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Every August scores of the world’s finest automobiles attract plenty of eyeballs and money during Monterey car week.

Winding down this weekend, the glamorous Monterey scene includes American muscle cars. Iconic machines from the ’60s and early ’70s are a major draw, driven by nostalgia and thrilling memories of competition on the street, drag strip or road course decades ago.

The dilemma is that while you can fork over big money for a documented original or meticulously restored hero car like the Pontiac GTO, Ford Mustang Boss 302 or ultra-rare Dodge Charger Daytona, how often are you really going to drive it the way it was meant to be operated: with gusto, slamming through the gears, pinned to the seat and chirping the tires.

Whether the means was a 401(k) move, day-trading windfall or the emergence of classic car financing, can you really see that matching-numbers, investment-grade beauty pulling regular duty on busy streets or highways?

If you’re feeling paranoid about being paranoid, here’s a suggestion: find a new or pre-owned modern muscle car. Today’s performance cars are breathtakingly quick, but don’t demand that the driver or passenger sacrifice comfort, air conditioning or utility. And unlike some of the steeds of yesteryear, they’ll even stay in tune.

If an American-style rumbling, torque-happy V8 and manual transmission is your cup of tea, Dodge has your back with two-door, four-door and five-door machines that strike an emotional chord.

Budget-friendly Charger

The Charger R/T Scat Pack is a four-door, rear-wheel-drive sedan that’s extra spicy, thanks to a naturally aspirated 6.4-liter Hemi V8 that replaces the 5.7-liter Hemi and packs 485…