Muscle cars are hot rodders with big engines in them. The term “muscle car” was introduced in the 1960s when powerful cars became affordable to the mass market.

Although only a few people can own classic muscle cars because of their high fuel consumption, they are still valued by car lovers. Some own only one while others collect them.

If you own a muscle car, you know how exciting it is to own and drive one. However, a muscle car is not just a car, it’s an investment, and like any other investment, it is important to know its value and keep it in great condition for the future or an upcoming sale.

Evaluating Your Muscle Car Value

Determining the value of your muscle car is not an easy task. Their costs vary, and there are several factors to consider including how many times your car has been repaired and are there some run-down parts of the car you cannot see that may affect its value?

Many muscle cars are no longer being manufactured, and as a result, they are quite expensive. Most of them are sold privately. You may have to do a private sale yourself when the time comes to sell your car.

Here are several ways to estimate its value.

• Start by looking at rankings in online publications.
• Contact classic car dealers for a quote – Dealers have information on the current value of classic cars in the market and are likely to give you some realistic quotes. Just be wary of those that reduce the price in hopes of getting your vehicle for cheap and only contact reputable dealers.

You can also use the following online tools to determine your classic car value.

●      Nada Guides:

Use the appraisal guides published by the National Automobile Dealers Association to determine the value of your muscle car. It’s considered an expert guide on valuing classic vehicles.

●     The Hagi Index

The HAGI classic car index will give you the value of your vehicle based on market conditions, sales, and auctions. They publish their data on their site and in respected publications that specialize in classic cars.

●     Car Sale Websites

Sites, where people sell classic cars, will give you an idea of the value of your car. Just find a similar muscle car on sale and look at the asking price for an idea of your car’s value.

Factors That Determine Your Car Value

Apart from using online tools and ranking sites to determine your classic car value, you can use these other factors to determine its value.

1. What’s The Demand?

The demand for your muscle car in the classic car market will help you to determine its value.

Some vehicles are quite popular with car collectors because of their look, year of manufacture, quality, and any special feature or stories associated with them.

To determine the demand for your vehicle, check the price of similar cars in collector magazines and other places that sell classic cars, and it will give you an idea of your car’s value. Ensure you put into consideration any problems your vehicle has as they will affect its value.

However, if it is fully restored and in excellent condition, you can be sure you’ll get the most for it. You may even have the privilege of naming your price.

2. Is It Rare?

The rarer your car, the higher its value.

Some muscle cars were only produced in low numbers meaning very few still exist. If your car is one of those, its value is likely to be high.

If you read popular car magazines, you will find sections dedicated to rare classic cars. Such unique cars attract many buyers who are ready to buy them at any price. If they are fully restored, they are even more valuable to collectors.

3. Is It Professionally Restored?

Working on your classic car to restore it is not the same as having a professional do it. Expert classic car restorers have experience in getting muscle cars back to their original look.

Buyers appreciate classic cars that are restored by a professional more than those done by an amateur. If your muscle car is fully restored, you should include the cost of its complete restoration in the asking price.

However, if your muscle car is a project car ( meaning it has never been worked on by a restorer), expect that factor to affect the price. Project cars attract much lower values in the market as they must undergo a lot of work before they get back to perfect condition.

4. How Does It Perform On The Road?

Some classic cars are great to look at but do not handle well on the road. A classic car in excellent working condition is likely to cost more than one that only looks good but performs poorly on the roads.

Most car collectors want to take their vehicles out for a drive at times. Therefore, the way your muscle car performs on the road will affect its value.

The mileage may also matter, especially if your vehicle is a race car. However, keep in mind that some fully-restored cars have their mileage reset to zero. If your car is one of these, you may not be able to determine the mileage, which will prevent you from determining its accurate value.

5. Is The Car Modified?

Some vehicle restorers modify muscle cars to make them look better or improve the way they perform. Such modifications may interfere with the vehicle’s original look, which affects their value on the market.

Many classic car lovers want a muscle car as it looked originally. If your vehicle has been modified, its value will be lower.

Are You Looking To Sell Your Muscle Car?

These are tips on how to determine the value of your muscle car in the market.

However, there are things you can do to increase your muscle car’s value. For example;

●Number Matching

Restore your muscle car using vehicle stock parts of the same model, year, and type of car.  Cars with parts that match the original ones have a better value on the market.

●Bodywork Repairs

The outward look of a classic car is important to collectors. If your vehicle has problems on the body such as dents, repairing them will increase its value. You could also improve the paint job with custom vehicle paint.

●Fix The Interior

The way a muscle car looks inside matters too. fixing the wear and tear, such as restoring the seats, will improve its value

These tips will help you tell the value of your classic vehicle and even increase its value where possible. Use them to get a favorable car sale, or maintain your muscle car in excellent condition.

Author: Tanya Halsten