8 1970s Classic Cars to Buy Before 2027

With the cars of the 1960s now much too expensive for regular enthusiasts, the next decade of cars that are going to start skyrocketing in value is the 1970s. This is an era of Classic Cars where things were very much in transition. The golden age of American muscle had its last breath around the start of the decade, and cars had to become more efficient. That was due to the oil crisis, and a bigger awareness about the public health issues that come with tailpipe emissions. ’70s classics were overlooked at first because of these factors. But now that time has moved on, collectors have started to really want them. By the time we get to 2027, the best of these cars will be incredibly valuable.

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These are 8 of the best ’70s survivors that investors are making sure they get hold of before the end of this year. Most of them are slices of Americana. But there are a couple of under-the-radar European models here.

8

Triumph Stag

Average Used Value: $15,134

Engine	Read Also 3 day ago An 85-Year-Old Just Proved The Nissan Z Is Still A Driver’s Car 9 autotech Transmission	Drivetrain	Power	Torque
3-liter V8	4-speed manual, 3-speed automatic	Rear-wheel drive	145 hp	170 lb-ft

The Triumph Stag is often considered to be one of the British automotive industry’s biggest failures. While its Michelotti-penned body looked great, and it had a V8 under the hood, a lot of the rest of the car turned out to be a bit of a disappointment. The bespoke V8 (created by fusing two 4-cylinder engines together) had a lot of teething problems early on, and its reputation never really recovered from that. It became common for owners to swap it out for the Rover V8 or the Ford Cologne V6, two much more proven and reliable engines that also offered better performance. On top of that, it suffers from the typical classic British sports car issues of corrosion and electrical gremlins.

While the Stag did have a poor reputation in the past, time has been kinder to it. People now fully appreciate what Triumph was trying to create with this car. Furthermore, all those engine swaps that frustrated owners did to their Stags have actually helped to keep the car alive. Put both of those things together, and it’s a car that’s set for an explosion in value very soon. The average used value of the Stag is around $15,134, making it a serious bargain at first glance. But it’s not unheard of for examples to sell for as much as $29,000 if they’re in mint condition.

7

Lincoln Continental Mark IV

Average Used Value: $18,058

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There aren’t many cars that exemplify the big, American land yacht more than the Lincoln Continental Mark IV (also known as the Lincoln Mark IV). This car appeared in 1972, right at the end of the golden age of the American auto industry. That’s reflected in its enormous 460 V8 engine, which produced 224 horsepower in early examples. This power was reined in as the oil crisis and tightening emissions regulations took hold. By the end of the Mark IV’s run in 1976, it only produced 202 hp.

The Lincoln Continental Mark IV is another ’70s bargain, with an average used value of $18,058. The best examples have become very valuable, though. One 1976 Mark IV in impeccable condition and with low miles (just 13,000 on the clock) sold for $56,000 in January 2026. With the top end of the market for these cars as expensive as it is, you’ll definitely want to get one (if you can) before the end of 2026.

6

Datsun 280Z

Average Used Value: $22,637

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The Datsun 280Z is an oft-forgotten descendant of the legendary 240Z sports car. It even looks a lot like the 240Z. This car has quite a few differences from the 240Z under the skin, though. Chief among those is its engine. This is a 2.8-liter inline-6, producing 170 hp and 163 lb-ft of torque from the factory. That gives it a similar feel to the older 240Z, while being a bit more modern. Like other classic Nissan Zs, it can also be heavily modified or restomodded into a “best of both worlds” of vintage and modern.

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The Datsun 280Z is still a relative bargain most of the time. The average used value of these cars is currently around $22,637. But some super-clean examples have gone for stratospherically high prices.​​​​​​​ One 1976 example with only 355 miles on the clock sold for $140,000 in 2020. With used values not getting any lower and the occasional six-figure sale happening, the Datsun 280Z is definitely one of the best cars out there to get now before its values absolutely skyrocket.

5

Chevrolet Corvette (C3)

Average Used Value: $35,607

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The C3 is the longest-running Corvette generation ever. It lasted from 1967 to 1982, meaning that this single Corvette generation lasted the entire way through the 1970s. The early ’70s is considered by many to be the peak of the C3 generation, too. This is when a lot of the big-block monster models were being made, and also when the C3 arguably looked its best.

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Because the C3 Corvette was built over such a long production run, its average used values vary wildly. Across the entire timeline of the C3, that average used value is around $35,607. But, some of those early ’70s variants are easily worth a lot more. The C3 LT1 (built from 1970-1972) is worth around $58,509, while the big-block LS6 version that was only produced for the 1971 model year is worth around $120,500. With the rarer and more desirable Corvettes worth that much and values of more ordinary models rising, the C3 Corvette could very well end up being out of reach for the average enthusiast after this year.

4

Alfa Romeo Giulia 2000 Veloce

Average Used Value: $44,242

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A bit of an odd one out on this list, the Alfa Romeo Giulia 2000 Veloce is the only car here from mainland Europe and the only one that isn’t a ‘pure’ sports car. But it’s always been popular with enthusiasts, and the time for it to become a serious collector’s car is nearing. Its zingy 2-liter twin-cam engine has lots of character, and it’s another car that’s very easy to turn into a fearsome restomod.

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The Alfa Romeo Giulia 2000 Veloce can be yours for around $44,242 now. The absolute top end of the market reaches into six-figure territory, with restomodded examples selling for as much as $132,000. This is a car that’ll become incredibly valuable after 2026, so it’s worth picking one up now if you can.

3

Oldsmobile 442 W-30

Average Used Value: $49,400-$91,900

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The Oldsmobile 442 has long been considered one of the most underrated classic muscle cars around. That’s especially the case with the W-30 version, powered by the 455 Rocket V8. This car could produce 370 hp, plenty enough to compete with the other big-block powerhouses of its day.​​​​​​​

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The average value of 1970s 442 W-30s varies quite a bit, depending on the year and body style. Convertibles are worth much more than coupes, and older examples are worth more than newer ones. A 1971 coupe in good condition will set you back around $49,400, while a 1970 convertible in the same kind of condition will cost you around $91,900. Those values are rising, too. If you’ve ever wanted to get your hands on one of these, you should definitely go for it before 2027 rolls around.

2

Plymouth ‘Cuda

Average Used Value: $106,825

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Produced from 1970 to 1974, the Plymouth ‘Cuda has made a name for itself as one of the best muscle cars of the golden era. A high-performance version of the Plymouth Barracuda, it was available with several different V8 engines. This included the 426 Hemi V8, which was such a big deal that Hemi-engined versions ended up being referred to by a different name (the Hemi ‘Cuda). It was also available with the 440 cubic-inch Magnum V8, another legendary motor that powered several different Mopar muscle cars.

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The Plymouth ‘Cuda is the first car on this list to have an average used value that reaches into six figures. You can expect to pay around $106,825 for one, and that’s without counting the value of the Hemi ‘Cuda. The Hemi ‘Cuda commands absolutely astronomical prices, with an average used value of $933,600. There’s no debating, then, that this is going to become one of the most valuable collector cars out there by 2027.​​​​​​​

1

Pontiac Trans Am SD-455

Average Used Value: $115,186

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The second-generation Pontiac Trans Am has to be one of the best American sports cars ever made. One of the best of the best is easily the SD-455 variant. Being produced in the shadow of the oil crisis and tightening emissions regulations, it can be considered as one of the last performance monsters of the golden era. Powered by a 455 V8 that’s practically a race motor, it has a claimed 290 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. While that might not seem like a lot compared to other big-block monsters of the early ’70s, it was still fast enough to outrun a Pontiac GTO.​​​​​​​

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The most expensive car on this list, the Trans Am SD-455 has an average used value of $115,186. One example also sold for $200,000 back in December 2023. It’s quickly becoming one of the most valuable muscle cars on the used market, and that value is likely to skyrocket even further going into 2027.

Sources: Bring A Trailer, Classic.com, Hagerty, Triumph