A Guide to 1976 Cars
From beefy muscle cars to spacious family sedans, these are the best cars from 1976.
Written by Amber Reed
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
From the big and beefy
Chevrolet
Chevelle Laguna to the best-selling Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
, these are some of the best cars from 1976.The 1970s were a challenging time for the automobile industry. The federal government’s new vehicle safety and air quality laws were in effect, and for the first time carmakers had to prioritize function over power. Nevertheless, some cars managed to stand out in both style and performance—with the added benefit of better fuel economy.
In this guide from
super app
and car insurance
expert Jerry
, we’ll go over some far-out favorites from the 1976 model year. Can you dig it? Keep reading to find out.
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The best cars of 1976
With a stellar selection of family sedans, sports cars, wagons, and pickups, choosing the best 1976 vehicles was no easy task—but we’ve narrowed it down to seven of the year’s grooviest cars.
The best car of 1976: Chevrolet Chevelle Laguna
Market range: $2,425 to $4,650
Powertrain: 305 two-barrel V8, 350 two-barrel V8, or 400 four-barrel V8 w/ 3-speed automatic or 4-speed manual transmission
What makes it special:
By the mid-1970s, big muscle cars were beginning to fall out of favor to make way for smaller coupes and sportscars—but the Chevrolet Chevelle Laguna appealed to the modern market by combining its large, type-A platform with a sporty aesthetic.
The two-door, hardtop, rear-wheel drive Chevelle Laguna was very aerodynamic for the time, including elements like a
Camaro
-inspired suspension, a rear spoiler, and wedged front end. Notable features included a set of quirky, swiveling bucket seats and the large front air dam which would become wildly popular with car buyers until it was outlawed in 1978. The best luxury car of 1976: Lincoln Continental Mark IV
Market range: $5,500 to $24,200
Powertrain: 385 series 16-valve V8 w/ 3-speed automatic transmission
What makes it special:
The
Lincoln Continental Mark IV
was the very pinnacle of personal luxury vehicles in 1976. Car buyers could choose from a number of “design editions” (unique color schemes) and upscale features like a half-vinyl top, oval opera windows, chrome wheels, air conditioning, a two-tone leather interior, or an eight-track stereo. The car’s sprawling body was dominated by its huge front hood, which included a set of hidden headlights, a Rolls-Royce style grille, and a stand-up hood ornament. The trade-off, however, was a disproportionately small interior with only driver and front-passenger seats.
The best SUV of 1976: Jeep CJ-7
Market range: $9,000 to $16,000
Powertrain: 3.8L inline 6-cylinder w/ 3-speed manual transmission
What makes it special:
In a time long before crossovers dominated the market, options were limited when it came to sport utility vehicles that were also meant for cruising the highway. But in 1976, Jeep redesigned its iconic, adventure-ready CJ-5 to create the Jeep CJ-7.
Considered the predecessor to the modern
Jeep Wrangler
, it was the first version of the four-wheel drive vehicle that could also function as a daily driver thanks to the optional molded plastic top and steel doors. The best wagon of 1976: Buick Century Estate
Fair market range: $4,200 to $9,800
Powertrain: 6.6L V8 w/ 3-speed automatic transmission
What makes it special:
With 62 different wagon options available on the market in 1976, the
Buick
Century Estate stood out for its clamshell-style rear—where the power-operated glass slid into the roof, while the lower tailgate tucked itself into a recess under the cargo floor. This hide-away tailgate managed to solve the problem of opening your cargo door in tight spaces—an issue that frustrates some SUV owners even today. Not only were seventies’ garages much smaller than they are now, but drivers often had to parallel park their 20-foot-long wagons on crowded city streets. Being unhindered by rear doors made the process of unloading the groceries (or kids) much easier.
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Start earning nowThe best family car of 1976: Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
Market range: $4,775 to $11,950
Powertrain: 5.7L V8 or 7.5L V8 w/ 3-speed automatic transmission
What makes it special:
Not only was the
Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
the best family car of 1976, it was also one of the best-selling cars of the decade. With bench seats in both the front and rear, it had the ability to comfortably seat up to six people, making it a top pick for large families who didn’t want to deal with a cumbersome station wagon.For a starting price that was about 8% cheaper than a
Chevrolet Monte Carlo
, the Cutlass Supreme offered some premium options like air conditioning, velour seats, cruise control, sport mirrors, and an 8-track audio system. Plus, power-assisted everything—steering, brakes, windows, locks, seats, and trunk—provided car buyers with a level of convenience that was rare in 1976.The best sports car of 1976: Porsche 924
Market range: $1,000 to $12,000
Powertrain: 2.5L 4-cylinder w/ 4-speed manual or 3-speed automatic transmission
What makes it special:
An odd combination of
Volkswagen
and Audi
parts and an underpowered engine made the Porsche 924
somewhat controversial with devoted sports car enthusiasts. That said, its accessible starting price of just $9,995 made it one of the automaker’s most affordable options ever.And, to the delight of numerous car buyers who may have only dreamed of owning a Porsche prior to the release of the 924, it was also the automaker’s first car to be offered with a convenient, fully-automatic transmission.
The best truck of 1976: Ford F-150
Market range: $6,750 to $17,300
Powertrain:4.9L inline 6-cylinder, 5.9L V8, or 6.4L V8 w/ 3-speed manual or 3-speed automatic transmission
What makes it special:
After its introduction in 1975, the
Ford F-150
became the best-selling truck in America for the 1976 model year. It was a capable pickup, but its rise in popularity can be attributed to aesthetic and convenience features which had previously only been available in cars. These ranged from a push-button radio and air conditioning to special paint schemes and color-coordinated window molding and hubcaps. It also had a wide range of functional customization options, including four-wheel drive, two cab styles, power steering, a trailer tow hook, and more. What cars came out in 1976?
As the appeal of burly 1960s gas-guzzlers began to wane, the latter half of the 1970s saw a rise in smaller sedans and compact cars. Here are some of the great cars introduced in the 1976 model year.
Model | Vehicle type | Engine | Market range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Coupe | 2.8L inline 6-cylinder | $20,000 to $60,000 | Considered a collector car, and nicknamed “sharknose” for its tapered front end. | |
Hatchback | 1.4L or 1.6L inline 4-cylinder | $925 to $2,625 | Went on to become the best-selling small car in America for the 1979 and 1980 model years. | |
Sedan, wagon, or coupe | 3.7L 6-cylinder, 5.2L V8, or 5.9L V8 | $675 to $1,600 | Named MotorTrend’s Car of the Year in 1976. | |
Hatchback | $900 to $2,150 | 1.6L inline 4-cylinder | High demand in 1976 led to long delivery times and price markups. | |
Sedan | $10,000 to $20,000 | 2.4L inline 4-cylinder diesel | Made an appearance in the 2015 post-apocalyptic movie, Mad Max: Fury Road. |
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FAQs
What was the most popular car in 1976?
The most popular car in 1976 was the
Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
, with 454,552 units sold in that year alone.What was the fastest car in 1976?
When equipped with the V8 engine option, the
Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
was the fastest car of 1976, going from 0 to 60 mph in 6.8 seconds.Are you overpaying for car insurance?
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