The Rise of The Muscle Car

"PS9" (PS9) 01/24/2014 at 05:55 • Filed to: Muscle cars

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Many many moons ago, I owned a 3800 Powered 96 Firebird. The car I actually wanted - pictured above - cost almost twice as much even when in poor condition. So I figured I'd just compromise and hang on to the V6 until the LS1 dropped far enough in price. Time would pass. New cars would replace the old. These had to drop in price sooner or later, so I'd wait them out. Good plan, right?

Time did in fact pass. But not without small non-trivial lull in production from GM and Dodge, which created pent up demand. New muscle cars would indeed come out, but none of them would carry a Pontiac badge. Now that new Pontiacs weren't ever coming out, old ones became desirable, which inflated their prices. Third Gen Trans Ams are reaching price-Parody with their LS1 counterparts, and used G8s hovered around new MSRP for years post cancellation.

So that LS1 Trans Am I wanted back when the Magna Carta had been freshly signed is now thousands of dollars more in same condition. Mid-to-low mileage ones already breaking the $10k barrier on their way to $15k. $5k ones are either autos or at the end of their lives.

There are about ~100 cars of this vintage for sale nationwide between the Camaro and Firebird. There are six times as many mustangs of the same era and equipment (V8, three pedals) It's true that the mustang outsold the F-body two-to-one before it died, but that's half the problem. The other half is hoarding. Because Pontiac is dead, the Firebird will never rise again. Owners of low mileage examples must be holding on to their cars, and as prices continue to climb for them, Why not?

I guess the moral of this story is compromise isn't always the best option. If I had just brought the car I wanted instead of bargaining with myself about it, I could have at least crossed 'owned an LS1 powered car' off the bucket list.

Sinanigans > PS9 01/24/2014 at 06:12

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Why not do a swap?

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > PS9 01/24/2014 at 07:22

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Little cringe worthy story about a black third gen Trans Am. I was in drivers ed and when we had a break, we would go to the Greater's Ice Cream shop next-door. We were standing outside eating our ice cream when a black WS6 pulled up. But he pulled too far up and the lip-cladding was dragged across the sidewalk forcibly separating it from the front fascia. There is a noise you never forget. We all cringed and shook our heads at the driver. His female passenger was less than impressed.

Nibbles > PS9 01/24/2014 at 07:52

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There's a 2000 WS6 automatic for sale right down the street. I think they're asking 5k. Interested?

PS9 > Nibbles 01/24/2014 at 08:04

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No third pedal, no sale.

offroadkarter > PS9 01/24/2014 at 08:34

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F bodies aren't that expensive. 03-04 cobras still hang in the 17-25,000 dollar range to this day.

Nibbles > PS9 01/24/2014 at 08:45

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Probably why it's been sitting there for about 6 months now

Also has bondo

Too bad, too. I've been lusting over those F-bodies since I sold them new

PS9 > offroadkarter 01/24/2014 at 08:57

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$17-25k Makes sense for a ~400 HP car with a bulletproof rotating assembly, though. They're not called 'terminators' for nothing.

Also, you can get them for much lower than that if you're willing to look. I was able to find at 7 below $16k with an autotrader search . Similar condition (but not year since they were only produced 'til 2002) three pedal Trans Ams start at $9k. Less than a Terminator, but far more than they were when I went looking for them all those years ago.

PS9 > Nibbles 01/24/2014 at 08:59

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You're not the only one. We better hurry up and grab one though, because at this rate they'll be Barret Jackson'd off at a bazillion dollars a piece if we wait too long...

Nibbles > PS9 01/24/2014 at 09:06

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True dat. I'm holding out for a 2001-2002 FireHawk though

offroadkarter > PS9 01/24/2014 at 09:11

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According to LS1 tech, 4th gen LS1 F bodies:

-Are all factory freaks

-have a motor built by God and running on the blood of Christ

I'd say 15 grand is a bargain when you factor those things in!

camaroboy68ss > PS9 01/24/2014 at 09:49

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There are still some great deals on LS1 f-bodys. I found my 98 Camaro SS with the three pedals with only 46,000 miles on it and I paid $9500 bucks for it. granted its a base SS car with cloth interior and no extra SLP options but its a True SS Camaro.