Triumph TR7Derided at launch for its outlandish wedge styling, the TR7 provides an accessible route into British sports car ownership with its rigid monocoque chassis providing taut handling and excellent, comfortable cruising ability at a fraction of TR6 money. Fiat X1/9The Bertone-designed, mid-engined two-seater X1/9 is an ultra-pure supercar formula in a tiny, light package. Most early chrome-bumper 70s examples remain underappreciated by mass-market buyers and still deliver a razor-sharp handling balance few can beat for the cash. Porsche 924Once ostracized for not being air-cooled, the 924 has a near-ideal 50:50 weight distribution and the tried and tested front-engined layout. Good, original examples are now a far more achievable dream and still pack real Porsche engineering kudos. Rover SD1Aerodynamically styled and influenced by Ferrari concept cars, the V8-engined SD1 was a great feat of 1970s executive styling, but suffering from early build quality problems saw massive early depreciation, which has created bargains among surviving, cared-for cars.Datsun 260ZWhile the original 240Z is commanding a premium, its slightly longer-wheelbase brother, the 260Z, offers virtually identical styling and the same brilliant inline six, at a more accessible price with a greater, refined interior. Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTStyled by Giugiaro, the rear transaxle setup was pure class that, together with its race-bred twin-cam, provided fantastically accurate and balanced handling for the Alfetta GT. Volvo 262CIndividually assembled in Italy by Bertone and designed in-house, the chopped-roof luxury coupe that combined the robustness of a Volvo with outlandish custom style. The rare, weird and wonderful nature of the car makes it a unique collectible.Opel Manta BOvershadowed by the Ford Capri, the Manta B is just as capable with sharp handling and some serious rally pedigree, but prices remain more modest. Finding a sound original car is increasingly difficult but still offers great value for money. AMC Hornet SC/360AMC made a compact muscle car by dropping a huge V8 into its standard body, making it light, quick, and a genuinely potent muscle car that still holds potential for great gains; the standard owners can't even grasp a quarter of its capabilities. Ford Gran TorinoLong-forgotten and ignored in favour of early Mustangs, later 1970s models have all the classic American cruiser styling for huge comfort and cheap American V8 ownership with little or no of the price increases of the previous generation.
