Top 10 American Cars Of The 1960s

The foundations for a lot of the cars we love were laid in the 1950s, often as a response to the European racers of the time. However, it was in the 1960s that these same cars came into their own. We’ve done a fair few Top 10s before, but never for a specific decade. As the 1960s was the golden age of muscle cars, a highpoint of design, and a decade of innovation, it seems fitting to start here. Normal rules apply: this countdown isn’t explicitly by worth; all these cars are equally fantastic. That being said, let’s get started!

10. 1968 Dodge Charger R/T

Cars don’t come much more badass than the Dodge Charger R/T. If you want a truly archetypal muscle car, and will settle for nothing less, this car is the answer. The cult following this car has built up makes finding parts pretty easy, which is another thing it has going for it. Most importantly, as we stated, the car is the best example of muscle car design ever created. It’s bulky and brash in all the right ways, while still boasting solid design. The hidden headlights, the curves that sweep to its beautiful rear, and the gorgeous chrome all come together to create a drop-dead gorgeous machine.

Then, there’s the motor. The powertrain on the R/T featured a rorty 440 four-barrel Magnum V8 that produced 375 horsepower. Pay a little extra, and you could get a 426 Hemi that kicked out 425 horsepower. Still fun to drive now, still good-looking now, and a hell of a car all round, it’s natural that this car gets a spot on our list.

9. Ford GT40

Now this car is the business. Created with the help of British company Lola, who had used a Ford V8 in their Lola Mk6, the GT40 was a consummate racer that won at Le Mans a total of four times. Born from a desire of Henry Ford II’s to have a car at Le Mans, the car was a combination of speed and handling that would make even modern race cars jealous.

The chassis was designed by Abbey Panels, of Coventry, England, and a 427 Galaxie engine was installed under the hood. While only 105 of these cars were ever produced, the GT40 will live on forever as a masterful racer. It brought Ford back to international racing, cemented Bruce McLaren’s reputation as a superb driver, and was beautiful to boot

8. Chevrolet Corvette C2

What is there to say about the C2 Corvette that hasn’t already been said? It’s my favorite Corvette design by a country mile. It’s impossible to look at this car and not fall in love with it. Its curves speak to the Lamborghini Miura, but actually predate that particular Italian beauty. My particular favorite model is the 1963 one: the split rear window, while not being super practical, only adds to the car’s already staggering beauty.

Horsepower ranged from 250-435, depending on engine choice, but whether you picked the 327 small-block or the 427 big-block, you were in for a blast. The car handled like a dream, with grip that made supercars green with envy, combined with a huge amount of power on tap. While some may prefer the original’s more conventional, classic looks, or the retro-futuristic look of the C3, the C2 will forever be the quintessential Corvette to me.

7. The First-Gen Ford Mustang

The second Ford on this list, this entry should come as no surprise. The main rival to the Corvette, the Mustang is so celebrated for good reason. As the car that kickstarted the pony car trend, and broke sales record after sales record, it’s a huge mainstay of American motoring. The car’s design, by Lee Iacocca, needed to serve as a shot across the bow of the Corvette, offering a cheap, small, powerful car. It achieved all of these goals with aplomb.

The first generation used a hodgepodge of parts from across the Ford catalog to keep prices down. For example, the Falcon and the Fairlane provided its chassis, suspension, and drivetrain. Despite being something of a Frankenstein’s car, the result was fantastic. While we could talk about the styling cues or the engines, it’s also important to note the engineering advances that Ford achieved with this car. For example, it used floating bumpers and a torque box, which served to keep the inner frame rails and inner rocker panels together. The engineers weren’t sure if these were the right steps to take, but they loved the result, and so did the public. And we still do.

6. 1966 Pontiac GTO

When production of the GTO began in 1964, there wasn’t really anything else like it. Its name still has a huge amount of resonance today, because to many, this is the original muscle car. It’s big, beefy, and ridiculously loud. Springing from roots in the Pontiac Tempest, with a name taken from the Ferrari 250 GTO, it was, and still is, an outrageous car. We’ve chosen the 1966 model in particular as this was the first year it got its own model. This was the year it got sleek, Coke bottle lines. The tailights were louvered, front grilles moulded from plastic, bucket seats were installed, and the interior’s instruments got a redesign.

The XS Ram Air package came with a high-lift cam, which helped increase power all the way up to 380 horsepower. This particular variant is hard to come by these days, as only 35 were delivered from the factory (though more are thought to have been installed at dealerships). This model year also helped GTO sales skyrocket, hitting 96,946, the most for any year of the GTO’s production.

5. 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396

Speaking of exceptionally powerful monsters, the Chevelle always springs to mind when I think of power. In particular, it’s the Chevelle SS that I dream of owning, and practically drool over whenever I see one. As well as being beautiful, it offered speed by the bucketload. At launch, the ’67 Chevelle cost just $2825. Add $196, and you got the 396, which could quite comfortably beat a Mustang in a straight-line race.

The 396 produced 375 horsepower, and in terms of acceleration, was an absolute monster at the time. You’d hit 60 mph in 6.5 seconds, and conquer a quarter-mile in 14.9 seconds. These were the days of cheap gas, cheap muscle cars, and fun by the ton.

4. Shelby Cobra 427

If you’ve not heard of AC, I don’t blame you. The British manufacturer is a tiny company these days, but back in its heyday, the Cobra was a fantastic little sports car. Then Carroll Shelby stepped in. The Cobra needed a new chassis, which was designed with Ford. This new chassis used bigger tubes, coil spring suspension, wide fenders, and a larger radiator opening. That is not, obviously, what it is most known for these days. What it’s known for is its massive engine.

The Shelby Cobra had a Ford 427 FE engine fitted, which made its performance frankly silly for the times, and still impressive today. Its top speed was 185 mph, and it could hit 60 in just 4 seconds. While many of the cars on this list are still fast today, this one wouldn’t just run alongside modern day muscle cars, but modern day supercars.

3. The Fourth-Generation Lincoln Continental

The first car on this list that isn’t a muscle car, the Continental was a by-word for luxury in the 1960s. Favored by celebrities and dignitaries, these cars were built with the aim of making the most luxurious mass-market car in history. I think that, by the standards of the time, they achieved that goal quite handily.

The car’s slab-side design is simple, but good looking, but it’s the interior where things really get special. Step into the car through its suicide doors, and you’re met with a spacious interior complete with some of the comfiest car seats ever made. The ride was superb, and while it may not be the fastest car on this list, it still had a good amount of shove thanks to a range of large V8 engines.

2. 1968 Plymouth Road Runner

If you wanted a basic muscle car, that was accessible to just about anyone, the Road Runner was where it was at. The car isn’t beautiful, but there’s a certain ruggedness to it that’s very endearing. It’s very much the AK-47 of cars. Performance came first. Everything else could be left.

Under the hood, you could install a 426 Hemi V8 which produced 425 horsepower. This impressive powertrain let you blow almost every other car on the road away, with an impressive price tag of just under $3600. No one is ever going to call the Road Runner a beautiful car. It’s a basic muscle car, but sometimes, that’s all you need. That, and a good open road.

1. Chevrolet Camaro

If this car hadn’t appeared on the list, I feel like riots would have occurred. Chevrolet’s answer to the Mustang, after a dodgy safety record blotted the Corvair’s copy book, the Camaro is a rear-wheel-drive monster. The first generation ran from 1967-69, and in that time, it garnered serious acclaim. Built on an F-Body platform, with engines ranging from 230s to 396s. While it was outsold dramatically by the Mustang in the 1967 model year, Chevy were not to be beaten.

Buyers could opt for either a coupe or a convertible, and both were brutal, wonderful machines. A bit of publicity, serving as the pace car in the 1967 Indianapolis 500, didn’t hinder its success. Nor did its reputation as a solid racer, proving to be an incredible race car in the SCCA Trans-Am series. A beautiful car, and one that deserves the honor of rounding off this list.