The 1960s was a decade of immense change, and this revolution was clearly reflected in automotive design and culture. Fueled by the space race and a burgeoning sense of freedom, car manufacturers pushed boundaries, creating vehicles that were not just modes of transport, but statements of personality and innovation. From muscle cars flexing their power on Main Street to stylish imports turning heads, the 60s produced some of the most memorable and popular cars in automotive history.
Ford Mustang
Arguably the most iconic car of the 1960s, the Ford Mustang burst onto the scene in 1964 and ignited a revolution. Its blend of sporty looks and affordable price made it an instant hit. While the base model wasn’t built for speed, the availability of a V8 engine hinted at its performance potential. As the decade progressed, Ford enhanced the Mustang with more powerful V8s and a responsive four-speed manual transmission, transforming it into a true performance machine. With diverse body styles like the fastback and convertible, the Mustang appealed to a wide audience. Even legendary car designer Carroll Shelby contributed to its legacy with high-performance variants. The Mustang’s impact was so profound that it transcended car enthusiasts, becoming a recognizable symbol even to those outside of car culture.
Chevrolet Camaro
Chevrolet’s response to the Mustang arrived two and a half years later in the form of the Camaro. Adopting a similar formula, the Camaro was lightweight, rear-wheel drive, offered a vast array of engine choices, and boasted a striking design. Launching into the burgeoning muscle car era of the late 60s, the Camaro was inherently performance-oriented, even featuring big-block engine options right from the start. While it initially trailed the Mustang in sales, the first-generation Camaro has become a highly sought-after classic, commanding top prices at auctions today.
Chevrolet Corvette
While the later C3 Corvette gained notoriety for its NASA-inspired colors and association with Apollo astronauts, it was the C2 generation that truly defined the Corvette’s presence in the 60s. Evolving from the 1950s-era C1, the 1963 Corvette took design cues from the captivating Mako Shark concept car, translating much of its futuristic styling into production. This generation marked significant performance advancements, including the introduction of the big-block engine and independent rear suspension, finally solidifying the Corvette’s status as a genuine sports car. Initially relatively accessible, the big-block C2 Corvettes have since become highly valuable, often fetching six-figure sums.
Volkswagen Beetle
The Volkswagen Beetle boasts a remarkable history, with production spanning from 1938 all the way to 2003. The most recognized iteration, the Type 1, also stands as the most popular, selling over 21 million units worldwide. These compact, air-cooled cars were fun to drive, inexpensive to own, and surprisingly reliable, paving the way for the popularity of German automotive brands like BMW and Mercedes-Benz in the US market. The original Beetle continued production in Mexico even alongside the radically modern New Beetle. In its final year, a limited run of 3,000 commemorative editions were produced, sporting a modest 50 horsepower engine, a testament to its simple beginnings.
Volkswagen Microbus
Officially designated the Type 2, the VW Microbus, affectionately nicknamed the “hippie van,” achieved similar sales success and cultural impact as the Beetle. The 1960s saw the production of both the T1 and the less aesthetically favored T2 generations. Sharing similarities with the Beetle, such as a rear-mounted air-cooled engine and rear-wheel drive, the Microbus, however, was less agile due to its higher center of gravity. Import tariffs, known as the “chicken tax,” hindered the import of new vans in the early 1970s, limiting the Microbus’s popularity in the US compared to its international acclaim, where production continued until 2013.
Lincoln Continental
The Lincoln Continental, with its “slab-side” design produced from 1961 to 1969, became a true design icon of the 60s. This generation marked a radical departure from the preceding Mark X Continental, though both were undeniably large vehicles. A novel feature was the introduction of rear-hinged “suicide doors.” Combined with its sophisticated, almost gangster-like aesthetic, opulent interior, and smooth ride, the Continental proved to be a successful seller despite its premium price tag. Sadly, it also gained notoriety as the vehicle President John F. Kennedy was riding in during his assassination in 1963.
Plymouth Barracuda
While the Plymouth Barracuda is now renowned as one of the most valuable muscle cars at auction, its origins were rather humble. Launched just weeks before the Ford Mustang, the first-generation Barracuda was an attractive fastback coupe based on the Plymouth Valiant. While the front end was conventional, the rear featured a distinctive and expansive wraparound glass. The second generation, introduced in 1967, adopted a more muscular design and offered potent V8 engines, including the legendary 426 Hemi, solidifying its place in muscle car history.
Shelby Cobra
Driven by a desire to create a powerful and lightweight sports car, race car driver Carroll Shelby partnered with AC Cars in the early 60s. By fitting a Ford-sourced V8 engine into an AC Ace chassis, Shelby created one of the most legendary sports cars of all time, equally at home on the track and the street. Sold from 1962 to 1967, the Shelby Cobra is often grouped with the ultimate muscle cars. Weighing just over 2,000 lbs and equipped with a massive 427 V8, the Cobra could achieve a blistering 0-60 mph time of just 4.5 seconds, limited only by traction.
Futura – Batmobile
The inclusion of a 1955 Lincoln concept car in a list of 60s cars might seem unusual, but the Futura’s story took an unexpected turn. After its show circuit days as a wildly popular bubble-top concept, the car changed owners and fell into disrepair. When ABC sought a Batmobile for the first television adaptation of Batman, the Futura was chosen. It underwent a rapid and expensive transformation, becoming the iconic Batmobile that captivated a generation of superhero fans. Pow!
Jaguar E-Type
Produced from 1961 to 1975, the Jaguar E-Type became the quintessential British sports car of the era. Universally admired for its breathtaking beauty, the E-Type is often ranked among the most beautiful cars ever created. Built upon a proper racing chassis, it offered exceptional handling and driving experience. The Series 1 models featured smooth inline-six cylinder engines, though they were not known for their reliability. Despite this, the E-Type single-handedly boosted the popularity of British cars in the US market, a remarkable achievement.
Ferrari 250 GTO
The Ferrari 250 GTO was the equivalent of the F40 for the 1960s. Another contender for the title of most beautiful car on this list, the 250 GTO was one of Enzo Ferrari’s earlier masterpieces. It featured a 3.0-liter V12 engine producing 300 horsepower, propelling its lightweight body (under 2,000 lbs) to victory on race tracks worldwide. Originally priced roughly twice as much as a Corvette, it was a relative bargain for an exotic car offering such performance and beauty. Today, owning a 250 GTO is a dream for the ultra-wealthy. In 2013, one sold at auction for over $38 million, and currently, examples are listed for over $55 million.
Ford GT40
From 1964 to 1969, Carroll Shelby played a key role in developing Ford’s ultimate performance machine, the GT40. While Shelby’s Cobras and Daytonas were successful in GT racing, Henry Ford II sought to defeat Ferrari in the top prototype class at Le Mans. The stunning GT40 initially showed promise but struggled on the track. Once Shelby took over the program, the 427 V8-powered GT40 became a dominant force, achieving unparalleled success. In one year, it remarkably won the 24 Hours of Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring, and 24 Hours of Le Mans, securing first, second, and third place at all three races – a truly dominant feat.
Aston Martin DB5
The Aston Martin DB5 is arguably the quintessential grand tourer, setting the standard for all GT cars that followed. Even upon its debut in 1963, the DB5 exuded an air of exclusivity and expense. Many consider it as visually stunning as the iconic Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing. It offered ample power from its smooth 4.0-liter inline-six engine, paired with a refined ZF 5-speed transmission – a 5-speed gearbox remarkably available two decades before they became commonplace. Classic, muscular, yet retaining design cues still visible in modern Aston Martins, the DB5 became James Bond’s car of choice, and for many, the ultimate GT car.
Chevrolet Chevelle
The Chevrolet Chevelle consistently ranks high on muscle car lists. While its exact placement is debatable, its legendary status as one of the best muscle cars of the 60s is undeniable. The Chevelle reached its performance peak in 1970 with the 450 hp LS6 SS, but the 60s versions were no slouches either. The 1964 debut model offered a modest 220 hp V8, but the performance stakes were raised after Pontiac’s release of the GTO. The 327 engine was added mid-year, and by 1966, the 396 engine with over 350 hp became available, transforming the Chevelle into a serious muscle car contender.
Pontiac GTO
Speaking of the GTO, Pontiac’s executives, facing a ban on factory-backed racing, sought to inject excitement into their lineup. Another restriction limited mid-size cars to mid-size engines (330 ci or less), but Pontiac cleverly circumvented this by offering the GTO as an option package. This package just happened to include a 325 hp 389 V8 engine. Producing 100 more horsepower than its competitors in the mid-size class was a game-changer. The GTO instantly became a pop culture icon and is credited with launching the muscle car wars.
Lamborghini Miura
The iconic Lamborghini Miura is celebrated for its beauty, but surprisingly, company founder Ferruccio Lamborghini was not initially enthusiastic about it. He preferred luxurious GT cars, like Lamborghini’s earlier 350GT and 400GT. The Miura was a radical departure, featuring sleek, race car-inspired lines and a groundbreaking mid-engine layout for a production vehicle. Upon its debut in 1966, its 3.9-liter V12 engine produced an impressive 350 hp, and its aerodynamic design enabled it to become the fastest production car in the world.
Chevrolet Impala
The 1961 Impala marked Chevrolet’s full-size styling direction for the new decade, showcasing cleaner lines on their large cars. The third-generation Impala continued to feature Chevrolet’s largest engines, including the 409, famously immortalized in a Beach Boys song. It wasn’t just its size for the time; the 409 hp Impala, boasting one horsepower per cubic inch, became a formidable drag strip competitor. Its massive fenders and trunk later provided ample space for lowrider enthusiasts to install airbags and hydraulics.
Porsche 911
Ferdinand Porsche sought to develop a larger, more powerful successor to his initial model, the 356. This replacement would become an automotive legend, outliving its creator. The 1964 Porsche 911, while not a powerhouse with its 128 hp flat-six engine, possessed inherent beauty and exceptional handling dynamics. The infamous Porsche options list began here, offering features like targa tops and even gasoline-burning cabin heaters in the 60s. While turbocharging wouldn’t arrive until the 70s, the 911’s legendary journey began in the 1960s.
Toyota 2000GT
Japan’s first collectible car emerged in 1965 as a Toyota show car. Receiving critical acclaim, the model entered production in 1967. While its 2.0-liter inline-six engine was less powerful compared to other GTs of the era, its refined handling enabled it to outperform many more powerful cars on the track, garnering numerous fans and victories. Its “coke bottle” styling is considered among the best ever created, and it was even featured as James Bond’s car in You Only Live Twice.
Lotus Elan
Looking at a 60s Elan, one might mistake it for a 90s Mazda Miata. The Lotus design was ahead of its time (and the Mazda was retro-inspired), making it appear contemporary even today. The Elan was an uncompromising sports car, initially offered only as a two-seater roadster. With just 108 hp at launch, the Elan relied on its incredibly light weight and superb handling to deliver a thrilling driving experience. Its minimalist and curvaceous design was widely admired. The Elan became a legend in its own right, elevating Lotus’s global reputation.
Buick Riviera
In the early 60s, Buick needed a personal luxury car to compete with the immensely popular Ford Thunderbird. Inspired by a custom Rolls-Royce, Buick’s design chief, Bill Mitchell, envisioned a sharp-edged design for GM. After some refinements, the 1963 Riviera was launched to both critical and commercial success. Its combination of sharp, angular lines and emerging muscular styling created arguably the most beautiful Buick ever produced. Later versions offered increased performance, but the first-generation GS model epitomizes the best of GM design from the 60s.
Shelby Daytona Coupe
The Shelby Cobra was designed to challenge Ferrari on high-speed racing circuits. However, Shelby identified a limitation: the open cockpit of the Cobra restricted its top speed to under 160 mph. Utilizing a wrecked Cobra chassis, stunning coupe bodywork was meticulously hand-hammered into existence, resulting in the first Daytona Coupe. With a top speed of 190 mph, the Daytona Coupe achieved numerous class wins and set 25 speed records at Bonneville, proving its aerodynamic superiority.
Studebaker Avanti
Studebaker faced financial difficulties in the late 50s, and the Avanti was conceived as a halo car to revitalize sales. The Avanti was a fiberglass sports car, similar in concept to the Corvette, exclusively powered by a robust V8 engine. Despite its attractive design and focus on safety, the Avanti sold fewer than 2,000 units in its first year. Sales improved slightly the following year, but not enough to rescue the company from its financial woes. Production ceased in December 1963 when the Studebaker plant closed. While Studebaker eventually faded away, the Avanti nameplate still holds a certain allure.
Chevrolet Corvair
The fully sealed, Tesla-esque grille of the Chevy Corvair hints at its unconventional nature. Unlike its competitors, and indeed any other GM car at the time, the Corvair was rear-engined, like the Porsche 911. Initially intended to compete with smaller cars like the VW Beetle and Ford Falcon, the Corvair featured relatively conventional 2-door, 4-seater styling. The first generation debuted in 1960, priced under $2,000. While the Corvair improved significantly over its production run, American drivers were unaccustomed to the rear-weight bias, and the car unfairly gained a reputation as unsafe, largely due to Ralph Nader’s book “Unsafe at Any Speed.”
Jensen Interceptor
Think of the Jensen Interceptor as a Ferrari GTC4Lusso with a distinct 70s flair. Jensen, a British car manufacturer with 30 years of history known for its distinctive rear window designs, launched the appropriately eccentric Interceptor in 1966. With its long hood and bubble-like rear window, the Interceptor looked unlike anything else on the road. While reliability was questionable, it delivered on performance, powered by Chrysler V8 engines, including the massive 440. Just over 6,000 Interceptors were produced before Jensen closed in 1976, but its unique style and powerful engines have ensured its lasting appeal, with plans for a modern revival currently underway.
These are just some of the most quintessential and popular cars from the 1960s. Do you agree with this list? Are there any iconic models we missed? What do you consider the most memorable and significant car of the 1960s?
