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Motorious Picks The Best Muscle Cars For Under $25,000

7
Steven Symes
·7 min read

⚡️ Read the full article on Motorious

If you don’t have a big budget but want to enjoy some muscle, try one of these.

Everyone loves American muscle cars, even if someone says they don’t, if they’ve ever partaken of it. There’s something deeply satisfying about feeling a surge of power and (in most cases) letting those rear tires get all smokey. Maybe it’s that such power reminds us of freedom or it’s just all the endorphins getting released into our blood stream, but muscle cars are completely awesome.

However, muscle cars can also be pretty pricey, proving freedom isn’t truly free. That’s why we put together this list of the best muscle cars for under $25,000. This list is pretty inclusive, in part because the price threshold makes that a necessity, so it should please many and anger a fair number of people.

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We included a couple of Australian muscle cars badged as Americans plus some non-traditional muscle options for good measure. Purists will argue some of these vehicles aren’t “real” muscle cars and they certainly can think that. But to someone else these cars could be a fantastic performance deal they didn’t know exists.

Which of the following rides do you consider to be the best muscle car for under $25,000?

Ford Mustang 5.0 LX

What’s The Best Muscle Car For Under $25,000?
What’s The Best Muscle Car For Under $25,000?

Rolling in your 5.0 is iconic and pretty cheap these days, but don’t expect these Foxbody Mustangs to stay that way for long.

Chevy Camaro IROC Z

What’s The Best Muscle Car For Under $25,000?
What’s The Best Muscle Car For Under $25,000?

There seems to be no shortage of love for the IROC Z, which helped resuscitate American muscle back in the 80s. While they’re fairly cheap now, prices are on the rise, so grab one while you can still afford it.

2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8

What’s The Best Muscle Car For Under $25,000?
What’s The Best Muscle Car For Under $25,000?

While prices of newer Challenger SRTs are pretty lofty, you can find a 2009 in reasonably good condition for under $25,000, providing some good tire-shredding fun.

Fourth-Gen Pontiac Trans Am

What’s The Best Muscle Car For Under $25,000?
What’s The Best Muscle Car For Under $25,000?

Believe it or not, prices for fourth-gen f-bodies are on the rise, so if want to get one for cheap now is the time to hop on board.

AMC Javelin

What’s The Best Muscle Car For Under $25,000?
What’s The Best Muscle Car For Under $25,000?

Poor AMC not only had a sad demise, it still gets looked over when people start discussing muscle cars. The benefit of that is you can get a nice Javelin for cheap, so there’s that.

1993 Ford SVT Mustang Cobra

With this you would be getting the first SVT Ford Mustang Cobra and the last Foxbody Mustang all in the same car. Imagine the possibilities.

1979 Pontiac Firebird Formula 400 WS6

If you want better handling without making modifications yet still crave a classic muscle car, this Pontiac could be your ticket.

1971 Ford Torino GT

What’s The Best Muscle Car For Under $25,000?
What’s The Best Muscle Car For Under $25,000?

With the a few potent engines in the mix and loads of style, this is arguably the last great Torino as well as a real deal, if you find the right one.

2004-2006 Pontiac GTO

What’s The Best Muscle Car For Under $25,000?
What’s The Best Muscle Car For Under $25,000?

A product of Holden, this Aussie turned American has a nice V8 and decent power on tap, especially if you get one of the later cars with the 6.0-liter engine.

1970 Mercury Cyclone GT

What’s The Best Muscle Car For Under $25,000?
What’s The Best Muscle Car For Under $25,000?

Don’t laugh at this choice because the ’70 Cyclone GT uses a 351ci V8, with two engine upgrade options, although those might push the budget beyond the $25,000 cap.

GMC Syclone

What’s The Best Muscle Car For Under $25,000?
What’s The Best Muscle Car For Under $25,000?

No introduction is really needed for the Syclone, which proved back in the day small trucks could push big performance. Technically this isn’t a muscle “car” and purists will want to point that out, but whatever.

New Edge Mustang SVT Cobra

What’s The Best Muscle Car For Under $25,000?
What’s The Best Muscle Car For Under $25,000?

People love to rip on New Edge Mustangs, but the SVT Cobras are good budget performance options. Plus, they have an independent rear suspension, which helps with not taking out crowds while leaving gatherings.

Dodge Stealth R/T