The Myth of Stock Muscle

They Were Never Stock for Long.

- Arvid Svendsen

An impeccable concours restoration is a sight to behold. Seeing a car restored to “as delivered” factory assembly line condition demonstrates superior expertise and amazing knowledge. Factory chalk marks, stamped codes, paint dabs, and casting numbers receive much attention in that authentic, concours restoration. Research of assembly line methods is the order of the day to faithfully re-create original style over spray, factory paint runs, and mechanical component finishes.

From an investment perspective, a perfect concours “chalk mark” restoration might be the safest way to own a car that increases in value over time. However, most of the cars with a restoration to that level are seldom, if ever, driven. Further, a steady stream of never-driven, chalk mark restorations might imply that in the 1960's and 1970's we actually drove our muscle cars with those pathetic 14-inch tires, flimsy factory shifters, and coffee-stirrer-sized factory exhaust systems.

That is not what happened. Muscle cars did not stay stock for long. If you lived through this era you will remember that most muscle cars looked a lot like Grady Burch’s 1967 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS.