What's Better(or least bad) Big box Mountain Bike from 2000's or a 70's Dept
 

I have a choice between an Ozone Mountain bike purchased from Academy around 2012 or a Three Speed Huffy. Or a Wheeler Mountain bike from the 90's. All are $25-40. Three speed Huffy is from the 70s by the looks of it.

Which should I get for 10 mile or less rides around town
Im guessing the ozone bike will at least have aluminum wheels.

My gut says Ozone MTB, but Academy sells different levels of bikes. This Ozone could be the same quality as the 90's MTB, but it might be lesss likely to have cables rusted solid in housing, rusted chain, etc, but it's hard to answer your question without pics. Very important if you are riding more than a couple miles: which one fits better?

Wheeler put out some solid stuff and the 90s were probably the best era for bikes. That or the 3spd.

Buy all three, ride each, keep your favorite, and sell the other two.

I would bet the Wheeler also had aluminum rims but as nlerner posted, by all 3 if you have room. Test drive then choose. Probably sell other two at a profit over next few weeks.