15 Inexpensive V8-Powered Classics Each Gearhead Ought to Purchase
The beloved V8 engine has been round for a very long time, but it surely’s sadly changing into an endangered species. Because the dialog round local weather heats up, producers are ditching our favourite V8 engines for smaller, extra fuel-efficient ones and utilizing pressured induction or electrical motors to complement the ability. Whereas eliminating the V8 engine might be greatest for the setting, it is unhappy for gearheads who love its balanced nature, uncooked energy, and roaring sound, particularly those that love muscle vehicles.
Up to date February 2023: All of us love the roar and would possibly of a V8 engine, however one indisputable fact is that it is going extinct quickly. If you need an reasonably priced strategy to personal a V8-engined automotive, your greatest guess is to discover a good traditional automotive. This up to date checklist accommodates 15 wonderful V8-powered traditional vehicles you should purchase at the moment. Whether or not you are a fan of sports activities vehicles, muscle vehicles, luxurious vehicles, and even pickup vehicles, there’s one thing for you.
To not fear, although. Positive, it might be arduous to seek out V8 engines in new vehicles, however you possibly can nonetheless discover them intraditional vehicles. There are nonetheless many superior reasonably priced traditional vehicles in 2023 with V8 engines on the used automotive market, and one of the best half is that lots of them are nonetheless simply accessible. From elegant luxurious sedans to fierce muscle vehicles, listed here are a few of the greatest low cost traditional vehicles with V8 engines.
15 1993 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra – $38,000
Within the early ’90s, Ford established the SVT division with one objective – to construct high-performance variations of its well-liked fashions. One of many first vehicles the SVT division labored on was the fox-body Mustang, and the outcome – the Mustang SVT Cobra – shortly confirmed it meant enterprise.The Mustang SVT Cobra had a 4.9-liter V8 pumping out 235 ponies, giving it nice efficiency. With lower than 5,000 examples made, it is no shock that the Mustang SVT Cobra is broadly thought-about to be among the finest particular version Mustangs ever made. With regards to reasonably priced muscle vehicles in 2023, you possibly can’t go flawed with the Mustang SVT Cobra.
14 Mercedes-Benz SL500 R129 – $15,500
If there’s one factor Mercedes-Benz has a repute for, it is constructing over-engineered vehicles. Mercedes-Benz has at all times paid shut consideration to each facet of engineering to make sure that it creates one of the best and most dependable sports activities vehicles. One automotive that helped Mercedes-Benz earn its repute is the R129 era of the favored SL Class.
The R129 debuted within the ’90s, and regardless that it confronted loads of criticism for having a boxy design, it made up for it with its highly effective and dependable engine choices, together with a V8 and a monstrous V12. In 2023, the R129 is among the least expensive traditional sports activities vehicles with a V12 engine.
13 Chevrolet Corvette C5 – $17,900
The heavily-anticipated fourth-generation Corvette had a fantastic begin to life within the ’80s, however gross sales have been declining sharply by the mid-90s. Chevy knew it had to enhance drastically to resume gearheads’ curiosity within the Corvette, so it gave the fifth-generation mannequin a ground-up redesign earlier than introducing it in 1997.
The C5 was a large improve over the C4 because of a brand new all-aluminum V8 engine with 350 hp on faucet, an improved drag coefficient of 0.25, and energetic dealing with that gave it unbelievable dealing with. The C5 is additional proof that it does not get higher than the corvette in relation to reasonably priced sports activities vehicles.
12 AMC AMX – $21,500
AMC has been out of enterprise for many years now, however true gearheads will at all times keep in mind its vehicles. One automotive that makes gearheads want AMC was nonetheless round is the AMX.
The AMX was a Javelin-based coupe that AMC constructed to compete with the favored Chevy Corvette. The AMX had a shorter wheelbase than the Javelin and solely two seats as an alternative of 4 to make it extra sporty, and the icing on the cake was its 325-jp V8.
11 1995 Ford F-150 SVT Lightning – $24,400
Ford just lately unveiled the insane F-150 Raptor R, exhibiting simply how insanely quick pickup vehicles will be. Nonetheless, this is not Ford’s first time making an attempt to construct a pickup truck that may chase down supercars. Ford’s first crack was within the ’90s when it constructed the F-150 SVT Lightning.
Ford needed to make the F-150 look extra engaging to gearheads on the lookout for a sporty, personal-use pickup truck, so that they outfitted it with a 5.8-liter V8 making 240 hp. Hagerty values the F-150 SVT Lightning at round $25,000, which is sort of reasonably priced contemplating it is one of many biggest efficiency pickup vehicles.
10 Mercedes-Benz 500E – $35,700
Within the ’90s, Mercedes-Benz wanted to construct a brand new efficiency sedan that might compete with the BMW M3 and different prime choices. Nonetheless, because it was busy engaged on the W140 S-Class, Mercedes-Benz employed Porsche and requested them to construct a high-performance model of the W124 E-Class. That is how the 500E got here to be.
Porsche did not disappoint. It modified the E-Class chassis to permit it to accommodate a large 5.0-liter V8 engine with 322 hp on faucet, making the 500E insanely quick. Based on Hagerty, the 500E is at present price slightly below $40,000 and costs are rising steadily.
9 Jaguar XK8 – $21,000
The XJS was a large failure for Jaguar, as many gearheads felt it wasn’t a worthy successor for the enduring E-Kind. As such, Jaguar needed to make the XJS’ substitute a winner, and that is what the XK8 turned out to be.
The XK8 had many enhancements over the XJS. For starters, it had a curvaceous design that appeared a lot better than the XJS. It additionally had extra energy, because of a 4.0-liter V8 producing 290 hp.
8 Chevrolet Impala SS (seventh Era) – $15,900
The ‘Impala SS nameplate is one which struck concern in each gearhead’s coronary heart again within the ’60s and ’70s, because it was among the many quickest muscle vehicles again then. Nonetheless, by the ’90s, the Impala SS had misplaced nearly all its muscle automotive id.
Anybody who noticed the seventh-gen Impala SS within the ’90s would have simply ignored it because it had a boring four-door sedan design. Fortunately, the Impala SS nonetheless had its muscle automotive id below the hood, which is why it is thought-about to be one of many coolest American sleeper vehicles.
7 1968-1970 Plymouth Highway Runner – $32,7000
When requested to call a Plymouth muscle automotive, the very first thing that involves most gearheads’ minds is the Barracuda and the legendary Hemi’cuda it spawned. Nonetheless, Plymouth did produce other cool muscle vehicles in its lineup, and the Highway Runner is one among them.
Within the late ’60s, Plymouth observed that lots of the prime muscle vehicles had moved away from the unique components of providing reasonably priced efficiency, so that they constructed the Highway Runner to supply that. The Highway Runner was primarily a lower-priced, fundamental model of the upscale GTX, but it surely nonetheless provided a mighty 6.3-liter V8 with 335 hp on faucet within the base mannequin.
6 1978-1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am – $24,700
In 1977, the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am gained Hollywood fame when it starred in Burt Reynolds’ hit movie Smokey and the Bandit. This function turned the 1977 Firebird Trans Am into an icon, which is why it is so costly at auctions at the moment.
Fortunately, gearheads who need a related Firebird Trans Am to the 1977 mannequin yr can get the 1978-1979 variations for lower than half the 1977 mannequin’s worth. These have related designs to the 1977 mannequin with the well-known screaming rooster hood and have been the final to have big-block engines.
5 Mercedes-Benz S-Class W140 – $16,500
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is the highest canine in relation to full-size luxurious sedans. Through the years, the S-Class has continued to set extremely excessive requirements for luxurious automotive producers, which is why it is a image of opulence in all corners of the world. Mercedes-Benz has constructed a number of generations of the S-Class, and the W140 is arguably one of the best.
Launched in 1991, the W140 took a decade and a reported over $1 billion to develop, but it surely was all price it. The W140 has a timeless design that also seems stylish at the moment, an expensive and cozy cabin, and superior applied sciences for the time. It has a implausible V8 engine that packs a robust punch, however for individuals who need extra, it is one of the reasonably priced V12-powered automobiles in the marketplace.
4 1990 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z – $24,000
Like many muscle automotive nameplates, the Camaro had misplaced loads of energy in the course of the ’70s and ’80s and was a shadow of its former wonderful self. Nonetheless, Chevy nonetheless provided gearheads a particular model of the Camaro with sufficient energy to make it thrilling. Dubbed the IROC-Z, this particular Camaro was an elective package deal for the Z28 that featured upgrades like a particular decal package deal, an upgraded suspension, bigger diameter sway bars, a lowered journey peak, and extra.
Since 1990 was the ultimate yr for the IROC-Z, Chevrolet outfitted it with a 5.7-liter V8 cranking out 245 hp, giving it nice efficiency. With rumors flying round that the Camaro could also be going out of manufacturing quickly, the 1990 Camaro IROC-Z is among the greatest muscle vehicles to spend money on 2023 as costs will certainly go up after Chevy pulls the plug.
3 1990–2002 TVR Griffith – $25,000
TVR just isn’t the primary title that involves any gearhead’s thoughts after they’re requested to call a British automaker, however the small firm has constructed a number of implausible fashions it may be happy with. Of all of the TVR fashions ever constructed, the Griffith might be probably the most well-known.
The Griffith debuted in 1990 and earned loads of reward for its glossy, curvaceous, light-weight fiberglass physique, and unbelievable energy. On the coronary heart of the Griffith was a 5.0-liter V8 shelling out 340 hp, permitting it to maintain up with the quickest British sports activities vehicles of the day.
2 1974 Dodge Charger – $14,300
The Dodge Charger wants no introduction, as it has been among the many coolest muscle automotive nameplates since its introduction within the ’60s. First and second-generation Chargers are nearly inconceivable to seek out today except you’ve gotten greater than $100,000, which is why we advocate the third-gen mannequin.
The primary purpose why third-gen Chargers are reasonably priced is that, since dodge constructed them in the beginning of the malaise period, they’ve loads much less energy than older variations. Nonetheless, the third-gen charger has that traditional muscle automotive design that gearheads love a lot, and regardless that its V8 solely makes 276 hp, there are tons of upgrades and engine swap choices to show it right into a beast.
1 1967-1970 Mercury Cougar – $14,400
Mercury went out of enterprise over a decade in the past, however gearheads will at all times keep in mind it for constructing many insanely cool vehicles. One of many coolest vehicles Mercury ever made was the Cougar – which was Mercury’s model of the favored Ford Mustang and its best-selling mannequin ever with nearly 3 million examples. Mercury produced eight generations of the Cougar, however we’ll solely give attention to the first-generation mannequin for the needs of this text. The primary-gen Cougar debuted in 1967 and was so good that it immediately received the Motor Pattern Automobile of the Yr award. The Cougar shared its platform and engines with the Mustang however had distinctive exterior styling components that gearheads cherished.
