Is it possible that all the affordable project cars are now taken?
Factory optioned Muscle Cars are going to command a premium. Standard optioned cars of the era can be had for a lot less and modified.
When I was young and Muscle Cars were available to buy, or just used cars, it seemed like the old guys with Model Ts and like, ruled the shows and swap meets, and that stuff commanded high prices of the time. Now the old guys that could relate to the Ts are long gone, and the prices for that stuff hasn't kept up with inflation.
I imagine the same could happen with Muscle Cars to some degree in twenty years or so, but I don't care, I'm going to enjoy them while I can, and be happy with what I can afford, and not worry about the prices. Not everyone could even afford the top cars even when they were new, and that's why Hemi cars and the like, are rare and highly priced.