10 Classic Cars From The 1970s That Became Collector Favorites After Spending Years Being Treated Like Ordinary Used Cars

For a long time, a car from the 1970s was simply a used car. It had smaller engines than the muscle cars before it, more regulations than the cars after it, and a reputation for being something your neighbor drove until it quit.

The market has changed. In a November 2023 article, Hagerty Media writer Sajeev Mehta argues that good-condition 1970s cars, once considered undesirable, have become expensive collectibles, “old, rare, and collectible enough to command median transaction prices higher than $5000.”

This list pulls from three Hagerty pieces: Mehta’s article, Are these 7 classics from the ’70s creeping out of reach?, Hagerty’s look at Nissan Z values through the generations from September 2020, and a reader favorites story, 6 of the best cars from the swinging ’70s. Prices are Hagerty Price Guide figures for the stated condition, and a rusty or modified car will be a different story.

Here are the ten, starting with the car that changed how Americans looked at Japanese sports cars.

The Datsun 240Z Averaged $49,800 In Excellent Condition In 2020

Hagerty’s reader favorites story says the 240Z helped Japanese automakers gain serious attention in the United States by moving beyond the econobox image, with a sporty inline-six engine and four-wheel independent suspension. Hagerty also reports that the 240Z went on sale in the United States in October 1969 and sold over 150,000 units. Datsun priced it within $200 of the MGB GT.

By September 2020, a 1970 240Z in excellent condition averaged $49,800, up 41% from $35,200 in September 2017. A 1971 240Z in survivor condition sold for $315,000 after premiums earlier in 2020.

The 1974 Datsun 260Z Rose 95% In Three Years

The same Hagerty report says a 1974 260Z in excellent condition averaged $30,000 in September 2020, up 95% from $15,400 since 2017.

In the November 2023 article, a 1974 260Z in Good condition has a median of $15,950. The 2+2 body style, introduced with the 260Z and 280Z, is worth less, with the standard 260Z about 45% more valuable.

The 1978 Datsun 280Z Averaged $32,100 In Excellent Condition

Hagerty says a 1978 280Z in excellent condition averaged $32,100 in September 2020, up 64% from $19,600 in 2017.

The report says values for the 260Z and 280Z reached what the 240Z was worth about three years earlier.

The Second-Generation Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Is A Reader Favorite

In Hagerty’s reader favorites story, the Firebird Trans Am is called the leader of the muscle car crowd. Its 1970 Ram Air IV V-8 made 370 horsepower, and the article says it remained a top choice for horsepower fans even after it lost some power and styling later in the decade.

The 2023 Hagerty article lists the second-generation Firebird at a Good-condition median of $16,900.

The Second-Generation Chevrolet Camaro Has A Median Of $16,700

More than 120 Hagerty readers named the second-generation Camaro, which surprised the editors. Most second-generation buyers prefer the early split-bumper models.

The same article notes that its values had been “on the brakes for some time,” and lists a Good-condition median of $16,700.

The Plymouth Trail Duster Has A Median Of $19,800

Mehta writes that the 1974 to 1980 Plymouth Trail Duster has a median price of about $19,800 in Good condition. That is nearly $4,000 less than a comparable Dodge Ramcharger.

He suggests many were re-grilled to Dodge styling, and argues the Plymouth grille deserves more appreciation.

The 1973 To 1976 Chevrolet Caprice Classic Sits At $18,800

Hagerty puts the Caprice Classic’s median at $18,800 across all body styles. Mehta sees it as evidence that buyers value these full-size cars equally, regardless of engine output or bumper size.

A full-size sedan from this era now has an official price guide number, which is a sentence that would have surprised many owners in the 1980s.

The 1971 To 1975 Pontiac Grand Ville Brings A $22,150 Median

The Grand Ville’s median is $22,150, over $3,000 more than a comparable Caprice. Mehta suggests early small bumpers, sleeker styling and higher-power engines may explain the premium.

Prices of this kind are why Hagerty says many 1970s cars have moved beyond bargain territory.

The Ford Mustang II And The AMC Pacer Have Their Own Price Guide Numbers

The 1974 to 1978 Ford Mustang II has a median above $10,000 in Good condition, and Mehta’s piece puts it at $10,200 while noting it is cheaper than first-generation Mustangs. The AMC Pacer shows a median of $8,900 in the same article.

Mehta notes the Mustang II is priced above the Mercury Capri V-6, which sits at $8,200.

These are the budget end of the list, and still above the $5,000 line Hagerty draws.

What To Check Before You Buy Or Sell A 1970s Car

Hagerty’s figures are medians for a stated condition, which means a car that needs work is worth less and a pristine one more. Before you decide anything about a car, compare it with a price guide for its exact year and trim.

Old cars come with old paperwork, and it helps to keep service records, titles and original parts together. A car that sat in the back of the garage for years may be worth another look.

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