Index of 1960s American muscle cars
For the past five consecutive publications, Hagerty’s Muscle Car Index has posted consistent increases. Now, for the first time since late 2020, the index posted a loss. The muscle car market posted mixed results for the latter half of the year, though, so such a result is not a big surprise. The biggest ticks downward were the LS6 Chevelle Coupe, Shelby GT500 KR and Pontiac GTO, which posted losses of 16 percent, 15 percent and 6 percent, respectively. The blow was softened a bit, however, by a 15 percent gain for the 1964 Impala SS Convertible.
Outside of these component cars, it’s still mostly the same story. Many vehicles took small steps back, but a few still had room to grow, such as 440-equipped Plymouth Superbirds and Dodge Coronet R/T and Super Bees. While the tide appears to be turning toward a softening muscle car market, the looming muscle-heavy January auctions in Kissimmee and Scottsdale could turn that trend on its head. The first quarter of 2023 will be pivotal in setting the tone for muscle cars moving forward. Until then, we will be watching to see what unfolds.
-Greg Ingold, January 2023
The Hagerty Price Guide Index of American Muscle Cars is a stock market style index that averages the values of the rarest and most sought-after muscle cars. The list below shows the cars that make up the index, while the graph to the left shows this index’s average value over the years. Values are for #2 condition, or “excellent” cars.