particular edition being so special lies in the fact that only 250 units were made. Which is why the average price is just under $44,000.
7 Cheaper Alternative That’s Almost As Cool: 1998 Chevrolet Corvette C5 – $23,054
The fifth generation of the Chevrolet Corvette was a good car, but came at the wrong time. It belonged to a very famous family, and the wide design did not click with the customers. The 5.7-liter V8 delivered 345 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque, and was extremely fun. The average price of a 1998 Corvette C5 is around $23,000, with a maximum price of $175,000.
6 Great ’90s Muscle Car: 1999 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am – $29,476
The fourth generation of the Firebird was a much more improved car than the third generation. The midlife facelift in 1998 took the oomph factor to another level, with added safety features offering more practicality. The 5.7-liter V8 engine delivered 305 hp and 335 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels, which is probably why it costs $29,476 on average today.
5 Cheaper Alternative That’s Almost As Cool: 1992 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am – $14,183
1992 was the last production year for the third generation of the Pontiac Firebird, which also meant the end of the road for the Firebird Trans Am, too. It had a turbocharged 5.7-liter V8, it looked great, and did 0-60 mph in just over four seconds, but still missed that ‘something’. This is probably why a 1992 Firebird Trans Am costs just over $14,000 on average today.
4 Great ’90s Muscle Car: 1997 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 SS – $27,497
Another car from yesteryear that still attracts a fair number of people is the fourth generation of the Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Super Sport (SS). The 1996 version was also the first Camaro Z28 after 24 years to be introduced with an optional performance package. It was a powerful car and was reliable as well. The average price of a 1997 Camaro Z28 SS is $27,497, with the most expensive one going all the way up to $95,700.
3 Cheaper Alternative That’s Almost As Cool: 1997 Ford Thunderbird – $12,075
Another car that got overshadowed by its more famous siblings was the Ford Thunderbird. The 1997 version was a more potent version of the Thunderbird with a 3.8-liter V6 engine delivering 145 hp and 215 lb-ft of power and torque respectively. The average price of a 1997 is just over $12,000 with the most expensive Thunderbird costing $19,000.
2 Great ’90s Muscle Car: 1996 Chevrolet Impala SS – $20,002
After being unveiled in 1992 for the first time, the Chevrolet Impala SS failed to impress the masses as it should have back then. What did it result in? A premature end to the career of the Impala SS that saw only three production years from 1994-1996. The 5.7-liter V8 engine delivered a modest 260 hp and 330 lb-ft of torque. The average cost of a 1996 Impala SS is just over $20,000, with the highest price topping $50,000.
1 Cheaper Alternative That’s Almost As Cool: 1995 Mercury Cougar – $5,258
One of the best muscle cars back in the ‘60s and ‘70s, the Mercury Cougar got lost somewhere in the history books with the passage of time. The 1995 Mercury Cougar was the seventh generation version, and came with a 3.8-liter V6 delivering 205 hp and 265 lb-ft of power and torque. The average price of a 1995 Mercury Cougar in the used car market is around $5,258 with $7,050 being the price of the most expensive 1995 Cougar.
Source: Classic.com and Edmunds
