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The used car market is still packed with timeless and powerful American cars perfect for enthusiasts on a budget.

The American auto industry is arguably the most diverse in the world in terms of production. While the Italians specialize in sports cars, Germans specialize in luxury cars, and the Japanese specialize in entry-level cars, the American auto industry has everything for everyone. Americans are known for pickup trucks like the Ford F-150, muscle cars like the Dodge Challenger, sports cars like the Corvette, off-road SUVs like the Jeep Wrangler, electric cars like the Tesla Model S Plaid, and other different types of vehicles that are considered among the top picks in their respective segments.

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For this reason, there's a wide variety of American cars at every price, from multi-million dollar supercars like the Hennessey Venom F5 to dirt-cheap options like the Chevy Bolt. This article focuses on the lower end of the spectrum – superb American used cars you can buy today for less than $10,000.

If there's one car that has helped keep the Chrysler corporation afloat during some of the toughest financial periods, it's the Jeep Wrangler. The Wrangler is widely considered to be among the greatest off-road SUVs ever made and is one of the main reasons why the SUV segment is so popular today.

To get a Wrangler for less than $10,000, you'll have to settle for second or first-generation models. Not to worry, though. The TJ is still a capable off-roader and still has plenty of aftermarket parts. It can be a great project.

The Mustang is the Blue Oval Brand's pride and joy. The Mustang debuted in the mid-60s and helped establish the muscle car segment and it has been a staple of the industry since.

With millions of Mustangs produced over the last six decades, there are plenty of options. While some rare versions - such as the 1970 Mustang Boss 429 - can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, there are still plenty of options under $10k.

After a mostly terrible third-generation version of the fabled Corvette, Chevy knew it had to make the C4 a winner. Thankfully, the C4 didn't disappoint when it debuted in 1984.

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For one, it had an all-new design that looked more modern and exotic. The C4 also received many mechanical upgrades, most notably under the hood as it had over 300 hp in post-1992 model years.

In the '90s, Chrysler and Mitsubishi got into a partnership that resulted in a superb sports car known as the Dodge Stealth - a badge-engineered Mitsubishi 3000GT with exterior styling done by Chrysler. Like the 3000GT, the Dodge Stealth had a high-performance version known as the R/T Turbo, and it was superb.

Powered by a twin-turbocharged and intercooled V6 making 300 hp, the Stealth R/T Turbo was super fast. It was also a joy to drive, thanks to four-wheel steering and anti-lock brakes.

Pontiac tried everything to save itself in the 2000s. It all started with the ugly Aztek and when that failed, Pontiac tried to revive the Pontiac. That also failed, leaving Pontiac with the last option - to build an entry-level sports car known as the Solstice.

The Solstice was a solid sports car. It had a decent design, low price, and even though it made around 200 hp, it was still fun to drive. Sadly, the Solstice also couldn't save Pontiac.

The Camaro is one of the most iconic muscle car models, which is why it's one of only a few models still in production. Sadly, reports are flying around that the Camaro will soon be discontinued, which means it's the perfect time to buy one.

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Modern Camaros are way above $10,000, but the fourth-gen version of the '90s is still within reach. While it may not have the traditional muscle car design, the fourth-gen Camaro is still a head-turner with a V8 under the hood and plenty of aftermarket support.

When it comes to pickup trucks, it doesn't get much better than the Ford F-Series. The F-Series has been Ford's best-selling vehicle for much of the last century and is still going strong today. They even built an electric version for the first time ever.

Having been in production for so long, you'll still find plenty of affordable F-Series trucks that can give you great service, from old F-100s to more modern F-150s.

SUVs are everywhere these days. However, that probably wouldn't be the case if the Ford Bronco didn't exist. The Bronco debuted in the '60s and was one of the first SUVs.

It stayed in production for five generations as a three-door SUV before being discontinued in 1996. Ford recently revived the Bronco after a 25-year hiatus, and it's still among the most popular SUVs. However, since the modern Bronco is too expensive, gearheads on tight budgets should buy older Bronco versions that are still capable.

In 1984, Pontiac built one of its most iconic models - the Fiero. The Fiero received a lot of praise for its styling and being the first American mass-produced mid-engined sports car, not to mention advanced technologies like composite body panels and headrest-integrated stereo speakers.

Although the Fiero was criticized for being unreliable and unsafe at times, it was quite fun to drive, particularly the GT. The GT had upgrades like wider tires, an upgraded suspension system, and a V6 engine making 43 hp more than base models.

In 1983, Dodge decided to end the Challenger's production run, leaving many gearheads gutted. Thankfully, Challenger fans kept asking Dodge to revive the beloved muscle car for decades and in 2008, Dodge listened and introduced a new Challenger generation.

The new Challenger turned out to be one of the best model revivals ever. Gearheads love its modern take on muscle car design and raw power. You can still get a modern Challenger for less than $10,000, but you'll have to settle for an early V6-powered SE model.

Martin is a seasoned content creator who has been writing about cars for over a decade, and has been in love with them for even longer. Growing up, Martin was surrounded by gearheads who instilled a deep love and understanding for cars in him at a young age. He loves to learn and write about all the developments happening in the auto industry - especially in the EV space. When he's not writing about cars, he likes to spend quality time with his wife, kids, and fur baby.