The Classic Cars of Our Childhood
Before SUVs and touchscreens took over the roads, American driveways told a different story. Families piled into long station wagons with wood paneling, boxy sedans that seemed indestructible, and quirky compacts that rattled but never quit. The cars of the 1960s and 70s were more than just transportation; they were part of the family. They hauled kids to school, road-tripped across state lines, and broke down just often enough to make memories. This collection revisits the models your parents probably owned, loved, and maybe even cursed, the ones that defined an era when driving still felt like an adventure.
Ford Mustang
The Ford Mustang is undoubtedly a muscle car icon. Even though it looks much different today, the car was just as popular back in the 1960s and 1970s. However, back then, it blended affordability with power and aethetics, making it an obvious choice for many drivers.
Chevrolet Impala
The Chevrolet Impala was a full-size family sedan, disguised as a sports car, that ticked just about all of the right boxes. Because of this, it was an extremely popular option in the 1960s and 1970s, with a sleek design and the performance to back it up.
Pontiac GTO
Nowadays, the Pontiac GTO is praised as being one of the very first traditional muscle cars ever created. Back in the 60s and 70s, it was just another popular car that many households chose to invest in.
Dodge Dart
Dodge Dart's released between 1960 and 1980 were compact, reliable and widely owned. Not only did they perform well, but they also looked really cool, with a wide bumper, front grille and plenty of interior space. Overall, it's no surprise that these cars were so popular.
Chevrolet Chevelle
The Chevrolet Chevelle was a mid-size family car that came in a number of configurations, making it a popular choice during the mid 60s to late 70s. You could choose from either a family or performance trim, both of which offered different trims, interior space and, of course, engines.
Ford Galaxie
The Ford Galaxie may not be a name that you are familiar with, but it was definitely popular in the 60s and 70s. Essentially, it was a spacious cruiser that offered both comfort and performance, making it an obvious choice for many buyers.
AMC Rambler
The AMC Rambler was especially popular in the 1960s. It offered everyday practicality, with plenty of interior and storage space, as well as a powerful engine that could achieve top speeds when necessary.
Buick Skylark
The Buick Skylark was an incredibly popular compact vehicle that offered upscale touches and a solid performance to back it up. Simply put, it looked fast and was fast, making it the vehicle of choice for many buyers.
Oldsmobile Cutlass
The Oldsmobile Cutlass was a popular midsize car that offered an exceptionally smooth ride. To this day, it is by far the brands most well-known vehicle, even after Oldsmobile filed for bankrupcy.
Plymouth Fury
The Plymouth Fury was incredibly popular between 1960 and 1970 and for good reason. It was known for its size and comfort, with a powerful engine that offered a solid performance when necessary. In other words, it ticked all of the right boxes, making it no surprise that it was so widely driven.
Mini Cooper
Mini Cooper is a household name, known for its small, nimble and revolutionary design. The car may have looked a bit different back in the day, but it was just as popular, with thousands of American families choosing it as their vehicle of choice.
MG MGB
The MG MGB was a beloved British roadster that lit up the street between the early 1960s and late 1970s. Looking at the car, it's easy to see why. Not only is it sleek and stylish, but it also offered a strong performance.
Triumph Spitfire
The Triumph Spitfire was an affordable sports car with a classic styling. Between the early 1960s and 1980, it was one of the most popular coupe's on the road and it's easy to see why. Not only did it drive exceptionally well, but it looked the part as well.
Austin 1100
The Austin 1100 was incredibly popular between 1962 and 1974. Even though it was a British vehicle, it made its way across the globe and became known for its exeptional handling abilities. It was also quick and nimble, making it an ideal choice for small, European roads.
Jaguar E-Type
The Jaguar E-Type was a luxury sports car that became popular worldwide and for good reason. Not only did it look great, but it also had the performance to back it up. Many believe that it was the E-Type to officially put Jaguar on the map as a major luxury car brand.
Volkswagen Beetle
The VW Beetle was, and still is, seen as the quintissential people's car. It was initially sold as an affordable, everyday option for drivers, but quickly became a customer favourite. To this day, it is one of the most well-known models in the world.
Volkswagen Type 2 Bus
The VW Type 2 Bus is, to this day, a symbol of family travel. Back when it was first released, families simply couldn't pass up on the opportunity to get their hands on an affordable, reliable and practical vehicle.
BMW 2002
The BMW 2002 was a compact sports car that helped in solidifying the brands identity. Not only did it look cool, but it also drove particularly well, making it a popular choice for drivers looking for a car with a kick.
Mercedes Benz W114
Between the late 1960s and 1970s, the Mercedes Benz W114 was a durable and elegant sedan that many drivers made their vehicle of choice. It looked luxurious, but offered the same performance as many of the best sports cars at the time.
Toyota Corolla
From 1965 to the early 1970s, the Toyota Corolla was just anout everywhere. To this day, it remains one of the brands most popular and dependable models, offering great value for money.
Datsun 510
The Datsun 510 was a sporty compact vehicle that offered the same performance as some of the best racing cars of its time. On top of this, it looked great, with unique styling and a number of innovative special featues, making it a popular choice.
Honda Civic
Even today, everybody knows and loves the Honda Civic. It is arguably the brands most reliable and popular model. First released in the early 1970s, the Civic just about ruled the roads for the entire decade, as it offered exceptional value for money.
Chevrolet Camaro
The Chevrolet Camaro is one of the most well-known and beloved muscle cars in the world. During its early days, it was the closest rival to the iconic Ford Mustang and, therefore, sold exceptionally well. Not only did it look powerful and aggressive, but it also had the performance to back it up.
Plymouth Barracuda
The Plymouth Barracuda was yet another powerful and iconic muscle car. Between 1960 and 1970, it grew immensly in popularity, mainly because of its aggressive design and unique styling details. The car was also incredibly fast and pretty affordable compared to other muscle cars at the time.
Dodge Charger
Even though it never quite reached the same level of fame as the Camaro or Mustang, the Dodge Charger was still an incredibly popular muscle car, especially between 1965 and 1975. It earned a reputation for its aggressive styling and bold performance abilities.
Ford Torino
During the 60s and 70s, Ford became known for their incredibly well-built muscle cars. Not only did they have the Mustang, but the Torino was also immensly popular, mostly because of its sheer power and aggressive design.
AMC Javelin
The AMC Javelin was by far one of the brands most popular models, loved for its sleek design and surprisingly spacious interior. While it was by no means a family car, it was very practical for a muscle car.
Chevrolet Suburban
Between 1960 and 1970, the Chevrolet Suburban was the talk of the town. It has become known as the original SUV, with a practical design that cars today still use as a blueprint. Not only did it look cool, but it also drove particularly well, making it an obvious choice for families and everyday drivers.
Ford Country Squire Wagon
Back in the day of wood paneling, the Ford Country Squire Wagon was the car of choice. While the name might have been a bit of a mouthful, it certainly drove well, setting a benchmark for station wagons at the time.
Volvo 145 Wagon
The Volvo 145 Wagon was one of the most popular station wagons released between 1960 and 1970. It featured a boxy design, but was praised for its immense attention to detail when it came to safety and reliability.
Peugeot 504
The Peugeot 504 is by far one of the brands most well-known and beloved vehicles. It featured a rugged and unique design, making it a global hit.
Citroen DS
Even though the Citroen DS was initially released in the mid 1950s, it remained popular throughout the 1960s and into the early 1970s, showing off just how well it was designed. According to buyers, the car was futuristic and offered an incredibly smooth ride, with advanced safety features and a number of innovative additions.
Renault 4
The Renault 4 had a quirky design, which attracted a surprising number of buyers. It was especially popular in Europe, as its compact size was suited for navigating narrow roads. On top of this, the car was very reasonably priced and offered great value for money.
Fiat Abarth
The Fiat Abarth was one of the very first mainstream models released by the Italian automaker. It was popular for its compact design, while offering Italian charm on a budget. To this day, the Abarth is used as a blueprint for other compact models, simply because of how successful and well-received it was.
Saab 96
The Saab 96 was a rally-ready machine, making it a popular choice throughout the 1960s and 1970s. More so, it was praised for its attention to detail when it came to safety.
