The ‘70s marked one of the most interesting times in automotive history. The oil crisis had just hit and no one wanted to own a vehicle with a massive engine and thirst for gasoline. That meant that segments of the industry such as the muscle car and sports car suffered a lot.
But that did not mark the death of these marques. The industry pushed hard to still produce vehicles that would appeal to the customer while not sacrificing the true nature of the vehicle. Thus, when it came to sports cars, despite people not expecting a lot, a good number of juggernauts were made. Those are the vehicles we’ll look at in this list.
10 Ferrari 365 GT/4 BB
The Ferrari BB is a very special vehicle in Ferrari’s vast history. It was introduced in 1973 as the replacement for the iconic Daytona. What made it so special is that it was the company’s first mid-engine sports car.
However, its break into the production line was not easy. Enzo Ferrari did not believe a mid-engine sports car was a good idea as he doubted whether it would handle well. However, the project finally received the green light with the 365GT/4 BB packing a 4.4-liter V12 that could crank out 375 hp.
9 BMW M1
By 1970, almost all major auto manufacturers had a sports car in their lineup except for BMW. Thus, not wanting to be left behind, the company commissioned the building of the BMW M1. It was the company’s first supercar.
The M1 was heavily influenced by the Italian wedge-shaped design. That’s because the marque’s design was conceived by Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro, with Lamborghini also being involved in its development. The M1 was powered by a 3.5-liter six-cylinder engine that developed 277 hp. Yes, it was not the fastest supercar on the planet, but it was a ton of fun to drive.
8 Lamborghini Countach LP400
The Lamborghini Countach does not need any introduction. For many gearheads who grew up in the ‘70s, this was the poster car that flooded their rooms. The Countach commanded attention with its scissor doors and outrageous wedge-shaped design.
This futuristic design was penned by Bertone, the same company that designed the Countach’s predecessor, the Miura. Under the hood lived a monstrous 3.9-liter V12 engine that produced 370 hp. That made it one of the fastest sports cars of the ‘70s. Only 157 examples of the LP400 were ever produced by Lamborghini.
7 Lotus Esprit
The Lotus Esprit is a masterpiece of British engineering. However, everything about its design was Italian. Like the BMW M1, the Lotus Esprit was also designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro. It was designed to be an ultralight sports car that looked powerful enough to dare a Lamborghini or Ferrari.
Unfortunately, Lotus didn’t put quite a spirited engine under the hood. The Esprit was powered by a naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine. Nonetheless, despite not daring a Ferrari or Lamborghini, the Esprit made a name for itself by appearing in two Bond films.
6 De Tomaso Pantera GTS
The Pantera is a good example of just what can happen when a car designed in Italy is fitted with a massive American V8. Launched in 1970, the Pantera donned a beautiful design penned by Ghia, an Italian firm. Under the hood, the Pantera packed a massive Ford V8 engine.
In 1972, De Tomaso went back to the drawing board and developed an even better Pantera. This masterpiece was dubbed the GTS. It had a bigger Ford engine that developed 345 hp. The body had matte black elements, wider wheels, an improved steering rack setup, and ventilated disc brakes.
5 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7
The FIA imposed a major rule change in the ‘70s that made Porsche’s wildly successful 917 models no longer eligible to compete. That forced Porsche to rethink its strategy. That is what led them to the European GT Championship.
The first Porsche to compete in that championship was the 911 Carrera RS 2.7. But to participate in the competition, Porsche had to build a minimum of 500 road-going examples. When they hit the streets, the Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 became the fastest sports car you could drive in 1973. Its hardworking 2.7-liter flat-six could crank up to 213 hp and 188 lb-ft of torque.
4 1977 Aston Martin V8 Vantage
In 1977, Aston Martin released what many considered to be the first British supercar ever made. That impressive machine was the V8 Vantage. The biggest attraction to most buyers was its timeless design. Just like the DB5 and other Aston Martins that came before it, the V8 Vantage had an elegant muscular design that was reminiscent of some famous American muscle cars.
The engine was also fantastic. The V8 Vantage ran on the same engine that powered the Lagonda. However, it had a higher compression ratio, larger inlet valves, bigger carburetors, and higher-performance camshafts.
3 Datsun 240Z
The Datsun 240Z was not Datsun’s first sports car. However, this iconic ride is what put the company on the global map. The 240Z’s biggest selling point was its design. The car looked like a combination of the C3 Corvette, Toyota 2000GT, and the Jaguar E-Type.
Under the hood, the Datsun 240Z packed a 2.4-liter six-cylinder engine that was quite torquey with 151 horses at the crank. It wasn’t the fastest sports car on the road but it had very clever dynamics to cover for it. In addition, the Datsun 240Z only cost $3,601, which was quite affordable for a car that performed that well.
2 Ferrari 308 GTB
After the Ferrari Dino 246 GTS disappointed fans, Ferrari had a big task ahead of building a strong sports car that would bring back its lost fans. That marque was the Ferrari 308 GTB. The 308 GTB had a very similar design to the Ferrari Dino. However, Pininfarina modernized its lines to make it sportier and sleeker.
The 308 GTB also received a fiberglass body that made the car lighter and faster. Later on, they switched to the cheaper steel body option after just 712 units had been produced. Under the aggressive body, the GTB hid a powerful 2.9-liter V12 engine that produced 252 hp.
1 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV
When Lamborghini pulled the covers off the Miura in the late ‘60s, everyone’s jaws dropped in awe. To date, this marque is considered one of the best-looking sports cars of all time. The masterpiece design was penned by the legendary Marcello Gandini from Bertone.
The Lamborghini Miura P400SV hit the roads in 1971. It was the last Miura and is currently the most popular among enthusiasts and collectors. Behind the cabin, a powerful 3.9-liter V12 rested, developing 385 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. That made it a beast on the streets. It could accelerate from 0-60 mph in 5.7 seconds and hit a top speed of 170 mph.