Are these 7 classics from the ’70s creeping out of reach?
The Hagerty Price Guide (HPG) is a treasure trove of data about classic cars of all shapes and sizes. It collects sales data from places others can’t, including peer-to-peer sales you will never see on an auction site or classified listing. Some of the most interesting trends are seen when pulling HPG’s pricing data for vehicles in #3 condition (Good), as they aren’t likely to be recipients of big-dollar restorations; rather, they are driver-quality cars that received plenty of TLC over the course of their lives.
Something amazing happens when you pull HPG’s data for cars from one of the most undesirable periods in automotive history. The 1970s started off with heady days of delight, turning into a Malaise Era of undesirable, secretive engineering that made cars safer, far less polluting, and laden with plastic. And yet, there’s some merriment in that malaise, because now they are old, rare, and collectible enough to command median transaction prices higher than $5000. Far higher. Just look at the vehicles HPG found for $5000 or less in #3 condition:
- 1970–75 Volvo 164: $4400
- 1971–75 Lancia 2000: $4400
- 1976–80 Volvo 264: $4800
- 1977–80 Volvo 265: $4900
- 1975–80 Buick Skyhawk: $5000
That’s it—that’s the whole list of 1970s cars in good condition you can find for under $5000. Keep in mind these are median price values, so you can indeed find 1970s cars in #3 condition for less, but you’re gonna find just as many that will be more. And every other car on our list had median values higher than $5000. Some were downright surprising, in a “those are how much?” kind of way. Here are seven such shockers that had us scratching our heads.
1977–80 Lincoln Versailles: $6900
Shocker number one from the 1970s used to be harvested for its precious, disc-brake–laden nine-inch Ford axle and then unceremoniously sent to the scrapper. Good luck making that happen again, as the Lincoln Versailles in #3 condition now has a median sales figure of $6900. Maybe you can still find one at a junkyard that hasn’t been touched, but at this point you might be better off with aftermarket parts on another Ford nine-incher.
Warts and all, people are clearly appreciating the Versailles’ refined NVH and acres of leather. Perhaps the connection to the Ford Granada is actually a selling point for would-be owners in 2023?
1974–78 AMC Matador: $8400
While still lagging behind AMC’s more famous Pacer (which is currently $500 more dear, at an $8900 median price), the Matador’s quirky interior and exterior styling has clearly come out of the shadows to turn into a cool cruiser in a sea of overdone classics and modern CUVs. Owning an AMC product may pose challenges in the current millennium, but it’s clear that rarity increases the value of something. Well, eventually. And this might be the moment the AMC faithful can celebrate!
1974–78 Ford Mustang II: $10,200
I’m glad to see the Mustang II is getting credit for being a great vehicle in the Malaise Era. Maybe even a great vehicle in general? That’s up for debate, but with a median price over $10,000 for Mustang IIs in #3 condition, it’s clear that surviving members of this breed of Pony Car have turned into an appreciating classic. They are certainly cheaper than first-generation Mustangs, but they clearly stomp on the 1974 Mercury Capri V-6’s median price of $8200.
As the ad above proves, the Mustang II made 1976 far less Malaise-y than it coulda been. But now its clear that 2023 is far less boring thanks to the esteemed Mustang from the time of bell bottom jeans, Erik Estrada, and fondue pots.
1974 Datsun 260Z: $15,950
The one-year-only production run of the Datsun 260Z doesn’t quite muster up the broader appeal of the 240Z before it, as its median value is roughly $12,000 lower than the original Z-car. Which only broadens the appeal of all S30-bodied Datsun sports cars, opening the market up to folks who are priced out of the 240Z. These days, all S30s are desirable, and you can have less guilt upgrading one (especially with brakes/powertrains/etc. from the later 280ZX) if it isn’t the original.
All S30s are fun, but there’s something to be said about having more bang for your buck in a 260Z with just a few modifications you’d regret doing to a “valuable” 240z.
1973–76 Chevrolet Caprice Classic: $18,800
The B-body family of GM products has been a favorite of full-size sedan fans for decades, and the last of the truly huge land yachts (before their 1977 downsizing) are commanding transaction prices on par with the smaller, sleeker, Caprices of the 1960s. For example, the 1968 Caprice Coupe is currently at $19,000 and its less desirable hardtop sedan brother rests at $13,000. The $18,800 valuation for all body styles of full-sized Caprice from the Malaise Era suggests all Caprices are equally desirable, no matter their power output or bumper size. And that’s a pretty good place to be, if you were one of the biggest cars from the mid 1970s.
1974–80 Plymouth Trail Duster: $19,800
Much like a Denali over a regular GMC, I always felt the Plymouth versions of 1970s Dodge trucks were cooler because of their trademark grille with bold lettering. But the Plymouth Trail Duster SUV never had the widespread name recognition of its Dodge Ramcharger brother, and I reckon more than a few were re-grilled to Dodge standards to ensure a wider audience.
That is still likely a good idea for dealers and flippers, as the Plymouth’s near-$20,000 median price is almost $4000 less than a 1974–80 Dodge Ramcharger in the same condition. And that’s a tragedy, as the Plymouth SUV should be the “grille of your dreams.”
1971–75 Pontiac Grand Ville: $22,150
Speaking of grilles, how can the Pontiac Grand Ville be worth more than $3000 over a sistership B-body Chevrolet Caprice of the same era? To be fair, this value is probably skewed by the early Grand Ville’s small bumpers, sleeker styling, and higher power/higher emissions powertrains available at the beginning. But when you’ve run out of GTOs and Firebirds to collect, why not get a full-size Pontiac with the style and underhood engineering so familiar to you?
Or perhaps Malaise Era B-bodies follow the trend of the smaller F-body of the 1970s, as the second-generation Firebird ($16,900) has a median value that is $200 higher than its Chevrolet Camaro ($16,700) counterpart. Because if Burt Reynolds made the Firebird a household name back then, Jackie Gleason’s association with Pontiac sedans certainly couldn’t hurt.
***
Check out the Hagerty Media homepage so you don’t miss a single story, or better yet, bookmark it. To get our best stories delivered right to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletters.
It is thought to find any good running car under $5000 no matter the decade.
Even more difficult is to find a car from the 70’s here in the mid west that is still safe to drive. Most rusted out and getting parts is difficult outside a Camaro, Firebird or Corvette.
Now that junk yards no longer keep cars too finding used parts are even more difficult.
I thought that the high turnover yards were only in urban areas…are you saying that more rural yards are scrapping older cars faster too?
In my area we have many Rural yards and they are all becoming dismantlers.
I used to be able to go to yards with cars from the wood spoke era to the Firedome Hemi and up to 65 GTO parts on hand.
All those years lasted till the 90’s and now they are all slowly going away. EPA rules are killing them.
It is getting to where if you want parts you need to find one parked in some drive or yard and make an offer.
The yards I do have now are mostly new cars and turn over is fast. Pick a Part is about the only real yard you can go into yet.
The lack of repo parts on these cars make it damn near impossible to restore and the 80’s cars will soon follow.
I always loved going to places like Crestline Moyers auto wrecking and spending the day getting parts. It was one of the largest and today is is next to nothing. It is in the middle of no where west of Mansfield Ohio.
I just discovered an odd yards near me. It is in the country on an old Dairy farm. They created the junk yard on the farm in the late 40’s. They had to clean out the yard.
To remain competitive they are now dismantling high end cars. They only do Corvettes, Bentley, Rolls, Ferrari. Aston, McLaren, etc.
I always wondered where these cars went and I found them about 5 miles away in the middle of no where Ohio.
The Traditional junk yard is becoming an endanger species. If you have one near by get what you need now.
Disappointed but not terribly surprised to hear this is the case. Thanks for sharing.
I grew up making weekly visits to Crestline getting parts for the old GTO and Firebirds we used to run the heck out of. Seemed we went through a Motor a month. Those were the days my friend.
Girlfriend now Wife lived in Crestline. Got some parts for my 77 TransAm there. Still have the wife and TransAm, but sadly the junkyards in Crestline aren’t what they used to be.
Used to make an excuse to go to an old junkyard for a part I didn’t need just to walk the “museum” of auto history..
The mustang with its 130 HP V8…..
It’s all in the rating system. That net rated 130hp 302 is essentially the same as the old gross rated 200 horse 289/302 from the late 60’s. A v8 Mustang II was really a pretty quick car in its time, relatively speaking.
I owned a ’76 Mustang II with a V-6. It was heavy, ugly, uncomfortable, underpowered, unreliable… but Ford sold a bunch of them because most other choices then were even worse.
Absolute junk!!!
Which was no different than the 165 hp corvette but everyone pics on the MII…I gues thats why I own a 78 Mach 1 and a 78 Cobra II..
Beautiful light weight cars and with a few bucks worth of work /add ons they are very fast…
It was the era of government mandates and pollution garbage…
All manufacturers had no HP..
Pick on somethong else..
At least The MII kept Mustang from ending a being a part of history…
“LOOK” what we have today that we “WOULD NOT” have if not for the blasphemed “MII”…
REALLY???
“JUST GROW UP AND LET IT GO DUDE”
If it’s ok, could you send me a couple photos of each. Please.
Thank you!
I have fond memories of ridding around in a coworkers cobra. It came factory with thick front and rear anti sway bars and a posi in the rear.
He would power brake it and had tire smoke billowing off and it would fill the inside and you could not see out. He would then release the brakes and the cobra would take off leaving long black streaks.
prahdb@gmail.com
Thank you for letting me share.
prahdb@gmail.com
In North Dakota (I’m in Fargo) you have to really search for a yard that’s not “recycling” by crushing. Sad, as there’s a lot of good iron up here.
I bought a 78 Magnum with T tops a few years ago as a realitively inexpensive unusual but very comfortable to drive cruiser, and love it.
But the parts situation for it makes me nervous. I can buy just about anything for my 70 Challengers. Other than driveline, suspension and brakes, there’s next to nothing available for the Magnum.
A minor traffic accident might result in it being totalled!
That is a valid concern! If you haven’t already I would join a Facebook group for your car, as there are people who hoard parts and are legit (as opposed to the scammers who steal photos and pretend to have parts.)
Sajeev, you should have a ’04-’06 Holden made Pontiac GTO. All the parts outside of the LS motor and Tremec manual are sourced from Australia, yards have already sold any potential wrecked one they might acquire.
My headlight buckets are $600 a pop, windshield $1200, door handles $600 each- if you can find them.
You often can’t.
TRUE…But most of the parts sellers in these groups are there to get rich..Redicolous prices because they know u cant get it elsewhere…
Our Country has become one of HOW MUCH MONEY CAN I MAKE OFF YOU instead of can I help a brother out like it used to be…
THATS SO DAM SAD TOO
You are not wrong, I guess I am lucky because I have had them drop prices over time and I ask them if they will do just that in the future. Because the future always comes, and the parts are (almost) always still for sale.
I have similar parts issues with my ’76 Gremlin. Luckily I am able to cross reference to find parts as engine parts are available because of the Jeep guys, steering because its GM, carb and electronics because they are Ford and trans is Mopar. Body and interior are simply not available. Love that you saved a Magnum, my first car was a ’79 with a 318 and factory 8-track.
AS FOR INTERIOR MATERIELS. TRY CALLING SMS FABRICS IN CANBY OREGON. THEY ADVERTISE IN HEMMINGS PUBLICATIONS. THEY ARE SLOW TO RESPOND BUT SO FAR, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THE PATTERNS i HAVE NEEDED.
Slow isn’t the word for it. I’ve been waiting on a set of door panels since June of 2020. Beware!
Gary
If you’re not already a member, I would encourage you to join theamcforum.com. Wonderful folks over there, lots of AMC parts and links to parts. I’ve bought scads of parts for my 68 Javelin from the fellas there.
I bought a 1977 Buick Electra in 1993 for a daily runner. It was a nice car so I kept it. I still have it 30 years later and it has been a great old car. As for parts, I joined the Buick Club of America and some of the rarest parts have been obtained from BCA adds in the monthly magazine. And subscribing to Hemmings Motor News is essential!! The internet helps a lot now days, and a parts stash of rare things you might need is a wise investment, especially trim parts. Salvage yards seem to crush these 70s cars almost immediately because of the steel content. I have been told there’s enough metal in the Electra for a whole mornings production of Toy yodas.
I drive a 1978 LTD Landau regularly and just love it…..I love the Electras as you say and makes life so much more fun 🙂
I owned a ’79 Magnum. A great car. I got out of a job and sold it. That is one of two cars that I wish I had not sold. It was a wonderful car!
The “grille if your dreams” is now my pun-of-the-week and will continue to be my favorite until Sajeev comes up with his next one. Eggsellent!
maybe that should have been “grille of your dreams”. Not sure what “grille if our dreams” means.
You are correct, sir!
U mean “grille if your dreams” as he wrote?
Im lost on that one too…
Well that’s embarrassing! Fixed, thanks for the correction.
Ooh this is complex. The internet has brought us so much…including the notion that everything could be a classic to someone and subsequent price growth. With the exception of the Z and the Trailduster, I can’t see paying anywhere near these prices for these cars.
Wholly concur , and add the proliferation “You Too can Fixer Upper and Flip It!” “restoration” programmes have also added to the notion every hull under a leaf pile on the back 40 is a gold mine.
Thanks to the “Donkers” those Caprices are out of touch too! I’ve seen “parts cars” with very little parts left on them go for over $5k! They’ve gotten harder to find in good driver condition than all the rest on this list, and the prices are climbing faster than groceries! If Brad S thinks parts are hard to find for his Magnum he should be glad he’s not looking for parts for the 79 Chrysler 300 LOL!
Agree in principle.
But in the late 90’s I found a very low mile Isetta- an interesting but functionally useless car- in the basement of a house, for $1500. And a few years ago some guy paid me $75k for it.
So who really knows?
I came here to say the same. Most of those cars were absolute schleps, chief being the Mustang II. The only decent thing to come from the Mustang was the steering rack that ended up in hot rods everywhere.
Another person who thinks they know everything about a car that Im pretty sure they have never owned or they wouldnt be spitten out that bs..Stop reading and repeating all the false information out there and actually learn something.. The second best selling Mustang ever only surpassed by the 64/65’s ..I guess thats why they are junk? They saved the Mustang from extinction..With out the MII Mustang was done…Give respect to the “SAVIOR” / “KING” The “MII”
For the most body trim, interior, and body parts are the real problem today. Mechanical was shared so much it is easy to find.
My Neighbor had a low mile GP and the real bumper was gone. They are impossible to find for a mid 70’s. car. They were rust pone and just were gone and if you find a good one the chrome is junk and the new chrome is not good.
Like the Mustang 2 Cobra shown here. They just are in a hands of a few collectors and you seldom even see a non Mustang in a junk yard. They all wore out of rusted out.
These cars today are best found in the back yard junk yards some have created on their own properties away from the road. Only google earth knows.
None of these interest me besides the Z. The Trail Duster is kind of interesting also.
Hi Gary, made me smile when I saw your name! I hope you and Libby are happy , healthy 🙏🏼 Sue
My Dad bought a fully loaded, 454 Caprice new in ‘75. The small town dealer who sold it told him other than Corvettes, it was the most expensive car they’d ever sold, around $6500 if I remember right.
When it got really cold, below 10* or so, it was very temperamental to start. Was very easy to flood I recall, if you didn’t follow a certain procedure, and as a newly minted teen driver, I can still hear hear my Dads angry voice on the phone when I’d call him to say I couldn’t get it started and ran the battery down.
Most of those cars should be buried in unmaked graves….
Poorly adjusted smog Quadrajets.
Tuned properly they fire right up
I had a ’72 400 Impala convertible in brown metallic, brown interior, white top. It was trouble free for 285xxx miles, save for the top I replaced twice.
I have a 78 Grand Prix that is still running. I just got a couple re chromed bumpers and had it repainted back to original factory color, gold with gold firebird wheels. Lots of folks keep asking me if I want to sell it, but it was my moms so I say no. Wonder why I never see any mentioned on here? So many people want me to sell mine. It was a special edition from the Atlanta Pontiac plant. My sister got one of 6 different 50th anniversary cars they sold off in a lottery for the workers. She got one for our mom.
My old man owned a used car lot from 1960-1985. I am stuck in the day when a like new 66 Charger cost me $500. I recently saw an auction near me where a 71 Superbird sold for $190K. To each their own, but, though I love classic cars, I simply can’t wrap my head around what people are willing to pay for a car they’ll rarely, if ever, drive.
The Mustang II was junk. I know; I drove one. There a reason you never see them at car shows. Nobody wants one.
I agree. The Mustang II was a piece of junk. My Dad owned a 1974, powered by a 4 cylinder and my wife owned a 1975 Ghia powered by a V-6. Both required major repairs. If I listed everything that failed on those cars within 60K miles it would be very long.
The ONLY new car we ever bought was a ’78 Mustang II Fastback, with the 4 Cylinder and 4-Speed. It was a gorgeous dark green with white interior and we loved it. The only problem I had was the EGR Valve which caused a rough idle. It had a nice, tight body and was pretty comfortable. I was disappointed in the fuel mileage but really enjoyed it, otherwise.
We inherited my brother-in-law’s ’78 Mach I with the V6 and 4-Speed. He wasn’t one who cared for his cars too well. At one point in 1990 I pulled the Heads, wondering how bad the inside would look. That V6 had 290K miles on it and there was no ridge to speak of, in the cylinders. It was sporty enough for us and just as good on gas as the 4-Cylinder.
I won’t generalize, as some tend to do, so I can’t say that ALL Mustang II’s were great cars, but I will say that they had better build quality than the ’65 and ’66 Mustangs we owned. Yes, they did keep that Mustang name going through some ‘difficult’ years, and were far better looking to me, than the Fox-bodied years that followed… nothing resembled the original Mustang, where they were concerned… except the name.
At 17 I bought a brand new 1977 Mustang II, a 4 banger, 4 speed, $3909 sticker and $77/mo payments. What a crappy car that turned out to be and to this day is the only new car I have ever purchased! I still think it is not a bad looking car, certainly better than a Mach E! Anyway after about six months I was in a 1972 Ranchero 351C for $1500 and much happier.
I like them. Lol
Roommate bought a ’77 Mustang II new. Paint was peeling off in 6 months. POS.
I agree, my daughter’s 1st car was a 2-year-old Mustang II. It seems like I was working on it or it was in the shop once a month. The interior was poor quality – didn’t hold up. Sold it after a year, at a loss.
Your opinion…
Which by the way is so dead wrong..Just because u bought a junk one brother dont make them all bad..
I own 2 of them a 1978 Mach 1 and a 78 Cobra II…Second best selling Mustang ever…Yeah every one bought junk…Great cars that also saved the Mustang..
Without the MII Mustang was done…
“HAIL TO THE SAVIOR/ KING”
“THE MII”
Even 90’s era vehicles now are tough to find parts for. I sold off my collection during covid, and kept my low mileage 94 F150 short bed . Some mechanical and body parts can still be bought but anything dash related is near impossible to find new. I bought a rusted non runner last year and stripped it of everything I could get off by regular tools, then got more than I paid for it at the local scrap yard for what was left. I have a shed full of parts, including the complete dash with steering column and wheel. I plan to pass this truck onto my son eventually and can only imagine how hard it will be to find parts in the future. I had a 76 Mustang ll about 15 years ago, it was a fun car to drive, and turned heads as there was none around my area. I didn’t have alot of trouble finding parts, but it would be a real chore now I bet.
Tell me about it. I’ve got a 2001 Ford Lightning. While LMR has filled in the gaps, there’s many parts that are Lightning specific unfortunately, especially interior door bits and trim. I’d love a new leather steering wheel. Looks basically the same as a SN95 one but it’s different. Those are cheap to buy from LMR I haven’t found a new one for a Lightning that didn’t cost almost a grand. Better off just getting the original wheel redone for about $500.
I guess they can be called “classics” due to their age, but I remember most of that list as being fairly crap-tastic when new, and generally getting used up as family cars and then beaters. Prices are likely more about rarity now than desirability, and as the saying goes, a rising tide lifts all boats.
Who are these individuals paying obscene money for these less than desirable cars?? I can’t even get 2500 for an 06 GMC pickup that has an electrical issue!
Either they have a ton of disposable income that they want to spend instead of letting inflation and the government get it or they are nuts!
I owned a trailduster and liked it a bunch. Unfortunately it was destroyed by rot and the electrical gremlins were the mail in the coffin. But to pay $16K for one? That’s more oil an insane Bronco price.
“the mail in the coffin”, “the grille if your dreams”. I hope those are both typos and not really how you guys talk. Both were good for a chuckle though and I love everyone’s comments here. Great article and great discussion.
I still haven’t figured out who swapped my “i” and “o” keys for that split second and then back again, let alone how they did it.
Autocorrect is often the culprit. I don’t treat the comments section like a resume cover letter. Geez, folks should be able to see what was meant.
I don’t know about $18,000 and $19,000, but I am glad to see some full-size cars of the 1970’s getting some attention. Usually, only demolition derby drivers seek out these cars. Nice to see them preserved for a change. These were the last “real” cars IMO, before rampant downsizing made everything the size of a Honda Accord. The emissions restrictions were unfortunate, but even the large post 1973 bumpers managed to look good on most full-size cars, unlike on a Maverick for example. This would be the last time cars would be truly full-size. What passes for full-size now (and there aren’t many left) would have been considered compact in the 1970’s. Pre-war luxury cars cost way more new, and are worth way more now than entry level models of the same era, so it never made sense to me that the top-of-the-line full-size cars of the 1970’s are worth way less than muscle and economy cars of the same era now, when they cost so much more when new. Plus, you can still buy new muscle cars and economy now that perform better than the antique ones. There is nothing like a new Pontiac Grandville or Buick Electra 225 now, and that is a shame. Eventually it seems like all you will be able to buy new in the future is gray 4 door electric SUV’s, unlike the 1970’s when there were actual size differences, 26 color options with matching or contrasting interiors, and an option of 2 and 4 door hardtops and sedans, convertibles, and station wagons all for the same model.
The 76 Mustang II we bought for $500 as a daily driver took a licking and kept on ticking for several years. I called it a Pinto in disguise:-)
That is because they were built on the Pinto “chassis” platform
Here goes another one repeating mis/false information that was published untruthfully..Yes there are parts that are interchangeable but no more than with any other Ford product..
Yes it was supposed to be built on the Pinto platform but nothing would work so the MII ended up with its on platform..Thats why so many parts are so hard to get..They only fit the MII and Pinto parts wont work…
Please do some research before repeating false information…
But hey the Pintos make great
drag / muscle cars with the right parts too…
Funny you mention it! I came to Amherikaa in 1984 and a work buddy sold me one for $800 – paid in two instalments! Looking back, I think he knew that I was naïve or he was glad to dump his sheets…
I had a lot of trips to Boston and New York from Hartford CT – with tha girls too ( I thought Mustang was James Bond shtyle )
For some time a neighbor parked a Pinto near me- which almost never ran! When I saw the Pinto’s condition, I lost all my pride in my SHTAANG though… AND I almost got killed a couple of times in the snow… Mine ran for 2-3 years after about $1200 in repairs. Finally a unfixable valve issue junked it- moved up to a used Olds Omega… Still fond memories of my first car in USA…. It may be worth restoring one with a newer -late 80’s honda/toyota or small block chevy drive-train swap??