These 1970s Cars Are Very Valuable Today
The ‘70s gave us a few things - bell-bottoms, disco, and some seriously cool cars! And many of those vintage rides are now worth a small fortune. We're looking at everything from muscle cars to rare classics that turn heads while cashing in. Let's take a ride down memory lane.
1971 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda Convertible
This absolute beast is the holy grail of muscle cars. Only 11 were ever made, packing a 426 HEMI under the hood. Today, one of these rarities can fetch over $3.5 million at an auction. Ridiculous? Maybe. Cool? Of Course, yes!
1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS6
If torque had a poster child, it’d be the 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS. This monster had 450 horsepower and a reputation for outrunning anything in its path. Depending on options and originality, a ‘70s Chevy Chevelle will set you back around $250,000 to $500,000.
1970 Dodge Charger R/T HEMI
Forget the Fast & Furious hype - this car didn’t need Hollywood to be legendary. With its 426 HEMI, it screamed muscle. Only a few hundred were made with the HEMI engine, and they now go for $300,000 to $600,000 at top auctions.
1979 Lamborghini Miura SV
The Lamborghini Miura is regarded as the godfather of the modern supercar with its mid-engine V12. Only 150 of these exotic beauties were built, making them super rare. One will cost you $2 million to $3 million, proving that Ferruccio Lamborghini knew how to build drama on wheels.
1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7
This Porsche might have been built for racing, but it became every man’s dream car. Only 1,580 were made, and its iconic handling makes it a collector’s gem with prices that hover around $500,000 to $1 million, depending on its condition.
1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429
This isn’t your average Mustang. Ford crammed in a massive NASCAR-ready 429 engine, and the result was loud, rare, and glorious. Today, a clean Boss 429 goes for $300,000 to $400,000, and that’s if you can find one. Only 1,359 were ever built.
1973 Ferrari Daytona 365
The Ferrari Daytona earned its nickname after Ferrari’s 1-2-3 win at the 1967 race. A true Italian stallion, the V12 grand tourer is fast, hitting 174 mph. It was a big deal back then, and they now go for $600,000 to over $1 million.
1976 Porsche 930 Turbo Carrera
This was Porsche’s first production turbo, and it came out swinging with a wide rear end - a whale-tail spoiler. This caused lag, but when the turbo kicked in, boy, could you feel it! The Porsche 930 Turbo Carrera is worth $150,000 to $300,000 today.
1970 Buick GSX Stage 1
This was Buick’s way of saying, “We do muscle, too.” The GSX Stage 1 featured a 455 horsepower V8 with ample torque and a classy yet badass appearance. Only a few hundred were made, making them super rare. You can expect to pay around $200,000 for one today.
1970 Oldsmobile 42 W-30
Don’t let the “Olds” fool you - there is absolutely nothing old about the Oldsmobile 42 W-30. This package gave the car extra muscle and a mean street presence, while the 455 V8 delivered a monster performance that makes this car worth $200,000.
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet
The 1971 Merc Cabriolet is all class. Elegant lines, hand-built quality, and a V8 under the hood - this car’s got it all. With only 1,232 ever made, the 280E 3.5 is a vintage status symbol that sets collectors back an impressive $300,000 to $500,000.
1970 AMC Rebel Machine
With a name like that, you know the AMC Rebel Machine had attitude. AMC only made it for a year, and it came out in red, white, and blue. This is one of the rarer cars on our list, and is worth around $75,000 to $125,000 today.
1970 Pontiac GTO Judge Ram Air IV
All rise for the Judge! This was Pontiac’s loud and proud muscle car, and the Ram Air IV engine made it a street legend. It was fast, flashy, and everything you’d expect from a car built in small numbers. Today, mind condition Judges demand $250,000 to $400,000.
1977 Aston Martin V8 Vantage
The Aston Martin was Britain’s answer to the muscle car. But it came with more class and a posh accent. The V8 Vantage was fast, rare, and stylish, with a top speed of 170 mph. Only a few hundred were made in the ‘70s, and prices now sit around $300,000.
1971 De Tomaso Pantera
Talk about a gold mine on wheels! The De Tomaso Pantera is where Italian curves meet American muscle. It had a Ford 351 V8 engine tucked inside a body designed by Ghia. It looked exotic, and is still worth around $200,000 today.
1976 BMW 2002 Turbo
The 1976 BMW 2002 Turbo was Europe’s first production turbo car. Worth around $200,000 today, this car is compact, quick, and collectible. They didn’t make many - just over 1,600 - and collectors are chasing them hard. Better grab one up while you still can.
1975 Bricklin SV-1
The Bricklin looked like a rejected superhero’s car, but it’s earned cult status as the years have gone by. Fewer than 3,000 were made, and they were powered by either AMC or Ford V8s. Values are rising fast, and you can expect to pay around $60,000 today.
1974 Lancia Stratos HF
The Stratos was built for one thing and one thing only: rally domination! And boy, did it deliver with its Ferrari V6 engine. Sure, it looked like a Hot Wheels car, but it was pure performance art, fetching $500,000 to $800,000 at auctions today.
1973 Datsun 240Z
This was Japan’s answer to European sports cars. The Datsun 240Z had stunning looks, great handling, and rock-solid reliability, making it a dream to drive. It was a hit back then, and still is today, with a price tag of $75,000 to $120,000.
1970 Dodge Challenger R/T SE 426 HEMI
The Dodge Challenger earns a spot on our list for its flashy looks and terrifying power. The SE trim added luxury touches, while the HEMI engine made sure everyone knew you were coming. They go for around $250,000 to $500,000.
1979 Mazda RX-7
The first-gen RX-7 has finally won over collectors. Back then, it was lightweight, futuristic for its time, and a lot of fun to drive. Today, well-maintained examples sell for $30,000 to $50,000, with rare editions fetching even higher prices at auctions.
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car Edition
Chevrolet went all-out to celebrate the Corvette’s Indy 500 pace car. It had two-tone black and silver paint, special decals, and a numbered dash plaque, making it flashy and limited. Approximately 6,500 were produced, and they come with a modest price tag of $500,000.
1971 Plymouth GTX 440 Six Barrel
The Plymouth GTX packed a triple-carb 440 engine and enough power to smoke tires for days. The “Six Barrel” setup consisted of three two-barrel carbs that were rare and brutal. You’ll pay around $100,000 to $175,000 for one now.
1974 BMW 3.0 CSL “Batmobile”
This BMW earned its nickname for its massive spoilers and flared fenders. It made its name in motorsports and is worth a cool $400,000 today. Only 167 true Batmobiles were made, so you’ll need to hurry if you want to find one to buy.
1971 Ford Torino GT 429 Cobra Jet
The 1971 Ford Torino GT could be ordered with a 426 Cobra Jet engine - and it was no joke! It looked mean, drove like a rocket, and was built in much smaller numbers than other cars on our list. Today, a clean version will cost you $125,000.
1976 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible
Another convertible on our list, the Cadillac Eldorado, was the last of the true land yachts. It was Cadillac’s farewell to full-size drop-ops that went all out. It’s a big deal with collectors now, so expect to pay $70,000 for one in great condition.
1977 Toyota Celica GT Liftback
Do you have $25,000 lying around? You could bag yourself a 1977 Toyota Celica GT Liftback. Think of it as Japan’s answer to the Mustang Fastback. It’s sporty, reliable, and effortlessly stylish for a car that’s fun to drive and easy to modify.
1970 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 RS
The Z28/RS package gave the Chevrolet Camaro performance and polish with its 350 horsepower V8 engine. However, it was the sleek styling and hideaway headlights that made it a collector's dream, valued at $150,000 in good condition.
1972 Maserati Ghibli SS Coupe
No list is complete without a Maserati Ghibli. This Italian supercar blended beauty and strength with its 4.9L V8 and a body that looked more like it belonged in an art gallery. The price tag today? A whopping $250,000 to $400,000.
1970 Lincoln Continental Mark III
The Mark III was the epitome of American luxury. It had a massive grille, a super smooth ride, and a 460 V8 to keep things moving. While it wasn’t a race car, it became a collectible that fetches $30,000 to $60,000 at auction.
1971 Jaguar E-Type Series III V12
This was the E-Type’s swan song. Jaguar stuffed a V12 under the hood, giving it a reputation for power and style. Prices for this car in good condition today range from $80,000 to $150,000. This is one car you need to own!
1974 Alfa Romeo Montreal
The Montreal had a Lamborghini look, a race-derived V8 engine, and oozed Italian charm. It was designed by Bertone and flew under the radar for years. Fast forward a few decades, and everyone wants to own one of these cars with its $150,000 price tag.
1979 Pontiac Trans Am 10th Anniversary Edition
Silver paint, a bird on the hood, and all the ‘70s attitude you could ever want. The 10th anniversary model of the Pontiac Trans Am had it all. Thanks to nostalgia and Smokey and the Bandit, these hit $80,000 today.
1972 Lotus Europa Twin Cam Special
The Europa Special was ridiculously fun to drive, and came with a 126-horsepower twin-cam engine that made it practically fly. Less than 4,000 were made, and collectors can expect to pay around $70,000 for these rare beasts.
1970 Mercury Cougar Eliminator 428 Cobra Jet
The Cougar Eliminator was Mustang’s tougher cousin. It was also a sleeper that packed a mean punch. Mercury didn’t build many of them, so if you’re lucky, you can find one for around $175,000. This is one hot collector's item!
