1. Fiat X1
   AMC Gremlin
2. Lancia Stratos
   BMW M1

The AMC Gremlin was super compact, making it very fuel efficient at a time when gas lines were long and supplies were short. The vehicle featured a two-door design with a nearly-vertical hatchback. It also came with a surprisingly large number of options for its price.

1. Alfa Romeo Motreal
   AMC Hornet
2. Plymouth Valiant
   Chevy Corvette

The Chevrolet Corvette is an iconic car for multiple generations of car drivers. In the '70s, the third generation of Corvettes was available. This generation was the first to feature removable T-top panels, and a 25th-anniversary edition released in 1978 featured a fastback glass rear window.

1. Dodge Challenger
   Plymouth Superbird
2. Buick GSX
   Ford Mustang

First produced in 1959, two different generations of Challengers were available in the '70s. Early models offered convertible options, but by 1972, all Challengers were hard-tops. Late '70s models came with a large number of options to compete with the pony cars.

1. Plymouth Superbird
   Chevy Vega
2. Citroen SM
   Dodge Colt

The uniquely-styled Plymouth Superbird was essentially a modified Road Runner, designed to go from 0 to 60 in 5 seconds. It's immediately identifiable thanks to its super-high rear wing.

1. Toyota Celica
   Plymouth Duster
2. Stutz Blackhawk
   Nissan Cherry

Produced from 1971 to 1987, the American-made Stutz Blackhawk was unrelated to the famous Blackhawk cars of the '20s. The very first Stutz Blackhawk buyer was none other than Elvis, who paid more than $26,000 for the iconic car in 1970.

1. Mercury Bobcat
   Lamborghini Miura
2. Ford Fiesta
   VW Bus

The Miura is arguably the most famous Lamborghini model of all time. Produced from 1966 to 1973, the vehicle is named for a famous fighting bull from Spain.

1. Chevy Chevelle
   Plymouth Superbird
2. AMC Pacer
   BMW 02 Series

The BMW 02 series was produced from 1966 to 1977 and was simply a shorter version of the New Class Sedan. The first model, the 1600-02, was the cheapest and smallest BMW on the market at the time, while later series models were more powerful and also more costly.

1. De Tomaso Pantera
   Buick GSX
2. Ford Falcon
   Mazda Capella

Buick's GSX is a classic '70s muscle car. Built on a Skylark platform and designed to take on the Pontiac GTO, it was originally available only in white or yellow, with a jet black interior when it was released in 1970.

1. Mercury Cougar
   Ford Torino
2. Ford Mustang II
   Chevy Camaro

The so-called Mustang II was actually built on a Pinto body. Sold from 1973 to 1978, the car attracted buyers with its Mustang name, but was much smaller and more fuel efficient than the original.

1. Chevy Nova
   Plymouth Barracuda
2. Aston Martin Vantage
   Chevrolet LUV

Plymouth's Barracuda was built on an E-body -- a shorter, wider version of the old B-platform. Produced from 1970 to 1974, the third generation limited designs to coupes and convertibles.

1. Ferrari Boxer Berlinetta
   Reliant Robin
2. VW Passat
   Chrysler Cordoba

Produced from 1973 to 1984, the Ferrari Boxer Berlinetta was created to take on Lamborghini's Miura and Countach. The company launched the 365G74 in 1971, and introduced the B512, which was named for its 5 litre/12 cylinder engine, in 1976.

1. Ford Granada
   Ford Bronco
2. Bricklin SV-1
   Jeep Cherokee

Ford produced the mid-sized Granada two-door coupe and five-door wagon from 1975 to 1982. The vehicle replaced the Ford Maverick, but shared the same chassis as the earlier vehicle.

1. Mercury Cougar
   Porsche 911
2. Ford Graada
   Fiat X1/9

Sold from 1972 to 1982, the Fiat X1/9 was a two-seater with a removable hardtop. Three generations of the vehicle were introduced in the U.S. in the '70s, with later generations designed to meet increasingly tight emissions standards.

1. Mitsubishi Lancer
   Nissan Violet
2. Pontiac Grand Am
   Chevy Chevelle

The Chevrolet Chevelle ranks among the most popular mid-size cars of the '70s. Produced from 1968 to 1972, the Chevelle got a major overhaul starting in 1973, as the company worked to comply with increased safety standards in the U.S.

1. Lincoln Continental Mark III
   Toyota 2000GT
2. Chevy Corvette
   Buick GSX

The Lincoln Continental was a luxury coupe sold between 1977 and 1979. A super luxe Diamond Jubilee edition was produced for the company's 75th anniversary in 1978.

1. AMC Pacer
   BMW 3 Series
2. Porsche 911
   Buick Skyhawk

Porsche has produced its famous 911 from 1963 to modern times. The 911 RS came out in 1973 and was recognized as lighter and more powerful than previous models. After 1974, all 911's switched from metal to aluminum bumpers.

1. Cadillac Seville
   Buick Riviera
2. Chevy Vega
   Chevy Camaro

The Buick Riviera was GM's first venture into the luxury car market. In 1971, the company introduced its third generation line, which had a throwback boat-tail back end. The 1974 fourth generation redesign saw a return to a more conventional Colonnade back end.

1. Mercury Capri
   Chevy Corvette
2. Datsun 510
   Maserati Merak

Produced from 1972 to 1983, the Merak used a Bora body, but included a smaller engine. This allowed Maserati to add a narrow second row of seating, helping the car appeal to a wider audience.

1. AMC Pacer
   De Tomaso Pantera
2. Cadillac Seville
   Mazda Cosmo

Sold at Lincoln dealerships, the De Tomaso Panera was the most popular car ever produced by De Tomaso. Introduced in 1971, it's name means "Panther" in Italian.

1. Chevy Corvette
   Plymouth Superbird
2. Citroen SM
   Mazda 121

The stylish three-door hatchback coupe French Citroen SM was produced between 1970 and 1975. Just 2,400 were sold in North America out of the 12,000 produced, making it a relatively rare vintage for modern car collectors.

1. Maserati Merak
   Austin Allegro
2. Datsun 510
   Ford Mustang

Datsun entered the U.S. market in 1958, but its most recognized '70s car is likely the Datsun 510. Part of the company's Bluebird line, the 510 was available until 1973 in two or four-door models, including both sedans and wagons.

1. Ford Bronco
   Honda Accord
2. Jeep Cherokee
   VW Beetle

Back before the days of SUV's, the Ford Bronco was known as a multi-purpose vehicle, or MVP. Introduced in 1966 and produced throughout the '70s, the Bronco was designed to compete with other sporty vehicles.

1. Lincoln Continental Mark III
   Mercury Cougar
2. Porsche 911
   Mercury Capri

The Mercury Cougar was the rare car to be brought back after a long hiatus. It was sold from 1967 to 1997, then again from 1999 to 2002. In 1971, Mercury brought out a second generation model which weighed less than the original and had a bigger, more stylish grille.

1. Mercury Cougar
   Ford Mustang
2. Ford Fiesta
   Pontiac Trans Am

From 1970 to 1981, Pontiac offered a special Trans Am package on its standard Firebird. The Trans Am was featured in the movie "Smokey and the Bandit" in 1977, and was the official pace car at the Indy 500 in 1980.

1. Chevy Corvette
   Lincoln Continental
2. VW Beetle
   Ford Granada

Officially known as the Volkswagen Type 1, the Beetle was first sold way back in 1938. In 1971, VW introduced two different Beetle models for the first time. The new version was much larger than the original, and was sold as the Super Beetle in the U.S.

1. Ford Pinto
   Lincoln Versailles
2. Pontiac Phoenix
   AMC Pacer

The AMC Pacer was a two-door sub-compact produced from 1975 to 1979. It was known for its full-width yet compact body. The American-made car started as a budget option, but got more luxe with every upgrade.

1. Mini Cooper
   VW Bus
2. Buick GSX
   Dodge Challenger

More than 10,000 Mini Cooper units were shipped to the U.S. throughout the '60s, though the car became more difficult to import as the U.S. tightened safety standards throughout the late '60s and '70s.

1. Toyota Chaser
   Ford Bronco
2. Plymouth Barracuda
   Chrysler Cordoba

Released in 1975, the Cordoba was the smallest Chrysler to that point. The company wanted the Cordoba to compete with Buick and Oldsmobile, and made the Cordoba even smaller as part of a 2nd generation redesign at the beginning of the '80s.

1. Jeep Cherokee
   Maserati Merak
2. AMC Gremlin
   Ford Mustang II

Jeep was the first company to use the term sport-utility vehicle in print during its 1974 ad campaign for the Cherokee SJ. The sporty two-door vehicle was based on the Jeep Wagoneer of the '60s, and was in production through the early '80s.

1. Mazda Cosmo
   Chrysler Imperial
2. BMW M1
   Dodge Magnum

Chrysler first produced the Imperial way back in 1926, but spun the name off into a separate luxury line from 1955 to 1975 to take on Lincoln and Cadillac. The fourth-generation Imperial featured an airplane-like body, known as the fuselage, while later models were boxier and more conventional.

1. Ford Fiesta
   Buick RIviera
2. Mitsubishi Mirage
   Cadillac Eldorado

Cadillac introduced the seventh generation of its Eldorado at the start of the '70s. The new design was longer and wider than earlier versions, with fender skirts, and later, a convertible roof. The Eldorado served as the pace car at the 1973 Indy 500.

1. VW Derby
   Ford Granada
2. Ford Fiesta
   Chevy Chevelle

Ford sold its three-door Fiesta hatchback in the U.S. between 1978 and 1980. The vehicle was dropped for the Ford Esprit the next year.

1. Chrysler Cordoba
   Ford Fiesta
2. Cadillac Seville
   Pontiac Trans Am

Released in 1975, the Seville was on the smaller end for Cadillac, but was still one of the company's most expensive sedans at the time.

1. VW Bus
   AMC Pacer
2. Dodge Challenger
   Lamborghini Miura

After its successful Type 1, better known as the Beetle, VW released its Type 2 -- an iconic little bus. The second generation of the bus was sold from 1967 to 1979, and was much larger and heavier than the original.

1. Lotus Esprit
   Lancia Gamma
2. Ford Falcon
   Mazda Cosmo

The Lotus Esprit was almost named the Kiwi, but Esprit was chosen to keep with the company's tradition of starting all model names with the letter "E." Introduced in 1976 and featuring a sleek wedge design, the vehicle had a throttled engine in the U.S. to comply with emissions standards.

1. Plymouth Valiant
   Lancia Stratos
2. Aston Martin V8 Vantage
   Dodge Aspen

Fans of rally racing surely know the Lancia Startos, an Italian car that ruled race tracks in the '60s and beyond. The company also sold a small number of street legal Stratos to the U.S. market, including the 1976 Stradale with its wedge shape and 196 horses.

1. Pontiac Astre
   Austin Marina
2. Chevy Vega
   Bricklin SV-1

Like the DeLorean, the Bricklin had gull wing doors, but its designer was all about safety. In fact, the SV in the model name stood for "Safety Vehicle." Unfortunately, less than 3,000 units of the car sold before it was pulled in 1975.

1. Ford Falcon
   Jeep Cherokee
2. Toyota 2000GT
   Chevy Camaro

It's hard to find a more iconic '70s car than the Camaro. Chevy sold generation two models from 1970 to 1981, which were larger and wider than the original, but kept the standard F-body platform.

1. Pontiac Firebird
   Ford Pinto
2. Lamborghini Countach
   Bricklin SV-1

Introduced in 1971, the Ford Pinto became Ford's first sub-compact in North America -- perfect choice for a time when gas prices were beginning to rise as supplies dwindled. By 1978, the company issued a recall for more than a million Pintos due to safety concerns related to the fuel system.

1. Mercury Capri
   Cadillac Seville
2. Chevy Monza
   Lotus Eclat

Mercury produced the Capri from 1970 to 1994. The first generation run included the Capri II hatchback in 1974, while generation II was similar to the Ford Mustang.

1. Buick RIviera
   Chevrolet Vega
2. Datsun 510
   Ford Falcon

The Chevy Vega was an American-made sub-compact introduced at the start of the '70s. By 1977, it had been discontinued after having problems with everything from rust to reliability.

1. Chevy Nova
   Mercury Capri
2. Chevy Chevelle
   Plymouth Firebird

From 1962 to 1969, the Nova was known as the Chevy II. In 1969, the name was changed to Nova, and the vehicle was produced over the next decade. A longer wheelbase introduced in the early '70s resulted in the sub-compact Nova measuring almost as big as an average mid-side vehicle.

1. Alfa Romeo Alfasud
   Plymouth Valiant
2. Lamborghini Countach
   Ferrari 365 GTC

Building on the success of the Miura, Lamborghini released the Countach in 1974, and continued refining the model until the early '90s. It's best known for its wedge shape, clean lines, and sharp angles, and its name translates to an exclamation of surprise or admiration -- literally, "Wow!"

1. Mercury Bobcat
   AMC Gremlin
2. Chrysler LeBaron
   Datsun 510

Introduced in 1975, the Bobcat was Mercury's first sub-compact. It featured a Pinto body, but offered a much fancier grille and upgraded trim. The Bobcat was discontinued in 1981 and replaced by the Lynx.

1. Chevy Nova
   Aston Martin V8 Vantage
2. Alfa Romeo Alfetta GT
   Buick RIviera

Introduced in 1977, the British-made Aston Martin V8 Vantage was tough to come by in the U.S. due to emissions restrictions. A decade later, the car shot to fame when it was featured in the 1987 007 film, "The Living Daylights."

1. Mazda Cosmo
   Maserati Bora
2. Pontiac Grand Safari
   Subaru Leone

The Mazda Cosmos was introduced in 1967 as the space race was heating up, which helps explain its space-inspired name. The company produced the Cosmos Series II until 1975, then introduced the CD series, which offered greater luxury but was a relatively poor seller.

1. Pontiac Firebird
   Ford Pinto
2. AMC Gremlin
   Stutz Blackhawk

Pontiac introduced its iconic Firebird in 1967 to take on the popular Ford Mustang. In 1970, the company redesigned the vehicle for a second generation release, which eliminated all but coupe models. This second generation was produced until another major redesign in the early '80s.

1. Lotus Esprit
   Audi 50
2. BMW M1
   Buick RIviera

Designed by Lamborghini and built by BMW, the M1 was a two-door car with a sleek race style. Because the company produced less than 500 units, the M1 is considered rare and hard to come by today.

1. Toyota Supra
   Jeep Cherokee
2. Morris Marina
   Mercury Bobcat

Sold in the UK as the Morris Marina, it was rebranded for U.S. buyers as the Austin Marina because Morris was a lesser known name in the States. The car was remodeled throughout the '70s in response to increased U.S. safety standards as the decade progressed.