Favorite car of the 1960s?
Ducati Minor
The Swingin' Sixties gave rise to youth empowerment, psychadelic culture, the hippie, and a man on the moon. The decade also saw the birth of iconic names in motoring: the Ford Mustang, Chevy Corvette Sting Ray, and Porsche 911 to name a few. Which of many classic gems from the '60s is your favorite and why?
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Ducati Minor
And, no, the GTO '64 isn't my favorite.
MichaelWho
Unless I'm out of bounds regarding production versus purpose-built racers, the best of the best of the 60's must be the Ford GT40! Nothing else compares, save for the styling of the Cobras or Ferrari's, which Ford proved it could beat. Closest thing to me to bring me to tears first time I saw one up close (and even the current faux-vintage models make me melt on sight of one). If I could ever afford one, I'd be impossible to live with!
Karl Schiffmayer
The most exciting car from the 1960's is definately the 427 Shelby Cobra. Hitting the accelerator on a Cobra is a real experience.
the neatest car from the 1960's is the 1967 275GTB-4 Ferrari. Driving this car is like driving a high priced watch and unlike any other car.
Mena
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4
2600 lbs, 300 hp, front engined V12 goodness. Classic shape and a BEAUTIFUL engine note make this my all-time favorite road car bar none. Make mine black though.
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4
steven de ruig
i second that completely, tho black is not the best colour for this heavenly car. a better version could be the competizione tho its body was so thin you couldn't push it without damaging it ... the 275 is fantastic!
mikeparris
Have to fully agree. When I was a young college student in Santa Barbara in 1970, I often shot "portraits" of the local's exotic cars. I knew one guy with a 275 GTB, ex-GT class winnter at Le Mans, still with roll cage - that was not just street legal. He took me for a ride in the right-hander and oh what music! The power and "rip, rip," as he punched the Ferrari 12. Wow!
Anonymous
Was that guy that owned the 275 GTB named Dean?
prsnow
Mike, would you happen to be the professional photographer Mike Parris ?
Johnny
Hands down the best looking car ever designed, with an engine sound that still registers in memory. It still delivers the inspiration today that was immediately recognized in its heyday: taut beauty.
Dave B.
If I have to name one car from the decade, I'm going with the Lancia Fulvia HF 1600.
JWBrothers
If I had to pick the most beautiful, most expensive single car, I'd also pick one of the Ferraris. But that's no fun if I can't ever aspire to own one, much less drive one. I like the 63, 67 and 69 Vettes for their pure American vitality. I really like the 67 GTO and love the 69 Grand Prix SJ 428. I think the E-Jag is still beautiful, but I learned to drive on my dad's new 67 Cutlass. It was black over gold with wire wheel covers and the first "Wide Oval" (F70-14) tires in town. It came from the factory with a 4-4-2 engine transmission combination that was not supposed to be available on that car. It was a 330 c.i.d. V8 with 330 hp and a Turbo 350 Transmission. My dad wore out the rear tires in less than 11,000 miles and he was a conservative driver. If I could find one at a reasonable price in black over gold or white with a red interior, I'd buy it in a New York minute.
1967 Black over Gold Cutlass Supreme
Many Thanks
Jim
Ducati Minor
Hate to confess it: Dino 246 GTS. It's overrated, underpowered, and has no great racing history. Still, I love it.
Mena
It's fairly lightweight (~2300 lbs), simple, and mid-engined. I wonder if there are any tuners that could bump the power a bit.
http://tinyurl.com/6m2v8h
Ducati Minor
Very risky because vintage Ferraris aren't known for having a large tuner community. Even the period (and much less pricey) Lancias and Alfas have limited tuner access. Possible? Surely. But the 246 isn't all that it's cracked up to be. Still, there is something about the experience that keeps me wanting to delve into it more.
AlvaroF.
The incredible Mini Cooper 1275 S. Winner of 4 Monte Carlo Rally in a row.
Johnny
Totally agree. Let's narrow this compliment to the Morris-badged car for its undisputed rally successes, and then add the Austin Cooper S 1275 (an identical machine) for that stylized "S" on the boot lid that inspired so much conversation in all the years since. "Following the 'S'".
These cars started or proved so much packaging for the automobile industry, and the return to smaller nimble cars again proves the brilliance of this solution. Front wheel drive, Disc brakes, Light weight, Adequate power, Handling prowess,... all of it tossed with a small measure of inexpensive superiority.
No surprise that it was voted a best car of all time.
Shep
Yes. I'd extend it to the Mini Cooper in general, that fabulous combination of brilliant and revolutionary engineering by Issigonis, plus John Cooper's realization that this could become a sports car. The '60's Cooper had the unrivalled and amazing combination of attractiveness to nearly everyone, amazingly low cost, sports-car handling, and giddy fun. (The new Mini manages the same trick).
Birdman
I'd have to go with my old love ! My first car was a classic Ford Galaxy 500 convertible. Black exterior with white/cream top, Red leather interior! My God that car was beautiful. I'll have one again some day before I die.
Now I have a hybrid. Love saving gas, but GAS back then - you young'uns was 36 cents a gallon. Then came 1973. Skyrocketed to over a dollar before trending back down .. now IF we could just get the old beauties to triple the mileage we could have the best of both worlds.
I always loved the first couple of years of T-birds too.
Wide Track
One of the best cars I ever owned was a 1962 Oldsmobile Starfire, I don't recall the size of the engine but it had plenty of gitty up and go. It was likely the most comfortable car of it's time. I fail to find much information out there about this car.
And the one I wish I had back was my 1957 Chevrolet Sedan Delivery which I had installed a Corvette engine.
Bruce Wood
Wide Track. In its time, the Olds Starfire was a wild, luxury hotrod: 394 cu in Ultra High Compression engine, 325 hp, great boxy body lines, stunning interior with cool console, and those slick side-exit bumper exhausts (if I'm thinking of the correct year, maybe '63?). I realize I was only an impressionable kid in a neighborhood of hot rodders (Cleve.,OH), but my ride in one left a major impression. What a car!
I share your love.
kingofstarfires
Did you own it from new?
kingofstarfires
Was it new?
Don White
My favorite car was a 1967 Duetto that I added a roll bar and manly wheels. It was Ivory exterior w/black interior. Having a convertible in college was great as the "Graduate" movie was still popular.
Girls loved it and guys loved to ride around in it. It had carbs, no USA mandated safety or pollution equipment. I kept it about five years.
My next car was an Elan Plus 2 coupe and thats another story.
div bobo
i will tell that was a lot,
in the Europe: Fiat Abarth 1000TC,Renault Alpine A 110,Mini Cooper Monaco S ,Lancia Fulvia 1600 integrale,Renault 8 Gordini, BMW 2002 TI Alpina,Alfa Romeo 1300GTA junior,Ford Escort RS,Ferrari 250 TRI 61, 250 GTO Berlinetta,250 LM Speciale and 275 GTS,Innocenti Ghia 950,Maserati Ghibli Spider,Mercedes Benz 300 SL, NSU 1000TTS,Porche 911 S,Volkswagen Karmann Ghia,Fiat 125,.......
in the USA:Ford Mustang,Ford GT 40 MK I,Chevrolet Corvette C1,Chevrolet Corvette Rondine Pininfarina.
this is it from me.
bobo div
sorry I miss the one of the best car ever:
LAMBORGHINI MIURA P 400 S
Thank you
brad
1966 Lincoln Contenintal Sedan....I had a white one with jade leather interior.
Kevin
I had a 1963 Continental when I was 16 (9 years ago). I absolutely loved it. White vinyl interior, silver green paint. I rebuilt the carburetor and that was my first time doing one. I had to pour lead additive into the tank. It had square tires from sitting under a tree for decades. Dual exhaust with 24" rotted out glass packs with dumps under the rear bumper. Ahh the memories. I took it to prom. That gal ended up being my wife 3 years later. Probably because I had an awesome car ;-)
Carnut
Hands down, for me, the XKE, first year, has to be the most beautiful car ever designed. Coming in next in the 60's would be the 63 Corvette split window. These two cars show different designs, different attitudes but both capture all there is to say about sports cars, style and excitement. To me, there were no better cars ever designed on the planet.
Geoff
Agree with the XKE selection.
I had one of the last "real" ones with glass headlight covers and 3 SU carbs. Roadster with factory hardtop.
Once set up using a ColourTune glass plug and a flow device, all it took was regular use of Gumout and appropriate plug changes. It would stay in tune for years that way. Brake pads were really easy to change just as they are on modern Jags. The only weakness seemed to be the clutch, and that could well have been me! Used Koni shocks as replacements; all six.
Should have kept it!
CaptWSims
Geoff,
I thought about submitting the XKE. Was one of the best looking cars of all time--had a '64 that was bored out fro 3.8 to 4.2, with 11 to 1 pistons and different cams and head to get 300 crank hp. Only real problem was these mods made the car run hot in traffic, no matter what I did with the cooling system.
The weak clutch was a problem for me also. Plus the early tranny was weak. Replacing the tranny was a real treat...had to remove a number of nuts from the exhaust manifold that were hard to access, as well as the intake manifold so I could drop the engine down below the ladder/box frame. Was a real pain to do! Most othere things were easy enough.
Car had electrical issues (no surprise) and caught on fire several times. Last time it burned the dash and seats and the insurance company totaled it. Sometimes I wish I'd bought it back from the insurance company!
Boonanza
The 1961 E-Type! Couldn't agree more. Still looks better than anything on the road today. If it weren't for the SU carbs and Lucas electrics, it'd be the best car ever built. The 2003 through 2006 XK8's are wonderful reminders. Spoiled in 2007. Maybe Ratan Tata will bring the marque back to its graceful magnificence. Rumors are Tata that will bring the F-Type announced by Jag in 2002 (but blocked by Ford)into production,
Shep
Did you drive one? A friend who has owned one recently, fully restored, says its handling is abysmal… He has replaced it with an Aston Martin Vantage.
Buzz
My favorite muscle car was my '66 Olds 442 Convertible. I liked it's styling , and the interior was comfortable and nicely finished.
bobryan
The Alpha Romeo Sprint GT (Veloce) is my favorite. I first saw one in Milan as a teen and fell in love the the shape and sound. At that time 122 HP in a small nimble body was all the performance I wanted. The throaty exhaust was unique and spoke of speed when you heard it.
Mena
No pics guys?
CLOYDER
289 Cobra - British nimbleness, American V8 power, any questions?
oliver_sudden
1969/70 Boss 302 Mustang. In yellow with fat Minilites. Sheer styling perfection. Couldn't work out how to add a photo.
Anonymous
1969 dodge dart custom 2 dr.
Andys120
The best car I ever drove was my buddy's '67 E-Type. That car had everything, charcter, beauty and performance. If the build quality were up to the rest of the car it would have been the greatest car ever.
AZ-EX
'67 396 chevelle, m-22, 4:11's running street stock in the 1/4 amazing power.
My good friends 67 Z-28, best combo power and handling
Insane but fun '51 M-38 jeep with 265 small block
Most reliable and a long time keeper 67 BMW 1600 with TI head, much quicker than later 2002.
jimagn
The Mini Cooper is probably my fave, but the BMW CSL series is awfully nice to the eyes. If you're talking race cars, it has to be the Chaparral 2E. In 1965 it set the standard for all subsequent race cars.
Scott Black
Shelby 289 FIA Cobra. It beat Ferrari and was the best in Anglo-American collaboration.
Theo3rd
My 67 Corvette Stingray convertible was the best car ever. With the 327 engine, it ran and ran and ran and embarrassed several muscle cars with big blocks. I sold it after 8 years and 160,000 miles, nearly all of which were done with the pedal to the floor. Only unreliable bits were the hidden headlights and the brake calipers were prone to corrosion from salt. I've had two dozen nice cars since, but none better overall than the Stingray
RBI man
Glad to see someone appreciates the most popular collector car of the non huge bucks guys in America. The 67 corvette. I am lucky to have the big block and small block versions. Go to any American car show and everytime the 67 vette's get the most peoples choice votes.
Anonymous
From a pure styling standpoint I still enjoy the:
1966 Oldsmobile Toronado
http://forum.avtoindex.com/foto/data/media/153/oldsmobile_toronado_1966_...
Ed Zinna
I know this won't be popular to many of you but it was the first new car that I bought. It was a '65 Buick Wildcat.It had a 430 cu.in. engine,1 carter 4 barell and duell exhaust and a posi-rear. It was the fastest car I ever drove.
Dennis
Plymouth Barracuda, or Dodge Dart - I know, not the race cars that everyone may want - but I loved the lines, and the versatility of the Dodge Dart - it handled better than you expected, and was just a great car! One of the things I liked best about the Doris Day show was the Barracuda's she drove over the years -
Steven
My favorite car was a 1973 GMC Sprint. 350 with a Quadrajet Carb,4 speed with a LS rearend and Deep Dish Cragar S/S Mags. Not a lot of power but you could not kick that car out of a curve. Had a lot of fun in that car. Wish I had it back.
Steven
Sorry, just realized I had to stay in the sixties. My first was a 1966 SS Chevelle. 396 w/solid lifters, 4 spd. Muncie with a 4.11 limited slip rear. Never knew when I left the house if I would be pulling, pushing or hauling it back. I think I hitch hiked more miles than I drove the damn thing!
Ducati Minor
Hey, that's a heads-up for the '70s thread when I or someone else posts it. The Sprint is an interesting pick. The El Camino twin gets very little credit.