Every spring, serious car enthusiasts start watching the calendar with anticipation, and this year is no different. From March 17–21, State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, transforms into hallowed ground for collectors and dreamers alike, as Mecum Auction brings one of the country’s most celebrated classic car events to the desert.
The lineup is stacked with muscle machines, European icons, and everything in between — the kind of cars that make you stop mid-scroll and reconsider your entire life plan. Whether you’re showing up with a bidder’s card or just soaking in the atmosphere, the 1970s offerings alone are worth the trip.
Here’s a look at eight standout machines from that golden decade that are heading to Glendale this spring.
1970 Pontiac Grand Prix SJ
There’s something about a Grand Prix SJ that commands respect before you even pop the hood.
This 1970 example brings the thunder with a 455 cubic inch big block V-8 under the hood, backed by an automatic transmission that keeps things smooth and effortless on the open road. The car rolls on PMD Rally II wheels and features bucket seats with a console, giving it that perfect blend of personal luxury and muscle car attitude Pontiac was so good at during this era.
It’s a factory air car with power steering and power brakes, which means it was well-equipped from the start and has clearly been cared for since — the original interior and recent restoration speak to that. The vinyl top ties the whole look together in classic early-70s grand touring style.
If you’ve ever wanted a big, bold Pontiac that turns heads at every cruise night, this one deserves a long look in Glendale.
1975 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible
Dropping the top on a mid-70s Corvette convertible is one of life’s simple pleasures, and this 1975 example is ready to deliver that experience in a serious way.
Under the hood sits a 350 cubic inch ZZ4 V-8 with aluminum cylinder heads, breathing hard and making power through a Tremec 5-speed manual transmission — so yes, you’ll actually be rowing gears the way nature intended. Side pipes, new wheels and tires, and a black bucket seat interior with leather seats round out a package that looks and sounds the part from every angle. Factory air conditioning means you’re covered when the Arizona sun reminds you why convertibles were invented.
Perhaps the most impressive detail here is the estimated $40,000 in documented build receipts that come with the car, along with the original window sticker — real money was spent to make this Corvette exceptional, and the paperwork proves it.
1972 Ford Mustang Mach 1
Ask any Mustang fan what they think of the Mach 1, and you’ll probably need to clear your schedule for the next hour.
This 1972 example is powered by a 351 cubic inch Q-code Cobra Jet V-8 wearing dual exhaust, channeling its output through a 3-speed automatic transmission. Blue paint with black accents gives it that unmistakable early-70s Mustang muscle car attitude, while 14-inch Magnum 500-style wheels on Firestone Firehawk tires keep everything planted. Inside, the black vinyl upholstery with gray accents pairs nicely with a woodgrain steering wheel and matching interior trim, and there’s even an AM/FM/8-track player for the full period-correct experience.
A center console and front disc brakes round out a well-sorted package, and the Deluxe Marti Report confirms the car’s documented history for buyers who care about the details — which, at Mecum, most of them do.
1972 Plymouth Satellite
Sassy Grass Green. Even the color name on this 1972 Plymouth Satellite has personality, and the car itself backs it up completely.
Built as a Road Runner replica with proper emblems, it’s wearing a 440 cubic inch V-8 paired with a 727 TorqueFlite automatic transmission — a drivetrain combination that Mopar faithful have celebrated for decades, and for good reason. The hood scoop and rear wing mean business visually, slotted mag wheels give it an aggressive stance, and provisions for exhaust cut-outs suggest whoever built this had strong opinions about how a car should sound. Inside, a black bucket seat interior keeps the cabin purposeful and driver-focused.
This is the kind of car that earns a second look in any parking lot, and at Mecum Glendale, it’s going to draw a crowd every time someone fires it up.
1978 Volkswagen Super Beetle Convertible
Not every great car from the 1970s was about cubic inches and tire smoke — and this 1978 Volkswagen Super Beetle Convertible is here to make that case with charm to spare.
Wearing a clean white exterior with a black convertible top, Karmann badging, chrome bumpers, and polished trim, it looks exactly like what it is: a well-preserved piece of automotive history that knew exactly what it wanted to be. The 1600cc fuel-injected air-cooled flat-four and 4-speed manual transmission keep things simple and honest, which is kind of the whole point with a Beetle. A black leatherette interior and VDO speedometer with inset fuel gauge give the cabin a tidy, purposeful feel, while rear fender gravel guards and steel wheels with VW logo hubcaps preserve the original character.
Classic Beetle buyers know that finding a clean, honest example with a proper Karmann-built soft top is genuinely difficult, which makes this one worth serious attention.
1972 Porsche 914 Custom
This is the kind of car that makes people stop and stare while their brain quietly tries to figure out what it’s looking at.
What started as a 1972 Porsche 914 has been transformed through a comprehensive custom restoration that reads like a love letter to creative engineering. Purchased from the original family owners in 2003 and treated to a professionally installed Rayco body kit in St. Louis in 2004, this car runs a JaideCar 350 cubic-inch V-8, built and installed by Budlong Motorsports in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with the engine rebuilt again in 2016 to keep it fresh.
A T56 5-speed manual transmission and 10-inch clutch handle the power transfer, while Bremtek Racing 4-wheel disc brakes keep stopping distances honest. The Bright Red clearcoat finish ties everything together visually and makes sure nobody misses it in a crowded auction lot.
If you appreciate cars that represent genuine craft and vision rather than factory specifications, this 914 is a fascinating find.
1970 Chevrolet Camaro Custom Coupe
A first-gen Camaro built the right way is special, and this 1970 custom coupe has clearly been done with care.
With only 4,000 miles since restoration, it’s essentially broken in at this point — which means the next owner can put real miles on a car that’s already been properly sorted. The 5.7-liter LS V-8 and Turbo 400 automatic make for a reliable, modern-feeling powertrain wearing classic sheet metal, while Hotchkis suspension and Wilwood brakes bring the chassis into the 21st century without sacrificing the car’s identity.
Synergy Green with black stripes is a bold color combination that photographs beautifully and looks even better in person, and the chrome delete keeps the exterior look clean and purposeful. The black interior completes a package that feels cohesive from every angle — this isn’t a car built by accident.
It’s a Camaro built with a clear vision of what it should be.
1970 Jaguar E-Type Series II Roadster
Few cars in history carry the kind of reputation the E-Type Jaguar does, and this 1970 Series II Roadster takes that legacy and adds a fresh chapter.
Like the Camaro above, this one comes with 4,000 miles since restoration and wears Synergy Green with black stripes — a striking combination on the E-Type’s long, flowing bodywork that gives it a personality distinct from the traditional British racing colors. The chrome delete keeps the exterior modern and aggressive, while Hotchkis suspension and Wilwood brakes bring real-world performance to what is otherwise an icon of style over practicality. Under the long hood sits a 5.7-liter LS V-8 working through a Turbo 400 automatic, which means reliability and parts availability are no longer the adventure they once were on a vintage British sports car.
For buyers who want the drama and presence of a classic E-Type without the traditional ownership anxieties, this custom build makes a genuinely compelling argument.
Don’t Miss Mecum Glendale This Spring
State Farm Stadium is going to be buzzing from March 17–21, and lineups like this are exactly why Mecum consistently draws enthusiasts from across the country to its events. From big-block Pontiacs to restomod Jaguars, from a charming VW Beetle to a Porsche 914 hiding a V-8 surprise, the range of machines heading to Glendale this spring reflects just how broad and diverse the collector car world really is. There’s something at this auction for the muscle car loyalist, the European sports car admirer, and the creative custom build enthusiast — sometimes all wrapped up in the same bidder. Whether you’re planning to bid or simply planning to walk the floor and take it all in, the 1970s alone are putting on quite a show.
Glendale this March is shaping up to be an event worth marking on the calendar.