You've just spent the evening watching Barret Jackson reruns on the SPEED channel.  American Muscle cars are at an all time high.  This must be a great way to turn your hobby into cash, RIGHT.

Here are a few things you should know before rushing out to invest in a Muscle car:

First off, there are many reasons to restore a classic car; reliving your younger years, restoring your 'first' car, or you just think that they are cool.  You might even see it as simply an investment.  Whatever your motivation is, it is important to define your goals for the car.  This gives you direction in your search. 

If you are just restoring a car for yourself, get whatever you want. If you was to restore that 75 Pinto, go ahead. But know why you are doing it, because it is very, very easy to spend more than 'Market-Value' on a restoration.  For example, if you want to restore a 1969 Firebird, then do it. But if you think that hey it's a 1st Generation F/body just like a Camaro right.  Wrong!! As an investment the 1969 Camaro has a much higher Market Cap than a similarly equipt Firebird.  If you spend $30,000 restoring a Firebird you are very near the current Market cap.  If it was a Camaro you could make some nice cash.  So know your goal, and learn about the Market for these cars.

Numbers Matching/ Documented Cars

This is an area where it takes little more than common sense to understand the importance, but a deep knowledge to get in to that arena.  For example, a 1965 Ranchero may be something you want to restore, but no one buying cares if it has the original motor or not.  Where as a 435 Corvette with papers and a numbers matching engine will increase the value dramatically over a non-matching car.  (although with a Corvette it will have to have a matching tranny and RR end too).  Even within a particular body style there are exceptions.  For example, a 68,69 Chevelle with a small block chevy doesn't gain much in value from being numbers matching, UNLESS it was an original documented LS-7 car.  Then the numbers matching and documentation becomes very important to the value of the car.

So while there are many exceptions here are a few rules for the importance of matching numbers.  All Corvettes do better with matching numbers and documentation.  Big Block Camaros and RS/SS cars do somewhat better if the numbers match. GTOs do not gain much value w/ matching #s, unless they are Judges (real judges, not clones).  Hemi Mopar (Chrysler) cars are huge if they are original and have documentation and matching #s. Non-hemi mopars are not quite as driven by correctness unless they are something rare. Most Mustangs don't increase a great deal unless they are a Shelby or some other rare variation.

Keep in mind that with most cars, it simply is not that important that the numbers match.  Also keep in mind that just because they are numbers matching, doesn't mean they really are.  There are plenty of folks out there stamping blocks to match. Its illegal, unethical and wrong but it happens.  For example, there were more numbers matching 435 Corvettes sold in the last 2 years at Barret Jackson than they ever made originally.  It is hard to tell which are real and which aren't.  As a rule, those that also have the most corresponding documentation have the most value.

Choosing your Muscle Car

As a general rule, it is not that important the condition of the car.  That's right I said it IS NOT THAT IMPORTANT what condition the car is in, and more important that it is complete.  Now don't go out and buy a Nova from Pennsylvania with the firewall crumbling and the floors gone from rust.  However, for most of these cars they can be fixed.  Rust holes, crushed fenders, bent hoods are not that important.  Any good restoration shop can fabricate most of what you need to repair. In many cases it is simply cheaper to replace the damaged panels.  However, if you are missing chrome trim, valance panels, taillight assemblies, dashboards etc.  These parts are simply not available for many cars.  For example, a 1969 Camaro you can literally build out of a catalog. You can get nearly every part you would need after-market (except a heater control unit for an A/C car).  However, if you are doing a 1969 GTO, they simpy didn't make enough of them to warrant companies making all of the parts.  You can get many parts, but as you try to finish you will find many small parts are unavailable.  Mopars are even more difficult for some of these small items.

Do not underestimate the little stuff!  You can look at a car and say it will be about 200 for a fender and 9,000 for paint.  But you cannot believe the number of $29 parts on these cars.  This is where most jobs go over budget. We can plan for the big stuff, but you don't know which little things you need until you get to them.  So for me a complete car, even if it is less than perfect is a better candidate for restoration than a 'shell'.