If you have some old junk from the 1970s buried in your basement or attic, you may be sitting on a gold mine.
Barbie dolls
Barbie has been around since the 50s, but there are certain versions from the 1970s that are seriously valuable. Quick Curl Barbie or the infamous Sun Lovin’ Malibu Barbie could earn you enough money to take your Barbie on a vacation of her own.
Like comic books, people value dolls that still have their original outfits/swimsuits/accessories, and even the box they came in.
Star Wars
Original Star Wars action figures from 1977 are some of the most valuable toys from the decade. A Jawa with a vinyl cape or Luke Skywalker with his double-telescoping lightsaber can retail for thousands.
Even common characters in their original packaging sell for enough to buy a used car.
Pyrex dishes
Believe it or not, not all vintage 1970s treasures come in the form of toys. Certain patterns of retro Pyrex can sell for hundreds to collectors looking to decorate with vintage dishes.
Patterns made exclusively in the 1970s, like Butterprint or Lucky in Love, fetch high prices on auction. Complete sets or rare colors in good condition (no chips) can sell for hundreds, if not thousands.
Vinyl records
Most vinyl records from the 1970s are common. But original pressings of epic albums can be valuable. Look for original copies of Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon or limited edition punk rock singles from the late ’70s.
Collectors want mint record covers, along with certain serial numbers that indicate it was one of the first pressed.
Comic books
The 1970s are known as the Bronze Age of comics. This was when comic book legends like Wolverine or Ghost Rider first appeared.
A great copy of Incredible Hulk #181 (The first appearance of Wolverine) can give you life-changing sums of money. However, if the book isn’t a major first appearance, plastic-sleeved comics that have been graded can still be worth some cash.
Classic games
1970s board games are coming back in style, and old school toys like “Simon” or your original Atari 2600 are worth something. Any console that was in production for only a couple of years is highly valuable.
Muscle cars
Got a 1970 Pontiac GTO or Plymouth Hemi Cuda just sitting in your barn? You are already halfway to the millionaire’s club.
The early 1970s were the height of the muscle car era in the United States. Even if your car is beat up and needs tons of work, you can probably sell the parts for more than you’ll ever need.
Corgi cars
Toy cars may not go as fast as real ones, but small-scale die-cast cars from the ’70s sell big. Brands like Corgi and Dinky are popular.
In addition, cars that featured in TV or movies from the 70s are always worth money, like the James Bond Aston Martin or the Batmobile from the popular 1966 TV series.
Lego sets
Retro typewriters from the groovy 1970s are worth a lot of money, especially certain funky models. Bold colors like orange, red, and lime green are always popular.
The Olivetti Valentine and colorful Sperry Remington brand typewriters are worth hundreds to writers and decorators who’ve never used one before.
Typewriters
The greatest writers ever didn’t have laptops; they had typewriters. Some portable typewriters were made in the 1970s.
The popular Olivetti Valentine or funky colored Sperry Remington typewriters are two of the most common typewriters that fetch high prices with collectors and decorators who like the retro look. Models in bright colors like orange, red, or lime green are the most valuable.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
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