The 1970s was one of the worst decades ever in the auto industry. Automakers had to figure out how to deal with the new emissions standards that were required along with two oil embargos which meant they were more concerned about getting the numbers right than with making performance cars and vehicles that would excite us. Even though the focus of the industry was on getting the numbers right, there are still several cars that came out of this decade as cars you might love to own still today. Let’s take a look at them and some of the prices you can expect to pay.
Chevrolet Corvette C3 – The C3 Corvette is one that lasted fourteen years on the market with only a few changes such as changing out chrome bumpers for body colored ones. This car gave you a fiberglass body, which makes it a car that can still be found in great condition and at a price that will cost you under $5,000 for a project car or a restored model for around $25,000.
Ford Maverick – This car looks cool and fun today, but in the 1970s it was one of the most common cars on the road. You can find one of these beauties for around $3,000 and even have one that is perfectly maintained for less than $15,000. This was the entry level car with a fastback roof and a look that came from the muscle car era.
BMW 2002 – This was one of the first discoveries by Americans as to how good the German cars were. The 2002 was a simple car to look at with awesome driving capabilities for us to enjoy. You can have a project model for as little as $1,500 but a well-kept machine will beg you to pay at least $25,000 for the little car with the big presence.
Chevrolet Nova – The Nova was a car that came out to be simple and similar to the Ford Maverick, but it maintained the space for a large engine under the hood. Because there were some powerful versions of this car such as the SS, it asked for and still asks for a higher price such as $5,000 for a project car that doesn’t run and over $30,000 for the pristine models.
Ford Pinto – The Pinto gained an awful reputation, but now it’s a collector’s car that can demand a high price. As one of the first attempts to compete with the imports the Pinto had a tendency to burst into flames if hit from the rear. Today you can find this car for as much as $8,000 for a project wagon model and more than twice that price for a hatchback that still needs to be restored.
Ford Mustang II – This was the Ford attempt to make the Mustang on the Pinto platform which didn’t work out, but the cars that survive are certainly worth your time. There were Cobra II and King Cobra models which are rare and collectible at nearly $15,000 for a project model but the mainstream base versions will only cost you around $4,000.
Dodge Dart/Plymouth Valiant – This car was one that carried over its styling from the 1960s which accounted for the large hood and land yacht style. This car was popular during the Nixon and Ford eras and you can find them with some of the best engines of the time for around $5,000 or less. It was simple and indestructible, making it a great car for the times.
Chevrolet Camaro – This car was certainly king of the road during the 1970s. With a new look that was brought in only a year before the decade the Camaro looked great and continued to be powered by one of the most powerful V8 engines of the decade (even if that’s not saying much for the times). The competition died off from experiment and cost savings to leave us with the Camaro which was the darling of the decade with the beautiful style and great performance. You will find these today as project models for around $4,500 but a perfectly kept model can as for $40,000 easily.
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