The Nova went through several big transformations ... using a six-cylinder engine built for larger cars), customers were also interested in more muscle under the hood. V8 upgrades became common ...

Unfortunately for muscle car enthusiasts, this is just an American dream right now. The Chevy Nova came out in 1962, offering a sporty SS package that sold over 44,00 units the following year.

If you're looking at investing in a classic car, here are our top picks of muscle cars that won't give you a hard time when it comes to ownership.

Every Nova and GTO would have a sticker in its window, that rat sticking out through a muscle car's roof with a massive grin on its face and a shifter in its hand. You may not see that art in the ...