The 1960s was a time of great change. It was the time of the Civil Rights Movement, President Kennedy's assassination, a time when the Vietnam War began, and other historic events that plunged the United States into the worldwide spotlight. This was also a time of great change in the global automotive industry. Automakers introduced fresh new cars with sleek styles, and brand-new markets emerged. Muscle cars, pony cars, personal luxury vehicles – none of those existed before the ‘60s.

Updated April 2023: To many gearheads, the '60s decade produced the most iconic classic cars. We've updated this list to further prove why this decade will forever live in the memories of so many gearheads.

There are a few cars that came about in the ‘60s that are iconic in more than just the car world — cars that even non-car enthusiasts would recognize. These include muscle cars like the Ford Mustang and sports cars like the Jaguar E-Type. Some of these cars, like the Lamborghini Miura, the Aston Martin DB5, and the Toyota 2000GT, gained worldwide fame by appearing in films.

Others gained a cult following by participating in races across the world and winning them. Automotive engineers built new engines with more power than ever before while designers penned some of the most beautiful cars we've seen to date, creating more competition than ever before. Only a select few can earn a spot on the list of "cars that defined an era." We think we’ve thought up and put to paper 23 such cars — cars that defined the ‘60s in one way or another, and here they are.

RELATED: 10 Best '70s Vintage Cars For Nostalgia Lovers

23 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow

A white 1969 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow parked
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It's not often that lists containing the greatest cars of a certain time frame include luxury cars, but Rolls-Royce defined what a luxury car can be when they introduced the Silver Shadow in 1965. Even its name alone was something to behold. It featured hydropneumatosis rear suspension like in the Citroën DS, split-level air-conditioning, and electric-adjustable seats.

But it wasn't just the interior that boasted some ground-breaking highlights; underneath its hood was a 172-hp 6.2-liter V8 that was more than adequate to accelerate its 4,650-lb body without being ear-shattering loud. Before production halted in 1980, more than 28,000 Silver Shadows left the factory floor despite it being one of the most expensive '60s cars with a price tag of nearly $70,000.

22 Alpine A110

Alpine A110 - Front Quarter
Bonhams

The Alpine A110 was a gorgeous rear-engined lightweight sports car that was equally impressive on- and off-road. It weighed less than 1,600 lbs, and had a potent little inline-four engine strapped to its back that produced nearly 140 hp, sending it all to just the rear wheels.

This little French sports car liked to swing its tail around corners like an overly excited dog. Its light weight was the result of a fiberglass body, and its body roll was minimal due to its backbone chassis. The Alpine A110 proceeded to win six WRC events in just a single year, 1973. Alpine has built a modern version of the A110, and we love it!

21 Datsun 240Z

Datsun 240Z - Front Quarter
Via: Mecum Auctions

With the new Nissan Z's release on the horizon, car enthusiasts are starting to reminisce about all the past Z cars, and the 240Z was the one that started it all. Yes, we know it doesn't necessarily have the Nissan badge attached to its name, but Datsun was the original creator of the Z-division before Nissan took over.

The 240Z engulfed a 2.4-liter inline-six engine, much like the modern Z cars, and used all 150 hp at its disposal by conducting it through a five-speed stick shift to the rear wheels. The Z wasn't unbelievably fast, but it did have a respectable 125 mph top speed and a 0-60 mph time of 8 seconds. Nonetheless, it's still one of the most iconic JDM cars ever, and Nissan would not be what it is today without it. It's no surprise that a 240Z in excellent now costs over $60,000, according to Hagerty.

Related: Ranking Every Nissan Z Car Worst To Best

20 BMC Mini

Austin Mini - Front
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The Mini was one of the first tiny cars that gained huge popularity throughout the ‘60s. The car was the brainchild of the British Motor Corporation (BMC) and was an icon of 1960s British pop culture. As much as any other car on this list, the Mini defined the era in question. The car had a space-saving transverse engine and front-wheel-drive layout so that owners could use almost 80% of the interior for passengers and luggage. This concept influenced a generation of carmakers, too.

In 1999, the Mini won the award for the second most influential car of the 20th century by the Global Automotive Elections Foundation, behind only the Ford Model T. The original Mini went through four generations throughout its long life (from 1959 to 2000) and by the end of production, 5,387,862 Minis had left the BMC's production facilities.

19 Aston Martin DB5

Silver Aston Martin DB5
Via: Aston Martin

The Aston Martin DB5 is one of the most classic, stylish grand tourers to ever hit the road, and it’s the car that all other grand tourers (GTs) hope to be like. Even when it debuted in 1963, it looked expensive and flashy, arguably as flashy as the over-the-top Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing. It had a powerful 4.0-liter 282-hp inline-six engine and came with a five-speed transmission, 20 years before it became commonplace. The DB5 sported lines and classic contours that shaped the car, and these are still seen on Aston Martins today.

Perhaps more than anything, what helped stamp this car as one that defined the 1960s was the fact that it gained fame for being James Bond’s car in the 1964 film Goldfinger. Since that film, the car became the quintessential car of the James Bond franchise, and it appeared in subsequent films over the years (such as Thunderball). In 2010, the DB5 that appeared in both Goldfinger and Thunderball went up for auction at RM Sotheby's, where it fetched a crazy $4 million in today’s money. For being the car of choice in a film franchise that defined an era, the DB5 deserves to be on this list.

Related: These '60s Cars Could Obliterate James Bond's DB5 (5 That Stood No Chance)

18 Jaguar E-Type

Jaguar E-Type - Front
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When this car first came out, it was one of the fastest on the road, but it only cost a fraction of other exotics. That made it highly desirable, and what made it even more desirable was when it was called “the most beautiful car I’ve ever seen” by Enzo Ferrari! From 1961 to 1975, the E-Type defined the British sports car. It was stunningly gorgeous, based on a proper racing frame, and the chassis was top-notch. The Series 1 offered two different inline-six engines, including a 3.8-liter with non-synchromesh transmission (1961-1964), and a 4.2-liter engine with a fully synchronized transmission (1965-1967). The Series 1 was by far the most valuable of the cars, and the 4.2-liter “became the most desirable version of the famous E-Type due to its increased power and usability while retaining the same outward appearance as the earlier cars,” according to Supercars.net.

The engines of these cars gave them 265 hp and a top speed of 150 mph, which was almost unheard of at the time. In 1965, Autocar magazine stated that “In its 4.2 guises, the E-Type is a fast car (the fastest we have ever tested) and offers just about the easiest way to travel quickly by road.” Beautiful, fast, and reasonably priced — three great attributes that made this car a legend.

17 Lamborghini Miura

Lamborghini Miura
Lamborghini 

The Lamborghini Miura was an important car for the auto industry, as it was the first supercar with a rear mid-engined, two-seat layout. That same layout has become the standard for high-performance supercars, and it’s all thanks to the Miura. This was the fastest production car on the planet when it came out in 1966. Surprisingly, founder Ferruccio Lamborghini was not a fan of the Miura. He preferred upscale grand tourers like Lamborghini’s previous 350GT and 400GT. But everyone else loved this car, and it was further made famous by its appearance in the intro of the 1969 film, The Italian Job.

The Miura had sleek racing lines and a purpose-built engine that was a 3.9-liter V12 and produced a remarkable 350 hp. The aerodynamics of the car helped make it the fastest car on the road. The car became the quintessential sports car that celebrities had to own, in its day, from members of the Rat Pack to Rod Stewart. The chassis was a creation by Gian Paolo Dallara, who would go on to form his own race car engineering company, one that makes Indy cars to this day. The Miura received periodic updates and remained in production until 1973 when it was Lamborghini’s flagship model. A year later, the extreme Countach burst onto the scene.

Related: Remembering An Epic Lambo: The 25th Anniversary Countach

16 Ferrari 250 GTO

The Classic 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO Sports Car
RM Sothebys

The Ferrari 250 GTO is one of the coolest-looking sports cars on this list (it reminds us a bit of the Jaguar E-Type, which might not be a coincidence). It was one of Enzo Ferrari’s earlier creations and was in production from 1962 to 1964. The car sported a 3.0-liter V12 engine, giving it 300 hp, and helping it dominate racetracks around the world. At its release, the car was about twice the price of a Corvette, which wasn’t overly expensive for an exotic car that performed as well as it did. Nowadays, the car is the most expensive on the planet: a 250 GTO sold at auction in 2013 for almost $40 million, making it the most expensive car ever sold at auction, until even more recently one sold for $48 million, breaking its own record.

The GTO was one of the most iconic GT cars of the era, introduced for homologation (the approval process to allow a car to race) into the FIA’s Group 3 Grand Touring Car category. In 2004, Sports Car International placed the 250 GTO eighth on a list of the Top Sports Cars of the 1960s, which, we think, is a bit low. On the other hand, Motor Trend Classic placed the 250 GTO first on its list of “Greatest Ferraris of All Time,” and Popular Mechanics named it the “Hottest Car of All Time.”

15 Porsche 911

1967 Porsche 911 S Sports Car In Black
Mecum Auctions

The Porsche 911 was only the second model Ferdinand Porsche produced, and it was the one that hit pay dirt. Ferdinand was looking for a larger, more powerful car to take over for his first model, the 356. The 911 would go on to become an automotive legend and an icon of automotive technology. The 1964 Porsche 911 was famous more for its beauty and great handling than it was for its powerful engine. It ran on a 128-hp flat-six engine, but then it came notoriously with a plethora of options, including Targa tops and gasoline-burning cabin heaters. The 911 Turbo wouldn’t come until the ‘70s, but by that time, the 911 was already legendary.

The car is still in production today, and even though it's gone through continuous development over the last 55 years, the basic concept for the car has remained the same. It’s always been a rear-engined classic, with a rear-mounted boxer engine and all-around independent suspension. A 1999 international poll deciding the Car of the Century (the same one as the Mini) put the 911 in fifth place. It and the Volkswagen Beetle were the only two cars in the top five that had remained in continuous production until 1998. As of May 2017, Porsche has made over one million 911s, and the one-millionth 911 is proudly on display at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart, Germany.

Related: Here's How The Porsche 911 Evolved Over The Years

14 Ford GT40

Blue 1966 Ford GT40 Mk II Parked
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The Ford GT40 was a high-performance race car that was in production between 1964 and 1969. And even though Ford made only 105 of them, it is still one of the most iconic American cars in history, especially in the racing world. The GT40 famously won the 24 Hours of Le Mans for four consecutive years, from 1966 to 1969, instantly cementing its legendary status in automotive history. The 1966 win was the first victory for an American manufacturer at a major European race since 1921.

The GT40 came about when Ford gave Carroll Shelby the reins to design the ultimate race car. Ford wanted to embarrass Enzo Ferrari in the top prototype class, and once Shelby took over the program, the 427 V8 GT40 started beating down all the competition. Here’s how dominant it was – in 1966, the car won not only Le Mans, but also the 12 Hours of Sebring, and 24 Hours of Daytona, taking first, second, and third place in all three races. This was truly the most dominant automotive machine of its day. The top speed of this car was around 210 mph, making it the fastest car of the era.

13 Shelby Cobra

1966 Sebring 12 Hours Cobra Auction Front Quarter View
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Speaking of Carroll Shelby, the legendary automaker and designer, here we have another model, and one of the coolest inventions in motoring history. The Shelby Cobra came about in a dream, literally. At least the name for it came about in Carroll Shelby’s sleep. The idea was to drop a big American V8 engine into a small British sports car, and the resulting car was instantly ingrained in car culture forever. Shelby always wanted to make a powerful and lightweight sports car, and for this, he used an AC Ace body and a Ford-sourced V8. The car was on sale between 1962 and 1967 and went through multiple updates and upgrades during those five years.

At its most powerful, the Cobra 427 competition model (powered by a “side oiler” 7.0-liter Ford 427 engine) had 485 hp and a top speed of 185 mph, and could reach 0-60 mph in just 4.5 seconds. Since the car is so legendary, Shelby authorized the production of “continuation” cars, and since the late ‘80s cars have been in production with the style and appearance of the original ‘60s Cobras, but with modern amenities. In 2014, Shelby America announced a limited production run of 50 cars for the 50th anniversary of the original 427 Shelby Cobra.

12 Chevrolet Corvette

The Classic 1967 Chevrolet Corvette 2-Door Convertible In Marina Blue
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It might be too early to call the Chevy Corvette the most iconic American sports car of all time, as there might be others on this list that’ll give the ‘Vette a run for its money, but it definitely comes close. The C2 second-generation Corvette is generally recognized as the one that defined the ‘60s. Coming off the ‘50s first-generation model, the ’63 Corvette got inspiration from the Mako Shark concept car. Chevrolet also introduced the independent rear suspension and big block in this generation, making it a really fast, tough sports car. Though these cars began selling at affordable prices, these days a big-block C2 regularly sells for over six figures, according to Hagerty.

A couple of different Corvettes of this era were able to give the Shelby Cobra a run for its money – the 427 Sting Ray and the ’63 Split-Window Corvette. These cars continuously pushed the envelope in terms of style and performance, and they have since the second half of the 20th century. In 1962, Chief Engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov worried about Ford and what they were doing with the Cobra. Then he came up with the lightweight C2 version and planned to manufacture 100 Grand Sport Convertibles, though only five were actually built. Today, these five cars (001-005) belong to private collectors and are among the most coveted and valuable Corvettes ever built.

11 Ford Mustang

1965 Mustang Convertible
Mecum Auctions

Even more than the Chevrolet Corvette, the single most iconic car in America during the 1960s would have to be the Ford Mustang. The original pony car. The 1964 Mustang started a revolution. It was cheap and really good-looking, and guys (especially) knew that it was the car that was going to get them all the chicks. The original Mustang wasn’t very fast, but the V8 option on offer showed what the design could do, and later, better V8s and a four-speed transmission made the light Mustang a blast to drive.

The Mustang is so iconic that even non-car people know what the car is. Fastbacks and convertibles and other different body styles were available for everyone, and even Carroll Shelby got in on the buying craze. The Mustang created its own market and gave rise to competitors like the Chevy Camaro, Pontiac Firebird, Plymouth Barracuda, and Dodge Challenger. Original sales forecasts predicted less than 100,000 units moved in the first year, and Ford passed this milestone within the first three months. The company sold over 318,000 during the first model year — a record — and more than one million within its first 18 months, cementing it as the most popular car in America. The 1965 Mustang even won the Tiffany Gold Medal for Excellence in American Design, the first automobile to ever do that.

RELATED: 10 Used Ford Mustangs That Will Stand The Test Of Time

10 Chevrolet Camaro

Red 1967-1969 Chevrolet Camaro (First Generation)
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Though maybe not as popular as its progenitor, the Mustang, the Chevrolet Camaro is still a very iconic car from the ‘60s and onward. Two and a half years after the Mustang debuted, Chevrolet had their answer ready, and it was a doozy: a 3,000-lb, rear-wheel drive, awesomely designed beast. By late 1966, the muscle car era was in full swing, and the Camaro was right in the thick of it, offering big block power right from the get-go. The Camaro wouldn’t eclipse the Mustang’s sales numbers for about a decade, but that day would come.

The first-generation Camaro (1967-1969) used the GM F-body platform and was available as a two-door coupe or a convertible. It came with either a 3.9-, 4.1-, 4.9-, 5.0-, 5.4-, 5.7-, or 6.5-liter V8 engine. Partly due to negative press from Ralph Nader’s book, "Unsafe at Any Speed," Chevy realized their small compact sports car, the Corvair, wouldn’t be able to compete with the Mustang’s sales numbers, so Chevy went after the design of the Mustang and mimicked it as closely as possible. The first-generation Camaro only lasted three years, but it would inspire the design of the retro fifth-generation Camaro, too.

9 Volkswagen Beetle

VW Beetle - Front
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The Volkswagen Beetle has one of the longest lifespans of any car in history. It was first introduced in 1938, pre-WWII, and would go on in production until 2003. The most famous Beetle is the Type 1, and also the most popular, with over 21 million units sold. It was a small, cheap, reliable air-cooled car, and it paved the way for much more expensive German brands, like BMW and Mercedes-Benz. In the same 1999 Car of the Century poll that the Mini and Porsche 911 were part of, the Type 1 Beetle came in fourth.

The original Beetle was not going to win you any races or beauty contests. Its engine produced just 25 hp and could only propel it to a top speed of 62 mph. Autobahn speeds rose in the postwar years, and Volkswagen boosted the Beetle's output to 40 hp — a configuration that lasted until 1966 and became the “classic” Volkswagen motor. Even though Volkswagen and “The People’s Car,” (a car affordable and practical enough for common people) including the company, its name, and models, were the brainchild of Adolf Hitler and Ferdinand Porsche, the idea of the car is much older than Nazism. The “People’s Car” has existed since mass-produced cars came around, and the Beetle would live on past the dark days of WWII and its creators.

8 Volkswagen Type 2

1963 Volkswagen Type 2 Single Cab Pickup
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The Volkswagen Microbus (or Type 2) is a funny name, depending on how you look at it. It’s either a really, really big van, or a really, really small bus (hence its name). The Type 2 was a forward control panel van introduced in 1950 by Volkswagen, but it really came into prosperity during the ‘60s, when it became the archetypal “hippie van,” and a symbol of the counterculture movement. It was the opposite of the Beetle, big rather than tiny, though it shared some similarities, including a rear-mounted air-cooled engine and rear-wheel drive.

The car remains iconic for many hippies today, thanks to its popularity in the ‘60s. Like the Beetle, it has numerous nicknames worldwide, with the “hippie van” just being one of them. The Type 2 competed with the 1947-1981 Citroën H Van, the 1959-1980 Renault Estafette, and the 1953-1965 FR Layout Ford Transit. But as the production of the Type 2 has been going on since 1949, and is still in production today, you can see that it outlasted all the competition. It’s still a pretty common sight on roads around the world, even though the 1964 U.S. Chicken Tax directly curtailed importation of the German-built Type 2s that qualified them as “light trucks,” or commercial vans. Sales declined in the U.S. by two-thirds from the previous year, and today the Chicken Tax remains in effect.

7 Lincoln Continental

1963 Lincoln Continental
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The Lincoln Continental is the only car that gives the Volkswagen Beetle a run as far as the production timeline goes. The car has been around since 1939 in its Edsel Ford prototype and then the first-generation Continental, though here we’re focusing on the fourth generation (1961-1969), the side-slab Continentals that became an iconic car of that period. The “new” design was completely unlike the Mark V Continentals before it, other than that both cars were huge.

The ‘60s Continental came with new, rear-hinged “suicide doors” and a luxurious interior, and it became a big seller for such an expensive car. It also had the unfortunate recognition of living in infamy after President Kennedy's assassination in a Continental in 1963. For the 1961 model year, Lincoln consolidated its entire range into one car. This one, even though it was 15 inches shorter than the Mark V, was still heavier and longer than its Cadillac or Imperial counterparts. Together with the rigorous post-build inspection of each vehicle, and the solid construction of the car, the Continental reflected Ford’s corporate management commitment to making the finest mass-produced domestic automobile of its time.

Related: This Is What We Love About The 1963 Lincoln Continental IV

6 Plymouth Barracuda

1968 Plymouth Barracuda
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The Plymouth Barracuda came into existence with the sole intention of competing against the Ford Mustang in the highly competitive pony car market of the ‘60s. The ‘Cuda is also one of the most expensive muscle cars selling at auction these days. The Barracuda actually launched two weeks before the Mustang, as a coupe version of the popular Plymouth Variant. It was pretty standard except for its rear, which sported a large, distinctive wrap-around glass. The second-generation Barracuda, from 1967 to 1969, had many design changes, and was available as a fastback, hardtop coupe, and convertible.

The front and rear ends of the ’67 Barracuda were not the only redesigns, as the pony car class became established around this time. As such, Plymouth revised the engine options of the car, offering a range of V8 options from the two- and four-barrel versions to a big block version, and the infamous 7.0-liter Hemi engine in 1968, for the fastback Barracuda. Hurst Performance designed these cars to take part in Super Stock drag racing. Multiple engines were available in 1969, including the upgraded, 330-hp 383, and a 440 Super Commando V8. Plymouth eventually phased out the car and stopped production in 1974.

5 Chevrolet Chevelle

1968 Chevrolet Chevelle SS Muscle Car Restoration Project
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Though we’ve covered most of the well-known iconic cars that defined the ‘60s already, there are still a few that we’d be remiss not to include. The Chevrolet Chevelle is one of these. Though not as popular as the Corvette or Camaro during their heydays, the Chevelle was still a highly sought-after vehicle. It was a mid-sized car produced in three generations between 1964 and 1978. During its time, the Chevelle was one of Chevy’s most successful nameplates. The Chevelle is a muscle car that deserves a mention on the list of the top muscle cars of the day.

Even though the Chevelle peaked in 1970, with its 450-hp LS6 SS engine, the ‘60s versions weren’t slow, either. The 1964 model debuted with a lukewarm 220-hp V8, but once Pontiac released the GTO, the proverbial gloves came off, and Chevy added the 327 Chevelle mid-year. By 1966, the 396 Chevelle was available, with well over 350 horsepower. In 1966, there was also a complete restyle of the car, with a frame that now included smooth contours, a broad new grille, and bumper treatment, as well as curved side windows. With the ’67 facelift, Chevrolet claimed in the 1967 Chevelle sales brochure that, “What you’ll see inside will probably bring on a severe compulsion to go driving.”

4 Pontiac GTO

1969 Pontiac GTO, orange, front
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Speaking of the Pontiac GTO, here’s the car that pushed Chevrolet to make its Chevelle muscle car meaner and leaner. The Pontiac GTO was in production between 1964 and 1974. Even though there were earlier muscle cars, the GTO is the car that started the muscle car trend between all four domestic automakers.

From 1964-1965, the GTO was an optional package on the mid-sized Pontiac Tempest. Then it became its own model from 1966 to 1971. It eventually became an option package again for the 1972-1973 Le Mans, and for the 1974 Ventura. The best version of the GTO was the 1969 GTO Judge, and it costs almost $100,000 according to Hagerty.