As a nation, we love our performance cars. And the Australian muscle car has been with us for about five decades, meaning there's plenty of choice for those who want a performance car and a slice of the Aussie dream all rolled into one. Prices of early (60s and 70s) local muscle cars spiked about a decade ago, propelling them out of reach for many of us. But look at the market a little more closely, and you'll find local muscle out there for less than $20,000. Earlier in October we said farewell to the last locally manufactured cars in Australia so the cars we're talking about below might just earn you a dollar.
Holden Monaro 2001-2006
The two-door Holden Monaro is a great example of the way our local industry could pull a very big rabbit from a very small hat. Built after hours in secret by a clique of Holden designers and engineers, the Holden coupe prototype was first shown at the Sydney Motor Show in 1998 (much to the surprise of many Holden executives) and was a huge hit. It was soon clear that Holden had to build the thing and equally clear was that it had to be called Monaro.
These have really come into their own lately, and mint, late model examples will blow our $20K budget to smithereens. But you can still find good, early examples for around the high-teens, but you might be buying a car with a few kilometres showing or in a dud colour. Or both. Don't be afraid of the kilometres as the alloy V8 engine in the Monaro is a tough customer and will run for ages if serviced properly. Speaking of engines, don't bother with the CV6 model with its supercharged engine and automatic transmission; it's not seen as the real thing by the true believers.
Cars like this will be worth more in time if they have the six-speed manual gearbox and roughly a third of those for sale at any given time are, indeed, manuals. Interior condition is important as some of the trim pieces weren't interchangeable with the four-door Holden Commodore on which the Monaro was based. Mechanical bits are common across the two cars, however, so keeping a Monaro on the road shouldn't be a problem.
• Two doors, rear-wheel-drive, 5.7-litre V8, 225kW, six-speed manual/four-speed automatic.
• Price from: $17,000
Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo 2002-2006
The original Falcon XR6 Turbo was such a hit, it spawned a model that ran from 2002 right up until Ford finally closed its manufacturing doors earlier this year. Along the way, it proved that a full-sized muscle-car didn't necessarily need a V8 engine, since it had all the performance anybody could ever have asked for.
Actually, that engine was the at the heart of the XR6 Turbo's appeal and while it was based on the four-litre inline six that powered family Falcons and taxis, with the addition of the turbocharger it suddenly became, without a doubt, the best locally-developed and built engine this country has ever produced. Big statement, but there you have it. The engine worked best when teamed with the four-speed automatic and not many buyers bothered with the five-speed manual, so they're relatively rare.
As well as plenty of stomp, the XR6T handled well with the independent rear suspension that was also pioneered with the BA model and the ride quality was quite good, too. Certainly, the turbocharged Falcon has that wonderful Aussie-car ability to eat miles while carrying a full load of people and their luggage. And towing a caravan if need be.
Be wary of cars that have been modified; the engine was super-tough, but fiddling with any engine to produce more power is fraught with danger in the longer term.
• Four doors, rear-wheel-drive, 4.0 litres, 240kW, five-speed manual/four-speed automatic.
• Price from: $7000
Holden VN Commodore SS
There was a time, and it's not too long ago, when you couldn't give a VN Commodore away. First seen in 1988, the VN model marked the Commodore's return to a full-sized family sedan, but pretty soon it was tarred with the brush of poor build quality and a V6 engine that was harsh and noisy.But the SS version? Well, that was another thing altogether. The VN pioneered the use of the fuel-injected version of the Holden five-litre V8. And compared with the old carburetted V8s that went before it, the new efi unit was a revelation. In the relatively lightweight VN, it gave excellent performance and with a five-speed manual of four-speed automatic, it was considered quick for its day.
Like all things, though, even the Commodore SS descended into relative worthlessness. Until recently, that is, when the VN SS has suddenly experienced a real revival and is now cool again. Who knows why, but it probably has something to do with the simplicity of the car and its sense of purpose. This is not a luxury car; it's not a sports car. It's a proper muscle car that will cover ground quickly and has just enough visual aggression to get the message across.
The trick now is to find the right one. For our money. That's a manual-transmission car with low kilometres and without the optional power-pack (power-windows and central-locking) as it was these fitments that were most likely to fail even when the car was new-ish. The standard alloy wheels were ugly, but make sure they come with the car as part of the deal as these things will be worth proper money in unmolested form in the not-too-distant future. Just watch out for fakes: Base-model cars tarted up to look like an SS.
• Four doors, rear-wheel-drive, 5.0 litres, 240kW, five-speed manual/four-speed automatic.
• Price from: $6000
