The 14 Coolest Cars From The ’60s

The 1960s brought us some of the most jaw-dropping automobiles ever created. From sleek Italian sports cars to American muscle machines, this decade changed how we think about speed, style, and pure driving excitement.

Whether you’re a car enthusiast or just curious about automotive history, these legendary vehicles represent the golden age of cool on four wheels.

1. Jaguar E-Type (Series I, 1962)

Enzo Ferrari himself called it the most beautiful car ever made, and honestly, who’s arguing? The E-Type combined stunning curves with genuine racing performance, hitting 150 mph straight from the factory.

British engineering meets Italian elegance in this masterpiece. Its price tag was half what competitors charged, making supercar performance accessible to more drivers than ever before.

2. Lamborghini Miura

Picture this: a V12 engine mounted sideways behind the driver, wrapped in bodywork that looks like it’s doing 200 mph while parked. Lamborghini basically invented the modern supercar with this wild creation.

Those eyelashes around the headlights?

Pure genius. Racing technology met artistic design, creating something that still turns heads at every car show decades later.

3. Ferrari 250 GTO (1962)

Want to buy one today? Better have $70 million lying around, just saying. Only 36 were ever built, and each one dominated racetracks across Europe throughout the decade.

That swooping roofline and aggressive stance weren’t just for show. This prancing horse could hit 174 mph while winning championships, making it the ultimate combination of beauty and brutality.

4. Ford Mustang (1964½)

Ford sold over 400,000 of these in the first year alone because everyone wanted affordable cool. The Mustang created an entirely new category called the pony car, mixing sporty looks with everyday practicality.

You could customize yours with dozens of options, from gentle six-cylinders to roaring V8s. Steve McQueen made it legendary in Bullitt, cementing its status forever.

5. Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray (1963, Split-Window)

Split rear window glints like a secret badge of honor, seen only in that single, glorious year. Designers grumbled about poor visibility, yet fans caught a glimpse of perfection. Hidden headlights blink awake as the scent of gasoline and polished leather fills the air. Razor-edged curves slice through sunlight, pure attitude on four wheels.

Feels like Gotham thundered to life – because if Batman ever picked an American car, he’d toss his cape into this one without hesitation.

6. Shelby Cobra 427 (1965)

Carroll Shelby stuffed a massive Ford V8 into a lightweight British roadster, creating something absolutely bonkers. With 425 horsepower and barely any weight, this thing accelerated like a rocket strapped to roller skates.

Those bulging fender flares housed massive tires trying desperately to control all that power. Driving one required skill, courage, and maybe a little bit of crazy.

7. Aston Martin DB5 (1964)

James Bond made this car famous in Goldfinger, complete with ejector seats and machine guns. Even without the gadgets, the DB5 represented British luxury and performance at its absolute finest.

Hand-built craftsmanship met a silky-smooth inline-six engine. Every detail, from the leather interior to the chrome trim, screamed sophistication and class beyond compare.

8. Toyota 2000GT (1967)

Japan shocked the world when Toyota unveiled this gorgeous grand tourer. Suddenly, Japanese automakers weren’t just making practical economy cars but legitimate sports car competitors worthy of respect.

Only 351 were built, making them rarer than most Ferraris. That combination of scarcity, beauty, and historical significance makes collectors go absolutely wild at auctions today.

9. Nissan Skyline GT-R PGC10 (1969)

Before the GT-R became a video game legend, this boxy sedan dominated Japanese touring car racing. Its inline-six engine revved to stratospheric heights, embarrassing cars costing twice as much.

Racing heritage flows through every bolt and panel. Skyline GT-Rs won 50 races in their first few years, establishing a dynasty that continues thrilling enthusiasts worldwide even now.

10. Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale (1967)

With butterfly doors and curves that defy physics, only 18 of these were ever created. Each one was essentially a street-legal race car, weighing less than 1,500 pounds but packing serious punch.

The price tag in 1967 exceeded even the mighty Ferrari 275 GTB. Owning one meant joining the most exclusive club imaginable, reserved for true connoisseurs of Italian automotive art.

11. Maserati Ghibli (1967)

Named for a fierce desert wind, Maserati’s creation roared to life with heat and grace. Giorgetto Giugiaro shaped every curve to whisper elegance and growl power all at once. Gasoline and leather scents mingle as the V8 sings its metallic symphony, echoing off coastal cliffs. Acceleration feels like poetry in motion, the horizon melting ahead.

Grand touring reaches its sultry peak when Italian sunshine glints off paint that looks fast even standing still.

12. Porsche 911 (1964)

How many cars from 1964 are still in production today? Exactly one: the 911. Its rear-engine layout seemed crazy initially, but Porsche perfected the formula into something truly special.

That distinctive shape became instantly recognizable worldwide. Whether you’re six or sixty, you can spot a 911 from a mile away, proving timeless design never goes out of style.

13. Dodge Charger (1969)

American muscle reached its peak with this beast, featuring hidden headlights and a design that screamed attitude. The General Lee from The Dukes of Hazzard made it a cultural icon forever.

Big-block V8 engines could be ordered with enough horsepower to smoke tires for days. This wasn’t about sophistication or finesse but pure, unapologetic, tire-shredding American power and glory.

14. Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona (1969)

Ferrari named this beauty after their 1-2-3 finish at the 1967 Daytona 24 Hours race. That sharp nose and aggressive stance represented the last front-engine V12 Ferrari before mid-engine designs took over completely.

Reaching 174 mph made it the fastest production car when new. Miami Vice featured a replica famously, though they eventually switched to a real Testarossa for insurance reasons!