1. Mercedes SL 500
   Chevy Corvette
2. Dodge Charger
   Pontiac Trans Am

The Trans Am was a version of the Pontiac Firebird. It was made famous as the car Burt Reynolds drove in the "Smokey and the Bandit" movies.

1. Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
   Ford Mustang
2. Shelby GT350
   Lincoln Continental

Produced since 1953, the Chevy Corvette gained the nickname Sting Ray when its second generation models were released in 1963. This new line featured a tapered back end, while a third generation -- known as Stingray -- came out in 1969 with an entirely new shape.

1. Ford Thunderbird
   Ford Mustang
2. Pontiac Trans Am
   DeLorean DMC-12

While the actual story of the DeLorean is one of failure, it's permanently enshrined in movie history thanks to "Back to the Future." Sadly, the flux capacitor was never included as optional equipment.

1. Pontiac Firebird
   Alfa Romeo Spider
2. Volkswagen Jetta
   Audi A8

The Firebird was conceived as a competitor to the Mustang, aimed at the Pony Car market. It was known for the striking Firebird hood decal that looked like Quetzalcoatl.

1. Mercury Cougar
   Ford Torino
2. Ford Mustang II
   Chevy Camero

The so-called Mustang II was actually built on a Pinto body. Sold from 1973 to 1978, the car attracted buyers with its Mustang name, but was much smaller and more fuel efficient than the original.

1. Ferrari Dino
   Lincoln Continental
2. Plymouth Road Runner
   Mazda Cosmo

Enzo Ferrari's son Dino was working on an affordable, less powerful Ferrari model when he passed away at age 24 from muscular dystrophy. His father named the entry-point 1968 Ferrari the Dino in honor of his son.

1. Cadillac CTS-V
   Alfa Romeo Spider
2. Jaguar XJ-S
   Volkswagen Golf

The Spider was a classically European sports car. It was tiny, tough and ferociously fast through corners. It was made from 1966-1994 and is still a favorite among collectors.

1. Buick Riviera
   Porsche 904
2. Chevy Corvette
   Oldsmobile Toronado

Released in 1966, the Toronado was the first mass-produced American front-wheel drive vehicle since the early days of the automotive industry. The sporty new car came complete with custom Firestone tires, which featured stiffer walls than standard wheels.

1. Cadillac Seville
   Buick Riviera
2. Chevy Vega
   Chevy Camero

The Buick Riviera was GM's first venture into the luxury car market. In 1971, the company introduced its third generation line, which had a throwback boat-tail back end. The 1974 fourth generation redesign saw a return to a more conventional Colonnade back end.

1. Chevy Camaro
   Dodge Stealth
2. Porsche 911
   Cadillac CTS-V

The Porsche 911 was the first Porsche most Americans saw. It hit big in the market in the '80s, and soon the low-slung speed demons were everywhere.

1. Mazda Cosmo
   Oldsmobile Toronado
2. Shelby Cobra
   Dodge Charger

The Shelby Cobra came about when American car designer Carroll Shelby decided to upgrade an AC Cobra from the UK with a powerful V8 engine from Ford. The result was one of the hottest two-seaters on the market, and was available from 1965 to 1967.

1. Mercury Capri
   Chevy Corvette
2. Datsun 510
   Maserati Merak

Produced from 1972 to 1983, the Merak used a Bora body, but included a smaller engine. This allowed Maserati to add a narrow second row of seating, helping the car appeal to a wider audience.

1. Plymouth Superbird
   Chevy Vega
2. Citroen SM
   Dodge Colt

The uniquely-styled Plymouth Superbird was essentially a modified Road Runner, designed to go from 0 to 60 in 5 seconds. It's immediately identifiable thanks to its super-high rear wing.

1. Dodge Viper
   Ferrari Testarossa
2. BMW M1
   Jaguar XJ-6

The Testarossa's unmistakable silhouette, with the side "strakes" looking a bit like a cheese grater, served a purpose. The dual radiators were in back with the engine, so the strakes were needed to keep airflow to them.

1. Lincoln Continental
   Oldsmobile Toronado
2. Dodge Charger
   Plymouth Road Runner

Dodge brought out the first generation of its iconic Charger in 1965. The original vehicle used a Dodge Coronet body, but featured a more powerful engine. The two-door fastback on the earliest models had four bucket seats and plenty of upgrade options.

1. Porsche 904
   Shelby Cobra
2. Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk
   Plymouth Road Runner

Better known as the Carrera GTS, the 904 was a sleek and stylish mid-engine sports car, and was also the first Porsche with a fiberglass body.

1. Mercury Bobcat
   Lamborghini Miura
2. Ford Fiesta
   VW Bus

The Miura is arguably the most famous Lamborghini model of all time. Produced from 1966 to 1973, the vehicle is named for a famous fighting bull from Spain.

1. Chevy Nova
   Plymouth Barracuda
2. Aston Martin Vantage
   Chevrolet LUV

Plymouth's Barracuda was built on an E-body -- a shorter, wider version of the old B-platform. Produced from 1970 to 1974, the third generation limited designs to coupes and convertibles.

1. Ford GT40
   Oldsmobile Toronado
2. Dodge Dart
   Plymouth Road Runner

Ford built the GT40 to compete with Ferrari on the racing circuit, and by the mid-to-late '60s, the car was winning races around the world. It eventually became the first American-made car to win at Le Mans.

1. Acura NSX
   Chevy Corvette
2. Jaguar XJ-5
   Alfa Romeo Spider

Acura is Honda's luxury/performance nameplate in the U.S. market. This car is a bit of both.

1. Lincoln Continental
   Shelby GT350
2. Chevy Corvette
   Chrysler Valiant

Lincoln has produced its iconic Continental since 1939. The '60s saw the 4th generation of the car, which was smaller than the '50s version and less ornamental overall.

1. Ferrari Boxer Berlinetta
   Reliant Robin
2. VW Passat
   Chrysler Cordoba

Produced from 1973 to 1984, the Ferrari Boxer Berlinetta was created to take on Lamborghini's Miura and Countach. The company launched the 365G74 in 1971, and introduced the B512, which was named for its 5 litre/12 cylinder engine, in 1976.

1. Nissan GT-R
   Audi Quattro
2. Volkswagen Golf
   Jaguar E-type

Bring your BIG checkbook if you want to buy this car, which starts at more than $100K. However, for your expenditure you'll get a state-of-the-art power plant that can generate up to 600 HP.

1. Chevy Nova
   Aston Martin V8 Vantage
2. Alfa Romeo Alfetta GT
   Buick RIviera

Introduced in 1977, the British-made Aston Martin V8 Vantage was tough to come by in the U.S. due to emissions restrictions. A decade later, the car shot to fame when it was featured in the 1987 007 film, "The Living Daylights."

1. Chevy Chevelle
   Oldsmobile Starfire
2. Chrysler 300G
   Ford GT40

When it was released in 1961, the Oldsmobile Starfire was the priciest and most powerful Oldsmobile ever sold. The first generation of the vehicle was available from 1961 to 1966, and featured a convertible roof and leather bucket seats.

1. AMC Pacer
   De Tomaso Pantera
2. Cadillac Seville
   Mazda Cosmo

Sold at Lincoln dealerships, the De Tomaso Panera was the most popular car ever produced by De Tomaso. Introduced in 1971, it's name means "Panther" in Italian.

1. Mercedes-Benz 560 SEL
   Dodge Challenger
2. Lamborghini Countach
   Subaru Impreza

This car was one of the most recognizable high-end sports coupes of the '70s. In a famous Car and Driver article, humorist P.J. O'Rourke and Rolling Stone editor Jann Wenner drove the car from coast to coast, having misadventures along the way.

1. Studebaker Avanti
   Jaguar E-Type
2. Lincoln Continental
   Buick RIviera

Jaquar's iconic E-Type was available from 1961 to 1975. The first generation was a convertible roadster with style, while major upgrades in 1968 helped the luxury car keep up with increasingly stringent U.S. safety standards.

1. Lincoln Continental Mark III
   Mercury Cougar
2. Porsche 911
   Mercury Capri

The Mercury Cougar was the rare car to be brought back after a long hiatus. It was sold from 1967 to 1997, then again from 1999 to 2002. In 1971, Mercury brought out a second generation model which weighed less than the original and had a bigger, more stylish grille.

1. Chevy Corvette
   Citroen 2CV
2. Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster
   Lamborghini Countach

This sporty two-seater is a bargain by German luxury car standards, coming in just below $90K. For that, you'll get more than 400 horsepower and plenty of second looks.

1. Chevy Corvette
   Plymouth Superbird
2. Citroen SM
   Mazda 121

The stylish three-door hatchback coupe French Citroen SM was produced between 1970 and 1975. Just 2,400 were sold in North America out of the 12,000 produced, making it a relatively rare vintage for modern car collectors.

1. VW Bus
   Plymouth Road Runner
2. Ford Thunderbird
   Ford Mustang

The '60s saw three different generations of Ford's classic Thudnerbird. Early models had a bullet-like appearance, while mid-'60s versions were squared off. By the late '60s, the car had become larger and more luxurious in an attempt to compete with Mustang.

1. Dodge Challenger
   Aston Martin Vanquish
2. Dodge Stealth
   Ford Mustang

Aston Martin will forever be known as the chosen car of James Bond in the early days. This $300,000 muscle car is a far cry from Bond's wheels, but it doesn't have machine guns or an ejector seat.

1. Chrysler Valiant
   Lancia Stratos
2. Aston Martin V8 Vantage
   Dodge Aspen

Fans of rally racing surely know the Lancia Startos, an Italian car that ruled race tracks in the '60s and beyond. The company also sold a small number of street legal Stratos to the U.S. market, including the 1976 Stradale with its wedge shape and 196 horses.

1. Chevy Camero
   Cadillac Coupe De Ville
2. Dodge Dart
   Ford Falcon

Chevy developed its secret "Panther" project in the '60s to come up with a pony car to compete with the beloved Mustang. The result was the Camero, which came out in 1966.

1. Austin-Healey 3000
   Mazda Miata
2. Lamborghini Diablo
   BMW M5

The 11-year production run of this car no doubt led to record revenues for speed patrol officers everywhere. It used the familiar wedge shape, with a V-12 engine that was ridiculously powerful.

1. Lotus Esprit
   Lancia Gamma
2. Ford Falcon
   Mazda Cosmo

The Lotus Esprit was almost named the Kiwi, but Esprit was chosen to keep with the company's tradition of starting all model names with the letter "E." Introduced in 1976 and featuring a sleek wedge design, the vehicle had a throttled engine in the U.S. to comply with emissions standards.

1. Nissan Silvia
   Triumph Fury
2. Oldsmobile Toronado
   Ford Mustang

The Ford Mustang was a '60s favorite for car lovers. Originally built on a Falcon platform, the Mustang came out in 1964, and the company built more than one million units over the next 18 months.

1. Porsche Carrera
   Mercedes-Bend 560
2. Dodge Stealth
   Ferrari Testarossa

Partnerships between American and Japanese carmakers have yielded mixed results, but the Stealth was definitely a win. It was only sold for five years in the '90s, but collectors still covet them.

1. Mercury Bobcat
   AMC Gremlin
2. Chrysler LeBaron
   Datsun 510

Introduced in 1975, the Bobcat was Mercury's first sub-compact. It featured a Pinto body, but offered a much fancier grille and upgraded trim. The Bobcat was discontinued in 1981 and replaced by the Lynx.

1. Ford Thunderbird
   Lotus Esprit
2. Mazda MX-6
   Audi R8

You might recognize this as the car that converted into a submarine in the Bond flick, "The Spy Who Loved Me." It also rode across "For Your Eyes Only," giving Aston Martin some British competition.

1. Pontiac Banshee
   Cadillac Calais
2. Plymouth Satellite
   GT K-Code Fastback

The 1965 Mustang came with a $276 upgrade known as the K-code. Buyers who splurged on this option got a super powerful engine and a car built for speed -- with a much-shortened warranty, no AC or power steering.

1. Jaguar E-Type
   Lamborghini Countach
2. Honda Civic
   Dodge Viper

The Viper is Dodge's bid to compete with the high-end Italian sports cars. It's hand-crafted, perfectly rounded and comes in at less than $90K, a bargain!

1. Buick RIviera
   Chevrolet Vega
2. Datsun 510
   Ford Falcon

The Chevy Vega was an American-made sub-compact introduced at the start of the '70s. By 1977, it had been discontinued after having problems with everything from rust to reliability.

1. Chrysler 300G
   Ford Mustang
2. Plymouth Satellite
   Chrysler Valiant

The 1961 Chrysler 300G was part of the luxury line's "letter" series. It had an oversized body with an inverted grille and prominent fins. By the next year, the 1962 model lost its fins and was slightly toned down in terms of trim.

1. Chevy Nova
   Mercury Capri
2. Chevy Chevelle
   Plymouth Firebird

From 1962 to 1969, the Nova was known as the Chevy II. In 1969, the name was changed to Nova, and the vehicle was produced over the next decade. A longer wheelbase introduced in the early '70s resulted in the sub-compact Nova measuring almost as big as an average mid-side vehicle.

1. Mini Cooper
   VW Beetle
2. Cadillac Coupe De Ville
   Dodge Coronet

The '60s saw two generations of Cadillac's Coupe De Ville. The second generation of the vehicle was produced between 1961 and 1964, and featured a prominent grille and large fins. The third generation, produced between 1965 and 1970, had a more rounded body, with none of the big fins found on earlier designs.

1. Mazda Miata
   Chevy Corvette
2. Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
   Lotus Esprit

This two-door speedster was Volkswagen's big step away from the Beetle. It sold thousands in Europe, where its small body and nimble handling made it a star of the rally circuit.

1. Ford Thunderbird
   Volkswagen Golf
2. Ferrari Modena
   Cadillac CTS-V

The Modena was named after the Italian birthplace of Enzo Ferrari. It wasn't as groundbreaking as previous Ferrari designs, and the 360 line to which it belonged petered out in 2005.

1. Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk
   Oldsmobile Toronado
2. Dodge Charger
   Ford Mustang

Studebaker gave a sporty makeover to its Hawk model in 1962, and renovated the car again in 1964 -- giving it a sport roof that was half vinyl, half metal.