The Most Expensive American Muscle Cars (Part-2)

American Muscles Rare muscle cars are extremely collectible. The rarer they are, the more a person is willing to pay to obtain one. Typically, these old American muscle cars need to be completely restored. They require new engines, transmissions, paint, etc. A very limited number of them have survived the test of time. These are the ones people pay the most for.  

1968 Shelby EXP500 Green Hornet. (Picture from: AutoGuide)

There are some criteria a car must meet in order to be considered a "classic" muscle car, and therefore be included on this list. First the car must be equipped with a V-8 engine. It also must be made in America during the late 1960s or early 1970s. Most muscle cars have only two doors like the one on video below;

Lastly, they must have been production cars. This means they are not race cars. Someone could have actually gone to a dealership and bought one these. It does not matter if it was available on lots or if it had to be specially ordered from the manufacturer. It just has to a car that could be purchased by anyone. Here are the second part of the most expensive American muscle cars:

5. 1971 Hemi Cuda Convertible

From being a popular muscle car in the early days, Hemi Cuda convertibles fell from favor during the late Sixties and early Seventies. For this reason relatively few were made after 1970, eventually making them quite rare and sought after.

1971 Hemi Cuda Convertible. (Picture from: OtoDetik)

Only 11 Hemi Cuda convertibles were made in 1971, and this one sold for $2,200,000 at Barrett-Jackson auction in 2007, even though it didn’t even have its original engine. Ironically though, prices started dropping again, and when this same car was sold by the same auction house in 2013, it went for a mere $1,320,000.

4. 1968 Shelby EXP500 Green Hornet Prototype

This muscle car worth of $1.8 million, but unsold at Barret-Jackson auction event in 2013. Do you wonder why is so expensive? Well, this one is a prototype and is the only one ever made. It features the fuel-injected 428 Cobra Jet engine and has an independent rear suspension.

1968 Shelby EXP500 Green Hornet. (Picture from: AutoGuide)

The body was modified to include a ram-air hood and a tail panel that was designed to include the tail lights from the 1965 Thunderbird. It can goes up to 60 miles per hour in just 5.7 seconds.

3. 1970 Plymouth Hemi Barracuda 2 Door Convertible
This amazing car has a price reached of $2,000,000 and is also know as the Cuda and it was designed by John E. Herlitz. It is called the E-body and it is based on Chrysler’s B platform, even it’s shorter and wider.

1970 Plymouth Hemi Barracuda 2 Door Convertible. (Picture from: AutoShowAutoTrader)

It built on Monday November 10, 1969 for a Chrysler Executive on a lease program. Benefitting from a complete professional restoration in the '90's this car is still in award winning condition and represents the epitome of Mopars answer to the Ford Cobra Jets and Chevrolet LS6's on Americas streets and drag strips.

The Hemi engine is a hemispherical combustion chamber first built in 1951 as the Fire Power engine. The maximum power of the engine is 425 horsepower at 5,000 rpm. Only 14 cars of this model were made that year.

2. 1971 Chrysler Plymouth Hemi Cuda Convertible

Described as an ultra-muscle car, this Plymouth Hemi Cuda convertible is one of a pair produced with four-speed manual transmission and a 426/425 hp V8 engine. It is the only one of its kind that is still around. Fully restored, it still has most of the original bodywork plus the motor numbers match the car.

1971 Chrysler Plymouth Hemi Cuda Convertible. (Picture from: Stuff.co.nz)

Nicknamed the Holy Grail of muscle cars, perhaps its not surprising that it sold for $3,500,000 at Mecum Auto auction in June 2014. This is the highest price that has ever been paid for a muscle car, as well as one of the highest price ever reached for the cars produced by the Chrysler factory.

1. 1967 Chevrolet Corvette L88

Highly sought after, there were only 20 of these cars ever produced, and only one was red. This model was the most expensive muscle cars ever sold, this red classic 1967 Chevrolet Corvette L88 fetched $3.850,000 at Barrett-Jackson auction in January 2014.

1967 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Coupe. (Picture from: Hemmings)

Nevertheless it still had all its original body panels, and so a complete restoration was possible. The restoration process used was so successful that this is the method that is now officially recommended by the National Corvette Restorers Society.

1967 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Convertible. (Picture from: StreetMuscleMag)

As notes: What is shown in the articles (in Part-1 and Part-2) are not something that is fixed, it is possible that currently there are American muscle cars out there being offered or being sold above the price of cars on the list. If you have information related to this, feel free to let us know via the comments column below. (Back to previous part.) *** [EKA [03042016] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | AUTOGUIDE | STUFF.CO.NZ | BARRET-JACKSON | HEMMINGS | STREETMUSCLEMAG | AUTOSHOW.AUTOTRADER ]

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