The past century has been a race between manufacturers to stand out from the crowd. And it worked because many cars, despite their common features, were diverse, and you would hardly be confused about which car in front of you – Toyota or Kia.
One of the best decades in the automotive industry was the 60s because it was then that many models appeared that later became legends. Here are a few cars that are symbolic of the 60s.
7 popular cars in the 1960s make and model
Lamborghini Miura
Today, the term “supercar” is unlikely to surprise anyone. A fast, agile vehicle with an exclusive interior. But in the 60s, when the efficiency of engines was at a low level, and comfort and safety were not particularly thought about, even the executive class lagged behind today’s budget models.
But this did not apply to the Lamborghini Miura. This car came out in 1966 and changed everything. It became the world’s first mass-produced supercar for public roads. Before that, there were sports cars of this class, but they could only drive on tracks.
The Lamborghini Miura was the fastest production car of the time, powered by a 3.9-liter V12 engine producing 350 horsepower. This is even though the production cars of the middle class of that time had at best 80 horsepower under the hood. Soon, the Lamborghini Miura became a cult icon, not only for its speed but also for a design ahead of its time, which even today looks very attractive.
Ford Mustang
The legendary Ford Mustang muscle car was born in 1964. It was a truly breakthrough design that smelled brutal. Under the hood of the most budget model was a powerful 2.8-liter Ford Thriftpower Six 170 engine, producing 101 horsepower. At that time – a serious power. The most productive 7-liter Ford FE 429 Super Cobra Jet engine produced a crazy 375 horsepower at that time.
Thanks to its successful design, powerful engine, and high-quality advertising campaign, Ford sold more than 300 thousand Mustangs in the first year, and it became the most popular car in the United States. And the fact that he began to appear in almost every film, starting from the mid-60s, made it a world-famous machine.
Chevrolet Camaro
Another muscle car that came out a little later than the Mustang – in 1966. It did not receive the same popularity as the Ford Mustang, but it was one of the best-selling in the 60s. Like the Ford Mustang, the Chevrolet Camaro was powered by a powerful engine. The basic configuration was a 6-cylinder engine with a capacity of 140 horsepower. There were also more powerful engines with a capacity of more than 200 horsepower, and the most productive ones produced 375.
Along with the Ford Mustang, the Chevrolet Camaro created the image of America and is still associated with these muscle cars by many people, including many countries, the United States.
Porsche 911
If you’ve played Need for Speed: Porsche, then you know what a Porsche 911 is and why it’s a legend. The Porsche 911 was launched in 1963 and, thanks to its innovative design, remains a coveted car that does not look like a pile of old iron compared to the more common cars of the time.
The Porsche 911 was the second model created by Ferdinand Porsche. It was intended to replace the outdated Porsche 356 and did it brilliantly. More than a million of these cars have been produced since production, making the Porsche 911 one of history’s most popular sports cars.
At the time of production, the car was equipped with a 6-cylinder engine with a capacity of 130 horsepower as standard. Then the engine was modified, and by the beginning of the 70s, it was already producing 190 horsepower.
The Porsche 911 has participated in many sports competitions throughout its history, winning the 24 Hours of Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring, 24 Hours of Nurburgring, the Targa Florio, and many other races. In addition, the car has appeared in many films and games and still remains one of the most recognizable sports cars.
Ferrari 250 GTO
The Ferrari 250 GTO is another legendary sports car that was created in 1962 to compete in FIA racing. Enzo Ferrari personally had a hand in the creation of the Ferrari 250 GTO, and he also had to approve the purchase of the car. Despite the fact that, unlike previous cars, the Ferrari 250 GTO was not mass-produced, and only 39 units were created all the time, this did not prevent this rare model from becoming legendary and being a symbol of the 60s thanks to its dominance on the racetracks.
The Ferrari 250 GTO was not only handsome and had a special charisma, but it could leave the competition to swallow dust somewhere far behind thanks to the 3.0-liter engine with 300 horsepower. With a mass of only 880 kilograms, this power was enough to accelerate the sports car to 280 kilometers per hour. Even today, these are large numbers, and in the early 60s, such figures were simply crazy.
Jaguar E-type
The Jaguar E-type was released in 1961 and became one of the most popular British Jaguar cars of all time. When it appeared in the early 60s, it was one of the fastest cars. Under the hood in the first series, there were two types of engines to choose from. One of them, a 3-liter with an unsynchronized transmission, and a 4.2-liter with a fully synchronized transmission. Both engines produced 265 horsepower. Later, a third 5.3-liter engine appeared, which already produced 314 horsepower.
But that was not the most important thing in this car. The main thing is its design, which felt not only the spirit of the late 50s but also the innovation of the 60s. It is still considered one of the most stylish cars in history for its appearance.
Dodge Charger
And again, we return to the American muscle cars, but this time to the most brutal of their representatives – the Dodge Charger. The first generation was launched in 1966, and it immediately stood out among the crowd of identical muscle cars with its legendary “electric shaver” radiator grill, which completely hid the headlights.
Under the hood of the Dodge Charger was a 5-liter 318 horsepower engine. More efficient engines were also available, up to the 7-liter, which produced 375 horsepower. But, like almost any muscle car, the Dodge Charger was not designed for high speed but for power, thanks to which it was possible to move comfortably off-road and carry heavy loads in the cabin.
