Curiously, the Italian wedge design of the Lotus Esprit was rooted in the famous 1972 Italdesign concept created by Giorgetto Giugiaro. This design allowed the Lotus Esprit to look like it could rival some of the fastest sports cars on the market in the 70s. 

However, the performance of this sports car was somewhat inferior to its competition. Despite the slightly lackluster 2-liter four-cylinder engine equipped in the 1976 Lotus Esprit, this model still became a classic. This is because this model could produce 160 horsepower due to its incredible lightweight that grossed 1,979 pounds. 

Equipped with some other notable mechanical features, the 1976 Lotus Esprit was definitely one of the finest mid-engined cars of its generation capable of superb handling and control.

10. Maserati Khamsin

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Those who wanted a 1970s sports car that made long travels a breeze often opted for the 1974 Maserati Khamsin. Additionally, this sports car was admired for its stylistic design that was left intact despite the stringent US-spec regulations. 

The 1974 Maserati Khamsin was one of the most comfortable sports cars because of its Citroen hydraulic system. This specialized system powered the steering, suspension, brakes, and popup headland pods. Furthermore, this model featured a 3.9-liter V8 engine which provided adequate power for when you needed it to perform. 

In 2016 a low millage restored Maserati Khamsin in a striking Gallo color that appeared on the show Jay Leno’s Garage went on auction. When bought, the model fetched an impressive $139,000

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