Six of the ten 1970s American cars below average under $30,000 on classic.com as of September 2026. A 1973 to 1977 El Camino averages $13,543. A Lincoln Continental Mark V averages $19,539 and gives you 230 inches of car for the money.
The 1970s are the last decade where a real V8 American classic still costs less than a new compact. Below is what ten of them are worth, why the decade stayed affordable, which ones cost the least to ship, and what it takes to import one to Europe, the UK, the UAE or Australia. For the tools we used to check values, see our guide to valuing a classic car.
Why 1970s Cars Stayed Affordable
Detroit lowered compression in 1971 so engines could run on lower-octane unleaded fuel. For 1972, the industry moved from gross to SAE net horsepower ratings, and the published numbers dropped overnight. In 1975, catalytic converters arrived with unleaded gasoline. Collectors followed the numbers, and prices for most of the decade never caught up with 1960s muscle.
The flip side: these cars were built in volume and parts are easy to find.
What 1970s American Cars Are Worth in 2026
Classic.com market averages, September 2026. Lengths are factory figures.
| Car | Average price | Length |
|---|
| 1973 to 1977 Chevrolet El Camino | $13,543 | 213 in |
| 1973 to 1977 Chevrolet Monte Carlo | $17,931 | 213 in |
| 1977 to 1979 Lincoln Continental Mark V | $19,539 | 230 in |
| 1974 to 1978 Ford Mustang II | $20,272 | 175 in |
| 1971 to 1978 Cadillac Eldorado | $27,467 | 224 in |
| 1971 to 1974 AMC Javelin | $29,521 | 192 in |
| 1968 to 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme | $36,926 | 204 in |
| 1968 to 1982 Chevrolet Corvette (C3) | $38,083 | 185 in |
| 1978 to 1979 Ford Bronco | $49,711 | 180 in |
| 1970 to 1981 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am | $51,102 | 197 in |
The Best Buys by Budget
Under $20,000
The El Camino, the Monte Carlo and the Mark V. The Mark V is the one we would look at first. Opera windows, a 400 or 460 V8 and nearly two and a half tons of Lincoln for under $20,000.
$20,000 to $30,000
The Mustang II is the Mustang nobody bragged about, which is why it still averages about $20,000. The AMC Javelin averages $29,521, and the AMX version only $628 more. Eldorado convertibles from 1976, the last factory Cadillac convertible until 1984, were listed anywhere from $16,000 to $64,100 this summer. Condition decides everything there.
Over $35,000
The Corvette C3, the Cutlass Supreme, the second-generation Bronco and the Trans Am. The Trans Am average sits at $51,102, but the ceiling is much higher: a 44-mile 1979 WS6 sold on Bring a Trailer for $265,000 in March 2026.
Which 1970s Cars Ship Cheapest
A standard 40-foot container has about 473 inches of floor, according to Hapag-Lloyd. Length decides how many cars share that floor, and shared-container rates follow the space a car takes up.
- Two short cars fit easily. A Mustang II (175 in) and a Bronco (180 in) leave nearly ten feet of floor to spare. The Corvette, Javelin and Trans Am pair just as well.
- Mid-size cars pair with a short one. A Monte Carlo or El Camino at 213 inches loads comfortably next to a Corvette.
- Land yachts take half the box. A Mark V (230 in) and an Eldorado (224 in) together use 454 inches, which leaves almost no room for strapping. Expect a big Lincoln or Cadillac to quote higher than a Mustang II on the same route.
Width is not the issue. Even the Eldorado, at roughly 80 inches, clears a 92-inch container door. We load every car in our own warehouses in Oakland, Newark and Miami.
What It Takes to Import a 1970s American Car
Every car on this list is more than 30 years old, which is where import costs drop in most markets. Original, unmodified cars get the best treatment.
| Destination | Container shipping from the US | What a 30+ year old classic pays |
|---|
| Germany | From $1,050 | 0% duty, 7% import VAT, H-plate eligible |
| United Kingdom | From $1,200 | 0% duty, 5% VAT; no road tax for cars built before 1986 |
| Netherlands | From $1,000 out of New York | 0% duty, reduced VAT |
| France | From $1,050 | 0% duty, 5.5% VAT |
| Spain | From $1,150 | Reduced VAT for original collector cars |
| UAE | From $1,100 to Jebel Ali | 5% duty, no age limit |
| Australia | From $2,150, asbestos test included | 10% GST |
US-built cars also enter the EU at 0% duty whatever their age, covered in our EU duty article. The shipping figures are for a standard-size car, so a Mark V or Eldorado will quote higher. For the exact landed cost of your car, run it through our calculator for shipping rates and import duties.
For a closer look at six 1970 models, see the 6 best 1970s cars. For why the muscle era ended, see how the 1970s oil crisis ended the muscle car.
Ready to Bring a 1970s Classic Home?
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