10 MOST COLLECTABLE CLASSIC MOPAR MUSCLE CARS

Classic Dodge and Plymouth muscle cars come with built-in collectability because of their sheer awesomeness and limited inventory. Millions of Mustangs and Camaros were built during the classic era, but only 96,100 second-gen Chargers were made, according to Classic.com. And many of those were destroyed by The Dukes of Hazard and the Fast & Furious franchise. A total of about 188,600 first-generation Challengers were sold during its five-year production run from 1970 to 1974, according to the parent company, Stellantis, versus almost 700,000 first-gen Camaros.

Mopar muscle cars get even more collectible because certain options make them extremely rare and desirable. Anything that was factory-equipped with a 426 Hemi is going to be in higher demand than one with a 318. Also, four-speed transmissions or convertible tops were less common, so any combination of rare features and engines would bring top dollar. Lastly, matching numbers matter. Celebrities may love butchered overpriced resto-mods, but Mopar purists demand all-original rides.

Rarity, however, doesn't always equal collectability, but value sure does. What someone is willing to pay for something determines how much that thing is worth. There are Mopars that were made in extremely limited quantities that don't sell for even half of what a more common, perfect, factory original, Hemi-powered four-speed goes for. Since cash is king, here are the most collectible classic Mopar muscle cars.

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1970 Plymouth Duster Rapid Transit

Estimated Value: $264,000

The Plymouth Duster is the most affordable classic Mopar muscle car and fully restored versions can be found for as little as $25,000. Then, there is this six-figure Duster that seemingly makes no sense. It turns out it was part of a traveling road show to promote Plymouth's "Rapid Transit System", which was their version of Dodge's "Scat Pack" cars.

Limited Production Specs

Plymouth wanted to promote their performance cars, so they customized a 1970 Road Runner, a 1970 Barracuda, and this Duster, taking them to dealerships across the country. Accompanying the Rapid Transit Caravan was Don “The Snake” Prudhomme’s flip-top 'Cuda funny car, according to Dodge Garage. Proving that even a Duster can be collectible, this one sold for $264,000 in 2019.

1968 Dodge Hemi Dart Super Stock

Estimated Value: $302,500

Dodge's compact Dart always had some great performance options, but they never factory-installed a 426 Hemi in one. Outside the factory, however, it is a different story. In 1968, Hurst Performance took 80 Darts and souped them up with Hemi engines for drag racing applications. These Hemi Darts were technically street legal, but Dodge discouraged their use anywhere but the track.

Limited Production Specs

They were also fast as hell, hitting 130 mph in just 11 seconds and ripping the quarter-mile in the low 10s. One recently sold for $302,500, which is a lot of money, but given the rarity and historical relevance of this ride, it seems like it should be a million-dollar set of wheels. While they did make 80, most were destroyed at the track, leaving fewer existing in good condition.

1970 Dodge Charger R/T

Estimated Value: $352,000

The $352,000 amount this 1970 Dodge Charger sold for isn't exactly chump change, but it does seem odd that this is the highest price a second-gen Charger R/T has fetched at auction. 1968 is the most desired year, had slightly fewer cars produced, and lost the most units to wanton destruction in the entertainment industry.

Limited Production Specs

It is, on the other hand, a fairly amazing example of a classic Mopar muscle car. It, of course, has a 426 Hemi and four-speed, as well as matching numbers, but what really makes this Charger R/T so special is its excellent condition, that of an unrestored survivor car with only 14,000 miles on the odometer. In 1970, 112 Chargers left the factory with a Hemi under the hood and 56 were paired with a four-speed transmission.

RELATED: 10 Coolest Hurst Performance Vehicles

1971 Plymouth Road Runner

Estimated Value: $500,000

In the late 1960s, the Plymouth Road Runner, GTX, and Belvedere were all pretty much the same car, only with different levels of luxury. The Road Runner was the bare-bones version and was abundant because it was fast and cheap, while the GTX was a bit more upscale and less prevalent. Belvederes were quite common, but there were only 55 1967 Plymouth Belvedere II RO23 cars ever made.

Limited Production Specs

Its legacy lives on, and some have already tried to imagine a comeback. One would expect this rare Hemi-equipped Belvedere to be the most collectible of this Plymouth class, but one sold for a paltry $79,500 in 2013 and another went unsold in 2023 with a $104,500 reserve. Meanwhile, a second-generation 426 Road Runner blew up the record books in a 2023 Mecum auction, selling for a half-million bucks.

1971 Dodge Charger R/T

Estimated Value: $550,000

As weird as it seemed that the 1970 Charger was the highest sell second-gen car, it's downright bizarre that a third generation sold for $50,000 more. 1971 was when the Charger got a new body style that Mopar fans either love or hate, and some would argue it was the last good year not just for Dodges, but all muscle cars. '71s were never considered as collectible as their earlier counterparts, but this Charger R/T begs to differ.

Limited Production Specs

This High-Impact Hemi Orange Charger has the obligatory Hemi engine, but surprisingly came equipped with an automatic transmission, not the four-speed manual. What apparently makes this the top dollar non-Daytona Charger is that it came with a sunroof. That kind of seems like a joke, but it's one of only three Hemi Charger R/Ts with a factory M51 Power Sunroof. Obviously, there's a collector who likes catching some rays while hitting 13.9 second quarter-mile.

1969 Dodge Hemi Coronet R/T Convertible

Estimated Value: $687,500

There are some extremely rare Dodge Coronets, like the 1967 Coronet WO23 factory drag car, of which only 55 were ever made. Or the one-of-two 1966 Coronet 426 four-door sedan, but muscle car enthusiasts aren't necessarily looking for that many points of entry. Still, that four-door Mopar sold for $660,000, according to Hagerty, but it's not the top-dollar Coronet.

Limited Production Specs

A 1969 four-speed Hemi Coronet R/T Convertible sold at auction in 2016 for the princely sum of $687,500. If that sounds like a lot, it's because it is, but this car was pretty special and maybe the only one of its kind. A total of 20,057 Charger R/Ts were made in '69, but only 107 were the Hemi Coronet, and 10 of those were convertibles. Of the Hemi convertibles with a four-speed, this is the only documented one.

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1969 Dodge Charger Daytona

Estimated Value: $1,430,000

Officially, Dodge made 503 1969 Charger Daytonas to meet NASCAR homologation requirements, but experts estimate the actual number at 126. As ist stands, only 92 are known to exist, so it's a Mopar rarity. Of those that were built, 70 were equipped with the 426 Hemi, with 22 of those being paired with a four-speed, and only one in T5 Copper Metallic, like this one that broke the bank in 2023.

Limited Production Specs

This ultra-rare Daytona was owned by actor/comedian Davide Spade, who drove a beat-up version of the car in the film, Joe Dirt. Spade picked up this perfect, low-mileage, Dodge at an auction in 2015 for $900,000. The provenance of him owning it seems to have added greatly to the value, because he flipped it 8 years later for a $530,000 profit. Not bad considering it is the all-time worst color in the Mopar paint code catalog.

1970 Dodge Challenger R/T Convertible

Estimated Value: $1,430,000

The average price for a 1970 Dodge Challenger sold at auction is $96,621, but that figure is a bit deceptive. These are amazing collectibles, but examples in pristine condition can be had in the $50,000 to $60,000 range. The reason why this average is so high is that a '70 Hemi convertible sold for an eye-popping $1.43 million in 2019.

Limited Production Specs

This particular vehicle was faithfully restored, with the original 426 Hemi and four-speed transmission, as well the fender tag-correct FC7 Plum Crazy Purple paint. Mopar convertibles always seem to catch high bids because they are exceedingly rare, and this one is even more obscure because it was one of only five '70 Hemi Challenger convertibles equipped with a four-speed transmission.

1970 Plymouth Superbird

Estimated Value: $1,650,000

The 1970 Superbird was the Plymouth version of the Charger Daytona, but was much less rare than its Dodge cousin. With most sourcers agreeing with a total 1,935 built, considerably fewer are known to still exist, which is ten times the surviving Daytonas. Despite being more prevalent than the Dodge, a Plymouth Superbird sold for almost $200,000 more than the highest-dollar Daytona.

Limited Production Specs

As with all collectible Mopars, the Hemi four-speeds rule. Most Superbirds came with the 440 4-barrel carb, 716 had the 440 Six-Pack, and just 135 were Hemi-powered, with only 58 426 Hemi four-speeds. Since this Superbird is equally equipped as David Spade's Daytona, and sold in the same year, why did the Plymouth bring more money at auction? The easiest and best answer is, Limelight Green looks cooler than Copper Metallic, which is a fancy word for brown.

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1971 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda Convertible

Estimated Value: $4,800,000

In 2015, an In-Violet 1971 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda convertible sold for $3.5 million, which is more than enough to qualify as the most collectible Mopar, but there's another that someone was willing to pay much more for. At a 2021 Mecum auction, a Winchester Gray Metallic attracted a $4.8 million bid, but didn't meet the reserve. The owner was hoping for $6.5 million, but a car's value is what it would sell for, not wishful thinking.

Limited Production Specs

Still, at nearly $5 million, this 426 four-speed convertible is the single-most valuable classic Mopar muscle car. In fact, it is the most collectible classic muscle car ever. There have been some Shelby Cobras that have sold for more, but those are sports cars. Selling for $1,094,500, a 1969 COPO Camaro ZL1 is the most valuable classic Chevy muscle car, but that's an aftermarket dealer-mod. This '71 Hemi Cuda is a regular production factory original.

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