{"id":106364,"date":"2026-02-28T19:39:37","date_gmt":"2026-02-28T22:39:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/automotive.einnews.com\/article\/896520873"},"modified":"2026-02-28T19:39:37","modified_gmt":"2026-02-28T22:39:37","slug":"5-muscle-cars-from-the-70s-that-are-now-worth-a-small-fortune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/2026\/02\/28\/5-muscle-cars-from-the-70s-that-are-now-worth-a-small-fortune\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Muscle Cars From The ’70s That Are Now Worth A Small Fortune"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s 2026. The modern muscle car<\/a> segment has dried up, leaving one V-8-powered, rear-wheel-drive nameplate in the mix. What\u2019s worse, those fans with dreams of owning the outrageous, unapologetic, brightly-colored muscle machines of yesteryear are finding that they are simply priced out of some of their favorites. In fact, if a sought-after muscle car or pony car comes with a unique story, it might fetch over a million bucks at auction.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Take these five 1970s dream machines, for instance. Each one of them started at a few thousand dollars or so when they rolled off the line and onto local lots around the country. Now, however, everything from classic Chevrolet<\/a> Chevelles to Pontiac<\/a> GTOs is demanding an average sales price in the low six figures. In some cases, you could be paying the same as some states\u2019 median home price for a collectible 1970s muscle car.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n

While this is far from an exhaustive list, it is an assembly of outrageously spendy American muscle cars from the early 1970s. To get you the most up-to-date sales values, we used sales data from sources like Classic.com and Hagerty.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

<\/p>\n

1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS6 <\/h2>\n

Average Sales Price In The Last Year: $104,033 <\/h3>\n
\n
\n
\"3\/4
3\/4 front view of 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS6<\/figcaption>Mecum<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

By 1970, the Chevrolet Chevelle<\/a> was already seven model years old and in its second generation. No one knew that the Malaise era wasn\u2019t far away, and America\u2019s horsepower-hungry car shoppers kept up the demand for fire-breathing muscle cars. So, Chevrolet and its rivals kept rolling out potent V8-powered, rear-wheel-drive cars. In 1970, you could get a second-generation Chevelle with a 454-cubic-inch LS6 engine pumping out 450 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of twist without the need for any sort of forced induction or electronic fuel injection.<\/p>\n

Back then, you\u2019d be likely to spend around $4,800 on a 1970 Chevy Chevelle with the RPO Z15 SS package<\/a>. Adjusting for inflation, that rings in at about $40,100 in today\u2019s money. That said, $40,100 isn\u2019t going to buy you a solid, clean 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS6. Not by a long shot. The average sales price for a 1970 Chevy Chevelle over the last year is $104,033. As for the most recent top sale, a 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 Convertible crossed the auction block at an eye-watering $770,000.<\/p>\n

1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS6 Specs <\/h3>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Engine<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Naturally Aspirated Turbo-Fire 454-Cubic-Inch V8<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Transmission<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Muncie 4-Speed Manual, 4-Speed Automatic<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Horsepower<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

450 HP At 5,600 RPM<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Torque<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

500 LB-FT At 3,600 RPM<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Curb Weight<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3,999 LBS<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

1970 Dodge Challenger R\/T <\/h2>\n

Average Sales Price In The Last Year: $115,540 <\/h3>\n
\n
\n
\"Plumb
3\/4 front view of 1970 Dodge Challenger R\/T Convertible<\/figcaption>Mecum<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

It\u2019s a silhouette you simply can\u2019t forget. Whether it\u2019s Kowalski going full-send across the desert in \u201cVanishing Point,\u201d or, more recently, the snarky Stirling Archer talking to one in \u201cArcher,\u201d the first-generation Dodge Challenger<\/a> has been capturing attention since its advent. And the used market displays that popularity beyond a shadow of a doubt. As of last year, the average sales price for a 1970 Dodge Challenger<\/a> was $115,540, with an uptick in high-dollar sales around the new year. That said, some sales skew the 1970 Dodge Challenger\u2019s average sales price a bit.<\/p>\n

For instance, an original example in the sought-after Plum Crazy Purple with a 426-cubic-inch HEMI V8 and a four-speed manual sold at auction for $467,500. That\u2019s a far cry from the original sticker price on a hardtop or convertible example when it was new. In 1970, you could browse a selection of Challengers and find an R\/T 440 Six Pack with a base price of $3,266 before adding options. One of those options was the more potent 426-cubic-inch HEMI V8, which tacked on a healthy $1,228 to the original price tag. Today, on the other hand, Hagerty puts the value of a 1970 Dodge Challenger R\/T with a 426 HEMI in #3 condition (good condition) at closer to $127,000.<\/p>\n

1970 Dodge Challenger R\/T 426 HEMI Specs <\/h3>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Engine<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Naturally Aspirated 426-Cubic-Inch HEMI V8<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Transmission<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4-Speed Manual, 3-Speed Automatic<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Horsepower<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

425 HP At 5,000 RPM<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Torque<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

490 LB-FT At 4,000 RPM<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Weight<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3,890 LBS<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

1970 Pontiac GTO Judge <\/h2>\n

Average Sales Price In The Last Year: $117,022 <\/h3>\n
\n
\n
\"3\/4 Mecum<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Alongside the 1970 AMC Rebel Machine<\/a>, it might be the most badass name in all of muscle car fandom. We\u2019re talking, of course, about the Pontiac GTO Judge. Named for a popular skit on the late ’60s comedy television series, \u201cLaugh-In,\u201d the GTO Judge<\/a> has become something of a collector’s item. Under the hood, the 1970 Pontiac GTO offered a library of hot, naturally aspirated V8s, including a Ram Air IV option with a 370-horsepower, 400-cubic-inch V8.<\/p>\n

56 years ago, a 1970 Pontiac GTO started at around $3,267 for the hardtop and $3,492 for the convertible. If you wanted the Ram Air IV package, you would have to shell out an additional $558.20. Now, the average sales price for a 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge sat at around $117,022 last year, with the top sale raking in $286,000 for a convertible example with the sought-after 366-horsepower Ram Air III option. But that\u2019s small potatoes compared to the record sale for a GTO Judge, namely a convertible with the Ram Air IV. In 2023, the rare drop-top Judge netted a $1.1 million payday at a Mecum auction.<\/p>\n

1970 Pontiac GTO Judge Ram Air IV Specs <\/h3>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Engine<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Naturally Aspirated 400-Cubic-Inch V8<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Transmission<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4-Speed Manual, 3-Speed Automatic<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Horsepower<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

370 HP At 5,500 RPM<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Torque<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

445 LB FT At 3,600 RPM<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Curb Weight<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

~3,700 LBS<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

1971 Plymouth Hemi \u2018Cuda <\/h2>\n

Average Sales Price In The Last Year: $214,580 <\/h3>\n
\n
\n
\"Lemon
3\/4 front view of 1970 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda convertible Lemon Twist<\/figcaption>Mecum<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Let\u2019s talk numbers. In 1971, Plymouth<\/a> rolled out fewer than 16,500 Barracudas. Ford sold nearly nine times as many Mustangs the same year. Of those Barracudas, only 254 of them packed the 440-cubic-inch \u201cSix-Pack\u201d V8. Rarer still, about 114 Barracudas were delivered as the iconic Hemi \u2018Cuda with the muscular, 425-horsepower 426-cubic-inch HEMI V8. In short, the 1971 Plymouth Hemi \u2018Cuda is rare. Real rare. And, as you might imagine, that means it\u2019s a valuable prospect for collectors.<\/p>\n

According to Hagerty, the average sales price for the fat-tire Hemi \u2018Cuda is around $214,580. That\u2019s just the average, too. Plymouth made just 59 Hemi \u2018Cudas with the four-speed manual gearbox, and only seven of those were convertibles. In short, if you want one of those drop-top Hemi \u2018Cudas, you\u2019re looking at a seven-figure sales price. Don\u2019t believe me? A 1971 Plymouth Hemi \u2018Cuda Convertible sold at a Mecum auction in 2014 for a stratospheric $3.5 million. That\u2019s a long way from around $4,500 you could\u2019ve spent on a then-new Hemi \u2018Cuda.<\/p>\n

1971 Plymouth Hemi \u2018Cuda Specs <\/h3>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Engine<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Naturally Aspirated 426-Cubic-Inch HEMI V8<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Transmission<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4-Speed Manual, 3-Speed Automatic<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Horsepower<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

425 HP At 5,000 RPM<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Torque<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

490 LB-FT At 4,000 RPM<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Curb Weight<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3,721 LBS<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

1970 Plymouth Road Runner Superbird <\/h2>\n

Average Sales Price In The Last Year: $316,311 <\/h3>\n
\n
\n
\"1970
1970 Plymouth Superbird<\/figcaption>Mecum <\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

It might be one of the wildest, most instantly recognizable shapes in the classic American muscle car book. The Plymouth Superbird<\/a> took the angular proportions of the Road Runner and added a host of NASCAR-inspired aerodynamic kit, including the massive wing and shark-nose front end. Today, however, buying one will set you back more than the median home price in Michigan, where it rolled off the line.<\/p>\n

In Michigan, the median single-family home price in 2025 was roughly $290,200. A 1970 Plymouth Superbird, on the other hand, had an average sales price of $316,311 last year. Like the 1971 Plymouth Hemi \u2018Cuda, the long, sculpted, air-cheating Road Runner Superbird is a rare sight. Though concrete production numbers are rare, estimates put the Superbird at around 1,969 units for the 1970 model year. Of those souped-up Road Runners, a mere 170 units had the range-topping 426 HEMI V8 under the hood. And those rarer, HEMI-powered Road Runners are the pricier persuasion. In some cases, they can net over a million dollars at auction. For instance, in 2022, a Plymouth Road Runner Superbird in Tor Red crossed the block for an impressive $1.65 million.<\/p>\n

1970 Plymouth Road Runner Superbird Specs <\/h3>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Engine<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Naturally Aspirated 426-Cubic-Inch HEMI V8<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Transmission<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4-Speed Manual, 3-Speed Automatic<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Horsepower<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

425 HP At 5,000 RPM<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Torque<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

490 LB-FT At RPM<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Curb Weight<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3,841 LBS<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Not Pricier than America’s Favorite Pony Car <\/h2>\n

While some of these heavily sought-after 1970s muscle cars were able to net seven figures at auction, they’re far from the most expensive V8-powered American classics around. Take the venerable Ford Mustang<\/a>, for instance. On many occasions, specialty Mustangs fetched millions at auction. Of those spendy ‘Stangs, the Ken Miles-driven “R-Model” 1965 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R takes the cake with a simply outlandish $4.07 million auction price.<\/p>\n

\n

Sources: Audrain Automobile Museum<\/a>, CarBuzz<\/a>, Classic.com<\/a>, Forbes<\/a>, Hagerty<\/a>, Newport Car Museum<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

<\/a><\/strong> <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

… million auction price. Sources: Audrain Automobile<\/span> Museum, CarBuzz, Classic.com, Forbes …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-106364","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","wpcat-1-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/106364","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=106364"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/106364\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=106364"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=106364"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=106364"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}