Black M Code GTS at Mecum

my68barracuda said
I agree with reasons given for the drop in sales prices of muscle cars, and will add another.
In the last 5 years or so there has been a resurgence of new cars available with outstanding engine performance. Add in modern car features, fuel milage,,,you don’t get the thrill of driving a classic car, but you get performance that is every bit as good and then some.

i appreciate you noting the current crop of "modern muscle" also affecting the classic muscle car market. one of my favorite "non-mopars" is the 1969 427 4sp Corvette. i had two of them over the years and just think the big block performance and the beautiful styling of that car keeps it on my "most favorite cars" list. however, i am going to be buying a 2021 6sp Hellcat. i tried to get one now but the ordering process is closed till the new models. i drove a 392 Scat Pack Challenger with the Trans Am option and a 6 sp last week and it was a very nice car. but at 485 hp and over 4000 lbs of weight, it just didn't have the straight line performance that i want. and it did not present the same kind of "explosive acceleration" that my old Cuda's have. my 383 car with headers, high-rise manifold and Holley 750dp carb probably comes in around 350hp and over 400 lbs of torque. having the 4 speed and the 3:91 rear gear and only 3200 lbs of weight - that car is a "handful" if you dump the clutch at 3000 rpm and power shift second. the new Challenger Trams Am i drove just wasn't like that even though it was a 6 sp. frankly, i would be willing to run my 68 340 Formula S car against it. i "could" buy a fully restored 69 427 Corvette for about the same money that a new Hellcat will cost. and i've seen fully restored C3 Corvettes and they are beautiful cars. however, i have to be honest and a little "practical" and recognize that all of us from the muscle car era are now "old." i'm having problems finding anyone that i would trust to work on my Barracudas. i won't even talk to any of the local shops that have all the mechanics under the age of 35. there is a Firestone Auto Repair place close to me that has a couple of (what the Manager calls) "old guys" in their late 50's that do know mopars. i have talked to them about putting a new clutch in my 69 383 Barracuda. so if i spent $50k on a beautiful 69 Corvette, if it ever needed any work, i would have the same "lack of knowledge" problem that i have with my Barracudas. i am not really impressed with the "jet plane" sound of the Hellcat and much prefer the sound of the Holley carbs on my cars trying to suck the hood down into the engine. but "carbs" are dinosaurs now. the Hellcat is fast. the standard that i set for getting a new car is will it break the tires loose if you put your foot through the firewall in first gear. the 6sp Hellcat easily does that. so i'm going to join the "modern" muscle car gang. the Hellcat isn't going to be the same as my "ancient" Barracudas. but at least i'll be able to get it fixed if i break something - which is supect i will.