One thing that you may or may not be interested in is a Truck from that era.
Not a muscle car, but it has the same drivetrain, basically. EASY to work on (I changed the clutch in my '65 Chevy truck on gravel WITHOUT jacking it up), parts are available (not always CHEAP, but available), and they fit well with the "occasional use" mentality. They can still be entertaining to drive.
When I mention "occasional use" I think about runs to the home improvement store, landfill, towing the next project car you get (if you get hooked, it's inevitable) around on a trailer, etc. I also think about Historic License plates and how limited annual mileage is usually involved in the requirements for them. Not that that has ever stopped me from Daily Driving a car registered with Historic tags, lol.
Some cool stuff I found in your area:
'69 El Camino: http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3483394646.html (You've have to put the Southern Culture on the Skids song "Sixty Nine El Camino" on repeat)
'69 Chevy shortbed: http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3443115986.html
'70 Ford truck: http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3383240246.html
'71 Cutlass: http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3472828623.html
'72 Monte Carlo: http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3543347396.html
'73 Monte Carlo: http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3537915334.html
'73 Dart: http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3458468018.html
'74 nova: http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3542232003.html
'74 Duster: http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3503221152.html
'74 Omega (Nova with "style"): http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3421533720.html
'75 Nova: http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3468035987.html
And holy MOLY...you guys seem to have the market cornered on Aircooled VW Bugs out there...I came across a TON of them in my quick search (but didn't post any due to the lack of "muscle").
Clem