1970s Luxury Cars That Have Lost Their Value Big Time

Depreciation hits nearly every car, with the average new vehicle losing about 30% of its value in the first two years, according to Kelley Blue Book. While some old cars eventually become classics and climb in price, a handful of 1970s models have gone the opposite way, they were super expensive when new but are surprisingly cheap today.

Take the 1978 Chrysler New Yorker Brougham, which cost $7,831 back then (about $40,100 today). com shows the average price for a ninth-generation New Yorker is just $9,230. 9 originally sold for around $38,491, which equals roughly $212,100 in today's dollars. 9 model at $30,200 to $33,900.

The Bentley T2 is another example. A 1977 model had a UK sticker price of £22,809, translating to nearly $40,000 at the time, about $220,000 today. But current Hagerty estimates place a late-'70s T2 in good condition at only $13,500, not much more than a decade-old Toyota Camry.

The Maserati Merak SS also dropped sharply: it sold for $21,683 in 1977 (roughly $253,500 today), yet now changes hands for an estimated $46,000 in good condition.

The Aston Martin Lagonda S2 originally carried a $79,500 sticker, which is about $365,700 after inflation. Today, late-'70s S2s in good condition command around $50,000, according to Hagerty. The Stutz Blackhawk, driven by Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, and the Shah of Iran, cost $26,500 in its first year (1971) and reportedly $74,000 by 1978, equal to about $379,000 in today's money.

Its current value sits near $28,200 in 2026.

Finally, the Rolls-Royce Camargue debuted in 1975 at £29,250, or $68,445, which is the equivalent of $424,850 today. Hagerty now estimates its value at only $33,500 in good order. Once the most expensive new car in the world, the Camargue's bulky styling and divisive looks likely kept its prices from recovering, making it affordable for buyers who want a piece of '70s luxury without the original price tag.