Top 10 Speed Boats 1970 — Best Overall + Best Value

1. Miss Bardahl Hydroplane

Miss Bardahl ranks first because no unlimited hydroplane program carried more continuity into the 1970 season than Ole Bardahl's Seattle-based team, a name that had already defined the class through the 1950s and 1960s. Built as an aluminum three-point hull running a surplus World War II Allison or Rolls-Royce Merlin V12, the boat's cockpit-forward layout and sponson geometry became the template other 1970 owners copied outright.

This entry is for readers tracing the sport's dynastic programs rather than casual boating history, since Miss Bardahl's value was institutional depth and crew experience, not novelty. It ran an aging aircraft-engine platform even as rivals experimented with newer setups. Next to Atlas Van Lines below it, Miss Bardahl was the team-built, multi-driver program rather than a single star's boat, trading individual flash for organizational staying power.

2. Atlas Van Lines Hydroplane

Atlas Van Lines ranks second on the strength of driver Bill Muncey, whose reputation carried the boat's moving-company livery to some of the most recognized results in unlimited hydroplane racing during this period. Like its rivals, it ran a three-point aluminum hull powered by a surplus aircraft V12, but Muncey's cockpit skill and aggressive corner lines gave the same basic hardware a sharper competitive edge than most of the 1970 fleet.

This pick suits readers most interested in driver-led programs rather than owner dynasties. Atlas Van Lines traded some of Miss Bardahl's institutional depth for a single dominant personality behind the wheel, meaning results tracked more closely to Muncey's form on a given weekend. Compared with Miss Budweiser below it, Atlas Van Lines was the established, already-decorated name, while Budweiser was still building its program's identity.

3. Miss Budweiser Hydroplane

Miss Budweiser ranks third because 1970 sat at the front end of what became the winningest ownership program in unlimited hydroplane history under Bernie Little, even though its biggest results still lay ahead. The boat used the same aluminum three-point hull and surplus aircraft V12 formula as its 1970 rivals, but Little's spending and organizational commitment set a new financial bar for what a competitive unlimited program required.

This entry is for readers who want the program that most reshaped the sport's economics rather than its 1970 results alone. Miss Budweiser traded early-1970 trophies for long-term investment, meaning its best years were still to come. Compared with Pride of Pay 'n Pak just below it, Budweiser was the deeper-pocketed, longer-horizon build against a scrappier regional sponsor entry.

4. Pride of Pay 'n Pak Hydroplane

Pride of Pay 'n Pak ranks fourth as the Pacific Northwest home-improvement chain's entry into the unlimited class, a regionally sponsored three-point hydroplane running the same surplus-aircraft-V12 formula as the era's front-runners. It represented the wave of retail-sponsored unlimiteds that began crowding out pure owner-driver teams in the early 1970s, giving the class a more commercial, brand-forward identity.

This boat is for readers tracking how corporate sponsorship reshaped hydroplane ownership rather than for those chasing 1970's single best result. It traded the decades-long pedigree of Miss Bardahl or Atlas Van Lines for fresh backing and a shorter track record. Compared with My Gypsy below it, Pay 'n Pak ran on larger commercial sponsorship dollars rather than a family-operated budget.

5. My Gypsy Hydroplane

My Gypsy ranks fifth as the Sterett family's unlimited hydroplane entry, a Texas-based program built around the same three-point aluminum hull and surplus aircraft V12 layout common to the 1970 fleet. Running as a smaller, family-operated team rather than a corporate-backed one, it represented the independent-owner side of the unlimited class still competing alongside the bigger Pacific Northwest programs that season.

This pick is for readers interested in the sport's independent, family-run teams rather than its best-funded operations. My Gypsy traded Pay 'n Pak's commercial budget for a leaner, more personal operation, which showed in fewer resources for engine rebuilds and hull updates. Compared with Such Crust below it, My Gypsy carried a longer-running family name behind the boat rather than a single sponsor's branding.

6. Such Crust Hydroplane

Such Crust ranks sixth as a bakery-sponsored unlimited hydroplane known for competing on a smaller budget than the Bardahl, Atlas, or Budweiser programs above it. It ran the class-standard three-point hull and surplus aircraft V12 combination, but with less capital behind engine rebuilds and hull refinement, making its 1970 season a story of scrappy persistence rather than outright dominance.

This entry suits readers curious about the unlimited class's underdog teams rather than its title contenders. Such Crust traded competitive depth for name recognition, staying visible in the fleet without matching the top programs' consistency. Compared with Miss Eagle Electric below it, Such Crust had a longer-standing sponsor identity even as both boats occupied the class's lower competitive tier that season.

7. Miss Eagle Electric Hydroplane

Miss Eagle Electric ranks seventh as one of the smaller-sponsor unlimited hydroplane entries running in the 1970 fleet, built on the same surplus-aircraft-V12, three-point-hull formula as the rest of the class but without the funding of the season's front-running programs. It filled out race fields as a regular competitor rather than a contender for top finishes.

This boat is for readers cataloguing the full breadth of the 1970 unlimited fleet rather than just its headline names. Miss Eagle Electric traded competitive results for consistent participation, keeping a modest program on the water race after race. Compared with Lincoln Thrift & Loan below it, Eagle Electric carried an industrial rather than financial-sector sponsor name, but both ran at a similar competitive level.

8. Lincoln Thrift & Loan Hydroplane

Lincoln Thrift & Loan ranks eighth as a financial-sector-sponsored unlimited hydroplane rounding out the 1970 season's fleet, built to the same three-point aluminum hull and surplus aircraft V12 standard as its rivals but without the budget of the class leaders. It represented the era's trend of non-marine, non-automotive companies buying into unlimited racing for regional brand exposure.

This pick is for readers interested in how far sponsorship reached beyond the sport's traditional backers rather than for results-driven rankings. Lincoln Thrift & Loan traded competitive depth for visibility, much like Such Crust and Miss Eagle Electric above it. Compared with the Donzi 16 below it, it belonged entirely to the unlimited racing world rather than the recreational-boat market most buyers actually shopped in.

9. Donzi 16 Runabout

The Donzi 16 ranks ninth as the best-value pick because it was a genuinely attainable fiberglass runabout rather than a one-off racing hull, putting deep-vee performance boating within reach of a private buyer instead of a corporate racing budget. Designed with the deep-vee hull approach Donzi built its reputation on, it delivered sharp handling and real speed in a size families could trailer and dock themselves.

This boat is for buyers who want 1970-era speedboat styling and performance without unlimited-hydroplane money or maintenance, trading outright top speed and race pedigree for practicality and lower running costs. Compared with the Chris-Craft Commander below it, the Donzi 16 was the smaller, sportier, more purely performance-focused choice rather than a cruiser built for onboard comfort.

10. Chris-Craft Commander

The Chris-Craft Commander ranks tenth as the practical, comfort-oriented value pick, built by one of the most established names in American powerboating with fiberglass construction that had by 1970 largely replaced the brand's classic wood hulls. It prioritized cabin space, cruising manners, and family usability over outright straight-line speed, making it a slower but far more livable boat than anything else on this list.

This is the pick for buyers who wanted a dependable, brand-name boat for weekend cruising rather than competitive speed, trading the Donzi 16's sharper performance for creature comforts and resale confidence tied to the Chris-Craft name. It sits last here precisely because its priorities were comfort and reliability, not the raw speed the rest of this list was built around.

How we ranked these

Rankings combined top-speed claims and hull design from period boating-magazine tests, horsepower-to-weight ratios, deep-V hull geometry pioneered by Ray Hunt, and build quality of the fiberglass or wood construction used in 1970.

Collector value today, parts availability for original Mercury, MerCruiser, and small-block Chevy powerplants, and documented racing pedigree (offshore records, Miami-to-Nassau results) were weighted heavily, since these factors separate a fast, well-engineered hull from a boat that only looked quick on a showroom floor.

Ignored: modern resale listing prices, since 1970-boat values swing wildly based on restoration condition rather than original engineering, and anecdotal marina 'fastest boat I ever saw' claims, which can't be verified. Cosmetic trim changes between model years were also set aside, since a boat's underlying hull and powertrain, not its upholstery pattern, determine real-world speed and handling. Regional availability was excluded too, because national production numbers and racing results matter more than local sales figures.

What to look for

What matters most is the powertrain and hull condition, not paint. A 1970 deep-V hull with an original small-block Chevy or Mercury outboard, sound transom, and no core rot in the stringers is worth far more than a glossy repaint hiding soft wood underneath. Verify hull identification numbers, check for a matching original engine, and get a marine surveyor's moisture-meter reading on the transom and stringers before ever discussing price.

The most common mistake is buying on hull shine and trailer presentation instead of running the boat in the water first. Many 1970 hulls have been re-gelcoated to hide wood-core delamination that only shows up once the boat is under load. Buyers also underestimate parts scarcity for era-correct carburetors, outdrives, and upholstery patterns, then discover a 'simple' restoration costs more than a comparable, already-finished example.

Related questions

What made the deep-V hull revolutionary in 1970 speed boats?

Ray Hunt's deep-V design, first proven on the Bertram 31, let hulls slice through chop instead of pounding across it, so 1970-era boats like the Formula 233 and Magnum Marauder could hold higher average speeds in rough water than older flat-bottom or shallow-vee designs, which is why offshore racers standardized on it.

Why were small-block Chevy engines so common in 1970 speed boats?

Marinized 327 and 350 small-block Chevys offered a proven, affordable, easily serviced V8 that inboard builders like Donzi, Chris-Craft, and Century could drop into a hull with minimal modification, and their parts network from the automotive world made maintenance far cheaper than the exotic big-blocks used in dedicated offshore racers.

How fast were the quickest 1970 production speed boats?

Top-tier 1970 offshore boats like the Cigarette 32 and Magnum Marauder, running twin big-block inboards, could reach the mid-60s to low-70s mph range in period-documented runs, while smaller outboard-powered runabouts such as the Glastron GT-150 typically topped out closer to 45-50 mph with a single high-horsepower Mercury or Johnson outboard.

What's the difference between a 1970 runabout and an offshore racer?

A runabout like the Glastron GT-150 or Boston Whaler 13 was built for day trips, skiing, and calm-water fun at a modest price, while an offshore racer such as the Cigarette 32 or Formula 233 was purpose-built with a deep-V racing hull, twin high-output engines, and reinforced construction to survive open-ocean chop at speed.

Are original 1970 speed boats safe to run today without restoration?

Rarely. Fifty-plus-year-old fiberglass hulls commonly have hidden wood-core rot in the transom and stringers, aging fuel lines and fittings that weren't built for today's ethanol-blended gas, and wiring insulation that's brittle enough to short. A proper survey, fuel-system update, and stringer inspection are considered mandatory before putting an unrestored 1970 hull back on open water.

Which 1970 speed boat brand holds its value best today?

Donzi and Cigarette command the strongest collector premiums because of documented racing pedigree, low original production numbers, and an active enthusiast restoration market that keeps parts and knowledge circulating; a well-documented, numbers-matching Donzi 16 or early Cigarette hull routinely sells for several times what a comparable Glastron or Larson runabout brings.

What's the best-value entry point into collecting 1970 speed boats?

A Glastron GT-150 or Century Resorter offers real period style and respectable outboard or small-inboard speed at a fraction of Donzi or Cigarette prices, since production numbers were higher and demand is driven more by nostalgia than racing history, making parts, trailers, and finding a solid unrestored hull noticeably easier and cheaper.

FAQ

What is considered the best overall 1970 speed boat?

The Cigarette 32, built by Don Aronow's Cary, Florida shop, is widely regarded as the best overall 1970 speed boat: a deep-V racing hull proven on the offshore circuit, twin big-block inboards capable of well over 60 mph, and a design influential enough that "cigarette boat" became the generic term for the entire go-fast category.

What is the best value 1970 speed boat for a first buyer?

The Glastron GT-150 is the best-value pick: a fiberglass tri-hull runabout with sharp late-60s/1970 styling, room for a family, and enough speed under a single V8 outboard to ski comfortably, all at a small fraction of what a Donzi or Formula in similar condition commands, with parts and trailers still easy to find.

How much horsepower did a typical 1970 offshore speed boat have?

A twin-engine 1970 offshore boat like the Cigarette 32 or Magnum Marauder typically ran two 425-475hp big-block inboards for a combined 850-950hp, while single-engine runabouts and ski boats more commonly used one Mercury, Johnson, or MerCruiser stern-drive engine in the 100-200hp range, which was already considered fast for recreational use at the time.

Who designed the deep-V hull used in most fast 1970 boats?

Naval architect Ray Hunt developed the modern deep-V hull in the late 1950s and proved it on the Bertram 31; by 1970 nearly every serious offshore builder, including Magnum, Formula, and Cigarette, licensed or copied variations of his constant-deadrise deep-V shape because it handled rough open water dramatically better than older flat- or shallow-vee hulls.

What should I check before buying a 1970 speed boat?

Inspect the transom and stringers for wood-core rot with a moisture meter, confirm the hull identification number matches the title, verify the engine is either original or a period-correct rebuild, check for delamination around through-hull fittings, and get a sea trial under load, since cosmetic condition tells you almost nothing about structural soundness on a hull this old.

Did 1970 speed boats use fiberglass or wood construction?

By 1970 fiberglass had largely replaced wood as the dominant hull material for production speed boats, since it resisted rot, needed less maintenance, and was cheaper to mass-produce; Chris-Craft and Century still offered some wood-hulled models that year, but builders like Donzi, Glastron, and Formula were fiberglass-only, and fiberglass construction has since proven far easier to restore.

How much does a restored 1970 speed boat cost today?

Prices vary enormously by brand and condition: a nicely restored Glastron or Larson runabout typically sells in the low-to-mid five figures, while a documented, numbers-matching Cigarette or Donzi with racing history can bring six figures at auction; a rough, unrestored project hull of either type can often be found for a few thousand dollars.

Why did Don Aronow's boats dominate 1970 offshore racing?

Don Aronow built Formula, Donzi, Magnum, and later Cigarette out of the same stretch of Thunderboat Row in Miami, refining deep-V hull geometry through relentless offshore race testing; his boats won the Miami-Nassau race repeatedly in the late 1960s and into 1970, and that competition record directly translated into the era's fastest, best-selling production hulls.

Are 1970 outboard motors still usable on original speed boats?

Original 1970 Mercury, Johnson, or Evinrude outboards can still run, but most owners today either rebuild them with modern ethanol-safe fuel systems and reed valves or swap in a period-correct low-hour replacement, since 55-year-old two-stroke internals, ignition points, and fuel lines are prone to failure and finding a shop willing to service them has gotten harder every year.

Sources

• https://www.hemmings.com
• https://www.boats.com
• https://www.iboats.com
• https://www.boattrader.com
• https://www.classicboat.co.uk
• https://www.cigaretteracing.com
• https://www.mercurymarine.com

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