Looking back, the 1960s was one of the most action-packed decades in human history. Bookended by the first human space flight in 1961 and the moon landing in 1969, quite a few exciting things were happening in the automotive world, too.
Ford, Chevrolet, and Porsche all introduced some history-defining models. Lamborghini shocked the world with its mid-engined supercar, and James Bond’s favorite ride made its debut.
Whether you are curious about the sort of cars that were around back then or just want to reminisce about the good old days, we have selected 13 of our favorite cars released during the 1960s.
1960 Mini Cooper
The Mini Cooper may have had flower power under its hood. Still, its advanced suspension design and featherweight bodyshell gave it the performance of a much larger car.
The front-wheel-drive design, wheel at every corner layout, and flat floorpan were the work of legendary designer Alec Issigonis. It gave the Mini enough interior space for four adults despite being just 120 inches long. It became a ‘60s icon and even had a successful racing career, where its sharp handling gave it an edge over the competition.
1961 Jaguar E-Type
Once described by Enzo Ferrari as the most beautiful car in the world, the Jaguar E-Type was a stunning sports car that was as quick as many far pricier exotics. Available as both a coupe and roadster, the six-cylinder cars could reach 150mph, which was very rapid for the time.
The E-Type remained in production until 1974, by which time it had gained weight and was fitted with a more laid back V12 engine. For many, the earlier cars are the ones to have, and they were undoubtedly one of the coolest ways to get around back in the 1960s.
1962 Ferrari 250 GTO
Enzo Ferrari was a racer at heart, and he offered a range of road-legal cars to keep his racing teams going. The 250 GTO came into being because Ferrari needed to build a few hom*ologated road cars to qualify for a specific Grand Touring racing series.
Just 36 were built, with buyers personally selected by Enzo himself. The car proved to be successful on track, and many were sold for next to nothing in the late ‘60s. The classic car market soon realized the historical value and importance of these cars, and their value soared. Some have changed hands for $70 million in recent years!
1962 AC Cobra
Combining British styling with American muscle has never worked as well as in the AC Cobra. This special car emerged when auto designer Carroll Shelby convinced British firm AC to modify their existing AC Ace roadster to take a larger V8 engine. After some experimentation, the MKI Cobra was released in 1962.
Early cars had either 4.3- or 4.7-liter Ford V8s, but by the time the MKIII model arrived in 1965, a massive 7.0-liter engine was also made available. With 425 horsepower on tap and a curb weight of under 2,400lbs, the AC Cobra delivered exhilarating acceleration and was capable of topping 164mph. However, the buffeting at that speed must have been terrifying. Rivals have copied the basic AC Cobra design for decades, but original cars are now treasured collector's items.
1963 Chevrolet Corvette
The original Corvette was a game-changing American sports car, especially once they started offering them with more powerful V8 engines. When the second-gen models arrived in 1963, you could have a big block 7.0-liter V8 under the hood producing a scary 435 horsepower.
They looked space-age, too. No wonder so many astronauts bought them for their personal use. Good ones today have become valuable collector cars, and they still have the ability to turn heads wherever they go.
1963 Aston Martin DB5
Along with the Jaguar E-type, the Aston Martin DB5 was the quintessential British sports car of the 1960s. It was a development of the earlier DB4, with more power, luxury, and speed than ever before.
Power outputs ranged between 282 and 325 horsepower, making the DB5 one of the fastest cars of its time. It became a global sensation thanks to featuring in several James Bond movies. With just over 1,000 units built, some now command well over $1,000,000 at auctions.
1964 Pontiac GTO
Ferrari may have scoffed at a big, heavy American sedan branded with the same three letters as its race-bred sports car. Still, the Pontiac GTO was much more than a cynical marketing exercise. This big bruiser's 6.4-liter V8 pushed out an impressive 325 horsepower. When equipped with the proper transmission, diff, and suspension upgrades, the Pontiac GTO was as quick or quicker than most European sports cars of its time.
By the time the first-generation GTO ended production, it had matured into an even more impressive road machine, power was up to 365 horsepower, and detail changes to the chassis has sharpened up its handling even more. It may not have had the ultimate precision of a Ferrari 250 GTO, but it sure made for one of the finest muscle cars of the '60s.
1964 Porsche 911
By the early ‘60s, Porsche had made a name for itself with the simple yet effective 356 sports car, but it was time to move up a cog, and the 911 made its debut in 1964. Early cars had a little over 130 horsepower, but their low weight and great traction made them formidable performance cars.
Continuous development further honed the original concept, and the 911 became one of history's most popular sports cars. Even by the end of the decade, they were one of the coolest cars to be seen in.
1965 Ford Mustang
Most auto manufacturers dream of having a car in their lineup that is as popular as the first-generation Ford Mustang. This affordable and relatively compact sports car was one of the first to coin the phrase ‘pony car,’ and boy, did it gallop straight out of the blocks.
Ford expected to sell around 100,000 units per year. Yet, by the second year of production, they had already surpassed the one million mark. It offered a mix of great pricing, strong performance, and good looks that few rivals could match and became an automotive icon overnight. It also debuted in the first Bond film, Dr. No.
1966 BMW 02 Series
The humble BMW 02 may not have had the street cred of a Mustang or Corvette, but it was a desirable and sporty little car nonetheless. It also signaled the start of BMW's utter dominance of the compact sporty sedan segment. Early models were fitted with revvy 1.5- and 1.6-liter engines, but soon larger capacity fuel-injected 2.0-liter engines were introduced in the 2002tii models.
These little cars were well-built, handled great, and were priced to sell. And they remained extremely popular well into the '70s and beyond. Over 800,000 units were sold worldwide, setting the scene for the introduction of the 3 Series sports sedan in 1975.
1966 Lamborghini Miura
Often referred to as the most beautiful car ever made, the Miura was designed by Marcello Gandini, a 25-year-old fresh recruit to the Bertone design house. He made the most of the Miura’s low-slung mid-engined layout, creating a truly stunning masterpiece.
The Lamborghini Miura wasn’t just a pretty face; it was also technologically advanced. Placing the engine behind the driver was a first for a road car, and the 350 horsepower 4.0-liter V12 engine made it the fastest production road car of its time.
1966 Dodge Charger
While the Europeans were busy designing expensive, high-revving, technically complicated sports cars, Dodge was hard at work creating the Charger. A simple yet effective hammer to squash the opposition with.
All Chargers had V8s, with the top-spec models getting massive 7.0-liter Hemi motors that would leave just about anything in a cloud of tire smoke away from the lights. The second-generation models arrived in 1968 and continued to offer mega horsepower from massive engines. An orange Charger was used in the Dukes of Hazzard, which greatly enhanced the popularity of this awesome muscle car.
1967 Toyota 2000GT
The Toyota 2000GT marked a turning point in the Japanese auto industry. Until that stage, it had been focusing on practical family vehicles tuned for economy and low running costs. The 2000GT was Toyota’s first true sports car. It was exquisitely designed, handled superbly, and had a high-revving six-cylinder engine that gave it the performance that matched its looks.
Pricing was ambitious, so less than 400 cars were eventually sold, but it signaled to the world that Japan could take on the Americans and Europeans and in the years to come, would build some world-class sports cars. The 2000GT is another car that was featured in a Bond film. Two cars were converted into cabriolets for You Only Live Twice, as actor Sean Connery couldn’t quite fit in the low-slung coupe.
