The 5 Quickest Cars Of The 70s

A true icon of the late 1970s, the Porsche 911 Turbo 3.3 was a masterful piece of engineering that dared to redefine ‘performance’. Porsche fitted a turbocharger to its 3.3-litre flat-six, creating a mechanical union that delivered a strong surge of power as the revs climbed. Throw in an air-to-air intercooler, bigger brakes and placing the engine behind the rear axle and what we got was a Tiger shark that kept drivers on their toes, with their ears perked up and eyes dilated. Porsche introduced their distinctive rear spoiler, wide bodywork and stiffer suspension, making the 911 Turbo unmistakable in stance and character. The result was a car that demanded respect from its driver and helped cement Porsche’s performance legacy.

2. Ferrari 512 BB – 5.4 seconds*

The Ferrari 512 Berlinetta Boxer (BB) placed a mid-mounted naturally aspirated, 4.9-litre flat-12 capable of producing 360 Hp and around approximately 450 Nm of torque, giving the Ferrari formidable performance for its era. What made the Ferrari 512 BB special, besides its looks, was the configuration of its ‘boxer’ engine. Although Ferrari called it a “boxer”, the engine was technically a 180-degree V12 rather than a true boxer engine. This layout improved the 512 BB’s weight distribution (Front 40% | Rear 60%), helping the car perform better negotiate turns and bends.With a top speed of 302 km/h and a 0-100km/h time of 5.4 seconds, the Ferrari 512 BB succeeded its 365 GT4 BB predecessor with a roaring performance reflective of Ferrari’s DNA

3. Aston Martin V8 Vantage – 5.4 seconds*

Aston Martin released one of Britain’s most formidable performance luxury car when they launched the V8 Vantage in 1977. Rumoured to be “Britain’s first supercar”, the Aston Martin V8 Vantage roared into automotive history brandishing a deadly 5.3 litre V8 engine, fitted with larger carburettors, bigger valves and a higher compression that generated 385Hp of debonair fury. The V8 Vantage also received stiffer suspension and wider tyres, allowing the chassis to make better use of the additional power. Its muscular flanks, long bonnet and understated British styling gave it an imposing presence without sacrificing the refinement expected from an Aston Martin.

4. Lamborghini Countach LP400 – 5.7 seconds*

What do you get when you combine a mid-mounted 3.9-litre V12 with a five-speed manual gearbox and a lightweight tubular spaceframe chassis? A Lamborghini Countach masterpiece. A mechanical masterpiece that used it’s 3,929 cc V12 to produce around 375 Hp and 361Nm of torque. This much power allowed the Countach LP400 to sprint to 100km/h in 5.7 seconds and achieve a top speed of 315 km/h – not the quickest car on this list, but definitely the fastest. Designed by Marcello Gandini for Bertone, the Countach pioneered the wedge-shaped supercar profile that influenced performance-car design for decades. Its iconic scissor doors, extremely low stance proved extreme design could match extreme speed and be one of the quickest cars of the 70s.

The Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona was a front-engined grand tourer with a 4.4-litre V12 beneath its long bonnet. Ferrari fed the engine through six twin-choke Weber carburettors and partnered to the 365GTB’s five-speed gearbox. The transmission was positioned at the rear in a transaxle configuration, helping to improve the car’s weight distribution. Pininfarina gave the Daytona a distinctive fastback profile and Kamm-style tail, creating a shape that still turns heads today. Beneath the elegant bodywork, the V12 gave the Daytona exceptional performance for a front-engined GT.