Let’s take a few minutes to go back in time to the 1960s when the American car industry was booming.
In 1960, American companies produced 93% of all cars sold in the United States and had captured 48% of the world vehicle market.
This domination was clear in the products that were unleashed on the market, including economy cars, luxury automobiles, and power-crazed muscle cars.
The ‘60s saw the rise of the ‘Big Three’, General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler. There was something for everyone and here, we look at the five most popular US cars from the 1960s.
Whether your next car is a fresh from the showroom 2022 model, a 5-year used vehicle, or one of these 1960s classics, you should always be on the lookout for the cheapest car insurance in Michigan to protect your newly acquired vehicle.
- Pontiac GTO
This car revved up the interest in the muscle car craze that swept through America in the ‘60s and early part of the ‘70s. Inspired by Ferrari, the GTO acronym stands for, ‘homologated for racing in the GT series.’
The first Pontiac GTO was produced in 1964 as an options package for the Pontiac Le Mans. It emphasized performance, and power was supplied by a V8 engine that churned out 325hp at 4,800rpm. The idea soon became so popular that the GTO evolved into a separate model that was big on brawn and performance.
- Lincoln Continental
Before 1961, Lincoln and Continental had existed as two separate divisions within Ford. However, a lot of resources had been spent during the ‘50s battling recession and the onslaught from Cadillac. In 1961, Ford executives merged the 2 divisions and produced a single model, the Lincoln Continental.
It was a high-stakes gamble that ultimately paid off. The car debuted as either a 4-door coupe or convertible and its flowing body lines helped define future car styles for the coming decades. The car was so popular in its prime, that even President John F. Kennedy famously rode in one.
- Jeep Wagoneer
After three years in development, the Wagoneer was introduced in 1962. Jeep generated fanfare aplenty around its launch, advertising a largest-in-class cargo area that could accommodate 7-foot ladders, lying flat.
The Jeep Wagoneer offered above-average comfort and was well-loved by a wide segment of the market. The Jeep Wagoneer became the foundation behind their most popular vehicle, the Jeep Cherokee.
- Dodge Charger
After a 1964 introduction as a show car, production began in 1966. Initial sales were poor, but the story changed with the introduction of the 1968 model.
A styling refresh quickly propelled the Charger’s popularity become one of the best-looking muscle cars of the ‘60s. Dodge planned to make 35,000 units but ended up producing over 96,000 units,
- Cadillac Eldorado
The Eldorado was a premium vehicle with quality and performance to match. The ‘60s Eldorado was made at a time when GM reigned supreme as the biggest carmaker in the world, flush with cash to invest in research and development.
The Eldorado was among Cadillac’s most luxurious models. It was also one of the most expensive American cars on the market but that did not affect its popularity. The Eldorado came as a two-door coupe known as the Seville, a sedan called the Brougham, and the opulent 19-foot convertible called Biarritz.
The American motor vehicle may no longer be a dominant force in the car industry, but in its day, the leading car manufacturers supplied the American public with everything they desired in a car.
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