The 1970s began with some of the most exciting muscle cars and supercars ever built. By the end of the decade, new emissions rules and rising fuel prices created what many call the Malaise Era. Yet despite that, several 1970s models have seen their values climb dramatically.
To assemble this list, we verified each car’s original sticker price and adjusted for inflation using the official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics calculator. We then compared those numbers to average private sale prices from Classic.com and recent auction results reported by Hagerty and Bring a Trailer.
How We Picked These Cars
Image Credit: dave_7 from Canada – Creative Commons 2.0 / Wiki Commons.
The cars in this curated article have been selected because, well, they’re worth more than ever! I first checked around for 1970s cars with a hefty price tag, but we wanted it to be more specific than that. To make sure they were truly worth “more than ever,” I checked each car’s original selling price for that year and checked how much that would be in today’s money due to inflation.
After crying a bit, I compiled a list of cars that have skyrocketed in price due to their rarity, good looks, or just how desirable they are to collectors. The average prices in this article were provided by Classic.com, and the cars were selected based on their distinct style, rarity, and interesting backstories.
1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 Convertible – $60,082
Image Credit: Cars Down Under, CC BY 2.0/Wiki Commons.
Original Selling Price: $3,999 ($31,946 in today’s money). A blend of style and power that embodied the muscle car madness of the 1960s and 1970s, the Oldsmobile 442 attempted to compete with the Pontiac GTO. In the early 1970s, new emissions standards slowed things down, and GM stated that all engines should have reduced compression and power ratings.
Enter the 1972 Oldsmobile 442, which introduced a W30 package with 310 horsepower and a Ram Air induction system. According to Muscle Cars Illustrated, Hi-Performance Cars Magazine recorded a 14.37-second quarter-mile at 98 mph behind the wheel of the ’72. This made it the second-fastest muscle car of the year. Today, the 1972 Oldsmobile 442 is a highly desired collectible car, which is reflected in its price tag.
1972 De Tomaso Pantera – $112,706
Image Credit: Lothar Spurzem, CC-BY-SA-2.0-DE, WikiCommons.
Original price: $10,000 ($80,171 in today’s money). This 1970s supercar could easily be confused with a Ferrari from the same era, with racecar-inspired curves, a boxy body, and pop-up headlights. However, a similar-looking Ferrari of that decade — the 365 GT — was selling for over $20,000 back then — more than double.
The De Tomaso has an impressive performance that measures up today. According to the Audrain Automobile Museum, it had a Ford 351 Cleveland V8 engine, but Jalopnik’s Kristen Lee claims it’s quite difficult to drive.
1975 Lamborghini Countach LP400 – $968,191
Image Credit: Jeremy from Sydney, Australia – Creative Commons 2.0.
Original Price: $72,200 ($442,182 in today’s money). Marcello Gandini was tasked with designing a supercar even more fantastic than the Miura of the late 1960s — and he definitely succeeded with the Countach. Car and Driver notes its outrageous features like scissor doors and groove cuts in the roof. Its dramatically slanted and narrowed front is a standout feature to me, giving it that “this is what the future of cars will look like” vibe from the ’70s and ’80s. (Unfortunately, they were wrong.)
This prestigious and collectible supercar is unsurprisingly seen at auction going for millions these days, but if you’re brave enough to drive such an expensive car, you’re in for quite the experience, said Road & Track.
1979 Datsun 260Z – $57,357
Image Credit: Berthold Werner, public domain/ Wiki Commons.
Original Price: $4,180 ($19,528 in today’s money). Some of the best cars of the 1970s were not American muscle cars, as proven by the Datsun 260Z, one of Nissan’s many Z-cars. With a slightly increased engine size over the 240Z, the 260Z had a short-lived run in America from 1974 to the end of 1978. According to Hagerty, Nissan sold 450,000 Z cars in the United States from 1969 to 1978, but most are long gone, so it’s a pretty rare car to come across today.
When looking for a 260Z, avoid the 2+2. This was a unique seat configuration offered with the 260Z that was unpopular back then and is still undesirable now. The market value of the 2+2 is very low, with parts being difficult to come by and nobody really fitting in the backseats except children. But who’s using a Datsun 260Z to drive children around? Let’s be real.
1973 Aston Martin Vantage – $78,910
Image Credit: MrWalkr, CC BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons.
Original Price: $4,000 ($29,960 in today’s money). The original Aston Martin Vantage is often referred to as “Britain’s first supercar.” According to Autoevolution, that’s all thanks to a 300+ hp 5.3-liter V8 engine that got the sporty coupe up to 60 mph in less than 6 seconds and boasted a top speed of 170 mph.
The 1973 Aston Martin Vantage wasn’t just fast but also extremely stylish, with a prominent hood scoop, leather bucket seats, and a complex dashboard. It gives collectors a more refined option but with the same power as a muscle car of the same decade. In other words, it’s a snobby British car, but it deserves to be.
1972 Maserati Bora – $120,034
Image Credit: tandemracer, CC BY 2.0 / Wiki Commons.
Original Price: $10,000 ($77,635 in today’s money). Dyler tells us that the Maserati Bora is a rare supercar from the ’70s. This was Maserati’s first mid-engine road car, with the U.S. imports featuring a 4.9-liter V8 with 310 hp, shooting it to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds and reaching a top speed above 170 mph. It may not be the fastest car of the decade, but the attention to detail of its design has made it unreachable.
The Bora had a wedge-shaped body with a stainless steel roof panel for artistic contrast. According to Hagerty, it also had a mid-mounted engine, adding to the car’s focus on sportiness and luxury. From 1971 to 1979, only 500 Maserati Bora cars made it to the United States.
1977 Ferrari 308 GTB – $177,987
Image Credit: Charles, CC BY 2.0 / Wiki Commons.
Original Price: $28,780 ($156,977 in today’s money). A 1977 issue of Car and Driver found the Ferrari 308 GTB to be an overall rewarding driving experience, with a surprisingly comfortable cockpit that doesn’t hinder the car’s performance. Only 12,000 308s were ever made, and just 712 of them have fiberglass bodies. It has a 3.0-liter V8 mid-engine that produces 240 hp and an iconic modern appearance that puts the 308 GTB ahead of its time.
Pop-up headlights and an angular wedge shape set the Ferrari 308 GTB apart. But let’s be real, the value lies in it being a Ferrari. That will always cost you, no matter what year.
1970 Boss 302 Mustang – $93,288
Image Credit: Missvain – Own work, CC0 Public Domain Dedication, Wiki Commons.
Original Price: $3,720 ($31,401 in today’s money). This is the epitome of a classic muscle car with an iconic fastback body and the performance to match. Back in the ’70s, MotorTrend journalist Steve Kelly reported that the Boss had a 302 V8 engine with 290 hp that pushed a quarter mile in 14.64 seconds. But it thrives on the streets and the track after all these years.
Despite being a pretty affordable car back in the day, the Mustang is part of classic Americana now. The 1970s were the decade of the muscle car, so it’s no surprise that the Boss has become a pretty pricey ’70s car for collectors and muscle car enthusiasts.
1975 Lancia Stratos HF – $367,438
Image Credit: Thesupermat, CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wiki Commons.
Original Price: $17,000 ($104,115 in today’s money). This is the sickest car on the list; I don’t care what anybody says. FCA Heritage, a site dedicated to sharing Lancia’s rich history, teaches us that the Lancia Stratos HF took over rally racing in the 1970s, known as the first car specifically built for the infamous Group B class. Its focus on rally racing gave the Lancia Stratos HF a unique look, including a short wheelbase, a fiberglass body, and an extreme wedge-shaped body.
What started as a win at the 1974 World Rally Championship resulted in plenty more victories, making this a high-performance car with the records to back it up.
1973 Pontiac Trans Am Super Duty – $163,383
Image Credit: YouTube / Lou Costabile.
Original Price: $4,446 ($33,301 in today’s money). RareCars.com called the Trans Am Super Duty 455 the “end of the muscle car era.” Despite the stricter emissions regulations after 1970, the Trans Am Super Duty 455 attempted to power through it with a 290-hp 7.5-liter V8 engine.
To go along with its defiant performance, the Trans Am featured a shaker hood and the iconic “screaming chicken” hood decal. Its iconic status means it’s now a highly sought-after classic, which is reflected in the prices.
1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS – $554,883
Image Credit: MrWalkr, CC BY-SA 2.0 DE / Wiki Commons.
Original Price: $13,000 ($97,372 in today’s money). What car list is complete without a 911? Porsche says the 911 was released in 1963, and it’s remained a staple in car culture ever since. In the 1970s, they had the Porsche 911 Carrera RS, with 1973 being the last year of the first generation. With a design and performance focused on racing, this is now one of the most respected and sought-after 911s ever.
The Porsche 911 Carrera RS featured a 2.7-liter flat-six engine with 210 hp. Its exterior had a ducktail spoiler and wide rear wheels, and a race-focused suspension kept it agile during track sessions or spirited canyon drives.
1970 Plymouth Hemi ’Cuda Convertible – $1,980,000
Image Credit: Gestalt Imagery/Shutterstock.
Original Price: $3,500 ($28,937.69 in today’s money)
Few cars capture the drama of 1970 better than the Hemi ’Cuda drop-top. Plymouth built just 14 left-hand-drive convertibles equipped with the 426-cubic-inch Hemi V8, making them rarer than many European exotics of the era. Back in 1970, the sticker price was about $3,500, and today one sold at auction for nearly $2 million.
What makes the Hemi ’Cuda so special isn’t just the engine’s legendary roar; it’s the combination of blistering straight-line speed, genuine factory documentation, and the thrill of owning one of the rarest American convertibles ever offered.
1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 – $150,000
Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 1970 – Image Credit: RL GNZLZ, CC BY-SA 2.0/Wiki Commons.
Original Price: $3,800 ($31,418.07 in today’s money)
When buyers wanted brute force in 1970, few cars answered like the Chevelle SS 454. Under the long hood sat a big-block V8 displacing 454 cubic inches and packing up to 450 horsepower in the LS6 configuration. Originally priced around $3,800, a well-preserved LS6 Chevelle now commands over $150,000 at auction.
Enthusiasts prize the Chevelle’s combination of glamorous Chevrolet styling, muscle-car credentials, and that deep burble you can feel through the steering wheel.
1970 Dodge Challenger R/T with 440 Six Pack – $120,000
Image Credit: Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA – 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T, CC BY 2.0/Wiki Commons.
Original Price: $3,535 ($29,227.07 in today’s money)
Dodge’s Challenger R/T paired iconic ’70s flair with a triple-carburetor 440 cubic-inch V8 that pumped out solid mid-400-horsepower numbers. The “Six Pack” setup gave drivers instant throttle response and a unique engine note that still turns heads.
Priced around $3,500 when new, matching-numbers Six Pack Challengers now sell for more than $120,000 in excellent condition. Collectors love the way the Challenger balances everyday drivability with genuine drag-strip credentials.
1976 Porsche 911 Turbo 930 – $371,116
Image Credit: Octavian Lazar / Shutterstock.
Original Price: $26,700 ($150,531.22 in today’s money)
Porsche shook the sports-car world in late 1975 by adding a turbocharger to its proven 911 platform. The result was the 930 Turbo with roughly 260 horsepower, a distinctive “whale-tail” spoiler to keep the rear planted, and that unforgettable spooling whistle under hard acceleration.
At launch, it cost about $26,000 — close to double the price of a naturally aspirated 911 — and today, early 930s regularly fetch six-figure sums, often north of $300,000. Drivers praise the combination of raw punch, razor-sharp steering, and air-cooled charm that only a true 1970s Porsche can deliver.
1975 BMW 3.0 CSL “Batmobile” – $278,000
Original Price: $13,500 ($80,496.89 in today’s money)
BMW built the 3.0 CSL to win in European touring-car racing, fitting it with aerodynamic bodywork, aluminum panels, and lightened components. Its aggressive fender flares, giant rear wing, and roof-mounted spoiler earned it the “Batmobile” nickname long before superhero movies made that term famous.
Original buyers paid around $13,500, and today these cars go for nearly $300,000 at auction. Collectors covet the Batmobile for its blend of race-ready hardware, sculptural design, and the knowledge that it helped establish BMW’s motorsport legacy.
Special Mention: 1976 Lamborghini Silhouette – $101,000
Image Credit: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wiki Commons.
Original Price: $27,000 ($154,950 in today’s money). With inflation, the Silhouette was technically worth more back in the day than it is now. But there’s no denying that this car is worthy of the “expensive ’70s car” title. It’s gonna be hard to get your hands on the Lamborghini Silhouette. Classic.com, which currently has no 1975 Lamborghini Silhouettes for sale, reports that only 54 of this special car were ever produced — and two were prototypes.
Lambo Cars claims this makes it one of Lamborghini’s rarest cars, but it started out as an “affordable” model created out of desperation during a time when the company was struggling. This was Lamborghini’s first car with a removable targa roof that could be stored behind the rear seats. It has a rear-mid-mounted 3.0-liter V8 producing 265 hp, giving it a top speed of 160 mph.
Special Mention: 1970 Cadillac De Ville – $26,612
Image Credit: MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wiki Commons.
Original Price: $6,118 ($51,644 in today’s money). Here’s another example of a classic car from the ’70s that will set you back to purchase but is technically a steal if you calculate inflation.
The Cadillac De Ville series rolled onto the car market in 1965 and found its own by 1970. This is the most desirable year for car collectors, according to Hagerty. It featured a nice styling upgrade that added to its luxurious design appeal, and the prominent and angular hood was home to a 500-cid V8 engine, the largest displacement V8 on the market. The 1970 Cadillac De Ville is notorious for being a bit of a gas guzzler, but that’s the price you pay for power. By 1971, GM introduced “a new era of smog-controlled engines,” reducing the hp and torque of the De Ville. But this model lives on.
And Sold!
Lancia Stratos HF Stradale – Image Credit: Calreyn88 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons.
Still crying about inflation? Me too. Still crying about how expensive these stunning cars are now? Me too.
While there’s virtually zero chance that most of us will ever own any of them, it’s still fun to take a look at some of the most desired cars from the 1970s and see what collectors are willing to pay for these beloved classics today.
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