| Welcome to Part 2 of our 4-Part Series: A | | | | some of the latest "go fast" suspension, wheels |
| Rookie's Guide to Buying a Muscle Car! | | | | tires, and braking components required to make a |
| This series is designed for the person new to the | | | | world-class handling cars. It will likely have some |
| muscle car world. You know you'd like to own | | | | engine mods done as well. (View products from |
| one, but you have no idea where to start. We'll | | | | Heidts, Detroit Speed, Hotchkis, and Griggs to get |
| assume that you want to really like the car as | | | | a general idea of what I am referring to.) You can |
| well - even if you are purchasing it as an | | | | purchase an existing car and bolt on the fun parts, |
| investment. Our series will deal with the following | | | | or purchase a car that is already modified. A |
| topics (and by the end you'll be ready to wheel | | | | numbers-matching car in this category is not |
| your new ride down the road): | | | | overly important. This is a car that you will take |
| 1) Determine the make and model you want | | | | autocrossing or to open track events at road |
| 2) Determine how you want to use the car (drive | | | | courses. It's main goal is to give you the driving |
| often, show car only, etc.) | | | | experience of a new Corvette with the classic |
| 3) Determine your price range and payment | | | | lines of American muscle. Gas-brake-gas-shift-go! |
| method | | | | Drag Racer: |
| 4) Evaluate the car, set up insurance, and | | | | A drag racing car is one......that you will take drag |
| purchase | | | | racing! This category is fairly straight forward, but |
| Since we've already deal with Topic #1 (Deciding | | | | is specific to cars that have been purposely |
| which make and model car to choose) we can | | | | modified to run the 1/4 mile. (As a side note, you |
| now move on to the next step. | | | | can take any car you own to the strip and run it, |
| Today's topic: Determine how you want to use | | | | but a purpose built car will beat you ever time!) |
| the car | | | | This car will run free flowing exhaust, a hopped up |
| This portion of your muscle-car-to-be process is a | | | | engine and transmission, will have a sparse interior, |
| critical one, as when it's all said and done.....what | | | | and will (likely) have a roll cage. It's not one for |
| you end up doing with the car is almost the entire | | | | the faint of heart and DOES need a mechanically |
| reason to purchase one! Below are the six most | | | | inclined owner. |
| common uses of muscle cars today: | | | | Investment: |
| * Weekend Funmobile | | | | An investment car is one that you purchase |
| * Car Show Winner | | | | strictly for it's potential growth in value. You're |
| * Pro-Touring Car (i.e. - a muscle car that can go, | | | | buying it now to sell it later (hopefully) at a higher |
| stop, and turn) | | | | price. We'll still assume that you want to like the |
| * Drag Racer | | | | car, but truthfully, an investment car simply needs |
| * Investment | | | | to hit a few (or most) of these criteria: be a |
| * Drive Anywhere, Anytime | | | | popular make/model, be a rare model, be all |
| Now that we know what the common uses are, | | | | original, be meticulously kept, be well documented, |
| let's break those down a bit - and see which one | | | | and be in as close to original condition as possible |
| if a fit for you! | | | | (it should look like it just rolled off of the |
| Weekend Funmobile: | | | | assembly line). These are the reaaaaaly high dollar |
| A car that fits this category is one that you | | | | cars you may find at a Barrett-Jackson auction. |
| purchase simply for the please of driving it on nice | | | | Think of cars like original COPO Camaro's, |
| days. It's never going to see snow, and will only | | | | Plymouth Superbirds, and BOSS Mustangs. |
| see rain if you can't beat the storm clouds home. | | | | Drive Anywhere, Anytime: |
| It need not have it's original engine, transmission, | | | | A drive anywhere, anytime car is one that you |
| etc., nor does it need not have a $20K paint job. | | | | would (almost) treat just like a regular car, and is |
| It's only real goal is to be a reliably running, | | | | essentially a mix-match of the other 5 categories |
| comfortable driving car that is likely in stock | | | | mentioned. Want to run it to Wal Mart? No |
| condition with the addition of a set of nice | | | | problem. Taking a road trip to New York? Top off |
| sounding mufflers. Hop in and take the friends and | | | | the tank and let's go. Cars that fit this category |
| family over to the Dairy Queen! | | | | need not be numbers matching, nor do they |
| Car Show Winner: | | | | necessarily need to have terrific paint and body |
| A car that fits this category on a consistent basis | | | | work. On the flip side, if money is no object, it |
| will either be an all original numbers-matching car | | | | can have flawless paint work, a hot engine, great |
| (meaning it has it's original engine and transmission) | | | | suspension, and still fit this category. It may or |
| that is in meticulous condition, or is a modified car | | | | may not be a car that goes to car shows, but it |
| - also in meticulous condition. As a general rule of | | | | does need to run well, be reliable, and (above all |
| thumb, the popular models (Camaro's, Charger's, | | | | else) be incredibly fun and enjoyable to drive. |
| etc.) are a good fit here. If they are a modified | | | | Which category fits you best? Put your thinking |
| car, the modification will need to be unique and | | | | cap on. The next section of our series will help |
| really well done (it needs to look expensive). This | | | | whittle things down even further: "Determine your |
| is a car that won't be driven all that much - | | | | price range and payment method." Take your |
| perhaps only a few times a year. It's main goal is | | | | time through this process and give it a lot of |
| to sit, look pretty, and win you some trophies! | | | | thought. Know this though - somewhere out there |
| Pro-Touring Car: | | | | a muscle car, which is a perfect fit for you, is |
| A Pro-Touring car is a muscle car modified with | | | | waiting on you! |