Let’s be real: the Mazda Miata is the gold standard for “smiles per hour.” But as the price of a brand-new ND3 creeps toward the $35,000 mark (and well beyond for a Club or Grand Touring), a funny thing happens. You start looking at that sleek, modern roadster and then you look at the vintage market, and suddenly, the “reasonable” choice feels a lot more like a missed opportunity for the V8 rumble of a muscle car. If you’ve got Miata money but a muscle car soul, you aren’t out of luck. While Hemi Cudas and Boss 429s have soared into the stratosphere, there are still plenty of tire-shredding icons that will leave you with enough change to buy a set of Radwood-era sunglasses. Here are 11 classic muscle cars you can snag right now for less than the price of a new Miata. 1993–2002 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 / SS The “Catfish” Camaro might have a face only a mother (or a drag racer) could love, but under that sloped hood sits the legendary LS1. This is arguably the best performance-per-dollar deal on this list. You’re getting a lightweight, all-aluminum V8 that pushes 305–325 horsepower from the factory; numbers that still feel fast today. Best of all, $15,000–$22,000 gets you a showroom-clean example with change left over for a built transmission. 1979–1993 Ford Mustang “Fox Body” 5.0 The Fox Body is the quintessential “starter” muscle car that people never actually want to sell. Thanks to its massive aftermarket support, you can build these into anything from a corner-carver to a 10-second drag car. While prices for pristine LX notches and GTs are rising, a solid, driver-quality 5.0 remains well under the $30k mark. It’s light, it’s loud, it’s unapologetically ’80s, and it was available as a convertible. 1968–1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Want the GM A-Body look (the same bones as the Chevelle) without the “Chevelle Tax”? Look to the Oldsmobile Cutlass. While a 442 might push your budget, a clean Cutlass S or Supreme with a 350 Rocket V8 offers incredible style and a more “gentlemanly” interior. It’s the perfect cruiser for someone who wants muscle car curves and a ride that doesn’t punish your spine. 1994–1996 Chevrolet Impala SS The “Lord Vader, your car is ready” sedan. This is for the muscle fan who needs to drop the kids at school. The 1994–96 Impala SS took the Caprice police package, added a detuned Corvette LT1 V8, and finished it in sinister Black, Dark Cherry, or Grey Green. It’s a massive, body-on-frame beast that defines 90s cool, and you can find beautiful survivors for the low $20,000s. 1973–1977 Pontiac Grand Prix We’re entering the “Malaise Era,” but don’t let the lower compression ratios fool you. These cars have massive presence. The mid-70s Grand Prix features a cockpit-style interior and a hood long enough to land a Cessna on. They are incredibly comfortable, look fantastic with a set of Honeycomb wheels, and are still largely ignored by the big-money collectors. 1967–1969 Mercury Cougar Think of the first-gen Cougar as the Mustang’s sophisticated European cousin. It shares the same chassis but offers hidden headlights, sequential taillights, and a slightly longer wheelbase for a smoother ride. While early Mustangs have become incredibly expensive, you can often find a clean 289 or 302-powered Cougar for a fraction of the price. 1982–1987 Buick Regal T-Type Everyone wants the Grand National. Because everyone wants the Grand National, the prices are insane. However, the Buick Regal T-Type (and later the Turbo T) used the exact same turbocharged 3.8L V6. If you can live without the all-black paint job, you get the same “Darth Vader’s Buick” performance for about $10,000 less. It’s a sleeper in the truest sense. 1971–1973 Ford Mustang “Big Horse” The 1971–73 Mustangs are significantly larger than the original ’64, which makes them much more affordable today. Whether you prefer the “Flatback” Mach 1 styling or the convertible, these cars offer tons of curb appeal. A 351 Cleveland-powered Mach 1 is a formidable machine that still clocks in well under the price of a mid-spec Miata. 1970–1972 Ford Maverick Grabber The Maverick was originally intended as an economy car, but when Ford dropped a 302 V8 into it and added the “Grabber” trim package (complete with a spoiler and hood scoops), it became a legitimate lightweight street brawler. They are simpler, lighter, and rarer to see at a local car show than a standard Mustang. 1978–1988 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS The G-Body Chevy is a staple of American car culture. The late-80s SS models, with their aerodynamic nose and HO 305 V8, are icons of the NASCAR-inspired street car era. They are incredibly easy to work on, look mean on a set of white-letter tires, and represent the last of the full-frame, rear-wheel-drive Chevy coupes. 1968–1970 AMC AMX AMC was the underdog that shocked Detroit, and the AMX was their two-seat “Corvette Killer.” Because it only has two seats, it’s technically a sports car, but it has the heart of a pure muscle car. While some rare high-performance versions are pricey, you can still find 360 or 390 V8 models that offer incredible rarity and performance for $25,000–$30,000. A new Miata is a fantastic car—it really is. But for the same money, you could be driving a piece of history that shakes the ground and turns every head on the block. Which one are you taking home? The post 11 Tire-Shredding Classic Muscle Car Legends You Can Own for Less Than a New Mazda Miata appeared first on The Online Automotive Marketplace.