20 undervalued classics from the 1970s

Cracking cars that should really be more expensive

As the saying goes, there are only three certain things in life: death, taxes and classic car values continuing to rise.

We can’t do much about the first two, but as far as the third one goes, we can at least point you in the direction of models that we reckon remain undervalued.

So to that end we’ve selected 20 classics from the 1970s to cover every budget, from a couple of grand right up to more than £100k. Happy hunting. 

1. Lotus Elan +2

Target price: £7000-27,000

Longer and heavier than the standard model, the +2 gives you more Elan, and maybe slightly less Lotus, as a result.

But let’s get’s some perspective: it shares the same backbone chassis concept as its smaller sibling and much of the running gear and handles beautifully, while also being more useable and, often, as much as half the price.

2. Jensen-Healey

Target price: £5000-15,000

Styling that could be described as ‘challenging’ (in the sense that a 50,000-piece jigsaw of the North Pole is challenging) and reports of unreliability (much of it from the alloy Lotus 907 engine) hurt the J-H’s chances of success when new.

Today, with the niggles long-since fixed, they seem strangely cheap given the performance (0-60mph in just 7.8sec) and backstory on offer. Even the best of them are sub-£15k.

3. BMW E3 3.0Si

Target price: £10,000-25,000

While prices for BMW’s classic E9 coupé have gone interstellar, its four-door brother remains a relative bargain.

The humble 2500 and 2800 handle well but the 3.0Si is a monster. Capable of reaching 60mph in just over 7 secs from its 200bhp-injected ‘six’, it’s a CSi in civvies and the lairiest limo this side of a Benz 450SEL 6.9. 

4. Fiat Dino coupé

Target price: £25,000-70,000

Not the bargain it once was, but look at the positives and you’d have to say prices have further to go.

Here’s a stunning Bertone-designed coupé, powered by a Ferrari engine and (in the case of the 2.4 version) even built by Ferrari at Maranello. And they’re half the price of their Spider siblings.

Still too expensive? Try Fiat’s other criminally underrated ’70s coupé, the 130, for just £12k. 

5. AC 3000ME

Target price: £11-26,000

Why are the few 3000s still around worth so much less than a contemporary Lotus Esprit?

There’s the styling, for a start, which is like a Hollywood film set: looks great from the front, but walking round the back shatters the illusion. And even Autocar’s diplomatic ’70s road testers voiced concern about the wayward handling.

However, with rarity and the right badge in its favour, we still can’t help but feel that the 3000ME deserves more love – particularly if you can find a good one towards the lower end of our price scale.

6. Mazda RX-7

Target price: £2000-7500

Light, lithe and cheaper than Ford’s less-technologically-advanced Capri, the first-generation RX-7 impresses as much with its chassis balance as with the smoothness of its little 12A rotary engine.

Rotary horror stories scare many buyers away, but rebuild costs aren’t as bad as you think and there are plenty of specialists. 

7. Porsche 928

Target Price: £10,000-28,000

Rising 928 prices now more accurately reflect this grand tourer’s importance, innovation and ability, but it’s still dirt cheap by classic Porsche standards.

Manual-equipped versions of the 4.5-litre V8 are rare, rot is not unknown, despite the use of galvanising and some aluminium panels, and you need the reassurance of a thick wodge of servicing receipts. 

8. Volkswagen Scirocco Mk1

Target price: £3000-10,000

The first Golf GTI is feted as the godfather of the hot hatch but its Scirocco sister, offering the same mechanics in a much slinkier set of Giugiaro clothes, seems underappreciated outside of the VW club scene.

Of the ’70s cars only the GLi and Storm got the hot Golf’s 110bhp 1.6, but the earlier, prettier, slower metal-bumper cars are worth the most. 

9. BMW E21 323i

Target price: £2500-12,000

As quick as a 2002tii but costing a fraction of the price, the hottest E21 3-series features BMW’s smooth, all-alloy 140bhp M20 straight six and ‘lively’ rear-drive handling that will definitely keep you on your toes.

Rust and wet roundabouts have claimed many, but it’s worth seeking out as an upscale alternative to a pricey Fast Ford.

10. Ferrari 400

Target price: £25,000-70,000

Maranello’s mid-’70s, three-box four-seaters are never going to feature in any list of the most desirable Ferraris. But with a classic Colombo V12 tucked under Pininfarina tin that looks more elegant by the day, the last of the carb-fed cars seem conspicuously affordable next to any other classic Ferrari.

11. Triumph Stag

Target price: £7000-25,000

More famous for its troublesome Triumph V8 than its appearance as Bond’s wheels in Diamonds are Forever, the handsome Stag is finding its feet in the classic market.

Any overheating woes should have long been sorted (and later cars were better anyway) but listen for a rattly timing chain. If it snaps, you’ll wish it had merely boiled over. 

12. Lancia Fulvia Coupé

Target price: £10,000-17,000

The impossibly elegant Lancia Coupé looks like a steal compared to its 1300 Junior opposite number from Alfa Romeo; you could pay £12k for a lovely Lancia and double that for the Alfa 105.

Why the difference? The 105 basks in the halo of the GTV and GTA, but the Lancia’s quirky V4 and tidy front-wheel drive handling make it clear why values are rising. 

13. Alfa Romeo Spider S2 Kamm tail

Target price: £10-25,000

We’re not doubting the early Duetto boat-tail’s position as prettiest of the set, but does the S2’s slash-cut rear bodywork really justify a price of less than half as much?

Yes, the S2 also brings other changes, such as a less sporty windscreen angle, but it also ushered in a strong 132bhp 2000 twin-cam. Just make a mental note to always reverse into your garage and you’ll forget all about the back end. 

14. Maserati Indy

Target price: £40,000-90,000

We were going to bring up Maserati’s stunning Ghibli and get all indignant that it’s even rarer than a Ferrari ‘Daytona’, yet costs half as much. But there’s an even bigger Maser bargain: the Ghibli’s bigger brother.

The Indy looks almost as good, offers genuine 160mph performance and thanks to proper rear seats and a huge boot, makes a much better GT. And it’s £100k cheaper. 

15. Opel Monza

Target price: £3000-12,000

A big German four-seat coupé with independent rear suspension and a grunty overhead-cam straight-six, the Monza’s spec closely echoes that of a BMW E24 6-series, don’t you think?

Prices, however, are significantly lower for the Opel – and they’re lower again for the stuffier Vauxhall Royale equivalent. The best fit for our ’70s timeframe is a 3.0E: the sexier GSE with its digital dash didn’t appear until ’83.

16. Porsche 924

Target price: £3000-12,000

When Volkswagen bailed from a sports car joint project to concentrate on the Golf-based Scirocco, Porsche picked it up to replace its own 914.

Turbos aside, they’re not quick, but 924s are nicely balanced thanks to the rear transaxle layout, surprisingly practical, and cheap to buy and fix. Among used Porsches, only a Boxster could cost you less – until it goes wrong. 

17. Jaguar XJS

Target price: £5000-18,000

Never mind that by the end of its life the by-then 14-year old E-type looked and felt crustier than a week-old baguette, the XJS was always going to struggle to live up to it in the public’s eyes.

But four decades later, it’s finally getting there, finding its own voice, its own fan base, and growing in value as a result. Very rare manuals are already prized, but autos are better value.

18. Bentley T1

Target price: £9000-20,000

The rehabilitation has been slow, but the T-series/Rolls Silver Shadow twins have almost shaken off the married-at-the-Marriot budget wedding car image.

These were important cars in their day, the first Rolls and Bentleys to use unit construction and featuring Citroën hydraulics.

Bentleys are classier and less numerous. T2s are better to drive thanks to rack and pinion steering, but T1s with their small bumpers look smarter. 

19. Citroën CX

Target price: £3000-12,000

Looking at the lowly values for the CX and the little GS it shared showroom space with, there’s nothing to signal these were the last true Citroëns, nor exactly how far ahead of the competition they were.

As slippery to find as they are through the air, good, rust-free CXs make effortless grand tourers, and a tempting choice for fans priced out of a DS.

20. Talbot Sunbeam Ti

Target price: £3000-12,000

The little brother to the Sunbeam Lotus rally giant is a rare spot in the classifieds, and many of those still around have themselves been converted for competition use.

But it’s worth persevering: the slurp of twin carbs from an Avenger Tiger motor that sends its power to the rear wheels, not the fronts, gives a very different feel to the more obvious Golf GTI – and for a fraction of the price of the Lotus.