My first car was not exactly a muscle car (’71 Pontiac Ventura). But I paid $550.00 cash. It had a V-8 307 and I could access and change pretty much every part in it. Drove it for six years, and likely would have driven it longer were it not for Pennsylvania state inspection.
“...’71 Pontiac Ventura). ... had a V-8 307....”
That’s kind of the point though... even though it’s not off-the-assembly-line as a “muscle car”, it still WAS a muscle car in waiting.
With a quick trip to Bash Speed Shops, a couple bucks in your wallet, a couple Saturdays with wrenches and a socket set and a willingness to crawl around and get greasy, boom - you’ve got a street machine.
The 307 was a great small block V8, and Pontiac was HUGE in the muscle car era. GTO... LeMans... Bonneville ... Firebird and Trans Am...
The Ventura was Pontiac’s version of the Chevy Nova. Great body style.
What a great time to be a kid, it was. I miss it.