The 1970s delivered an eclectic mix of cars that shaped automotive culture for decades. As emissions regulations and fuel economy needs influenced designs, automakers got creative with power and performance. These 13 cool machines defined the 1970s driving era through standout styling, uniqueness or impressive achievements. Their spirit lives on today.
1970 Dodge Challenger R/T
The aggressive Coke bottle styling, big block power, and iconic four headlight face made the 1970 Challenger an instant collectible. Available in hard hitting Hemi and 440 Six Pack flavors, this Mopar muscle icon starred in Vanishing Point and still turns heads today. The 1970 Challenger stands as Dodge’s styling triumph.
1971 Plymouth ‘Cuda
No other American muscle car could touch the mighty Plymouth Barracuda, especially in range-topping ‘Cuda hardtop coupe form. Stuffed full of V8 power and donning some of the era’s most eye-catching colors/graphics packages as well as a rumbling Shaker hood, the last true year for the ‘Cuda made it a legend before stricter 1972 emissions killed the muscle car party.
1972 BMW 3.0 CSL
BMW’s first true M car, the 3.0 CSL “Batmobile” set the mold for the M division’s trajectory. Futuristic looks, perfect 50/50 weight distribution, and a race-bred inline six packing 170 hp combined with agile RWD handling dynamics made the lightweight 3.0 CSL an instant collectible sports coupe. Its racing prowess and styling cues resonate in BMW design language today.
1973 Buick Riviera
As GM’s personal luxury flagships grew more exaggerated in the quest for style and spacious interiors during the 1970s, few captured the era’s flamboyance like Buick’s ‘73 Riviera. Its oversized, flowing “boat tail” rear window announced its indulgent purpose while a 455 V8 disguised any performance intentions. The Riviera’s dramatic profile made quite the entrance.
1974 Countach LP400
When it debuted in 1974, the otherworldly Lamborghini Countach shattered perceptions of what exotic supercars could look like. Its cab-forward wedge shape, scissor doors, exposed gear linkage and raw V12 power defined outlandish wedge era styling. The Countach regularly tops lists of most iconic poster cars from the decade for good reason – few make such a provocative automotive art statement.
1976 Porsche 930 Turbo
The legendary 911 Turbo combined Porsche’s refined rear engine sports car with turbocharger boost to reach supercar levels of straight line performance – a shocking recipe at the time. Beyond just keeping up with exotics in the late 1970s, the 930 Turbo introduced everyday drivers to accessible turbo power years before it went mainstream. Its iconic whale tail spoiler endures.
1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
Between its screaming chicken hood decal, gold accented styling touches, quartz halogen headlights and Smokey & The Bandit stardom, the late 1970s Firebird Trans Am grew into a pop culture phenomenon. Young buyers flocked to its standard-setting handling thanks to engineering contributions by Pontiac’s brilliant John DeLorean. Factory 400 and 403 V8s infused needed muscle into the second gen “Bandit” F-bodies to compliment their flashy looks, securing an enduring legacy.
1978 Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9
The mighty 6.9 sedan stood atop Mercedes legendary engineering prowess by shoehorning a massive 275 hp V8 into their big body flagship, yielding otherworldly smooth performance like nothing else at the time. Combined with innovative hydropneumatic suspension, few cars introduced luxury car buyers to such potent power delivery while ensconcing them in leather and wood trimmed comfort. The 450SEL 6.9 became the pinnacle display of vintage Mercedes overengineering.
1979 VAZ Lada
The Soviets managed to copy Italy’s Fiat 124 into their own affordable Lada compact models. Produced in Russia for decades with few changes, the no frills Lada offered buyers on a strict budget basic four wheeled transportation at state subsidized prices. Though painfully obsolete now, the reliable Lada provided Eastern Bloc motorists their sole avenue to car ownership through the Cold War despite primitive comfort and dubious safety by modern standards.
1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454
At the dawn of the 1970s, Chevy’s range-topping muscle car could be had with the legendary LS6 454 V8, making a very conservative 450 hp/500 lb-ft of torque. The mighty Super Sport Chevelles obliterated the quarter mile in just over 13 seconds fully equipped while annihilating tires with their mountain of torque. The 1970 SS 454 stands as peak performance for Chevy’s A-body icon.
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Justin Deagle
Justin Deagle has over 7 years of professional editorial experience writing and editing for both print and digital publications. He has covered a wide range of topics but is most passionate about sports, entertainment, and men's lifestyle subjects. Justin joined the team in 2023 and is excited to provide our male readership with engaging content on the topics they care about most. When he's not researching and writing, Justin enjoys traveling, golfing, and seeking out new adventures.
