• Choose Your First Collectible Muscle Car

• Find Collectible Muscle Cars on eBay Motors

• Buy Collectible Muscle Cars With Confidence

Choose Your First Collectible Muscle Car

Choose Your First Collectible Muscle Car

Most experts define the muscle car era as running from the mid-’60s to the early ’70s, when fabled models such as the Olds 442, GTO, ’Cuda, and Road Runner appeared on the market. But as long as manufacturers make cars, customers will demand hopped-up models (hence the more contemporary Ford SVO/SVT, Buick GNX, and Impala SS). If you’re ready to buy a collector car with output measured in “tork,” a few choices can help get you started.

• 1987 Buick Grand National: In 1987, Buick offered the Grand National as an option package for the Buick Regal and really got the Grand National right — Buick produced the first Grand Nationals from 1984 to 1986. The 1987 Buick Grand National was one of the fastest cars built in the U.S. in the 1980s, with quarter-mile times dipping below 14 seconds and 0 to 60 acceleration only taking 5.5 seconds. With their monochrome blackout appearance, the cars even looked fast, and Buick sold 20,193 coupes. The 3.8-liter, 245-hp V6 powerplant was turbocharged and equipped with sequential port fuel injection co-developed by Bosch. Expect to pay less for modified and used-up examples and more for "still in the box" cars.

• 1966 Shelby Mustang GT350 and GT350H: Well-documented street-racer Mustangs built by O1’ Shel still sell at reasonable prices. But budget-minded buyers should skip the 1965 models that cost more than 1966 models and look the same to the untrained eye. As the ultimate performance variations of America’s much-loved first-generation Mustangs, collectors will always seek the Shelby Mustang GT350 and with some hunting, you can find decent, documented models. Shelby Mustang GT350H cars, built for use by Hertz when new, are an interesting variation, but most had automatic transmissions rather than the desirable four-speeds. Have cars inspected to ensure you buy the real thing and join the Shelby American Automobile Club (SAAC) before buying a Shelby; it has records on nearly every Shelby built.

• 1969 AMC SC/Rambler: The 1969 AMC SC/Rambler, a visually over-the-top muscle car, pales only in comparison to the six-foot-tall spoilered Plymouth and Dodge super-speedway cars. The most outrageous of the SC/Ramblers are the "A" code cars with super-wide stripes. For those who worry about visual presentation, the "B" code cars have thinner stripes and remain the conservative choice. The SC/Rambler’s 390-c.i. V8 produces 315 hp. Total production was about 1,500 cars, so the pickings are quite thin, but the 1969 AMC SC/Rambler looks better than a Gremlin and offers faster performance, too.

• 1971 – 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 hardtop: First-timers should aim for 1971 - 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 hardtops. These great cars cost less than 1970 models and look good, with aggressive rubber and wide stripes. Available options included creature comforts like air conditioning, power steering, and power brakes. Look for good cars with proper documentation and know that four-speed cars and those with a lot of options command a 20% premium. Consider well-done SS clones if you want to save some money.

• 1968 – 1969 Dodge Dart GTS 340, 383, or 440: Considered sleepers, Dodge Dart GTS models with 340-, 383-, and 440-ci engines are much harder to find than the standard Dodge Dart equipped with a 225 "slant six" motor, AM radio, and automatic transmission. GTS cars have prodigious performance given the relative light weight of the cars, but have the usual farcical stickers and badges. Luckily many people find goofy nostalgic.

• 1969 – 1970 Mercury Cougar Eliminator: Mercury produced the Cougar from 1967 to 1973 as an upscale stable-mate of the Ford Mustang. A luxurious muscle car wasn’t a concept with resonance in 1969, so the high-performance Mercury Cougar Eliminator was an idea whose time never quite came. Equipped with the Boss 302 engine, the 390, or the 428 CJ, only 4,611 of these spoilered and wild-colored rides made it into the showrooms of Mercury dealers. Look for original Mercury Cougar Eliminators that will not require repairs — you'll have trouble finding trim parts.

• 1965 – 1967 Buick Skylark GS 400 convertible: While Pontiac was busy building "wide track" cars in the 1960s, Buick quietly turned out some high-performance iron of its own. The 1965 – 1967 Buick Skylark GS 400 convertibles are handsome and substantial, and came with luxury option packages that make them comfortable as weekend drivers. Equipped with 325-hp, 401-ci V8s, only 6,122 were built. Given their low production and the fact that they're convertibles, Buick Skylark GS 400s are relative bargains.

• 2002 Ford SVT Mustang Cobra coupe or convertible: For less the half the price of a Corvette Z06 or Viper, you can get a 2002 SVT Mustang Cobra coupe or convertible offering 320 hp from its 4.6-liter V8.

Learn about collectible muscle car clones

Before paying top-dollar for an authentic muscle car, be sure the seller provides air-tight documentation to back up claims of authenticity. The market has a proliferation of clones — cars made into replicas of authentic muscle cars by adding high-performance engines, badges, and trim kits. For example, a Mustang that was born with a 260 V8 may have had a high-performance 289 installed. The car will perform as well as an authentic 289, but will have less value in the marketplace.

In reality, a well-done clone that sells at a significant discount to the real thing can be a good value — you get all the looks and performance of an authentic muscle car for perhaps half the cost. However, clones will never have the market appeal of an authentic car, and paying a real-car price for a clone is a nifty setup for financial disappointment when it is time to sell.

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.

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.