People look back at the 1960s and see it for one of two things. A decade of tension, and a decade of change. Tensions with the USSR, civil rights protesters, and between citizens and the government as the Vietnam war became more and more despised. Along with the tension came change. The fall of Jim Crow era laws, better relations with the USSR under Nixon, and the beginning of the end of America in nam'. But along came those changes were the new American sports cars. Long front end, short rear deck. V8 engine, either a four speed manual or three speed automatic, and bias ply tires. Loud paint, loud exhausts, and loud performance. The birth of the American muscle car. It was in April of 1964 when the Ford Mustang began to roll off the factory floor and into the hearts of buyers across the country. Inexpensive, sporty, well designed, the Mustang sold like hot cakes because it was the hot cakes. It made the sour'd Corvair look like a children's toy, gave the Valiant the bird, and spit onto AMCs shoes. No one really made a car like it either. Sure, the GTO would come out in the same year, but that was more of an option package. But the Mustangs success would be thrown back in it's face by decades end. "It's a small viscous animal that eats Mustangs" proclaimed Bunkie Knudsen, giving the new for 1967 Camaro a definition. Eat, tear, and beat down the Ford Mustang. While the Camaro never out sold the Mustang during it's first generation, it made Ford's pony car look like a female dog. Chrysler also saw the success of the Mustang and decided to also make it's weapon. The sleak, elegant, and fast Dodge Charger/Challenger came onto the scene in 1966 and 1970 respectively. Faster, better looking, and cooler, the Dodge Charger was the perfect foil to the Ford Mustang, especially when it was chasing Steve McQueen's in 1968's Bullet. Even AMC of all companies wanted a slice of that speed pie, with the S/C Rambler and Javelin. While they don't hold the power like the Challenger or Camaro, they certainly have a cult following, and there's always gonna be "The AMC guy" if you catch my drift. Now, 50 some odd years later, and those cars are all worth north of $50,000. A 1968 Dodge Charger R/T with the 440 Super Commado goes for about $50,000 in shabby condition, says the Hagerty evaluator. Damn. Of course that is an R/T with the 440, it's going to be expensive. Even a base model, stripper with the 318 and automatic will run you $20,000 in mediocre condition. I think unobtanium is the wrong word. It isn't a Porsche 930 or Ferrari 250 GTO, that's what real unobtaniam looks like. However, it's very sad to see cars I absolutely adore go for so much money. Which is why a lot of my focus has been directed to 80s and 90s cars. Foxbody Mustangs, 2002/E21/E30/E36 BMWs, S13s, Celica Supras, RX7s, etc. Those are all cars you can find for under $10,000, and if you look hard enough, under $5,000. Not to end of a gloomy note, I am happy to see the muscle car market fix itself. This isn't 2009 Barrett Jackson anymore, you're 1 of 25,000 Cuda' isn't worth $45,000. So maybe in a couple years, certainly not now, I'll be rolling around in one of those unobtainum Camaros I so desperately want.
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