We’re taking you back to the era of 8-tracks and disco, Star Wars, and Archie Bunker. The 1970s produced several iconic car designs, some of which continue to live on in their name today. Others contributed to key performance and technological advancements in the automotive industry. Are you still hitting the road in one of these Top cars of the 70s?
Here are some of our favorite cars from the era marked by the oil crisis and bell-bottoms.
The Chevrolet Chevelle underwent several design changes in 1969, but the 1970 Chevelle SS 454 also brought some changes to the brand. With a more square-shaped body, the 1970 model shared several parts with fellow GM family member, the Buick Skylark GSX. The 1970 LS6 Chevelle SS was a big car, clocking in at198 inches long and 76 inches wide; it featured a wheelbase of 112 inches. The Chevelle remains a classic muscle car staple.
Its recognizable design has made it a 70s classic. First introduced by AMC in 1970, pictured above is a 1971 Gremlin X model.
Few cars epitomize the automotive industry in the 1970s better than the AMC Gremlin. Though it is not known for being a particularly popular or reliable car, the Gremlin retains an active fan base to this day. A true product of the desire for compact, more fuel-efficient vehicles, the Gremlin competed for sales against the Ford Pinto and Volkswagen Beetle. The car cost $1,879 in its debut year. A 1975 Gremlin got roughly 21 miles per gallon compared to the Ford Pinto’s 23.
First launched in 1970, the first generation of the Monte Carlo shared some styling with the Cadillac Eldorado. The debut year, while successful in terms of sales, was rocky. A strike helped drive demand for a reduced number of available Monte Carlos. A 1970 Monte Carlo would have set you back just over $3,100. The Monte Carlo was discontinued by 1988, but it did make a return in 1994 lasting until 2007.
A 1970 Plymouth Barracuda in “Lime Light” green. The Cuda has become a muscle car icon, thanks to its 1970 redesign.
In 1970, Plymouth gave their Barracuda model a complete refresh. The result was one of the most recognizable muscle cars ever produced. During its first two models years of the refresh, the Cuda was available with two choices for a V6 engine, and three for a V8, making the car a favorite of engine nuts and speed demons. The Cuda also came in some memorable colors, such as “Lime Light,” “Vitamin C,” and “Bahama Yellow.”
Just over 2,000 Countaches were delivered over a 16-year period starting in 1974. The debut model, the LP 400, featured sharp angles that were a departure from Lamborghini’s more rounded Miura model. What made the Countach so awesome? Lamborghini debuted their iconic scissor door design with the Countach.
Not a friend to those in the 70s living through gas rations and the energy crisis, the Countach nonetheless played a major role in cementing the status the Lamborghini brand enjoys today. Who wouldn’t want to spend time working under the hood of this vehicle?
The second generation of the iconic pony car was first offered for the 1974 model year. The new Mustang shared some concepts from the Ford Pinto, including a 2.3 L I-4 engine. The new generation of the Mustang was a return to basics in many ways, featuring similar design and styling to the original 1964 model. The success of the Mustang in the 1970s allowed the American classic to survive well beyond its initial offering in the 60s.
Part station wagon, part SUV, the Jeep Cherokee is a 70s favorite. The Cherokee owed several of its design elements to the Jeep Wagoneer. A four-door option would be added in time for the 1977 model year. Long before the term became popular with the general public, the 1974 Jeep Cherokee sales brochure referred to itself using the phrase “Sport Utility.” The design for the Cherokee was compacted in 1984 as the Jeep Cherokee (XJ)—no longer a full-size SUV.
Known to many as the car from the James Bond movie The Spy Who Loved Me, in 1977, the Lotus Esprit was first offered in 1976. The British sports car never quite delivered in terms of speed, going 0 – 60 mph in roughly 8 seconds. However, the car was often praised for its handling ability. The angular contouring is not entirely unlike the Countach. The Esprit is a very light automobile, weighing just over 2,200 pounds.
The 1977 Pontiac Trans-Am remains a favorite of 70s fanatics and car show attendees. (Photo: By Adi Gassmann, CC BY-SA 3.0)
The 1977 Pontiac Trans-Am Special Edition earned a starring role in the film Smokey and the Bandit that same year. The Trans-Am was given a restyling from the 1976 model, including changes to the front and a shift to square headlights, in particular. A Burt-Reynolds-owned 1977 model used to promote Smokey and the Bandit sold for $550,000 at auction in early 2016.
With the oil crisis crippling sales of gas-guzzling American cars, the door was open for foreign automakers to make a play for the U.S. market. The Honda Civic made its debut in 1972, but the five-door hatchback version was first sold in the U.S. in 1978. Today, the Honda Civic remains among the most popular selling cars in America, particularly with those favoring good gas mileage—the same reason that propelled the vehicle to success in the 1970s.
Do you have fond memories of your car in the 70s? The 1970s certainly gave the auto industry more than a handful of classics. Despite an economic slowdown, inflation, and oil crisis, several of these cars from the 70s are still offered today, proving their resilience.
Each of these cars continues to have a devoted following. Perhaps more than any other car category, the 70s will always be remembered by muscle car fanatics, producing memorable icons, such as the Cuda, the Trans-Am, and the second-generation Mustang.
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