20 brilliant buys from the '70s

The 1970s brought us some fabulous cars – many of them now undisputed classics commanding huge fees on the used car market. However, a whole other tranche of '70s motors are now nudging towards classic status, yet still relatively affordable. Here are a few of our favourite buys from the decade. We think that any of these would now make a smart purchase – and would need protecting with some classic motor insurance.

1. AC 3000ME
   The British motoring company AC are probably best known for the Cobra, their legendarily agile aluminium roadster from the '60s. A few years later, though, they were back at the drawing board. AC's new design was the 3000ME, a dashing little mid-engine two-seater that gave the Fiat X1/9 and Triumph TR7 a run for their money in the angular pocket-rocket stakes.

It is, to our eyes, a nice-looking car – especially that low, muscular front end. The handling could be a little erratic, but the 3000ME is now a head-turning rare little sports car wearing (thanks to the Cobra) a very prestigious badge. You won't find all that many on the used market (only 106 were made) but any you do track down will be well looked after, will have some serious kerb appeal, and should be yours for something under £30,000.

2. Mazda RX-7
   Yes, the great RX-7 dynasty began at the tail end of the 1970s, with the first generation of the rotary-engine coupé hitting showrooms in 1978. Think of it now as an alternative to that more ubiquitous late '70/early '80s coupé, the Ford Capri. The funny thing here is that, although rarer, a Mk1 RX-7 might be yours for less than its Ford rival.

That's largely because the complex rotary engine wasn't without its problems and will put many buyers off today. However, don’t be deterred: an engine rebuild won't be as prohibitive as you might fear. There are plenty of specialists out there, and there's a thriving RX-7 forum (serving all generations of the car) where you'll be able to go with all your restoration queries.

3. Porsche 928
   We're including the 928 not because it's particularly cheap as a used buy – although, at anything from £10,000 to £30,000, they're hardly astronomical.

No, the 928 is here for two reasons: one, because if you crave a Porsche but don't have six-figure sums to spare, this is arguably the one to go for. The second reason is that the 928 is just such an interesting, capable, and captivating-looking car.

It's a genuine grand tourer in the sleek, smooth body of a coupé. Prices are now rising, but the 928 remains that rare thing, a genuinely affordable classic Porsche. Make sure you see a full set of servicing receipts to confirm that the vehicle has been properly looked after, and you could have a wonderful slice of 1970s futurism on your hands.

4. VW Scirocco Mk1
   The first generation of VW's Scirocco coupé got the same mechanicals as the first Golf GTI, but (ironically, in a way, as it's the sportier looking of the two cars) never gained the fame of its more straight-laced sibling.

That's surprising, as the first Scirocco is a very attractive car. Design input from no less a figure than Giorgetto Giugiaro (he of the Maserati Ghibli, Iso Grifo and one of our favourite classics, the Lotus Esprit) saw to that.

Its relatively small impact next to the sporty Golf means that Mk1 Sciroccos will be a little harder to find. However, that lesser status may also result in lower prices asked for the 'Roc' on the used market. Choose between the GLi and Storm editions, which shared the Golf GTI's cooking 1.6-litre engine, or the early models – less powerful but, with their metal bumpers, arguably even prettier.

5. Triumph Stag
   Like the Mazda RX-7 above, the long, low, and handsome Stag has had its reputation somewhat compromised by reliability concerns. In this case, it's the bespoke, 3-litre Triumph V8 engine, and its propensity to overheat, that causes would-be owners concerns.

However, this particular problem only really affected earlier Stags – and, what's more, even those cars that did suffer here should have been sorted out by now. So don't let engine worries get between you and your dream Stag.

Like the Scirocco, the Stag has some Italian style dialled into its designs. In this case, the designer was Giovanni Michelotti, the man behind the BMW 2002, Lancia Flavia and various stunning 1960s Ferraris. Some 26,000 Stags were built, and the car has a relatively high survival rate – so you shouldn't have too much trouble finding a good one on the used market.

When you've landed the perfect Stag, why not join the Stag Owners Club, where you'll be able to quiz fellow owners on all kinds of restoration and maintenance matters – and maybe even get yourself a club discount on your classic auto insurance?

6. Alfa Romeo Spider Series 2
   Alfa Romeo's drop-top has been through several elegant iterations since launching in 1966. Of these, the 1966, 'boat tail' first generation is the most prized on the used market.
   However, we'd steer canny buyers towards its successor. With the Series 2, you still get that inimitable Pininfarina styling (this time with an oh-so-70s 'kammback' rear end), plus some impressive performance from the twin-cam engine. You can also, this being Alfa, take some entertaining handling for granted.

This is a 1970s Alfa, so beware of rust – which afflicted the car almost as much as it did, more famously, its Alfasud contemporary. We would recommend some specialist classic car insurance to help you with the restoration and maintenance costs that may well be waiting around the corner.

7. Lancia Fulvia Coupé
   Staying with wonderfully elegant Italian cars from the era, may we interest you in the Lancia Fulvia Coupé? This was one of those neat, small coupés that the Italians were doing such a marvellous job of at the time. Indeed, it has many of the looks and characteristics (yet, typically, half the price) of its Alfa Romeo contemporary, the hallowed GT 1300 Junior.

The Lancia has more than Italian flair to fall back on, however. For one thing, its V4 engine is interestingly different from the norm: what's more, its front-wheel drive handling is beautifully neat and tidy. A car, in short, that should be as much of a pleasure to own as it is to gaze upon. Andiamo!

8. BMW E3 / 'New Six'
   A stylish progenitor to the 7-Series, which would replace it in 1977, the 'New Six' or, to give its internal designation, the E3 saw BMW hoover up a decent chunk of executive car sales across the early and middle 1970s.

The 'New Six' range is perhaps best remembered now for its coupé form, the undeniably beautiful E9. Thing is, you'll be doing very well to find one of those for anything less than £60,000 these days. However, its more sober but still decidedly handsome four-door sibling remains relatively affordable, probably achievable somewhere in the £10,000 to £30,000 range.

Your engine choices include the 2500 and 2800, which both get the big saloon around comfortably enough. If you want a little more grunt, seek out a 3.0Si, which can sprint to 60mph in a shade over 7 seconds. A pacy, comfortable early '70s limo? Yes please.

9. Opel Monza
   If you wanted a big, German four-seat coupé back in the 1970s, your attention would probably have turned to the products coming out of both Mercedes and BMW. However, some exec coupé buyers decided on something different: the Opel Monza. With its independent rear suspension and pokey straight-six, overhead-cam engine, the Monza would have made a plausible if leftfield alternative to a BMW E24 6-series or a Mercedes W123 coupé.

Those opting for the Opel would have had to splash less cash than the BMW/Merc brigade – and the same is true of these cars, in used guise, today. Somewhere between £5,000 and £15,000 should get you a decent example of Opel's cavernous and capable coupé. We think that, in return for one of the decade's most handsome and distinctive cars, that's a price worth paying.

10. Porsche 924
    Our second Porsche of the article? Yes, the 924 is now of an age to be counted as a bona fide classic. It also links back to another car we've featured already: the VW Scirocco.

You see, the two German marques had got together to produce a joint sports car, but Volkswagen later left the project to concentrate on the aforesaid Scirocco. Porsche simply shrugged and carried on with the designs – and the product, happily, was the 924.

This svelte and capable two-seater now makes an excellent used buy. It may not be especially nippy (apart from the Turbo models), but it's great looking, fun to drive, and relatively cheap and easy to buy and maintain. The latter can be done with the help of the excellent Porsche 924 Owners Club, where you'll find a friendly community of fellow owners, complete with oodles of hard-won 924 knowledge. Membership should also secure you a discount on your classic car insurance.

11. Citroen CX
    Big, sharp-looking and (thanks to its innovative hydropneumatics suspension) legendarily comfortable, the CX definitely deserves its place in the classic car annals. That's largely because this car, and its smaller GS sibling, can be seen in some ways as the last 'true Citroens'.

Yes, these were arguably the final cars to wear that distinctive sharp Citroen face, before the firm was merged with Peugeot and lost some of its captivating individuality. The CX's successor, the XM, was still a distinctive-looking thing, but had lost a little of that uniqueness – you could just as easily imagine it wearing a Peugeot badge.

Those inimitable looks are just one of the things that the CX brings to the party. Elsewhere, that hydropneumatics suspension makes for a beautifully soft and pillowy ride. It's also relatively affordable, given its place in motoring history. If you long for something from Citroen's golden age but the DS and SM are just out of your budget, the CX would make an excellent choice.

12. Chrysler Sunbeam
    Chrysler UK got a government grant to help them develop and build the neat-looking and very capable Sunbeam. This was, after all, the project that kept hundreds of jobs at the former Rootes Group factory in Linwood, Scotland, which had previously turned out the legendary Hillman Imp but was now facing closure.

The Sunbeam was in fact something of a stopgap, designed to keep Chrysler Europe as a functioning entity. The irony was that, during the car's own lifetime, the Chrysler brand was removed from all European cars: the range was now under the control of Peugeot, who gave it the newly resurrected Talbot badge.

None of which detracts from the fact that the Sunbeam was a neat, tidy, and fine-driving little supermini – and one of the '70s cars of which Britain can feel proud.

13. Jaguar XJ-S
    Much as the Citroen CX above had the devil of a job replacing the much-loved DS, the Jaguar XJ-S was always going to struggle to attain the universal affection in which its predecessor, the legendary E-Type, was held. But to brand it simply as a pale E-Type imitator is to do the XJ-S a disservice. On its own terms, it was a very successful and desirable car.

It may not have been as pretty as its predecessor, but the XJ-S was undoubtedly imposing, and even handsome in its way. It was also equally capable, especially if you chose the smooth V12 engine, as both a motorway cruiser and a B-road thrasher. Values are climbing now but, if the E-Type's own history is anything to go by, can still climb more.

14. Triumph Spitfire 1500
    Like its MGB compatriot, the Spitfire went through several generations, but its basic DNA – light, nimble roadster – changed relatively little. The car went into its fourth and fifth generations during the 1970s – and the latter, popularly known as the 1500, might be your best bet for a used buy.

The 1500 Spitfire loses very little of the MkIV's visual appeal, simply adding in some more power (the 1.3-litre engine is replaced by a more potent 1.5-litre unit). The 1500 was also made in greater numbers than any previous Spitfire generation, so it should be the easiest to find.

By the way, 1970s Spitfires are not immune to corrosion. If rust builds up in the sills and/on the floor panels, repairs can be expensive. Protect yourself during any Spitfire restoration with some classic Triumph insurance.

15. Citroen GS
    Citroen's mid-size family hatch introduced some eye-catching technical innovations when it went on the market in 1970. Front-engine and front-wheel-drive, the GS was noted for its extraordinarily slippery, aerodynamic body shape, with a drag coefficient of just 0.318.

Independent hydropneumatics brakes and self-levelling suspension helped complete the picture of a highly advanced, and extremely comfortable car. Indeed, the GS' class-leading safety, comfort and aerodynamics deservedly won it the European Car of the Year in 1971. That award has gone to some absolute classics down the years: we've listed a few of our favourite European Car of the Year winners here.

In the end, around 2.5 million of the GS and its near-identical evolution, the GSA, were made, making them reasonably easy to track down. And track one down you should: like their CX brother, to our eyes the GS represents the very pinnacle of sharp '70s Gallic flair.

16. MGB GT
    Lithe, nippy, cute-looking and relatively cheap to service, the MGB was hugely successful over its original 17-year lifespan (1963-80). And it continues, unsurprisingly, to be a very popular used classic today – indeed, it's one of the cars for which we most commonly provide classic car insurance here at Lancaster.

The simple mechanicals make the MGB a good 'starter classic'. Nothing within this car will be beyond the capabilities and experience of a decent mechanic. Indeed, given enough patience and the right equipment, there's no reason you shouldn't have a go at a few repairs and restorations yourself.

While we're on the subject, have you had a look at our useful feature on the tools that every classic owner should have in their garage?

17. Honda Accord
    The first iteration of Honda's multi-generational family car arrived in 1976 and constituted something of a quiet revolution. Blessed with excellent fuel economy, the Accord also featured cloth seats, a tachometer, intermittent wipers, and an AM/FM radio as standard equipment – all relatively rare in Japanese saloons of the era.

More was to come: the LX version, introduced in 1978, featured air conditioning, a digital clock, and power steering.

As a used buy some 45 years on, the Accord also has another key attribute in its favour: Honda's legendary reputation for reliability and durability. Not too much should go wrong with a well-maintained Accord.

18. Mercedes W123
    Its successor would be the first mid-range Mercedes to get the official 'E-Class' designation, so you can think of the W123 as a sort of precursor to today's E-Class executive saloons.

More importantly than that, the W123 was an iconic Mercedes, and one of the most instantly recognisable big saloons of its day. Beautifully built, soberly but attractively styled, luxuriously appointed and available in a vast range of engines, the W123 was the Mercedes that finally launched the German marque onto the world stage.

A sturdy and reliable workhorse, the W123 found considerable favour as an upmarket taxi, particularly in its German homeland. Over here, meanwhile, the presence of one of these imposing saloons on your drive in circa 1978 was proof that you had hit the big time.

19. Volvo 240
    It's a fact much loved by classic car aficionados that the Volvo 240 outlived the car that was intended to replace it. That's right: the sturdy, rock-solid 240, which made its debut in 1974, was due to be replaced by the 760 and 740, which arrived in 1982 and 1984 respectively. Instead, by the time the latter two models were retired in 1992, the 240 still had a year's production left.

Those of us less steeped in automotive history will simply remember the 240 (or 245, as the very popular estate was more precisely called) as a common fixture on the streets and drives of 1980s suburban Britain.

As a form of super-safe, reliable, and reasonably affordable family transport, the 240 was near the top of the pecking order for years. Those safety features included some chunky bumpers and clever, impact-absorbing interiors.

Moreover, the car was as strong as an ox, while the boot would swallow huge items of furniture without a murmur.

As a used buy, a 240 makes a lot of sense. They turned out to be reasonably rust-proof and could go on for many tens of thousands of miles without too many problems.

20. Fiat X1/9
    When Fiat's boxy, angular two-seater arrived on the scene in 1972, it carried with it some of the futuristic glamour of other Italian cars of the era – the Lancia Stratos, for example, or even the Dino 308 GT4. The fact that the X1/9 didn't match cars like these in the performance stakes could be, for some buyers, its key asset. After all, their relatively modest power outputs, and simple engineering means that you can get your hands on one of these prime pieces of Italian modernism for a fraction of a cost of those supercars that it (superficially) resembles.

Seriously, for similar money to what you'd pay for a contemporary Escort or Astra, you can buy yourself a car that will make you feel like a 1970s Italian film star every day. And who wouldn't want that?

Classic car insurance: for every classic out there

The 1970s certainly produced some brilliant cars. In fact, every decade has brought us dozens of automotive gems – and all of these wonderful cars of yesteryear are now eligible for classic car insurance.

Whatever classic you're proud to own, why not speak to one of our team about giving it the insurance it deserves?

Policy benefits, features and discounts offered may very between insurance schemes or cover selected and are subject to underwriting criteria. Information contained within this article is accurate at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.