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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteWhat were the most iconic classic cars of the 1960s? There is no authoritative ranking, but the decade’s standout cars span American pony and sports cars, European GTs, racing machines, and compact or touring cars. This curated selection considers cultural recognition, design influence, engineering, competition history, and the range of roles cars played.
Which 1960s classic cars are still famous today? The Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray, Jaguar E-Type, Ferrari 250 GTO, and Lamborghini Miura remain widely recognized examples, but the era’s importance also rests on cars beyond expensive exotics.
How this selection is framed
“Most iconic” is a matter of editorial judgment, not a technical ranking. This list is a curated selection rather than a measured order, and it includes cars with different purposes: road-going sports cars and GTs, pony and muscle cars, touring cars, and competition machinery. MoMA’s 1966 exhibition is one contemporary snapshot of that breadth: it included sports cars and racing prototypes as well as touring and compact cars. Its selection was not a popularity ranking. MoMA’s exhibition record
23 notable classic cars of the 1960s
| Car | Category or purpose | Why it belongs in the conversation |
|---|---|---|
| Ford Mustang | Pony car | Made a customizable, sporty American car a mass-market phenomenon. |
| Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray (C2) | Sports car | Its 1963–1967 generation brought the split-window coupe and, in 1963, the Z06 package. |
| Jaguar E-Type | Sports car / GT | Launched in 1961 and developed through significant 1964 updates. |
| Ferrari 250 GTO | GT racing car | Ferrari says it won the GT Manufacturers’ championship in 1962, 1963, and 1964. |
| Lamborghini Miura | Road-going supercar | Its 1966 public debut brought a transverse, mid-mounted V12 layout to Lamborghini’s first mid-engine car. |
| Austin Mini-Cooper S | Compact performance car | A compact car represented in MoMA’s 1966 exhibition. |
| Porsche Carrera 6 | Sports-racing prototype | One of the competition-oriented cars in MoMA’s 1966 exhibition. |
| Ford GT Mark II | Racing car | A competition machine included in MoMA’s 1966 exhibition. |
| Ferrari Dino | Sports car | One of the sports-car examples in MoMA’s 1966 exhibition. |
| Chaparral II | Racing car | A race-car entry in MoMA’s 1966 exhibition. |
| De Tomaso Vallelunga | Sports car | Included in MoMA’s 1966 exhibition. |
| Lotus Elan | Sports car | Included in MoMA’s 1966 exhibition. |
| Jaguar XK-E | Sports car | The E-Type’s name in the United States; listed by MoMA as Jaguar XK E. |
| Lancia Fulvia | Road car | Included in MoMA’s 1966 exhibition. |
| Aston Martin DB-6 | GT | Included in MoMA’s 1966 exhibition. |
| MG B GT | Sports car | Included in MoMA’s 1966 exhibition. |
| Rover 2000 | Touring car | Shows the exhibition’s reach beyond sports and racing cars. |
| Citroën DS-21 | Touring car | Shows the decade’s range of design and touring-car types. |
| Jaguar 3.8 Sedan | Touring car | Included in MoMA’s 1966 exhibition. |
| Oldsmobile Toronado | Road car | Included in MoMA’s 1966 exhibition. |
| Buick Riviera | Road car | Included in MoMA’s 1966 exhibition. |
| Chevrolet Corvette (1960 C1) | Sports car | A separate, earlier Corvette generation; GM describes it as established as America’s sports car by 1960. |
| Ford Mustang Mach 1 (1969) | Performance car | A later Mustang variant illustrating how the model changed during the decade. |
What the best-documented examples show
Ford Mustang: a new kind of American sporty car
Ford says the Mustang debuted at the New York World’s Fair on April 17, 1964, initially as a hardtop and convertible. A 2+2 fastback joined for 1965. The name covers a changing range of models, so a launch-year Mustang should not be treated as identical to a late-decade performance variant. Ford describes the 1969 Mach 1 as a step in performance and customization; its optional 428 Cobra Jet was rated at 335 horsepower, according to Ford. Ford’s Mustang history
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Chevrolet Corvette: keep the generations distinct
The 1960 Corvette belongs to the first generation, not the C2 Sting Ray. GM’s heritage history says the 1960 car had an optional fuel-injected 283-cubic-inch V8 rated at 315 hp. Chevrolet dates the second-generation Sting Ray to 1963–1967; the split-window coupe and Z06 package arrived in 1963. The range changed again during that run: Chevrolet notes disc brakes and a big-block engine for 1965, and a 427/435 engine for 1967. These are model-year distinctions, not specifications shared by every C2. GM Corvette heritage history Chevrolet Corvette legacy history
Jaguar E-Type: a launch icon that continued to evolve
Jaguar launched the E-Type at Geneva in 1961. Its heritage trust describes the 1964 4.2-litre update as bringing changes to the XK engine, gearbox, brakes, and seats. The trust considers that version especially desirable; that is the trust’s curatorial view, not a universal verdict. Jaguar’s E-Type launch history Jaguar heritage account
Rank #2
Ferrari 250 GTO: competition record, with production figures attributed
Ferrari dates the 250 GTO’s presentation to 1962 and says it won the International Championship for GT Manufacturers in 1962, 1963, and 1964. Ferrari reports 36 standard examples plus three fitted with 4.0-litre engines. Those historical figures and results are Ferrari’s account of its own model. Ferrari’s 250 GTO history
Lamborghini Miura: identify the version and year
The Miura made its public debut in 1966. Lamborghini describes it as the company’s first mid-engine car, with a V12 mounted transversely behind the cockpit and ahead of the rear wheels. The manufacturer gives different outputs for the P400 and P400 S; the SV’s quoted 385 CV is not a 1960s specification because Lamborghini introduced that version in 1971. Lamborghini also notes that the Miura’s appearance in the 1969 film The Italian Job helped establish its cultural profile. Lamborghini’s Miura history
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Why the decade’s icons still matter
The 1960s did not have a single formula for an important car. The Mustang made a customizable sporty car accessible to a broad market; the Corvette developed as an American sports car; the E-Type combined a road-car role with a competition-informed heritage; and the GTO and Miura represent very different relationships between road use and racing. MoMA’s exhibition record adds another useful reminder: compact cars, touring cars, sports cars, and prototypes all belonged to the period’s automotive conversation.
That variety is why a useful list should compare purpose, design, engineering, competition history, cultural presence, and period reach—not just horsepower. Many cars in the wider selection appear in MoMA’s 1966 exhibition, which documents contemporary recognition but does not establish that they were the decade’s most popular or universally best cars.
Rank #4
- Information on all cars produced by American automakers in the 1960s.
- More than 2,000 pictures, illustrations, and other artwork.
- Raised hood-ornament emblem on the book's cover.
- Leather-bound edition.
FAQ
What were the most iconic classic cars of the 1960s?
There is no settled ranking. The Mustang, Corvette Sting Ray, Jaguar E-Type, Ferrari 250 GTO, and Lamborghini Miura are among the best-known examples, while period selections such as MoMA’s 1966 exhibition show that compact, touring, and racing cars also belong in the discussion.
Which 1960s classic cars are still famous today?
The Mustang, Corvette, E-Type, 250 GTO, and Miura remain familiar names. Fame is not limited to exotics: the Mini-Cooper S and other compact or touring cars were also recognized in contemporary contexts such as MoMA’s exhibition.
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No. The 1960 Corvette was a first-generation car, while the C2 Sting Ray ran from 1963 to 1967. Chevrolet records changes across those years, including the 1963 split-window coupe and Z06 package, 1965 disc brakes and big-block engine, and the 1967 427/435 engine.
Was the Lamborghini Miura SV a 1960s car?
No. The Miura debuted in 1966, but Lamborghini says the SV was introduced in 1971. Its specifications should not be presented as features of the 1960s P400 or P400 S.
Was the Mustang Fastback available at launch in 1964?
Ford says the Mustang launched on April 17, 1964, as a hardtop and convertible. The 2+2 fastback joined the range for 1965.
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