World War 2 left a cultural void that was filled with hallucinogenic chemicals, sexual liberation-fueled art, entertainment, and fashion. On the other hand, automobile technology advanced dramatically in the 1960s, with sports cars speeding quicker and getting more refined than ever before. The improvement of automotive design has been one of the most exciting aspects of this evolution. But before the muscle car revolution really kicked in and America celebrated its 24 Hours of Le Mans win, one sports car stood head and shoulders above the rest, rivaling anything that Italian manufacturers were putting out at the time. That sports car was the Chevrolet Corvette, and in 1963, it received one of its greatest versions ever.
Designed by Larry Shinoda, the first of the second-generation (C2) Chevy two-seaters, the 1963 Sting Ray was breathtakingly gorgeous and, of course, blindingly fast. The tall, pointed bonnet and racecar macho mix aggressiveness with soft feminine contours. Its frankly ingenious design has not gone unnoticed in gearhead circles either, and it’s now one of the most desirable American automobiles ever produced. It was a RWD sports car with a high-revving V8 producing 300+ horsepower and an exterior constructed of lightweight material. Just imagine what it had to feel like driving this thing 60 years back.
Despite all this, the Corvette still had some worthy adversaries in the ’60s that stood out either because of their gorgeous designs or because they were simply more enjoyable to drive and easier to keep running. Without further ado, here are a few 1960s sports cars we’d consider credible competitors to the legendary 1963 Corvette Split Window.
10 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/4
The stunning 275 GTB must be towards the top of any Ferrari enthusiast’s wish list. This was a Ferrari first: it was the first ordinary Ferrari road car to feature a five-speed transmission, as well as the first non-racing car to mount the transmission between the rear wheels.
The contours on the GTB/4 are so smooth that your eyes will slip right off the hood. It’s also not only a pretty face. A 3.3L Colombo 60° V12 engine with 300 hp and a top speed of 159 mph resides beneath the hood.
9 1966 Lamborghini Miura
The advanced supercar was born out of what started as a side gig and a marketing project. The Miura is a Beautiful brushwork brought to life on top of brilliant engineering, as designed by Bertone’s Marcello Gandini.
The Miura is often regarded as the first supercar in the world, and it’s got a V12 engine located in the middle of the car. It was the fastest production automobile at the time, with a top speed of 174 mph, and it took 6.5 seconds from 0 to 60 mph.
8 1960-61 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato
Aston Martin has a 100-year proven record of producing some of the most exquisite vehicles to ever grace the road. A genuine Aston Martin DB4 Zagato can fetch up to $13 million today, but that wasn’t always the case.
Despite its lack of success, the DB4 GT Zagato was certainly one of the most exhilarating and gorgeous British sports cars, thanks to Zagato of Milan’s specially made body. Although the majority of the cars were sold to private race teams, at least 4 of the 19 were manufactured as road cars.
7 Mercedes SL 300 Gullwing
The Mercedes SL 300 Gullwing was one of the earliest postwar sports automobiles, and when it was released in 1954, it was the fastest production car of its time. The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster is a true vintage supercar that would cost a fortune to own.
After a few years of success at Gullwing, the company realized that customers desired an open-top ride. As a result, the Roadster was born. With enhanced specs and aesthetics, the Roadster was just as capable as the Gullwing, if not more so. Only 1,458 300 SL Roadsters were built between 1957 and 1963.
6 Jaguar E-Type
Was it the best car of the 1960s? Almost certainly not. Was it the most beautiful? Most likely. It’s difficult to discuss automotive design without mentioning the E-Type. The combination of a sleek, rounded body and fantastic straight-six audio resulted in one of Britain’s most sought-after automobiles ever.
This British driving icon still has plenty of pep. It can reach speeds of up to 150 mph and brakes better than other automobiles of the time.
5 Ferrari 250 GTO
This is the greatest car of the 1960s if money-related worth equals greatness. Perhaps it’s the best Ferrari of all time. It’s quite probably one of the best automobiles of all time. Furthermore, it has shattered auction records and is still highly sought after by aficionados.
When car number three automobile went under the auction at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey auction in 2018, it fetched a record-breaking $48.4 million. The GTO was so unique in its day that Pontiac snagged the term to give its new performance car some gloss.
4 1962 Shelby Cobra
This is the car that cemented Carroll Shelby’s reputation as a legend. Shel’ was merely a successful racing car racer with a flair for gab and a pair of overalls before the Cobra. They were fast for their time, but also very expensive, and they won on racetracks, drag strips, and streetscapes across the planet.
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The Shelby Cobra also created a replica industry that is still producing cars today. The Cobra’s 7-liter V8 engine could easily produce 500 horsepower and accelerate from 0 to 60 in under four seconds.
3 1965 Pontiac GTO
The GTO was originally only an option package for the LeMans in 1964, but it quickly evolved into a true weapon in the late 1960s muscle car warfare. While other cars may have employed the recipe before it, the Pontiac GTO sparked the muscle car era in 1964.
When sales skyrocketed, the horsepower wars erupted, and every other company rushed to release their version as soon as possible, ushering in an epoch of automotive elegance which we will never see again.
2 1969 Dodge Charger
This is the car with which Hollywood fell madly in love. Thanks to the ’69 Chargers’ role as the converted stock car General Lee on CBS’s Dukes of Hazzard and Fast and Furious franchise, this generation of classic Dodges is best-known when painted in orange with textures “01” numbers on each door.
This wasn’t a gimmick. Dodge matched the fast look with plenty of power beneath the hood. With conventional “wedge” design combustion chambers, the base engine was a 230-horsepower, two-barrel carburetor, 5.2-liter V8 capable of 0-60 in under 6 seconds.
1 1964 Ford GT40
If you’ve seen Le Mans ’66, commonly known as Ford v Ferrari, you’ll know how Ford defeated Ferrari in the 1966 Le Mans 24-hour race. Ford entered 15 Mark II GT40s at Le Mans with Carroll Shelby at the helm. Ford won after three cars crossed the line in a planned dramatic finish.
It was rumored that the car, GT40 equipped with a 4.7L, 4.9L, and later a 7.0L V8 engine, could reach a top speed of 230 mph. Its huge engine allowed it to go from zero to sixty in four seconds. Today, Ford and Shelby can proudly look back at the GT40 as one of the greatest sports cars to ever come out.
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