10 Classic American Cars Worth Collecting

May 07, 2023

If you're a car enthusiast or serious car collector, these American classics are ones to keep an eye on as they continue to rise in value.

American cars have had an elaborative and extensive history, and we have seen a number of brands launching multiple cars in the years gone by. While most of the classic car models were soon replaced by the newer and more advanced versions of the car, a few of the classic cars still offer a great package and are loved for their looks, performance, driving dynamics, and retro-cabin.

While we have a long list of vintage classic cars available today, with values from Kelley Blue Book, Hagerty and JD Power, these 10 classic American cars continue to attract maximum attention from collectors for their simple, but powerful package that boasts loads of character and exclusive ownership experience.

Despite a hefty price tag of over $5,000, the third-gen Ford Thunderbird was one of the best-selling Ford cars in America back then and attracted most of its buyers with its premium and sophisticated package. The Thunderbird first made its debut in 1955 but failed to top the sales chart due to some infamous issues. The second and third-gen models, however, gained immense popularity and are still regarded as one of the best classic American cars.

A total of just 455 units of the 1963 Ford Thunderbird were sold in the market, versus 1,427 the previous year. The car was offered with the M-Code 390 ci V8 engine, which could deliver 300 hp and came mated to a Cruise-O-Matic three-speed transmission. What remained exclusive to the Sport Roadster version were Kelsey Hayes wire wheels, a sporty red cabin, and a distinctive fiberglass tonneau cover positioned across the rear seats.

Often regarded as one of the best-looking classic American cars, the 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray Coupe not only started a new trend in the market when if first launched, but also inspired a number of other American Pony cars to feature a similar styling. This model of the Corvette became famous for its split rear window and fake hood vents at the front. Despite not handling so well and a stiff suspension, the '63 Corvette Sting Ray Coupe gained a lot of attention with its pop-up headlights, compact dimensions, and a light fiber-glass body.

The '63 Corvette Sting Ray Coupe was offered with a 327 cu-in V8 engine, which could produce anywhere between 270 hp up to 360 hp with a fuel-injection system. This engine came mated to a four-speed transmission and helped the car post a 0-60 mph time of 5.8 seconds. It is also worth noting the fact that the 1963 was the first Corvette model to be offered with factory-fitted fuel-injection as a standard part of the package.

The year 1969 marked the last production year of the Yenko Super Camaro, and the brand sold a total of 201 units of the OG Yenko this year. This version of the Camaro was the COPO 9561 which came with a 425 hp big-block V8 engine, a special ducted hood, performance-tuned suspension, and a dual exhaust setup. The engineers also utilized a larger diameter 13/16" front stabilizer bar and 15X7 Rally wheels with E70 white lettering.

A powerful engine, sorted mechanics, and a slick-shifting four-speed manual made the 1969 Yenko Super Camaro a great car for hardcore driving enthusiasts. In addition to this, the '69 Yenko Super Camaro was offered with tinted glass, simulated wood-grain interior trim elements, dash-mounted passenger grab handle and polished stainless drip rail. With only a few units ever produced, this car is one of the rarest classic American cars every collector wants.

Related: 10 Overlooked Classic Muscle Cars That Deserve Respect

Very often regarded as one of the most famous muscle cars to be launched in America in the Golden Era of muscle cars, the 1969 Dodge Charger R/T is still known for its performance and looks. While the Dodge Charger was already a successful model for the brand, the R/T addition was launched as a performance-oriented version for buyers looking for a powerful and a fun-to-drive muscle car. Needless to say, the brand launched the '69 Dodge Charger R/T with re-tuned suspensions, performance tires, and better, more effective brakes in addition to a more powerful engine.

The 1969 Charger R/T was offered with the 440 Magnum engine as standard, while the NASCAR-inspired 426 Hemi was also available as an optional upgrade. The brand manufactured a total of 18,776 units of the Charger R/T in 1969 with only 432 units featuring the Hemi 426 V8 engine.

The 1965 Galaxie 500 made its debut in the market with the famous "Cammer" engine, making it one of the most powerful cars to be launched in America that year. The Cammer engine was the brand's attempt to beat Chrysler's Hemi at the NASCAR tracks, but the race association soon banned it from NASCAR, stating that it was not a standard stock car. Ford sold close to 500 units of the Galaxie 500 in America between 1964 and 1967, making it extremely difficult to source the car in the used market today.

The 427 SOHC Cammer V8 engine is said to overpower everything, including the car's brakes, and was the most powerful automobile engine in 1965. While the car, as initially intended, failed to race in NASCAR, it did impress a lot of fans with its performance on the drag strips.

Lincoln launched the new Continental in the year 1961 for buyers looking for a modern car with a powerful engine, practical cabin, and mafia-like styling. While a number of changes were offered with the launch of the new model in '61, the brand continued to offer the same Continental 430 cu-in V8 motor with the 1961 model. This engine was capable of delivering 300 hp and boasts a 2-barrel carburetor setup and 10.0:1 compression ratio.

The '61 Continental was offered in two body styles, sedan and convertible, with the sedan being almost $650 more affordable than the convertible. The convertible model was offered with a three-segment dashboard with standard brushed aluminum finish, an optional air conditioning system, flared aluminum front brake drums for better cooling and an optional real wood trim. The classic car collectors love the '61 Lincoln Continental for its signature 'clap doors' and a massive road presence.

Related: 10 Best Classic Muscle Cars With V8 Engines

The 1967 Cadillac Eldorado was the first Cadillac car to be offered with a FWD setup and was the eighth-generation model of the Eldorado. The first-gen Eldorado was launched in the American market in 1952 and was always appreciated for its comfortable cabin and its massive road presence. The '67 model is very often regarded as the greatest Cadillacs ever produced, and shared its platform with the first-gen Oldsmobile Toronado.

The 1967 Eldorado is also known for its not-so-conventional styling, which was largely dominated by a sharp front fascia and a massive front grille. Under the hood, the car came with a massive 7.0-liter NA V8 motor that churned out a peak power and torque output of 340 hp and 480 lb-ft. A heavy-body and engine tuned to deliver maximum torque in the lower rev-band meant the car was not very brisk in terms of acceleration, and the 0-60 mph time stands at 8.1 seconds.

Looking for a cool classic car with unique styling and impressive performance? The1969 AMC AMX might fit the bill with its affordable and dependable package. The 1969 AMX was also one of two sports cars with two-seats on sale in America that year, and shared a number of its components with the AMC Javelin muscle car. While a number of engine options were on sale for the buyers, it was the AMC 390 which was the biggest and could produce up to 325 hp and 420 lb-ft of maximum torque.

The brand, however, ceased production after three years as rising costs of insurance for muscle cars and increasing fuel prices killed the demand for cars with large engines under the hood. This is also the very reason why the 1969 AMC AMX is one of the rarest muscle cars to be launched in America.

Just like most other Mustang-derived Shelby models of its time, the 1967 Shelby GT350 was offered as a lightweight and powerful muscle car with a number of performance upgrades like functional brake scoops, fiberglass deck lid, rear spoiler, aluminum S2MS High-Rise intake manifold, performance brakes and re-tuned suspension setup.

Under the hood, the 1967 Shelby GT 350 was offered with a high-performance 289 cu-in V8 engine that was rated at 306 hp and 329 lb-ft of maximum torque. The car boasts a top speed of 140 mph, while the 0-60 mph time stands at 7 seconds. With an average retail price of $381,000, the 1967 Shelby GT350 is one of the rarest and most expensive classic cars in America.

Related: 10 Classic Chevrolet Corvette Models That Define The Brand

The '64 GTO is one of the most iconic Pontiac muscle cars in America and was an extremely popular model back then. The brand offered the 1964 Pontiac GTO with multiple engine options, including the 6.5-liter V8 engine, which could deliver a maximum power output of 325 hp.

Often regarded as the best-looking muscle car of its time by many, the 1964 Lemans GTO boasts a timeless design dominated by a flat front fascia, large chrome bumpers, a low-stance, and dual-round headlamps on either end.

An engineer by education and a motorhead by heart, he loves spending time behind the wheels. In the age of SUVs and crossovers, he still adores old-school low-slung sedans and drools over the Mustang '69.