Rarest Cars From the 1970s

Although the 1970s was a tumultuous time in the auto industry, some of the rarest cars from the 1970s are cars that many enthusiasts would love to drive.

Amidst increased legislation, the gas crisis, and a calming of the industry emerged several amazing cars that anyone would be proud to have in their garage. Only the auto industry could have withstood so much change in the market to give us cars that continue to be desirable nearly 50 years later. With that in mind, let’s look at some of the rarest cars from the 1970s that we would still love to drive and enjoy today.

Lancia Stratos

Although Lancia wasn’t a name with a strong history in the United States, the automaker dates back to 1906. The Stratos was an incredibly well-styled, high-performance car that won the WRC trophy three years running in the 1970s. This car enjoyed power from a Ferrari Dino 246GT engine, giving it the perfect balance on any road or track. The Lancia Stratos might be one of the most attractive classic cars you’ll ever see, making it a great choice among the rare cars of the era.

Maserati Bora

The Maserati Bora was one of the few mid-engine cars offered in the 1970s, making it one of the rarest cars from the decade. This alluring sports car was originally powered by a 4.7-liter V8 engine that delivered 310 horsepower. The engine grew to 4.9 liters in 1973, and this became the standard engine for this rare sports car. Only 564 models of the Bora were made, with production ending in 1978 to give us a small taste of one of the most interesting cars of the decade.

Lamborghini Countach

There’s no denying the Countach’s place in automotive history. This car is still one of the most sought-after supercars in the world. The sharp wedge design, low profile, and incredible power made this Lamborghini one of the most impressive cars of the time. The Countach enjoyed time with a 4.0-liter V12 engine behind the driver pumping out 370 horsepower. The Lamborghini Countach almost didn’t make it to production, but eventually, it became one of the most common cars on posters in bedrooms in the 1970s and 1980s.

Pontiac Trans Am

The Trans Am of the 1970s was the precursor to the Firebird, giving us a fantastic muscle car that carried on the Pontiac legacy from the 1950s and 1960s. You might not think of the Pontiac Trans Am as one of the rarest cars from the 1970s, but it certainly is. This car used a turbocharged V8 engine and gained popularity in 1977 when Smokey and the Bandit hit movie theaters. After that, GM couldn’t build these cars fast enough.

Datsun 240Z

The Datsun 240Z filled a serious need in the United States. This car uses a small 2.4-liter straight six-cylinder engine to offer 113 horsepower and plenty of quickness. The small size of the Datsun 240Z was perfect as a sports car during the gas crisis of the decade. This was the original Z car, and it continues to be one of the most incredibly rare and collected cars in the world. For more than 50 years, Nissan Z cars have given us the sporty and fun feeling we want on the road.

AMC Pacer

AMC brought us the Pacer, which was made from 1975 to 1980. This wasn’t one of the most attractive cars from the decade, but it is one of the rarest cars from the 1970s, giving us something cool and fun to collect. The outward lack of beauty didn’t keep AMC from offering a great feeling in the cabin. Although rare today, when it came to the market in 1975, AMC sold almost 70,000 models of the Pacer.

Ferrari 512 BB

The Ferrari 512 BB (Berlinetta Boxer) replaced the venerable 365 GTB, also known as the Daytona. The 512 BB used a powerful 5.0-liter 12-cylinder boxer engine to offer a lower center of gravity which was good enough to hit 175 mph. This car also offered a sprint time of 5.4 seconds to hit 60 mph, making it a quick car off the line as well. The sleek lines and Ferrari name make this one of the most attractive cars that some still enjoy in their collections today.

These are seven of the rarest cars from the 1970s, offering us some impressive power, performance, style, and speed. Will one of these rare cars make its way into your garage?