Top 10 SUVs and 4x4s 1970 — Best Overall + Best Value

Direct Answer

The best overall SUV of 1970 was the Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40, a stout, simple, body-on-frame 4x4 whose 3.9-liter F-series six and bulletproof drivetrain made it the most durable recreational truck money could buy that year at a 1970 MSRP of about $3,200. The best value was the brand-new Chevrolet K5 Blazer, which delivered a removable hardtop, big-truck running gear, and optional small-block V8 power for a 1970 base MSRP of roughly $3,050 — more capability per dollar than anything else on the lot. 1970 sat at the early golden age of the recreational 4x4: the K5 Blazer was only its second model year, the FJ40 was hitting its stride, the first-gen Bronco was at its purest, and the Scout still owned the compact-utility idea it invented.

What follows ranks the ten that mattered most.

How We Ranked the Top 10

We weighted each truck against the priorities a 1970 buyer cared about, then added a nod to how the market has treated them since:

• Off-road capability — 25%: axle articulation, ground clearance, low-range gearing, and trail credibility.
• Durability — 25%: how long the drivetrain, frame, and body survived hard use and neglect.
• Value in period — 15%: capability and equipment per 1970 dollar.
• Versatility — 15%: how well one truck covered work, family, and recreation.
• Character — 10%: the styling, sound, and personality that made each memorable.
• Collectibility now — 10%: how the model has performed as a vintage 4x4 asset.

Sources include period road tests, Hagerty Valuation Tools, Bring a Trailer and Cars and Bids auction results, manufacturer spec sheets, and Wikipedia histories. Horsepower figures are SAE gross ratings, the 1970 standard.

1. Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 🏆 BEST OVERALL

1970 MSRP: $3,200 | Best for: Buyers who valued indestructibility over comfort

The FJ40 was powered by Toyota's 3.9-liter F-series inline-six making roughly 125 hp gross, with a part-time 4WD system, granny-geared transfer case, and beam axles front and rear. Crude, loud, and slow, its overbuilt drivetrain and thick steel earned a global reputation for going anywhere and never quitting — the truck that put Toyota on the off-road map.

Clean, original FJ40s routinely trade in the high-$40,000s to mid-$50,000s in Hagerty #2 condition.

Pros:

• Legendary reliability that outlasted nearly every rival
• Simple, fixable mechanicals any owner could service
• Beam-axle 4WD with serious low-range crawling and blue-chip collector status

Cons:

• Spartan, noisy, and slow by even 1970 standards
• Rust-prone bodies make clean survivors scarce

Verdict: The most durable and most appreciated 4x4 of 1970.

2. Chevrolet K5 Blazer 💎 BEST VALUE

1970 MSRP: $3,050 | Best for: Families wanting one truck for work, trail, and weekend fun

New for 1969 and barely a year old in 1970, the K5 Blazer took Chevrolet's K-series truck running gear, shortened the wheelbase, and added a fully removable hardtop. The optional 350 small-block V8 made about 170 hp gross, with inline-six base power for thrift, on a part-time 4WD system with a solid front axle.

It undercut the bigger International and Jeep wagons while offering more comfort and open-air fun than the tiny Bronco or Scout. First-gen K5s in good condition commonly bring $25,000 to $50,000 plus today.

Pros:

• Most capability and comfort per dollar in the field
• Removable hardtop for genuine open-air driving
• Proven small-block V8 plus strong, rising collector demand

Cons:

• Notorious rust in floors, rockers, and tailgate area
• Thirsty V8 with modest period fuel economy

Verdict: The smartest all-around buy of 1970 — our best value.

3. Ford Bronco

1970 MSRP: $3,665 (V8 wagon) | Best for: Trail purists who wanted compact agility

The first-generation Bronco was at its purest in 1970, its optional 302 V8 making about 205 hp gross and a short, nimble wheelbase making it a favorite in the dirt and on the early Baja scene. Coil-spring front suspension gave it a ride and articulation edge over leaf-sprung rivals.

Early Broncos are now one of the hottest vintage 4x4 markets anywhere — driver-grade trucks start in the mid-$30,000s and restored examples clear $100,000.

Pros:

• Coil-sprung front end for ride and articulation
• Compact, agile dimensions ideal for tight trails
• Optional 302 V8 plus explosive collector appreciation

Cons:

• Cramped interior versus full-size wagons
• Prices have outrun its original budget-truck mission

Verdict: The enthusiast's choice and a runaway classic-market star.

4. International Harvester Scout 800A

1970 MSRP: $3,200 | Best for: Buyers who wanted the original compact utility

International invented the compact 4x4 segment with the Scout, and the 800A carried it through 1970 with engines from a 196 four-cylinder around 111 hp up to the optional 304 V8. Tough, boxy, and configurable with removable tops, it was the truck the Bronco was built to chase.

Most shipped with four-cylinders, making V8 cars rare; clean Scouts now bring $20,000 to $40,000.

Pros:

• Segment pioneer with proven, simple engineering
• Wide engine range from thrifty four to torquey V8
• Removable tops and rising, still-attainable values

Cons:

• Heavy rust tendencies in unrestored trucks
• Modest base four-cylinder performance

Verdict: The truck that started the segment, now a genuine classic.

5. Jeep Wagoneer (SJ)

1970 MSRP: $4,400 | Best for: Families wanting a comfortable do-everything wagon

1970 was the last year Kaiser owned Jeep before AMC took over, and the Wagoneer remained the upscale full-size 4x4 wagon of the era. The Buick-derived 350 Dauntless V8 made about 230 hp gross through an available automatic — a rare luxury-and-capability mix in a 4x4. (Full-time Quadra-Trac arrived in 1972; 1970 cars used selectable 4WD.) Early SJ Wagoneers, roots of the modern luxury SUV, now run $20,000 to $40,000.

Pros:

• Genuine four-door family practicality with 4WD
• Comfortable, car-like cabin for its day
• Available V8 and automatic, the luxury-SUV ancestor

Cons:

• Big, heavy, and thirsty compared with compacts
• Complex trim and electrics can be costly to restore

Verdict: The civilized full-size choice and founding father of the modern SUV.

6. GMC Jimmy

1970 MSRP: $3,100 | Best for: Buyers wanting the K5 with a slightly upscale face

Launched for 1970 as the badge-engineered twin of the K5 Blazer, the GMC Jimmy shared the Chevrolet's chassis, removable hardtop, and engine lineup — including the 350 small-block — under a distinct quad-headlight nose. Functionally it was a Blazer, which means it was excellent, and lower production makes a clean one rarer.

Values track the K5, generally $25,000 to $45,000.

Pros:

• All the K5's strengths in a rarer package
• Distinct quad-headlight styling for those who wanted it
• Same removable hardtop and proven GM mechanicals

Cons:

• Same rust vulnerabilities as the Blazer
• Little real difference from its Chevrolet twin

Verdict: A Blazer in a sharper suit — just as good, scarcer.

7. Chevrolet Suburban (K10 4x4)

1970 MSRP: $3,700 | Best for: Big families and haulers who needed maximum space

The 4x4 Suburban was the era's people-and-cargo champion, on the K10 truck chassis with solid axles, leaf springs, and small-block or big-block V8 power. No other 1970 4x4 offered this much enclosed room — the choice for large families, ranchers, and anyone towing far off the pavement. Clean 4x4s now bring roughly $20,000 to $40,000.

Pros:

• Unmatched passenger and cargo space
• Heavy-duty truck chassis built to work
• Strong V8 options plus steadily appreciating values

Cons:

• Huge and ponderous on tight trails
• Heavy fuel appetite under load

Verdict: The ultimate 1970 family hauler when space came first.

8. Land Rover Series IIA

1970 MSRP: $3,900 | Best for: Overlanders and purists chasing rugged simplicity

The Series IIA brought British expedition pedigree to 1970, powered most often by a 2.25-liter four-cylinder of around 70 hp with selectable 4WD and freewheeling front hubs. Slow and basic, it was built for remote, self-reliant travel and earned a worldwide reputation in the toughest terrain, its alloy panels resisting rot even as the steel frame rusts.

Clean U.S.-market IIAs typically trade around $25,000 to $35,000 today.

Pros:

• Expedition-bred ruggedness and simplicity
• Aluminum body panels that resist corrosion
• Real global off-road heritage and field-repairable mechanicals

Cons:

• Very slow and spartan for road use
• Rust-prone steel frame beneath the alloy skin

Verdict: The overlander's purist pick — capability over comfort.

9. Jeep Jeepster Commando

1970 MSRP: $3,200 | Best for: Buyers wanting Jeep capability with a touch more style

The C101 Jeepster Commando offered a more stylish, civilized take on Jeep 4x4 motoring, with an optional Buick-derived Dauntless 225 V6 making about 160 hp gross and an available automatic. Body styles ran from open roadster to wagon, a versatility few rivals matched. Low volume makes survivors uncommon; values land in the $15,000 to $30,000 range.

Pros:

• Multiple body styles including open roadster
• Torquey optional V6 with automatic available
• Distinct, stylish look at still-attainable prices

Cons:

• Weak base four-cylinder in standard form
• Lower production complicates parts hunts

Verdict: A characterful, undervalued Jeep alternative for patient collectors.

10. Dodge Power Wagon (W200)

1970 MSRP: $3,600 | Best for: Buyers who needed a hard-working 4x4 truck above all

The W200 Power Wagon carried Dodge's heavy-duty toughness into 1970, with V8 power — including the 383 — through stout solid axles and a no-nonsense part-time 4WD system. A working truck first, it was prized by farms, fire departments, and utility crews for hauling where lighter rigs stopped.

As a classic it trails the recreational SUVs in glamour but has firmed up, with good W200s now roughly $18,000 to $31,000.

Pros:

• Genuine heavy-duty toughness for real work
• Strong V8 options including the 383
• Stout axles and 4WD with practical, honest appeal

Cons:

• Crude and utilitarian as a passenger vehicle
• Less collector cachet than the SUV crowd

Verdict: The unglamorous workhorse of 1970 — still a tough, honest buy.

Buyer Decision Tree — Which One Was Right for You?

What to Look For in a 1970 SUV / 4x4 (Then and as a Classic Now)

• Rust above all: floors, rockers, tailgates, and cab corners on the GM trucks; alloy panels save Land Rovers but their steel frames still rot. It is the number-one value killer here.
• Frame integrity: probe the boxed and C-channel frames for crash repair, off-road damage, and rot at suspension mounts. A clean frame beats any cosmetic detail.
• Drivetrain health: confirm the transfer case engages both ranges, the front axle drives, and the hubs lock; listen for axle whine and differential leaks.
• Originality: matching-numbers engines, correct colors, and intact removable hardtops command premiums; swaps and missing tops cut value.
• Matters less than nostalgia implies: flawless paint and a perfect interior are easy and predictable to redo, so do not overpay for cosmetics. A straight frame, solid floors, and a sound drivetrain matter far more than a shiny respray, which buyers often overweight out of sentiment.

FAQ

What was the best overall SUV of 1970? The Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40, for its unmatched durability, simple beam-axle 4WD, and the strongest long-term collector appreciation of the field.

What was the best value SUV of 1970? The Chevrolet K5 Blazer, which delivered V8 power, a removable hardtop, and full-size truck running gear for about $3,050 — more capability per dollar than any rival.

Which 1970 4x4 has appreciated the most as a classic? The first-generation Ford Bronco, with restored and restomod examples now regularly clearing $100,000 and the FJ40 close behind.

Did the 1970 Jeep CJ-5 offer the AMC 304 V8? No. AMC bought Kaiser-Jeep in early 1970, but the 304 and 360 V8s were not added to the CJ-5 until 1972; in 1970 the CJ relied on four-cylinder and Dauntless V6 engines.

Were these horsepower numbers gross or net? All figures here are SAE gross ratings, the 1970 standard. The industry shifted to lower net ratings in the early 1970s, so comparing them to modern numbers overstates output.

Which 1970 4x4 was best for a big family? The 4x4 Chevrolet Suburban for maximum space, or the Jeep Wagoneer for a more comfortable four-door wagon.

Bottom Line

1970 captured the recreational 4x4 just as it came of age. The Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 earns best overall on durability and proven long-term value, while the year-old Chevrolet K5 Blazer takes best value for packing the most capability, comfort, and open-air fun into the lowest sensible price.

Buy any of them today on a clean frame, solid floors, and a healthy drivetrain, and you will own a piece of the era that defined the modern SUV.

Sources

• Hagerty Valuation Tools — 1970 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40, Ford Bronco, Chevrolet K5 Blazer, Scout 800A, Land Rover Series IIA, Dodge W200 listings
• Hagerty Media — "As the Toyota FJ40 market settles, now might be the time to buy"
• Bring a Trailer — first-generation Bronco, FJ40, and K5 Blazer auction archives
• Cars and Bids — 1970 International Harvester Scout 800A auction results
• Wikipedia — "Chevrolet K5 Blazer," "Jeep SJ," and "International Scout" model histories
• Conceptcarz.com — 1970 Ford Bronco and 1970 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 specifications
• Automobile-catalog.com — 1970 Bronco 302, Scout 800A, Jeepster Commando, and Land Rover 88 specs
• CLASSIC.COM — 1970 K5 Blazer, K10, Suburban, and Dodge Power Wagon market data
• GM Authority and CK5 — GMC Jimmy and K5 Blazer specifications and history
• Period road tests from *Car and Driver*, *Motor Trend*, and *Four Wheeler* (1969–1971)

*SUV review — 1970 SUV and 4x4 reviews, rating, best SUV 1970, and a retrospective review of the top vintage 4x4 picks for buyers and collectors.*