The 1970s were not kind to performance cars. Between tighter emissions regulations, the oil crisis, and insurance companies declaring a war on horsepower, this decade seemed intent on ending the muscle car era once and for all. Yet while fans mourn the loss of their big-block monsters, they’re missing something important: Some manufacturers are quietly working on how to make fast cars work in this new reality.
These 11 high-performance machines were overlooked, derided, or just plain ignored when they first came out, but history has been much more generous in its assessment.
AMC Gremlin X with 304 V8
Image credit: Ken Morris/Shutterstock.
AMC’s quirky compact looked like it was designed by someone who’d given up on it, but the Gremlin ordered with a 304 cubic-inch V8 really packs a punch for the era. When it came out in 1972, the 304 was rated at about 150 horsepower (SAE net). In small cars, performance can be brisk, but published 0 to 60 times varies by testing and specs.
People scoffed at the styling, but AMC understood that light cars with smaller V8 engines were the future of affordable performance.
Porsche 914
Image source: Porsche.
Enthusiasts accused the 914 of not being a “real Porsche” because it had a VW engine and was reasonably priced. Its unique appearance stood out from the familiar shape of Porsche, its mid-engine layout gave it handling that would embarrass more expensive sports cars, and the 914/6 version with Porsche’s flat-six engine was also quite fast.
Today, clean examples are fetching big bucks as collectors finally appreciate what they consider parts bin bargains.
Datsun 240Z (1970-1973)
Image credit: Gestalt Imagery/Shutterstock.
American car magazines initially viewed Nissan’s sports car as a curiosity rather than a true high-performance machine. The 240Z offers 150 horsepower, a top speed of 125 mph, and handling that rivals that of a Porsche at about half the price.
It took a few years before people realized that Datsun had essentially built a better E-Type Jaguar, without the electrical gremlins.
Chevrolet Vega GT
Image source: wallerdog/Wiki Commons.
Yes, the Vega has exaggerated reliability issues that would make British Leyland engineers blush, but the GT version with the optional handling package is surprisingly fun to drive. Aluminum four-cylinder engine production depends largely on year and rating method. Early gross ratings on some versions could be as high as 110 horsepower, but net ratings in the early 1970s were generally lower. Even if the power figures aren’t always as impressive as the brochure days would suggest, the suspension tune is still truly competent.
If GM addressed the Vega’s early durability issues, the Vega GT might be remembered as an American sports coupe rather than a punchline.
Ford Mustang II King Cobra
Image source: Shutterstock.
It produced 139 horsepower, which sounds pathetic until you remember that the 1980 Corvette’s base engine was rated at 190 horsepower, with optional higher-output versions rated even higher, depending on specs.
Today’s collectors have come to appreciate these as the last affordable classic Mustangs due to their compact size and surprisingly good handling.
Pontiac Firebird Formula 400 (1970-1974)
Image credit: 1970 Pontiac Firebird Formula 400, by Sicnag, CC BY 2.0/Wiki Commons.
Everyone remembers the Trans Am, but depending on the year and options, the Formula might be a close relative. Both share the same basic platform, and many performance parts are available across the range, but engine and suspension packages vary by model year and configuration, and some performance parts aren’t universal.
Pontiac sold and produced far fewer Formula cars because people wanted the Trans Am image, but smart buyers could get the same experience without paying for the billboards.
BMW 2002 Turbo
Image credit: Spurzem—Lothar Spurzem—Own work, CC BY-SA 2.0 de/Wiki Commons.
BMW built Europe’s first turbocharged production car in 1973, and the automotive press reacted to turbo lag with confusion and concern. The 2002 Turbo has 170 horsepower and can reach speeds of 130 mph, making it one of the fastest sedans available.
Only 1,672 were built before the oil crisis wiped it out, and those that survived are worth a fortune today.
Lancia Stratos
Image credit: Alexander Migl – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons.
The Stratos was too weird, too impractical, and too designed for rallying to be a road car. With a Ferrari Dino V6 mounted behind the seats and a shorter wheelbase than a modern Mini Cooper, it drives like a go-kart designed by an espresso drinker.
Lancia produced some 492 Stratos road cars for homologation purposes and they are now six-figure collectibles that dominated top-level rally racing in the mid-1970s.
Plymouth Duster 340 (1970-1973)
Image credit: Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA – 1970 Plymouth Valiant Duster 340, CC BY 2.0/Wiki Commons.
Mopar fans are obsessed with Cudas and Challengers, but the humble Duster offers similar performance for a few thousand dollars less. In 1970, the 340 cubic-inch V8 produced 275 horsepower and ran a 14-second quarter mile off the showroom floor. It’s essentially Plymouth’s excellent cheap bodywork
An A-body platform, but people thought it was a secretary car with a bigger engine.
MazdaRX-3
Image source: Mazda.
To most Americans, the rotary engine seems like a gimmick, and the RX-3’s refined build quality doesn’t help. Mazda RX-3 power and engine details vary by market and year. Some early RX-3 road tests quoted around 110 bhp from the smaller 10A rotary engine, and while later versions used larger rotary engines, U.S. emissions-era net ratings were likely to be lower. Weight also varies based on body style and equipment, but the car is generally lighter for its class.
The RX-3 was very successful in SCCA competition in the mid-1970s, although some buyers and readers remained skeptical of the rotary engine and fuel economy.
Lotus Esprit S1
Image credit: Calreyn88, CC BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons.
When the Esprit debuted in late 1975 and entered production in 1976, critics complained that it was underpowered, with its 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making about 160 horsepower in European models and lower power ratings in some U.S. versions. What they missed was that Lotus built a mid-engine exotic that weighed about 2,116 pounds and handled like it was on a track.
The wedge shape looked like it came from a science fiction movie, and while early cars had quality issues, the Esprit established Lotus as a legitimate supercar manufacturer for the next three decades.
in conclusion
Image credit: Ken Morris/Shutterstock.
The 1970s forced the auto industry to rethink its understanding of performance, and these 12 cars represent different approaches to the same problem. Some get lighter, some get turbo, and some ignore convention entirely. What they all have in common is that contemporary audiences don’t quite know what to make of them, whether due to unfamiliar technology, unconventional packaging, or simply appearing at the wrong historical moment.
Now, these misunderstood machines are finally getting the recognition they deserve, proving that sometimes it takes decades of perspective for the automotive press and the buying public to differentiate between a truly fun car and one that’s just loud.