Back in the 1960s and 1970s, working- and middle-class Americans could afford to buy, drive and even collect muscle cars.
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Today, those raw-driving classic muscle cars have aged into collectors’ pieces for the wealthy. Some vintage American muscle cars even sell at auction for over $1 million, as TopSpeed reported.
Whether you have an old muscle model rusting in the garage and are curious about its potential value, or you just love seeing how cars change in value over time, check out these seven-figure examples of classic muscle.
10. 1969 Chevrolet COPO Camaro ZL1
In the ’60s, General Motors restricted the engine size on all intermediate models to just 400 cubic inches. That left the standard-issue Chevy Camaro with a moderate engine of 396 cubic inches, limiting power compared to competitors.
However some enthusiasts found a loophole: they could custom order Camaros with a larger engine if they went through the Central Office Production Order (COPO) system. That allowed special-order Camaros with 427ci V-8 engines. Of these, a handful — just 69 — were fitted with the drag racing ZL1 engine rather than the more typical L72 426 engine. That makes those 69 cars quite the collector’s item.
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9. 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge Convertible
Only 168 GTO Judge Convertibles were produced in 1970, and of those, just seven were made with a three-speed automatic transmission. It was such a rare and unusual car that it sold at Mecum Kissimmee 2023 for a cool $1.1 million.
8. 1970 Chevelle SS 454 LS6
Ray Allen drove this particular car — nicknamed the “Killer Car,” appropriately — in his undefeated 1970 NHRA season. He and the car took the top prize that year at the NHRA World Finals.
At auction, it only had 68 original miles on it, nearly all from the race track. It sold in 2006 for $1.2 million at a Barrett-Jackson auction, but later sold again for far less. Still, it makes for a fun and unique piece of racing history.
7. 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T Convertible
In 1970, Dodge produced 963 convertible Challenger R/Ts. Of these, just five had the four-speed 426 Street Hemi engine. The one that sold at auction may be the last of those five, driving up the price.
This particular combination proved one of the fastest classic-era muscle cars, making it a treat to drive in addition to its handsome looks.
6. 1970 Plymouth Superbird
No one knows for sure, but experts believe Plymouth built just 1,969 of these Superbirds, 170 equipped with the 426 Hemi engine.
Despite their outstanding performance, these cars actually flopped back in the early ’70s. Some sat on the lot for years, but today, one of the few survivors can boast a $1.65 million price at auction.
5. 1967 Shelby GT500 Super Snake
Originally intended as a limited edition with 50 cars produced, Carroll Shelby and Ford only produced a prototype car. Shelby installed a 427ci V-8 engine into a fastback Mustang, likely producing a 520-horsepower ride.
It remains one of a kind — and sold accordingly at auction.
4. 1970 Dodge Charger Daytona
Designed for the NASCAR circuit, Dodge added an enormous spoiler to the rear and a nose cone to the front of their previous Charger 500 to create the Daytona. It proved a winning combination, eventually becoming so dominant that NASCAR banned it to keep the races interesting.
Of the 503 Daytonas that Dodge produced, just 70 came with the 426ci Hemi V-8 engine, for a rare piece of racing history.
3. 1971 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda Convertible
Plymouth only produced 11 Hemi ‘Cudas in 1970. Over three times now, these cars have sold at auction for over $1 million, and one had been bid up to $4.8 million. However, the seller refused to relinquish the car for less than $6.5 million.
2. 1968 Ford Mustang GT ‘Bullitt’ Car
What was otherwise a standard 1968 Mustang GT — normally a hobbyist car to fix up in the garage — sold at auction in 2020 for $3.75 million.
Why? Because it’s the car that Steve McQueen drove in the action flick “Bullitt.” Fortunately for enthusiasts, you can probably pick up a car with the same specs for five figures rather than seven.
1. 1965 Shelby GT350R Prototype
With a modest 289ci V-8 engine boasting 350 horsepower, this car didn’t top the records for its performance.
Rather, it represents a piece of history. In 1965, Ford hired Carroll Shelby to design a Mustang that could stand toe-to-toe with the Chevy Corvette. Shelby’s first attempt was this prototype, which didn’t quite deliver on the power side, but kicked off a partnership that later grew legendary. This initial prototype remains the most expensive muscle car ever sold, setting the record in 2022 at a Mecum Kissimmee auction.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: These 10 Rare Cars Sold for Over $1 Million
