Value Brawn over Brand
The muscle and pony cars of the '60s and '70s are the hot ticket today, largely because many Baby Boomers never could shake the image of Steve McQueen racing a Highland Green 1968 Mustang fastback through the streets of San Francisco in "Bullitt." Chase scenes like that have a way of making a car famous -- for life. Of course, it doesn't hurt that the highly anticipated 2007 Ford Shelby GT500 is smoking hot.
Then again, late-'50s Chevys are a perpetual favorite -- chrome and fins, it seems, never go out of style. But be careful when you go looking for that perfect GTO or Bel-Air. The easiest thing to do is to pay too much.
And do keep in mind that, while a mint-condition special model might set you back six figures, a more common sister model might be had for just a few thousand.
For example, take an original Z28 with matching serial numbers for body, engine and drive train. The asking price may scare away all but the very rich collectors, but a "plain-pipe-racks" Camaro of the same year could be an excellent economical deal. With a straight body, fresh paint and a new interior, it's every bit as much fun to drive as its race-bred sibling.
A Sum of the Parts
Collectors have sought out Chevrolet and Ford trucks of the 1950s for decades, but they still can be had for a reasonable price -- particularly if you're willing to invest some sweat equity. You can also find 1940s American trucks at good prices, but they're likely to need more refurbishing than later models. The saving grace: Most parts for these classic, somewhat common models are still readily available from manufacturers, specialty shops and swap meets.
Dodge, Studebaker and International trucks of the '40s and '50s haven't become trendy with collectors, so you might find a good one on the cheap. But beware: These truck lines weren't as popular as the same-generation Fords and Chevys, so parts are harder to find.
Chevrolet trucks of the late '60s and early '70s also are growing in popularity. If you like these, grab a good one now. Prices are rising, but many restoration parts are still available from Chevy dealers.
Kick the Tires
Examine your new dream car carefully before laying down cash. A quickie paint job can hide multiple bodywork sins like rust, which indicates element exposure, shoddy storage and a potentially weakened frame. So have the car checked by an investigative mechanic for latent defects. If it looks like you're going to be buying someone else's problems, pass and keep looking.
Photos by Ken Layne
'57 Chevy Photo by Stephan Zabel
Ken Layne () is a former automotive engineer and the author of various books and articles including "Automobile Electronics & Basic Electrical Systems" and "Car Service"
Print this page 
Send to a friend
