Gorgeous '60s and '70s Cars That Everyone Wanted
It’s not every day that you find that one car that everyone wanted. Back in the ‘60s and ‘70s, cars had real personality and style. These weren’t just ways to get around, they were dreams on wheels. In this list, we’ll look at 35 classics everyone wanted back in the day.
1964½ Ford Mustang
Ford’s 1964½ Mustang kicked off the muscle car era. It was fun, super sporty, and affordable, so everyone wanted one. Teenagers dreamed of cruising down Main Street in a Mustang, and it looked good doing it. The short rear and long hood turned heads.
1969 Dodge Charger R/T
The Charger R/T was a car with attitude. It looked fast - even when it was parked. Those hidden headlights and big engine? Well, they made it the bad boy of the street. Thanks to shows like The Dukes of Hazzard, the Charger was an icon that everyone wanted.
1967 Chevrolet Camaro SS
The Camaro SS was Chevy’s answer to the Mustang. And, boy, did it wow car lovers everywhere. It was tough, fast, and had a ton of style. It also had that kind of growl that gave you goosebumps. People who wanted to stand out dreamed of this beauty in their driveway.
1969 Pontiac GTO Judge
The Judge was a car that turned heads wherever it went. It had bold stripes, a big rear spoiler, and muscle under the hood. People went crazy for the Pontiac. It didn’t just look cool - it performed really well, too.
1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray
Can you think of anything cooler than a split rear window on a muscle car? The Sting Ray looked like it came from the future. And, it was the dream car for anyone who loved speed and curves. It was expensive, sure, but it was worth dreaming about.
1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454
The Chevelle was pure muscle. The 454 horsepower engine made it unbeatable on the road, and it had that growl you could hear from blocks away. The stripes, cowl-induction hood, and bold stance only made it even more popular and oh-so-cool.
1971 Plymouth ‘Cuda 426 HEMI
The ‘Cuda wasn’t just fast - it was a ferocious speed demon! The HEMI engine under the hood of the Plymouth Barracuda made it a track monster that performed as well and as mean as it looked. The bold colors just made it stand out even more.
1966 Shelby GT350
Carroll Shelby took the Mustang and turned it into a street-legal race car. The GT350 had loads of attitude. And, while it looked simple, it packed a big punch. Driving one made you feel like a race car driver, even if you were just headed to the grocery store.
1961 Jaguar E-Type
Enzo Ferrari himself called the Jaguar E-Type the most beautiful car in the world. And he wasn’t wrong. This car had a long nose, some incredibly smooth curves, and a slick design that made it a must-have for every car lover.
1970 Dodge Challenger R/T
Dodge knew what it was doing when it made the Challenger R/T. What they didn’t know was that it would become everyone’s dream car. It looked good and had muscle under the hood. It was also available in a bunch of fun colors that turned heads everywhere it went.
1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429
Make no mistake - this wasn’t your average Mustang. The Boss 429 was built for power, not comfort. Many people dreamed of this car because it was rare, loud, and packed with pretty powerful muscle. And let’s not forget that 429 engine!
1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS
The 911 RS was the Porsche that truly turned heads. It had a ductal spoiler that not only looked cool, but also helped the car stay planted at high speeds. This Porsche was the sports car you wanted if you loved going fast with class.
1968 Chevrolet Nova SS
The Nova SS was considered a sleeper. It looked very basic. But, under the hood, it was a rocket just waiting to take off. Car lovers dreamed of owning one because it was affordable and easy to upgrade. You could race it on weekends and still drive it to work on Monday.
1971 De Tomaso Pantera
The Italian-American Dream. The Pantera’s body was pure Italian, while the big V8 engine came straight from Ford. It looked like a Ferrari, but sounded like a muscle car. It gave you the best of both worlds in one neat little package.
1965 Buick Riviera GS
Buick's Riviera GS had some serious swagger. It looked elegant on the outside, but had hidden muscle. The clamshell headlights made it look classy, while the V8 engine was strong and fast. It wasn’t loud and wild, but it certainly stood out.
1970 Oldsmobile 442 W-30
Don’t let the name fool you. This wasn’t your grandpa’s Oldsmobile. It had a 442 W-30 engine and a pretty bold look and powerful performance that shocked people. It was a surprise hit, and people loved how it delivered speed and style.
1969 AMC AMX
This was AMC’s answer to the muscle car craze. It was short, sporty, and packed a mean punch with speed and performance. People wanted something unique and quick, and it stood out for being different and fast. The AMX was everyone’s dream car.
1966 Pontiac GTO
The GTO was the original muscle car, plain and simple. It was fast and fun to drive, and it had a pretty cool name, too. Hidden under the hood was a big V8 engine. The GTO had a reputation for burning rubber.
1974 Lamborghini Countach LP400
Come on, who doesn’t love a car that looks like a spaceship? We certainly do, and the Lamborghini Countach was on every kid’s bedroom wall. It wasn’t easy to drive, but those scissor doors were the epitome of cool. It looked like nothing else on the road.
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4
The 257 GTB/4 was everything a Ferrari should be. It was fast, sexy, and had curves in all the right places. The V12 engine sang when you pushed the gas pedal. Sure, it was expensive, but it was rare and absolutely drool-worthy.
1966 Alfa Romeo Spider Duetto
All we can say about this car is, “WOW!” The Spider Duetto is a convertible like no other. And with this car, it wasn’t about raw speed - it was about enjoying the drive. It had Italian style, incredibly light steering, and a zippy little engine that made it fast and cool.
1964 Aston Martin DB5
James Bond made the Aston Martin DB5 famous. And the world never forgot it. It was packed with gadgets - well, in the movies, at least. But even without the spy stuff, it was a true gentleman’s ride with power and grace.
1971 Datsun 240Z
The Datsun 240Z brought Japanese sports cars into the spotlight. It was reliable and fun to drive. But it was also affordable, and that’s why people loved it so much. Everyone wanted one because it proved you didn’t need big bucks to have fun.
1968 Dodge Dart GTS
The Dart GTS may have been small, but it had some serious muscle and a whopper of an engine. It surprised so many people at the drag strip. It was a great mix of light weight and big power. People loved its underdog vibe.
1973 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
The Chevrolet Monte Carlo wasn’t a race car. But it looked cool and rode like a dream. It was the perfect car for long drives and showing off. And it was that big grille and long hood that gave it a big and bold look.
1970 Mercury Cougar Eliminator
A cool racing stripe and a V8 engine under the hood? What more could you want in a car from the 1970s? The Cougar Eliminator was Mercury’s answer to the Mustang - only with more attitude and a much sexier look that wowed.
1965 Ford Galaxie 500
Ford’s Galaxie 500 was the full-size cruiser with serious street presence. It was big, bold, and built like a tank. People loved it for its V8 power that made them feel like the king of the road. It was the kind of car you loaded with friends and just cruised around in all night.
1969 Plymouth Road Runner
This Plymouth might be named after the cartoon bird, but it was all about fun and speed. It came with a horn that actually went “meep meep!” But it was no joke - this car hauled and was the budget-friendly muscle car that could outrun the pricier ones.
1967 Chevrolet Impala SS
The Impala SS was big, powerful, and beautiful. It had style and muscle wrapped into one long package. People loved it because it was roomy and fast. And it quickly became known for being the perfect mix of family car and street racer.
1966 Lincoln Continental Convertible
This car came with suicide doors. The Lincoln Continental Convertible was pure luxury on wheels, and looked like something a movie star or president would ride in. Everyone wanted one because it just screamed class and turned heads on every street.
1970 Buick GSX Stage 1
The GSX Stage 1 was just Buick showing off. It had a massive engine and wild paint jobs that made it stand out in a crowd. It didn’t just go fast - it absolutely bolted! Most people didn’t expect Buick to build a muscle car, but they did. The GSX Stage became everyone’s dream car.
1965 Sunbeam Tiger
Caroll Shelby transformed a tiny British roadster into a mean machine by adding a V8 engine. It went from cute to quick. It looked innocent, sure, but it had bite. People just loved the idea of a little car that could keep up with the big boys.
1973 BMW 3.0 CSL
The “Batmobile” was a must-have for its wild spoilers. It had German precision, sharp handling, and bold styling. Best of all, it was built to race. People who loved road racing and some slick engineering just couldn’t get enough of the BMW 3.0 CSL.
1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Pagoda
The Pagoda was pure elegance. And while it got its nickname from its unique roof shape, it was the luxury of the car that made it everyone’s dream. It was perfect for that Sunday drive where you just cruised around for hours with no real destination in mind.
1971 Citroën SM
Citroën’s SM was weird, wonderful, and way ahead of its time. It came packed with wild tech and sported some pretty futuristic looks. But, under the hood, it hid a Maserati engine that made it fast and smooth. It was different, but in the best way possible.
