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Muscle car prices from the 80's and early 90's

All cool stories...

Keep them coming
This week I will POST more truly remarkable prices paid for the (at the time) unheralded) Musclecars
 
Okay... spent some time going through the Pittsburgh Press from 1978 to 1990. I quit looking at 1990 as there were no cars coming up for sale in the classifieds and the only listings for Roadrunner, Charger, Challenger, etc., were all in the Cars Wanted sections. The 1978-1983 listings were all pulled from two papers from each year, so there were a lot of cars for sale. Starting in 1984, I had to go to multiple papers from each year, usually one per month.

1978

1974 Charger SE, V8, Auto, PS/PB/AC, $2,499
1973 Charger SE, loaded, $1,788
1972 Charger SE, loaded, $1,300
1971 Charger, 318, Auto, $995
1974 Charger SE, loaded, great cond. $1,895
1968 Coronet, new insp and tires, $275
1971 Charger, 318, console, buckets, one owner, 58k miles, $1,195
1973 Satellite coupe, auto, must see to appreciate, $1,195
1970 Roadrunner, 440, 4 Spd, Best offer or trade for 55 Chevy
1974 Satellite, PS/PB/AC, new inspection, $800
1972 Cuda, 340, 4-spd, excellent, $2,000 firm
1968 Charger, 440. auto , console, dual exhaust, new mags, $850 firm
1970 Superbird, 45k mi, excel inside and out, must sell, $2,000
1994 Charger SE, PS/PB/AC, side pipes, new mags, brakes, and paint. $2,250
1977 Roadrunner, Orange, $2,935
1973 Satellite Sebring Plus, AM/FM, PS/PB, vinyl top, excellent condition, $1,200
1972 Satellite Sebring, light blue, mint cond, $1,195

1980

1971 Dodge Charger, 383, auto Slap Stick, PS/PB/AC, mags, best offer over $250
1973 Charger SE, $600
1973 Charger SE, $650
1974 Charger SE, white on gold, sharp, all options, $1,300
1968 Roadrunner, 440-6, exc cond, must see, $3,500
1969 Roadrunner, Southern car, 383, auto, hemi orange, extras, $2,000
1973 Cuda, 440, Holley, Crane, Edelbrock, Lakewood, leather, 40k miles, needs little, $2,000
1969 Dodge Coronet, 440, auto, two door, $500
1973 Challenger, new eng and trans, good cond, $800
1974 Satellite Sebring, 318 new tires and insp, must sell, $1,600
1974 Satellite, good cond, $200

1982

1973 Charger, V8, Isnpected, good cond, $550
1973 Charger SE, 400, auto, all options, a beauty from the ground up, $2,195 obo
1973 Satellite Sebring, ac, needs inspection, $295
1972 Satellite coupe, 318, excellent, $1,400

1984

1972 Challenger, 318, super sharp, $4,000 invested, $3,200 OBO
1973 Charger SE, no rust, always garaged, $2,500
1971 Charger, 383, auto, air, PS, new parts, black, $850
1973 Satellite, exc cond, new paint, tires and other parts, $900
1968 Roadrunner, needs work, $650
1972 Satellite coupe, inspected, $225
1974 Charger, 48k, 318, cust. paint, showroom cond, $3,500 negot
1970 Cuda AAR, no motor, 4 spd, 26k, body fair, $500
1973 Charger, 400, good shape, plus extras, $900
1973 Roadrunner, needs body work, best offer
1972 Cuda, 340, 4 spd, mags, $1,300 OBO
1974 Roadrunner, runs good, needs body work, $600
1969 Roadrunner, 383, auto, good cond, $2,000 OBO
1972 Charger SE, good cond, stereo, $895
1973 Satellite, all options, $700 OBO
1968 Charger RT, one owner, solid frame, $600
1973 Barracuda, good cond, $2,200 OBO
1969 General Lee Charger, high perf. 318, auto, very clean, $4,200

1985

1972 Charger, 340, mags, runs great, $1,850
1972 Roadrunner, 340, gd cond, mag wheels, new tires, $800 OBO
1970 Roadrunner, Texas car, 383 pistol grip, 4 spd, side pipes, air shocks, very fast, $750 OBO
1970 Roadrunner, new insp, 383, Air Grabber hood, extras, $3,000
1973 Roadrunner, 383 4 BBL, insp, no rust, $1,250 OBO
1969 Roadrunner, perf cond, 383 4-spd, 8-track, orig. paint, $6,600
1973 Charger, 318, mint cond, $3,200 OBO
1973 Coronet, new parts, $450
1970 Cuda, AAR, exc restored cond, all orig, $5,500
1968 Roadrunner, FL car, 383, 4-spd, $4,600
1970 Dodge Challenger, rough, first $150
1973 Challenger, exc cond, $3,500
1969 Roadrunner, 440, solid, driveable, $1,500
1970 Charger, runs, $100
1969 Charger SE, 383, auto, loaded, $4,500
1972 Charger, Air Grabber, good body and int, $2,300
1969 Charger, 383 auto, plus project car and garage full of parts, $3,000 neg.
1969 Roadrunner, 440, 4 spd, $2,500
1974 Roadrunner, 440, low miles, stored, $1,000
1974 Charger, showroom cond, must sell, $2,000

1986

1973 Challenger, PS/PB, 340, 4-spd, $3,000
1971 Satellite Sebring, 440 Magnum, auto, mags, extra trans, rear end, and Roadrunner hood, $3,000
1972 Charger, orange, runs good, body needs work, $600 OBO
1968 GTX, 440, 4 spd, tinted glass, NC car, $4,200 OBO
1972 Charger, classic, $550
1970 Challenger, convertible, 340, $4,600
1970 Challenger RT, restored, all options, $6,500
1974 Challenger, very good cond, $2,000
1974 Charger SE, showroom cond., $2,500
1972 Cuda, 340, stored 13 years, 7k miles, $10,000 OBO
1974 Barracuda, runs good, $1,500 OBO
1970 Cuda, 340, auto, $2,250
1971 Roadrunner, 400, 4 spd, $3,000 OBO
1970 Dodge Charger 500, blue with white top, 383, 4 spd, 40k miles, sharp, $6,500
1969 Roadrunner, 4-spd, clean, $3,875 OBO
1969 Super Bee, 440, auto, 8.75, posi, $4,200
1972 Charger SE exc cond, $2,000
1969 Roadrunner, exc cond, $4,700
1969 Coronet, two door, $550
1971 Cuda, 340, 4 spd, black on black, $3,500 OBO
1972 Satellite coupe, 6 cyl, auto, low miles, $300
1973 Satellite Sebring, 68k miles, great second car, $500
1974 Satellite Sebring Plus, auto, console, $450
1974 Satellite Coupe, garage kept, 46k, $1,495
1974 Satellite, runs good, $150
1973 Challenger, runs good, no rust, $800
1971 Satellite coupe, southern car, clean body/frame, $965

1987

1973 Cuda, 340, auto, Rallye hood and dash, vinyl roof, $2,300
1968 Charger, 318, 90% restored, $3,800 OBO
1971 Satellite coupe, 360, 4 spd, many new parts, $2,500 OBO
1969 Super Bee, 383, 4 spd, restored to orig, $6,500
1970 Challenger, $1,000
1969 Roadrunner, 440 Magnum, Sharp, $2,500
1974 Charger, 318, many new parts, $750
1970 Cuda, 340, $3,000 neg.
1974 Charger, 360, excellent, $450
1971 Challenger, no rust, dependable, $1,950
1972 Charger SE, 318, runs great, $875
1970 Super Bee, 383 Magnum, auto, posi, $2,000 OBO
1972 Challenger, 318, mags, $150 OBO

1988

1973 Charger, 318, exc cond, $2,500
1973 Challenger, 440, everything new, $4,000
1970 Roadrunner, 383, 4 Spd, Air Grabber, cust. paint, clean, $3,700 OBO
1970 Coronet, two-door, $200
1970 Roadrunner, 440-6, $4,900
1973 Satellite, 25k, $1,500
1972 Cuda, 38k, 4 speed, $2,995
1972 Charger, blk, needs minro work, 440, $3,000 OBO
1971 Charger SE, 383, sharp, $1,000
1974 Challenger, $500
1974 Satellite, PS/PB/AC, new paint, $1,100

1989

1973 Barracuda, Grand Coupe, 318, $4,500
1974 Roadrunner, 360, new paint, $2,200
1969 Charger RT, 383 4spd, Needs resto, $6,500

1990
 
1980 I bought my basket case but complete, 68 GTS 383 dart, built it as a street strip car sold it in 83ish for 4200.00
1981 bought a 1970 383 Road Runner for 400.00 I used it for my daily driver & sold it for 1000.00 in about 83.
 
Also looked at a 68 Hemi Dart minus the Hemi but had fresh brakes and steering and a solid body- $3500 which was a LOT for a no motor car in 1987.

...and a 440+6 RR in 1989- $800.

...and a 69 J code RR vert (1 of 10) in 1990 $750.

...and a 1 of we didn't build any (...oops, we built 5 [...or 10{...or 18}]) 67 Hemi Satellite (minus the Hemi) in 1991- $500, and again in 1992- $1500, and again in 1993- $3500.

...and as recently as 2008?, 1965 426 Belvedere factory drag car with pedigree in original paint- $8500.

...and a 69 Charger 500 Hemi at the 2012 Lake mirror car show- $10,000.

I shudder to even think about current value of all those in even #3 condition.
 
I'm wondering how many guys stopped listing/looking for cars in the classifieds and started using Auto Trader in the 1980s? I was really struck yesterday as I was going through all those newspaper listings as I remember looking through all those ads when I was a kid in the 70s, but once I started looking for Roadrunners in the 1980s, I can't recall ever looking at newspaper ads. It was all about getting the new copy copy of Auto Trader when it came out. :)
 
I bought my 70 Bee via autotrader.

Was shocked it was still there as most listings were sold by the time the mag hit the stands.

...and there used to be a frequent seller- that listed LOTS of Mopars- "solid southern cars".

I wonder if they're still around.
 
Bruzilla said:
I'm wondering how many guys stopped listing/looking for cars in the classifieds and started using Auto Trader in the 1980s? I was really struck yesterday as I was going through all those newspaper listings as I remember looking through all those ads when I was a kid in the 70s, but once I started looking for Roadrunners in the 1980s, I can't recall ever looking at newspaper ads. It was all about getting the new copy copy of Auto Trader when it came out. :)
Click to expand...

I lived in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. In the 70s and 80s when I did most of my heavy car trading I did look in the Tribune and sun-Times classified ads but the best was a local free ad paper called the "Tradin' Times". Most of what I bought and sold was through that rag. I remember looking at Auto Trader in the 80s but never found much.
 
I bought my 73 Rallye 318 Challenger in 1990 via the local classified ads.

Used car lot had it listed.

Every panel was either dented or rusted, but every light and even the seat belt buzzer worked.

$500

Lady pulled out in front of me in an E series window van.

Dented her hubcap and creased my DS fender.

I told her $200 will buy me a used fender but she insisted on calling the cops.

She got a ticket and her insurance gave me $600, and I parted out the rest for almost another $500.

3.23 SG went in my Duster.

I still have the slap stick console and linkage from that car.
 
I was a hard core Pontiac kid in the 1980's and had Trans Ams (late model used cars pretty much) and a 1969 GTO Judge I had from when I was 15 until I was in College. In 1986 or 87 I sold the Judge for $7500 and nobody could believe I got that much for it. I paid $1000 bucks for one that could be documented at the time by the family and I paid a less than $100 towing fee to get my hands on another Judge to get the most perfect interior I had seen I used to get mine to another level in the era when no repo stuff was around. The other Judge's owners kid took it out without telling him, had an engine fire, and left it on the side of the road.

I had a guy try to trade me straight across for my Judge a 1967 RT with a 426 (real deal, real Mopar guy) and almost did it. Another guy wanted to trade an Avanti for my Judge.

My high school auto shop teacher a year after I graduated tried to give me the 426 out of a basket case Cuda a paint and body student that graduated the same year I did more or less abandoned because it was just too far gone with rust.

I bought a $200 55 Chevy Del Rey with a fiberglass front end and a hot 350 in it and it came with a super slick 4 door parts car.

I looked at a 70 Superbird in a guys backyard that he just wanted to give me that had been through and engine fire and was full of rust. My dad was looking at a 55 chevy sedan delivery he had and he just wanted the Superbird gone.

My dad had a life long buddy who developed cancer who had a 68 AMX since new and I could have gotten that car for next to nothing.

Walked away from a $500 Mark Donohue AMX because it was missing some stuff.

I could go on and on about stuff I had or missed out on...it's amazing what has happened to prices.

My dad to this day still works for the oldest still running note lot in the DFW area (running since '46, he has been at it since '69) and the cars that went though that lot would amaze some of you.

Check out some of these pics from my blog page of my dads "new" bike at the time on the lot and look at what was on the lot and the prices:

Jap+Bike+Round+Headlight.jpeg
Jap+Bike+Round+Headlight+2.jpeg
Jap+Bike+Round+Headlight+3+.jpeg
Jap+Bike+Round+Headlight+4.jpeg
 
few e xamples. 1887: 71 charger rt, wing, no rust good driver, $1500.. I overpaid, but it sold 6 mo. for more.

1985 69 runner roller, no rust, paid $50,..... sold it for parts car $450,...... got it back in 1990 with $5000 worth of parts. go it and the parts, back for $1500 with a another 69 rr roller included. his wife wanted it all gone??

] 1986 : aar cuda, real nice car, paid $3000.... then I totally restored it sold it in 1990 for $10,000. all i did was replace one qtr, fresh paint, freshed the original engine......

the list for late 80's and 90's would be maybe 30-40 cars.....

the market fell out in late '91. took years for it to recover. fell again in the '07 economic bust. some cars have recovered others still cheap enough, IMO.
 
Holy cow!
1. Yeah, as Bru stated, the Auto trader took a lot of business...
2. Super Stock Dodge, what a gorgeous bike!
3. barbee6043, 1985: 69 Roadrunner Roller $50 ! LOL Holy Cow!, 1986 : aar cuda, real nice car, paid $3000 WOW
4. YY1: Cool stuff
 
the prices feel like I said in 91-2. several years before anything started to move I general. in '93=4 I sold a f fully restored aar for $10,000. also get this, in 92 I sold a aar roller, less hood, for $1500 I advertised it for a year in MCG, finally a guy drove down from SD, I paid $600 for it is Al. in '88 or 9.
back in 92-3 I sold a totaly restored 68 GTX 440 4 spd car and a 69 GTX HEMI car ( yes real), roller, solid, with new legendary int. guy from Ca bought both and had shipped there. total price for both. $18000, no other lookers!
OK I had a real nice 72 base charger ( not a rallye) 400 4 spd. just a real good driver, could noit get a buyer, so I put it on feebay, brings $3500 the winner, came up from Tx and looked at it, said it was as advertised, but was hoping it was " perfect" show car. left and went home empty handed. the next bidder took it and flipped it for $4000 after a wash. ha
like I said, the list is long. I have to wonder if in a few years people will as always say, " wow, wish I had bought such and such back in 2016!" ha.
 
I bought a 68 hemi RR for $2000 in 1978. It was my daily driver that I put 75,000 miles on with few hiccups.
I drove in ice and snow with chains many times. Had to block the radiator one time with card board so I could get heat inside the car.
I sold it in it's well used condition in 1988 for $17,000.--(and found out later that the buyer had 21K in his pocket to spend for the person he was working for).

I was happy. The finder was happy. And the real buyer was happy.
 
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