The 1970s often get a bad rap from muscle car purists for being the decade that marked the end of the golden era, but it still produced multiple icons that still make the headlines whenever they cross the auction block today. Many 1970s muscle cars and pony cars have seen their prices appreciate rapidly in recent years as traditional muscle cars become scarcer and more expensive.Looking at the record-breaking prices some of the rarest and most powerful 1970s muscle cars are selling for can make the muscle car dream feel like an exclusive club for tech moguls and elite auction houses, but fret not, dear reader. While the mainstream is distracted by bidding wars over investment-grade Shelbys and Hemi-powered Mopars, savvy collectors are quietly moving their capital into authentic, high-torque 1970s steel that hasn't been priced into the stratosphere yet. If you're looking for a tire-shredding American legend from the '70s without the soul-crushing second mortgage, these five picks represent the final frontier of the affordable American dream, and they might not stay affordable for long. 1970 Buick GS 455 Stage 1 Estimated Value: $51,800 Via Mecum AuctionsIn 1970, GM lifted its self-imposed engine displacement limit, which opened the door for Buick and its corporate cousins to equip their intermediates with engines larger than 400 cubic inches. Buick engineers were ready to run wild, and they quickly dropped a 455 cubic-inch monster into the GS, creating the GS 455. The 1970 GS 455's 360-hp output when equipped with the Stage 1 package was decent, but what turned it into a legend was its torque figures. Rated at 510 pound-feet, the GS 455 had some of the highest torque figures of the era, and since it was achieved at just 2,800 rpm, it had the low-end punch needed to be a stoplight-to-stoplight menace and was appropriately nicknamed the "Torque King." Unfortunately, its reign was short-lived since Buick dropped compression ratios in the 1971 model year.Via Mecum AuctionsDespite having more power than most rivals, the 1970 GS 455 Stage 1 remains relatively affordable, with average prices and recent auctions inthe $50,000-$60,000 range. Part of the reason why it's underrated is that it's a Buick, but the bigger reason is that it's overshadowed by the flashier and far rarer GSX Stage 1, which was a special version of the GS 455. 1970 Dodge Charger R/T 440 Estimated Value: $50,200 Via Mecum AuctionsThe second-generation Dodge Charger R/T is one of the most recognizable muscle cars in history. Not only does it have the quintessential muscle car shape that defined the golden era, but it's also a cultural icon thanks to famous roles such as the villain car in Steve McQueen's 1968 film Bullitt and Dominic Toretto's signature car in the Fast and Furious franchise.Via Mecum AuctionsBeing the performance-oriented trim, the 1970 Charger R/T could be paired with Mopar's best engines, including the legendary 426 Hemi and the 440 "Six-Pack." Those versions are great, but since every collector is hunting for them, they regularly trade for six figures, with some even approaching the seven-figure range. This is why we recommend settling for the standard 440-powered version, which delivers the same unmistakable shape and road presence as the six-figure Hemi cars, but without the eye-watering price tag. Don't get us wrong, though. Even though it's estimated to be worth $50,200 on average, the 440-powered 1970 Charger R/T still produces 375 horsepower and is no slouch. 1970 AMC AMX Estimated Value: $44,700 MecumIn 1967, AMC suffered a record loss that served as the final sign that it needed to change its strategy to survive. In response, AMC changed its management and started working on a halo model that it hoped would help establish its performance credentials and boost sales, especially among younger buyers. The result was the AMX, a two-door, two-seat performance car developed to give the Chevrolet Corvette a run for its money.Mecum AuctionsThe AMX was a unique model because it blurred the line between muscle cars and sports cars, offering sports-car-like proportions and a two-seat layout wrapped in a muscular body and powered exclusively by V8s. The AMX's proportions ensured it was a joy to drive even when equipped with the entry-level 290 cubic-inch V8, but the real magic happened when buyers paired it with the top-of-the-range 390, which not only gave it a competitive power-to-weight ratio against some of the best muscle cars of the era but also came with beefed-up internals straight from the factory—all for less than $3,500.Being an AMC, the AMX doesn't get the same recognition as its Big Three rivals, but that's exactly why it's gaining traction. The 1970 model is special because it had the highest power rating, the lowest production numbers with only 4,116 units built, and was the last standalone two-seat AMX before the name transitioned to the AMC Javelin lineup. With an average price of around $44,700, the 1970 AMX is starting to make a lot of sense for collectors. 1971 Plymouth Duster 340 Estimated Value: $33,900 MecumBig-block cars dominate the muscle car conversation, but the 1971 Plymouth Duster 340 is a reminder that you don't always need big-block power to have a serious muscle car. The Duster debuted in 1970 to replace the Barracuda as Plymouth's A-body model, with the Barracuda moving to the larger E-body platform. Being a simple and lightweight model, the Duster didn't have a Hemi option in its engine lineup, but the top-tier 340 small-block ensured it could run with many larger big-block muscle cars at a fraction of the cost.Bring A TrailerThe high-revving 340 V8 made 275 horsepower at its peak in 1970 and 1971, but performance took a nosedive after the 1971 model year when Plymouth reduced compression ratios and power figures, which is one of the reasons why the 1971 Duster 340 has seen increasing collector interest in recent years. Still, with average prices in the $30,000-$40,000 range, the Duster 340 is one of the more affordable early '70s muscle cars. 1970 Mercury Cougar Eliminator Estimated Value: $25,500 Via Mecum AuctionsIn the late '60s, Mercury management felt they needed a high-impact version of the Cougar to capture young performance buyers and slug it out with popular pony cars like the Chevrolet Camaro SS396 and Pontiac Firebird Ram Air 400. The result was the Cougar Eliminator, a halo model that used aggressive visual cues and Ford's top-tier racing engines to lure buyers into dealerships.Via Mecum AuctionsThe Cougar Eliminator ran for two model years and only had three engine options in the final 1970 model year, including a 351 cubic-inch "Cleveland" V8 with 300 horsepower on tap, Ford's legendary 290-horsepower Boss 302 engine, and the torquey 428 Cobra Jet. With average values still below $50,000, the 351-powered Cougar Eliminator is one of the most affordable collector muscle cars, especially considering that the total Cougar Eliminator production count in 1970 was around 2,267 units. Boss 302 and Cobra Jet Cougar Eliminators command higher prices, but they're still below the $100,000 mark and offer better value than comparable Mustang variants in similar condition.Sources: Hagerty Valuation Tool, Mecum Auctions