eBay Guides - How to Buy Your First Collectible Muscle Car
From collectibles to cars, buy and sell all kinds of items on eBay


 Reviews & Guides


      Reviews & Guides home page   

How to Buy Your First Collectible Muscle Car

Tags:  ford mustang | plymouth barracuda | corvette | amc sc/rambler | dodge demonWrite a guide!

Back in the day we wanted fast and muscle cars delivered fast in spades. Smoky burnouts? You bet. Low ET's in the quarter mile? Absolutely. Six to eight miles per gallon? Who cared? Gas was cheap 20 years ago. Disc brakes were exotic, Polyglas tires were state of the art, and equipment and options were strictly of a go-fast nature. Air conditioning was for your mom’s car, as were automatic transmissions and power steering. Spoilers, short throw shifters, and bulging hoods were more like it. But that was then, in a world when cars were pretty primitive by today’s standards. Just as your daily driver today does not have an 8-track unit installed under the dash, what you want in your next muscle car probably differs from what you wanted back in the day. Face it, you're older and wiser.

Discover the Collectible Muscle Car of Your Dreams


Discover the Collectible Muscle Car of Your Dreams

You don’t need big bucks to have a muscle car. Even if you traded in your 1970 GTX Hemi convertible 4-speed for a Mustang II because you needed better gas mileage, you can make it up to yourself by discovering a few sleepers that still have plenty of grunt.

  • 1965 Ford Falcon Sprint: Still not recognized as the early muscle cars they were, the 1965 Ford Falcon Spirit has a lot of cool features and you can still find it for less than $15,000.

  • 1971 Dodge Demon coupe: The 1971 Dodge Demon coupe wasn't taken seriously in its time, but now its smaller size and relative scarcity make it an excellent choice for wild ’70s colors and graphics.

  • 1965 Chevrolet Corvair Monza/Corsa coupe or convertible: By no means a muscle car, the 1965 Chevrolet Corvair Monza/Corsa coupe and 1965 Chevrolet Corvair Monza/Corsa convertible are a lot of fun to drive in anything but a straight line.

  • 1969 AMC SC/Rambler coupe: Still way too cheap even for an orphan car, the 1969 AMC SC/Rambler coupe arguably has the most insane graphics of any production vehicle.

  • 1970 Ford Mustang Grande: The 1970 Ford Mustang Grande will set you back far less than a Boss, it still could have a big V8, and it’s much more likely to have the power steering and air conditioning you want.

  • 1968 Plymouth Barracuda Formula S: Like the 1970 Ford Mustang Grand, the 1968 Plymouth Barracuda Formula S is still available with a large V8 and is more likely to have creature comforts.

  • 1971 Chevrolet Corvette convertible 454 LS5: Cooler than the Chevelle, the 1971 Chevrolet Corvette convertible 454 LS5 only has room for one passenger. Indulge yourself and let the kids walk.

When you decide to buy a muscle car, you want to have some fun without looking back. If your pals saw you in an automatic ’Cuda or automatic GTO in period, the laughter and derision might have been too much too handle. But no such peer pressure is likely to rear its ugly head today. Cars with four-speeds are still generally worth more, but a slushbox no longer carries the shame it once did, especially if you plan to drive in the traffic routinely found in major metropolitan areas.

Choose collectible muscle car options

Along with radial tires, power steering has become something of a necessity. Parking and low-speed maneuvering can be near impossible without it. The third part of the Holy Trinity of options, air conditioning, will make any muscle car more desirable, especially when you sit in traffic or try to exit the parking lot of a car show on a 90-degree day in August.

Keep in mind that you may find the overpowering acceleration of those beasts of the late 1960s a little underwhelming after spending the last decade behind the wheel of a modern, fuel-injected car. Your average V6 Accord can dust most muscle cars of yore, not to mention out-handle them. Of course, you’re probably going to drive your new muscle car a bit more gingerly than you did when you were younger, and not just because you’re going to pay a lot more for it. Chances are that doing smoking-tire 360s in your 4-4-2 just won’t get your wife as excited today as it got your girlfriend back then.

Get the collectible muscle car you really want

Make sure you buy what the muscle car you really want without settling for less — even if you just sold your company and can't get your bulging wallet into the back pocket of those "relaxed fit" pants. You’ll be happier in both the long and the short term. For example, you may find a great deal on a clone. Even though you pay less now, it'll be worth much less later and may prove a hard sell.

Get the muscle car you plan to buy inspected by someone you trust. Consider it a kind of automotive prenuptial agreement. Stay away from muscle cars with stories and pass on muscle cars that have serious needs unless you enjoy the restoration process as part of your ownership experience. Even then, know that you'll have little chance of getting your money back.

Remember to budget for the hidden costs of ownership: insurance, maintenance, repairs, etc. No need to worry about single-digit gas mileage. Even at more than $2 per gallon, who cares? You'll probably only drive your new toy a few miles each year.


Back to topBack to top

Find Collectible Muscle Cars on eBay Motors


Find Collectible Muscle Cars on eBay Motors

Once you know what muscle car make and model you want, go to eBay Motors, click Passenger Vehicles, and start shopping on eBay!

  • Categories: Use the Categories list on the left side of the page to narrow listings by car make or model.

  • Passenger Vehicles Finder: The Passenger Vehicles Finder on the left navigation bar allows you to narrow listings by make, model, year, and transmission type.

  • Search: Search eBay listing titles for specific words by entering keyword terms into eBay's Search box. You can also search using the Advanced Search feature on eBay Motors or search within categories by using the Search by eBay Motors Category option, which allows you to specify make, model, and year range as well as other options specific to vehicles, motorcycles, and parts. If location is important, try searching by distance in miles or ZIP code.

  • Compare: Mark the checkbox next to each car item listing that interests you and click the Compare button to view and compare auction and product details side-by-side.

If you can't find exactly what you want, try shopping eBay Stores, tell the eBay Community what you want by creating a post on Want It Now, or save a search on My eBay and eBay will email you when a match becomes available.


Back to topBack to top

Buy Collectible Muscle Cars With Confidence


Buy Collectible Muscle Cars With Confidence

Hundreds of muscle cars on eBay Motors will likely interest you. When trying to select the right one, get to know exactly what you're buying, research the seller, and understand how eBay and PayPal can help protect you.

As with all major decisions, in buying a car, you will want to conduct your own due diligence to make sure you get full information and the best advice possible.

Know your purchase

Many sellers put a lot of time into creating their listings, making an effort to ensure they include all the information buyers need. Carefully read the details in listings for the car(s) you consider buying and carefully review available photos. Before placing a bid or buying an item, be sure to:

  • Have all your questions answered. If you still have questions after reading the listing and reviewing the photos, contact the seller using the Ask seller a question link in the “Seller information” box in the top right corner of every car listing. Also request additional photos if you want to see the car from a particular angle that isn’t shown in the photos included in the listing. If you have more questions than you can address in email, ask for the seller’s phone number and call him or her. Some sellers even include their phone number so you can call them directly. Just remember that you need to actually bid and buy on eBay to be covered by eBay protection programs and pay with PayPal in order to be covered by PayPal protection programs (see "Buyer protection" below for more details).

  • Run a vehicle history report: By running a vehicle history report on a used vehicle you intend to purchase, you can learn about the history of the vehicle, including accident reports or title brands such as "flooded" or "salvage."

  • Get the vehicle inspected: An independent third-party inspection can validate a seller's claims about a vehicle's condition. eBay Motors recommends arranging a 150-point vehicle inspection through SGS Automotive.

  • Consider additional costs: Remember to consider other potential costs such as title, registration, and state taxes. Once you purchase the vehicle, be sure to complete all of the title paperwork and pay any required taxes on the vehicle. Please note that this information varies by state and vehicle type. Contact your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office for more information on taxes, title transfer, and registration.

  • Get delivery details. Calculate and include delivery costs into your final price. This may simply be the cost of driving across the city or state if the car is close-by or it may mean working with a shipping company that can transport the car from anywhere in the country. To learn more about shipping costs, ask the seller or contact DAS, an eBay Motors-approved vehicle shipping service.

  • Track items with eBay Toolbar. Use the free eBay Toolbar to track items you bid on and watch. It includes Account Guard, a feature that indicates when you're visiting a verified eBay or PayPal website and warns you when you enter your eBay password into an unverified site, even if it looks like eBay or PayPal.

Know your payment options

Always complete your transaction on eBay (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay are not covered by eBay and PayPal protection programs (see "Buyer protection" below for more details).

Never pay for an item using instant cash wire transfer services such as Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know. Instead, pay with PayPal for amounts less than $2,000 (including deposits), a money order, or direct bank-to-bank fund transfer.

  • Provide eBay with your credit card information: You are required to have a credit card on file with eBay if you bid more than $15,000 for an item. You will be notified that you need to provide this information when you bid. Allow yourself some extra time if you are bidding during the last minutes of an auction. Your credit card will not be charged; instead, eBay uses it to confirm your identity—a safety measure to help protect both you and the seller.

  • Apply for financing: eBay, together with several top lenders, can help you get the financing that you need. Visit the eBay Financing Center to arrange financing before you bid or after you buy or to calculate monthly payments.

Know your seller

Just as important as researching your car purchase is getting to know the seller. Take time to research the seller so that you can feel positive and secure about every transaction. Key things to look for when evaluating a seller are:

  • Positive Feedback. What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have? What do buyers and sellers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise?

  • Sales history. Find out how long the seller has been a registered eBay user and look at the types of items a seller typically sells. It’s okay to buy a car from a seller who hasn’t sold one before — many of the car listings on eBay are from individuals selling their own car. If the seller’s feedback seems low, take the time to look at the Feedback details; sometimes a seller's Feedback looks low until you realize that they’re a car dealer and their Feedback count comes entirely from car sales.

  • Terms and conditions. What are the terms and conditions of the sale? Are the terms agreeable to you? Sellers typically set terms and conditions, but you should make sure you agree with them. If not, find another seller/car or contact the seller to find out if he/she is open to your suggestions.

  • Good communication. Once you’ve initiated communications with the seller, how is he/she communicating with you? Is the seller courteous and professional? Is the seller responsive? Once you bid on a big-ticket item such as a car, communicate with the seller through My Messages in My eBay. All legitimate Second Chance Offer messages will come through My Messages and not to your email address alone. Always contact the seller before accepting a Second Chance Offer, and never respond to any request to send money via Western Union or other instant cash transfer service.

Buyer protection

In the unlikely event a problem arises during your transaction, you can typically work it out with the seller. However, if you can’t, eBay and PayPal are there for you.

  • eBay Motors Vehicle Purchase Protection up to $20,000: Most cars purchased through eBay are automatically covered against fraud and material misrepresentation up to the cost of the car or $20,000 (whichever is lower) with eBay Motors Vehicle Purchase Protection. To qualify for this safety program, complete your transaction on eBay with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer and see additional terms of the eBay Motors Vehicle Purchase Protection.

  • Put down a deposit with PayPal: PayPal enables you to pay up to $2,000 without the seller ever seeing your bank account or credit card numbers. Also, PayPal protects buyers 100% against unauthorized payments from their accounts. While $2,000 may not be a high enough limit for the full purchase price of most cars, it's great for deposits (many sellers require a deposit on a car within several days of the close of a listing).

  • eBay Security & Resolution Center: Visit the eBay Security & Resolution Center to learn how to protect your account and use eBay's quick and efficient resolution tools.

Introduction and "Discover the Collectible Muscle Car of Your Dreams" were provided by Sports Car Market Magazine . © 2006 Sports Car Market Magazine. All rights reserved.

Back to topBack to top


Ready to share your thoughts with the eBay community? Write a guide!
 Content Provided By

eBayand Sports Car Market Magazine



About eBay | Announcements | Security Center | eBay Toolbar | Policies | Government Relations | Site Map | Help
Copyright © 1995-2008 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of the eBay User Agreement and Privacy Policy.
eBay official time