As cool as we had them in the ‘60s on the outside, the insides of the classic cars were also equally gorgeous back then. While some shone because of their subtle elegance, others went a little over the top. And it's not as if these cars had the tech to make their interiors more appealing. This was the era of chrome and leather.
Large watch-like dials went into molded dashes, with wooden trims and more was the bespoke class in the ‘60s. Plus this was the time they let you add in whatever you wanted in your cars, including fans and TV sets. So you were quite literally, spoilt for choice.
So, here go the coolest car interiors from the ‘60s, and we explain our choices as well. So the next time you are looking at one of these classics, take a peek inside as well. Because as beautiful as these cars were on the inside, they were even prettier inside.
10 Lamborghini Miura
The Lamborghini Miura is easily one of the coolest Lambos ever made, although its exteriors are so pretty, most people don’t realize its insides were pretty cool as well. It got the interior perfectly down to a pat as well, with low, lean bucket seats.
The Miura has minimalistic interiors with a three-spoke steering wheel, a tachometer, and a speedometer molded into a leather dash. The gauge cluster is aggressive and the insides flow like the outside into a flowing but beautiful design.
9 Mercedes 280SL Pagoda
The Mercedes-Benz 280SL was nicknamed the pagoda for its concave removable top and is considered by many to be the most beautiful Benz ever. The first thing you spot is that big but slender wheel, and the clear watch-like dials.
The vents came placed just right, and there was a plethora of good-looking switches and a radio too, to take this car as upmarket as Mercedes-Benz could at the time. Remember this was top of the line when it came to luxury, considering Audi was barely around to compete.
8 Pontiac Bonneville
The Bonneville moved away from that “rocket ship” design of 1958 in 1961, and instead of that brash style, was now muted and very elegant, inside and out. The seats now came with plush vinyl upholstery in beautiful colors, and there was walnut veneer trim on the doors.
It came with power steering and brakes and the interior was well lit as well, which made them stand out even more. Center armrests added comfort and carpeted door panels matched the floor mats for a flowing continuity.
7 Chrysler Imperial
For many, the Imperial was so beautiful it was ugly. For others, it was vice versa. But the fact remains, the Imperial is not a car you can tear your eyes away from. And not just from the outside. The inside of the car came teeming with chrome, leather, and beautiful nooks and crannies.
Plus it went as power as it could, with power locks, windows, a six-way front seat, headlamp dimmers, and even cruise control, rudimentary as it may have been back then. Oh, and did we mention the unique steering wheel?
6 Dodge HEMI Dart Super-Stock
The Dodge HEMI Dart Super-Stock was as bare-boned as was Old Mother Hubbard’s cupboard if you remember your rhymes right. Instead of putting stuff inside the car to add to comfort and luxury, Dodge basically yanked everything out.
There was no center console, heater, or radio. Or even sound insulation. Standard seats went out for lightweight ones and seat-belt straps replaced even the manual window cranks. So bare, it was beautiful. Plus it made sure you knew that this car was for the serious racer.
5 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow
The Rolls Royce of the ‘60s has less bling but a lot of substance, and everything in it was about stunning detail. If you dropped an earring clasp in the carpet, it would take a while to find it in the thick texture.
Even the leather came from only male Simmental cows that were enclosed by standard fencing to keep their hides safe. And they were male to avoid any stretch marks the females got from bearing calves. Nothing but the best roll for the Rolls.
4 Pontiac Grand Prix
Sadly, all that is left of the Pontiac is great cars like the Grand Prix. And on the flipside, also dubious ones like the Aztek. But let’s talk about the beautiful Grand Prix that came looking as a Catalina hardtop two-door. It had a striking exterior as well.
What really worked in its favor were the bucket seats, and some flash steering wheel rims that may not have been practical, but sold cars on their looks alone. The interiors may have been a bit OTT but for the ‘60s, it was a perfect fit.
3 Citroen DS
The Citroën DS was launched in 1955, and even back then, it came with a remarkable single-spoke steering wheel that no car had used before. And in the ‘60s came a host of updates that gave it squishy and plush seats, a spindly-looking shifter, and an equally psychedelic horizontal speedometer.
This was not Citroën’s best or even rarest car, and hardly the most expensive, but its insides were pretty bohemian, even for the ‘60s. And one peek inside is guaranteed to make you smile if nothing else.
2 Jaguar E-Type
The Jaguar E-Type was simply one of the most beautiful cars in the ‘60s and one the celebrities jet-setted in. As beautiful as the exteriors were, the insides came inspired by the racing cars of the time with a wooden steering wheel that came sports drilled.
The speedometer and RPM gauge was huge and in monochrome for maximum appeal. The dash was all metal with oversized dials and toggle switches that looked raring to go, making it a beautiful but impractical choice for the ‘60s.
1 Mercedes-Benz 600
The Mercedes-Benz 600 came way, way pricey, four times the prices of a Cadillac Fleetwood limo, and that’s saying something. But it came handmade, with authentic wood paneling and automatic climate control, a big daddy in the ‘60s.
The center console housed a bar with shot glasses, in crystal, no less, and you could even have a TV put in if you so desired. And a built-in phone. Basically, this was a car for the wealthy, minus the showiness of other, cheaper cars.
Sources: Autoweek, DriveTribe