The muscle car golden era of the 1960s and early 70s was one of the craziest periods in automotive history, as seemingly normal consumer heroes were gradually equipped with V8 engines that got larger and larger in displacement. Twin this with their beefier suspension setups – which meant they weren't so useless in the bends – and their loud exterior designs, and you had road-going racers that showed what could be had for a fraction of the price of a real competition special.The trouble is, many of the vehicles available during the period have gained legendary reputations in the decades since, which means they cost a fortune to buy these days. Not all muscle monsters were subjected to this fate, as illustrated by Mopar's baby muscle car from the early 1970s. The Demon 340 Was Dodge's Entry-Level Muscle Car Dodge This minus-sized challenger was the Dodge Demon 340, which was the performance version of the Dodge Dart compact car. American brands of the time tended to try and offer performance versions of pretty much every offering on the menu, from the most expensive nameplates to the most budget-friendly.The Dart sat on the lower end of things, and Dodge spied an opportunity to present a muscle car for a little less. The brand elected to shove a 5.6-liter V8 under the hood of a two-door Dart, and grace it with a new name. Feeling that the buying public may look down on its new performance machine due to it sharing the name with the Dart, the car was instead christened the Demon.The Demon was initially available as an add-on package to the standard Dart, but became a standalone model in 1971. As far as pricing went, the Demon 340 started from $300 less than a Challenger 383, which translates to just shy of $2,500 in today's money. The Demon 340 Was A Victim Of The Quick Demise Of The Muscle Car Era Dodge Sadly, the Demon 340 didn't get much of a chance to shine. Despite being one of the cheapest muscle cars on the market, times were changing. Tightening emissions regulations, a sharp rise in fuel costs, as well as safety concerns being bandied about by the US government spelled the end of the muscle car golden era, and led to cars receiving smaller and more restrictive V8s from 1972 and beyond.With demand for muscle cars drying up as a result, the Demon 340 was axed in 1972 after just two years on sale. It didn't get much of a chance to make an impact, but this is good news for those in the market for a cheap-but-mighty classic muscle car in 2026. The Demon 340 Costs A Fraction Of What You'll Pay For The Muscle Car Stars Dodge Most gearheads looking to get a muscle car from this legendary era will likely cast their minds towards the likes of the Dodge Challenger R/T, which came packing a 385-horsepower 7.2-liter V8, or perhaps its more elegant Charger R/T sibling. The trouble is, a Challenger in good condition will demand around $60k from your wallet, while a Charger with the same engine will set you back closer to $85,000. These values put it well out of the price range of many gearheads, but this is where the little Demon comes in.According to Hagerty's Valuation Tool, a good one can be picked up for around $35k, nearly half that of the Challenger. It may not have as much power as its larger-engined Mopar part-lavished siblings, but its small size and lower weight figure mean it'll feel quicker than it is. Plus, it's more agile when things get twisty. Get A Demon 340 While You Can, As They're Becoming Collectible Bring a Trailer The trouble is, if you want one, you'd better strike now. Collectors are beginning to wake up to this underrated classic muscle car, a situation illustrated by its rising used value. Hagerty shows that over the last 12 months, Demon 340s in good condition have jumped in price by 16.8%. This figure is represented by a rise of around $5k in numerical value.The increase in collector appeal is further shown by the fact that Demon 340s in mint condition have blown up even further, with these worth a huge 26% more year-on-year. Perfect Demons were valued at around $60k in February 2025, but a year later are worth $75k.You'd better strike while the iron's hot. Don't Underestimate Dodge's Baby Muscle Car Bring a Trailer While the Demon 340 may have been afforded a significantly smaller engine than models like the 6.2-liter Challenger, its lack of weight helped make up the difference. The more expensive Challenger could blast past the 60 mph barrier in around 6.8 seconds, but it tipped the scales at well north of 200 lbs heavier than the Demon.This meant the smaller car could manage the same sprint in pretty much an identical time, while also being more agile through the corners. The lack of weight also made it more capable when you jumped on the brakes.The Demon 340 was a pukka muscle car, as aside from the 5.6-liter V8, Dodge's engineers also equipped it with a Rallye suspension package. This included a stiffer rear sway bar and springs, heavier-duty shocks, as well as new torsion bars front and rear to help stiffen up the chassis.Sportier wheels and tires were also included as standard, ensuring you had a proper baby hot rod directly from the factory. It may be worth less than the legendary muscle cars of the time, but the little Demon 340 won't leave you feeling cold when you plan the throttle to the floor and tip it into the next bend. Dodge Took 45 Years To Resurrect The Demon Stellantis The collapse of the muscle car golden era looked to have exorcized the Demon for good, but it was just plotting a way to get revenge, that's all. The Dodge Challenger SRT Demon was introduced at the 2017 New York Auto Show, and it was immediately notable for the beast that resided beneath the hood. A new 6.2-liter Hemi V8 powerplant could be found when the engine bay was exposed, the unit seasoned with a massive 2.7-liter supercharger. The result was an engine that kicked out a ridiculous 840 hp with premium fuel utilized.Having been angled as a road-legal dragster, the Demon was also graced with a special suspension setup that allowed it to launch from a standing start like an aggravated Cheetah, as well as drag-focused tires that were still road legal due to having just enough tread to satisfy the regulations.The machine could hit 60 mph in a blazing 2.3 seconds, but still came with driver-friendly features like air conditioning and a premium audio system, so that it could still be realistically enjoyed on the road. It later spawned an even more mental version called the Demon 170, but the less you know about that, the better, especially if you fancy hanging onto your life.That said, there are few better ways to go out than by breaking the longest distance covered in a drag race while on fire.