The 1960s were almost like two different eras for car manufacturing. When it began, there was an emphasis on smaller but still speedy cars, breaking away from sedans to embrace a sports car motif. That was especially true in Europe as manufacturers like Ferrari, Lamborghini, and others rose in popularity. On the other hand, the latter half of the decade began the muscle car era in the United States and produced machines that would soon rival the sports cars for attention and glory.
This decade produced some of the most beautiful classic cars ever seen while also putting a new emphasis on power and speed. It’s trickier to find the ones that stand out as there are cars that are practically works of art alongside some amazing power machines. However, here are ten of the most iconic cars of the 1960s to show how this decade provided some automobiles still revered today.
10 1963 Corvette Sting Ray
The Corvette has had a lot of variations over the years, but the Sting Ray was one of the best. In 1963, a rear-drive sports car with a 250-plus-hp V8 was a rare beast, but Corvette made it look easy.
Not only was it blindingly fast compared to other American cars of the time, but it was also stunning, and the fact that it was available as either a coupe or convertible made it better. The Sting Ray became a quintessential American sports car summing up the decade’s style and still a glorious achievement for Chevrolet while holding up wonderfully today.
9 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO
While it had been rising in the late 1950s, Ferrari truly became the company we know today with the 1962 250 GTO. The denomination refers to the displacement of each of its cylinders, producing nearly 300 hp at 7,500 rpm and 246 pound-feet of torque at 5,500 rpm, which allowed for a then-unheard-of zero to 60 time of 5.4 seconds.
It was also the most gorgeous machine imaginable, and little wonder it has shattered records at auctions. The 250 GTO was not just Ferrari’s best effort of the 1960s but still one of their greatest ever to remain a brilliant ride.
8 1967 Toyota 2000GT
For decades, Toyota had been building itself up with dependable cars for the masses. In 1967, they entered the sports car world with the biggest splash possible. The 2000GT boasted an in-line six with 150 hp, able to go from zero to 60 in just over eight seconds.
The exterior was what got attention, being a unique design that stood out from the pack. It became famous as a convertible version used by James Bond in You Only Live Twice. While a limited model, its success gave Toyota the courage to continue developing better sports cars, but this was still a landmark.
7 1964 Porsche 911
It’s hard to get more iconic than a Porsche and harder still to top the 911. Even with later models, the first generation of the 911 is a masterclass in crafting excellent sports cars. By modern standards, the 2.0-liter V6 with 130 hp may seem weak, but it felt much faster at the time.
More important was the style. Porsche made their mark with this lovely chassis for a luxury car that could hold its own on a track. It was one of Porsche’s greatest successes while crafting a new style they’d use through the decades for a master car.
6 1965 Lotus Elan
Perhaps not as flashy as other cars of the time, the Lotus Elan would get attention thanks to its fun design and packing plenty of power in a small package. The DOHC 1.6-liter 105-hp engine was placed in a frame weighing only 1500 lbs and thus allowing it to go zero to 60 in just nine seconds.
It set a bar for lighter and spiffier sports cars and still retained a fun style to it. It would later inspire the Mazda Miata among other small sports cars, making the Elan an underrated but vital part of 1960s car culture.
5 1967 Lamborghini Miura
Meet the car that introduced the world to Lamborghini. As hard as it may be to believe, it was a fledgling brand once, trying to find its identity and stay afloat. They needed something unique, so took a chance on a unique style with a rear-mounted 430-hp 3.9-liter V12 engine.
The gamble paid off in spades as the Miura was the first true supercar and the fastest production car of its time. It made Lamborghini a powerhouse in the European sports car world, and this model remains one of the most iconic sports cars of any decade.
4 1963 Aston Martin DB5
Forever immortalized in the James Bond movie Goldfinger, the DB5 helped make Aston Martin one of the coolest car brands around. The style is perfection: a mix of British elegance with some power, and even without any of Q’s gadgets, this was a must-drive.
The 4.0-liter straight-six could push out a comfortable 282 hp which guaranteed a top speed of 145 mph and made it one of the fastest cars of its time. The car felt quick and incredibly smooth to drive. But it's the DB5's timeless style that made it one of the greatest British cars ever and it's why it epitomizes 1960s British engineering.
3 1963 Shelby Cobra
No matter how many cars Carroll Shelby worked on over the years, deciding on the best one always comes down to the 1963 Cobra. A perfect storm of Shelby wanting a top racer, AC Cars wanting to make a mark, and Ford wanting a car to compete with the Corvette, the Cobra was a groundbreaker.
With modifications, the engine could produce almost 500 hp and was married to a chassis that was not only aerodynamic but looked gorgeous. The result was a car that not only won several races but melded engineering to influence both sports and muscle cars for an entire generation.
2 1964 Pontiac GTO
Had it not come out at the same time as another certain automobile, the Pontiac GTO might be more regarded. Yet, this pioneer of the muscle car era is also one of the best automobiles any American manufacturer produced in the '60s.
Originally built off the LeMans luxury car, the GTO tossed in a 389 CID V8 rated at 325 hp alongside a 4-speed manual transmission. The result was a car exuding power like few before it, able to tear down the road with a fun style, and looking equally fun and luxurious. The design influenced scores of muscle cars and made the GTO Pontiac’s greatest contribution to the auto industry.
1 1964 Ford Mustang
Few cars changed the game like the 1964 Ford Mustang. What we know as the muscle car era can be traced directly to this car, which mixed amazing power with a stunning style to be among the hottest machines ever put on the road.
This was the birth of the Pony Car, and while so many followed suit, this remains a masterpiece of muscle engineering. Inexpensive enough for the masses but easy enough to modify, the Mustang set the bar for the entire muscle car era and is still one of the most beloved of all time to remain a classic.
Sources: hemmings.com, autowise.com