'The Last Budget Economy Musclecar'

[Paul Ceasrine]

The 1970 Dart Swinger 340,

Came through with dual hood scoops.
And the hood had factory holes (approximately 3" diameter) with
gaskets, for a potential under-hood cold-air package.

Unfortunately, Dodge never went through with supposed later-production year option.

[k.pascoe]

Paul I think the last true budget muscle car had to be the 1985 Mustang GT or 5.0 liter engine option. Last fast factory muscle car under $10,000. About $3500 in '69-'70 money.

[oldskool]

After reading thru this thread, & being a Pontiac guy, I began to think of what Pontiac models might best fit this thread.
I have no idea what the price was.

But I've read that the '71 T-37 was a "Poor man's GTO". Quite a few stripped down 455HO powered T-37's were bought for drag racing. The 455HO was also available in a '72 Lemans, without having to buy a GTO or Bird. The price was probably closer to $4000, than $3000. But the 455HO engine had some power.

The '74 X-body GTO was probably cheap enuff, but the little 350 low CR engine was sorta weak. Don't know if it would even qualify as a Musclecar.

The low CR 350 came in a base model Firebird, in '77. Don't know how a '77 base model Bird was priced, compared to other '77 model cars that might be considered Musclecars. That 350 engine was not strong. But in '77, don't think there were a lot of high powered engines in factory produced American made cars.