Best cars of the 1960s
THE swinging sixties brought a vast array of unforgettable cars that would establish the path of the industry for decades to come. And while there are myriad models from this era to choose from, we’ve picked 30 standout machines.
Millions of families got their first taste of motoring in the 1960s, with car ownership on the up thanks to low unemployment, rising wages and an increasing sense of optimism. London finally emerged from the shadows of the Second World War, cementing itself as the epicentre of fashion, music and culture.
From Mary Quant’s miniskirt gracing Carnaby Street to the sound of The Beatles playing in bedrooms across the nation, Britain really found its groove in the Swinging Sixties.
The motoring landscape was transformed, too. Although it was launched in 1959, the Mini became a symbol of sixties life. However, it wasn’t the only British car capable of conquering the world. In 1961, Jaguar unveiled the E-Type, a sports car so alluring that the great Enzo Ferrari described it as the most beautiful car in the world.
In truth, the 1960s was the last golden decade of the British car industry, and quite how defeat was snatched from the jaws of victory is a subject of constant debate. Cars produced by Jaguar, Rover, MG, Aston Martin and Lotus should have provided the foundations for greatness, but it wasn’t to be.
28 Alfa Romeo Spider
LAUNCHED in 1966 as the Duetto, the Alfa Romeo Spider is one of the most recognisable sports cars in the world. The fact that it’s devastatingly pretty helps, as does the fact that the car appeared in the Dustin Hoffman movie The Graduate. Build quality wasn’t its strongest point, but this wouldn’t have mattered to anyone enjoying the tidy handling and charismatic engines.
The 1.6-litre engine made way for a 1.8-litre unit in 1967, at which point the car adopted the Spider name. Production
