Many people see the 1960s as a tumultuous time for the world. While this was true in many ways, it was predominantly because humankind was making a big shift for the better. In fashion, culture, art, and technology, humanity leaped away from their old ways. The Summer of Love, the Civil Rights Movement, Woodstock, and the moon landing were some of the many turns this generation got to witness. It was hard to adjust at first, but it was honestly one of the best times in history.
While there were many new developments in the ‘60s, we're here to talk about one industry that flourished in this era more than other decades: the car industry. The ‘60s witnessed some of the most beautiful and unique cars ever to be released in history.
The culture that thrived at the time dramatically influenced the cars produced. People loved anything colorful and curvy, and this aesthetic can be seen in the design of ‘60s muscle cars. For the first time, they could drive fast and look classy. To give you a sense of what we're talking about, we rounded up a list of cars from the '60s that we bet you wish you could drive today.
The Jaguar reigned supreme in the '60s as no other car company could match its performance. Jaguar released one classic after another, and the brand is considered to have produced many of humanity’s most iconic cars. Of all these classics, the E-Type has risen to the top. Its performance was one thing, but how it looked? Now, that was everything.
Today, car collectors would be willing to spend millions of dollars just to get their hands on this legendary classic. Italy's pride, the Lamborghini Miura was one of the sexiest, fastest, most beautiful, and expensive cars of the 1960s. It was a status symbol during those times as it was the company's finest model.
While getting a Volkswagen Beetle today could only cost you the same price as getting a low-end car, this model holds a special place in American culture. The vehicle was tied to the hippy movement and the Summer of Love as a trusty and affordable car for musicians and students.
Chevrolet's Chevelle was released in 1964. The model embodied the era's concept of what a muscle car should be: loud, mean, big, and of course, very fast. It was one of the most unique cars at the time, featuring a big, curved, yet boxy back end topped with a long hood. It didn't only perform; it looked the part as well!
The Legendary Ferrari 250 GTO was one of the most sought-after cars in the '60s. Today, any car collector would be tempted by one of these beautiful models. Back then, buyers needed to be approved by Enzo Ferarri before they could own one.
The Plymouth Barracuda, although often forgotten about, still scores a spot on this list. During its heyday, it was one of the leading influences in muscle car design.
For decades, the Charger has been produced by Dodge so successfully that it only went out of production twice. It was well known then, and it's still massively popular now. However, newer designs have never been able to match how classy the '60s version looked.