13 Classic Cars From the 1960s We Long to See Again

Whether you’re into American muscle or European exotics, the 1960s introduced us to some of the most iconic cars ever made.

Some of the models from this era, such as the Ford Mustang, Chevy Camaro, and Dodge Charger, are still available in modern versions. Other cars have all but disappeared off the road and into private collections.

We’ve created a list of 13 classic cars from the 1960s we’d love to see again, whether they’re modern takes on old classics or classic cars actually being used as intended.

Jaguar E-Type

Most car enthusiasts have heard the story of how Enzo Ferrari laid eyes on the Jag E-Type and exclaimed it the most beautiful car he’d ever seen. We won’t speculate whether that’s true or not, but looking at the E-Type, it’s believable.

Jaguar introduced the E-Type in 1961 and kept it in production for three generations until 1975. The Series 1 cars with the 3.8-liter straight-six engine are the most sought-after because of their clean design.

Pontiac GTO

Gearheads often credit the Pontiac GTO as the first muscle car. While it wasn’t actually the first, it’s certainly the model that popularized the segment. The GTO was the brainchild of none other than John DeLorean, who realized the market was ready for a new type of car with both style and horsepower.

Rolling off the assembly line in 1964, the first GTOs were simply an option package for the Pontiac LeMans. Two years later, the GTO became a separate model, now featuring the famous Coke bottle styling. The second generation GTO emerged in 1968, and in 1969, the legendary GTO “The Judge” was born. Pontiac did try to bring the GTO back in the mid-2000s. While it was a good effort, it was basically a badge-engineered Holden that lasted only a few years.

Ferrari 250 GTO

Until recently, the Ferrari 250 GTO held the record for the most expensive car sold at auction. Its stunning looks, rarity, and performance have made it very popular among collectors.

Ferrari built the 250 GTO to go racing and only 36 cars were made. The “250” in its name refers to the displacement of each cylinder, measured in cubic centimeters, and “GTO” means Gran Turismo Omologato — Italian for “Grand Touring Homologated.” Incredibly, there are some owners who still race them.

Shelby Cobra 427

Should the Shelby Cobra be classified as a British or American car? The British AC Cobra was, after all, the inspiration and donor car for the first models. However, the beefier Mark III models were designed by Shelby in cooperation with Ford in Detroit.

Anyway, the classic Shelby Cobra is very masculine, yet it has swooping curves. It’s as raw and minimalistic as a modern track day special, and the lightweight body is combined with a 427 V8 that sends 360 horses to the rear wheels. This is pure automotive art! While most of us can’t afford an original, there are plenty of replicas available for more sensible money.

Buick Riviera

Buick introduced the Riviera name in 1949. It’s Italian for coastline and was chosen in an attempt to evoke the allure and affluence of the French Riviera. After using the name as a trim level, the Riviera became a standalone model in 1963, and it’s one of the design icons of the automotive world.

The Riviera had a unique body and the styling sported the new “Coke bottle look.” Buick also offered it with two V8 options, a 401 or a 425, producing 325 and 340 hp, respectively. Over 100,000 units of the first generation were sold, making it a massive success.

Lamborghini Miura

Marcello Gandini designed the Miura when he worked for Bertone. His work has inspired every mid-engined supercar since then. To this day, few cars can match its design.

Over the following years, many versions of the V12-powered supercar were produced, but the last variant, the SV, is arguably the best-looking one. Here, the ‘eyelashes’ on the headlights were gone, and the rear wheel arches swelled in size, making the Miura even more intimidating.

Aston Martin DB5

The Aston Martin DB5 is perhaps most famous for being the car of choice for the world’s most famous secret agent, James Bond of the British MI6.

Even without the added gadgets, such as machine guns, ejector seat, and smoke screen, the Aston Martin DB5 is one of the most incredible sports cars ever made. Under its beautifully sculpted hood lies a 4.0-liter straight-six engine that produces 282 hp — enough to send the DB5 to a top speed of 145 mph.

Ford GT40

Ford famously tried to purchase Ferrari in the 1960s, but at the last minute, the Italian carmaker pulled out of the deal as it was more beneficial for them to partner with Fiat. Henry Ford wasn’t pleased and became obsessed with destroying Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race.

Ford built the GT40 on a Lola chassis, and it was fast and reliable enough to end Ferrari’s dominance at the French racetrack. It wasn’t just powerful; the GT40 is also one of the best-looking American cars ever. In the last 20 years, the Blue Oval has built the Ford GT supercars to honor the original, but those who prefer the classic can buy one of the replica kit cars instead.

Dodge Charger Daytona

Back in the day, NASCAR race cars were based on regular road cars that were available to purchase at dealerships. By the late ’60s, race cars had to be homologated, meaning manufacturers had to build a certain number of cars to sell. Dodge had to build 500 Charger Daytonas in 1969 to satisfy NASCAR’s rules.

Dodge added a massive wing and a nose cone to its popular Charger muscle car. The engine of choice was a 426 Hemi V8, one of the most legendary units ever made. Dodge dominated NASCAR in the following seasons until aero cars were banned in 1971.

Plymouth Road Runner

In 1968, Plymouth wanted to make its mark on the muscle car scene, and in a stroke of genius, it paid Warner Brothers $50,000 to license the popular Road Runner cartoon character that always managed to outrun and outsmart Wile E. Coyote.

Plymouth then built the Road Runner on the Chrysler B-platform and offered it with a range of V8 engines, including the 426 Hemi. With 425 horsepower, bold styling, and a horn that went “meep meep,” the Road Runner was an instant hit.

Porsche 356

Porsche introduced the 356 in 1948, but it was so popular that it remained in production until 1965 — long after its replacement, the 911, had debuted. The 356 was a lightweight sports car with a rear-mounted engine, available in hardtop coupé or cabriolet form, and it was as successful on the racetrack as it was on the road.

Today, it costs an arm and a leg for the privilege to call yourself a 356 owner, but there are several fiberglass-bodied replicas available for those of us who aren’t quite as well-heeled.

Toyota 2000GT

The Toyota 2000GT may just be the most beautiful Japanese car ever made. In fact, it even holds its own against some of Europe’s finest.

It featured pop-up headlights, a nicely curved body, and a long hood. In some ways, the 2000GT was like a Japanese E-Type. Under the hood, it had a 2.0-liter straight-six with 150 horsepower and a glorious, raspy soundtrack. Unfortunately, only 337 cars were built, so it’s now the most expensive Japanese car money can buy. Rocky Auto in Japan built some replicas, but even those cost over $200,000, so our chances of owning one are rather slim.

Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt

Ford built a limited-production Fairlane Thunderbolt factory drag racer in 1964. Under the hood, it had the “high rise” 427 V8 engine with dual 4-barrel Holley carburetors from the Galaxie. Officially, Ford rated its power at around 425 hp, but in reality, it probably churned out closer to 600 wild stallions.

Ford only built 100 Fairlane Thunderbolts. Of those cars, 49 were delivered with the 4-speed manual transmission, and the remaining 51 used an automatic.