Image: Pixabay by Ralph Klein
About This Quiz
Most gearheads have a favorite decade for car production, whether it be hot rods from the '40s or the supercars of the '90s. It's fair to say, however, that the automotive industry went through an enormous change throughout the '60s: lines got smoother, cars became lighter, and performance levels soared. The '60s also saw the introduction of new classes of vehicles that were destined for greatness.
Car lovers were treated to the first real muscle cars during the '60s. Some vehicles, like the Oldsmobile, get credit for being muscle cars before the '60s, but 1964-1969 is when industry titans locked horns to create the biggest, badest muscle cars on the road. While this class continued life throughout the '70s and beyond, many feel that post-'60s muscle cars lacked both style and substance.
Adrenaline junkies rejoiced throughout the '60s as performance figures took significant leaps forward. More production cars could achieve six-second 0-60 mph times, with some besting that time by around one second. There were now a host of models that could hit 160 mph, and the era even ushered in the world's first supercar.
How much do you know about cars from the '60s? Do you know the models well enough to spot a bare-faced lie? Fair warning, there aren't any easy 'As' on this quiz. Test your knowledge now!
It launched in 1960.
It was an electric vehicle.
The Corvair didn't need a radiator at the front because its engine was housed at the rear. Its styling made it a hit with those who didn't want to "go with the crowd" during the '60s. But the Corvair's public image was irreparably damaged after it was featured in the first chapter of Ralph Nader's book, "Unsafe at Any Speed." A 1964 Chevy Corvair Monza is shown here.
It was rear-engined.
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It was the first production car fitted with a rotary engine.
It was the first three-wheel-drive vehicle.
Mazda wanted to show the world how forward-thinking the company was amidst the Space Race. The Cosmo, with its rotary engine, was the perfect way to do this. Although the rotary engine didn't take off throughout the automotive industry, the Cosmo was a successful platform for Mazda. Shown here is a 1968 first-generation Mazda Cosmo Sport.
It was named to capitalize on fascination around the Space Race.
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It had an 80-inch wheelbase.
It was the shortest car ever.
The Austin-Healy Sprite was minuscule at 137 inches long, 53 inches wide, and 47 inches tall (with its hood up). It had an equally small 948 cc engine. The model's performance figures were equally as minuscule as its stature, taking 20 seconds to get to 60 mph and topping out at 83 mph.
Its engine produced 43 horsepower.
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Some examples have sold at auction for $1,200,000.
It had four seats.
The 2000GT really put Toyota on the map both in the U.S. and Europe. And while its 150 horsepower output was considered to be low, it received rave reviews for how well it handled.
Most of the design was done by Yamaha.
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It had four-wheel-drive.
The Lotus Elan is the quintessential sports car, even today. It's light, handles well, and doesn't have a monstrous engine but rather a peppy one. Sports Car International named it the sixth-best sports car of the '60s in 2004. A 1968 Lotus Elan S4 is shown here.
It weighed 1,500 pounds.
Just 22 units were produced in its inaugural year.
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The engines in these models were mounted transversely.
It was rear-wheel-drive.
The Mini's engine was mounted transversely so there would be more space in the cabin. This obviously wasn't done in vain. According to the Guinness World Records, a team of 28 female gymnasts once squeezed into a Mini. Shown here is a 1963 BMC Austin Mini.
28 people once crammed into a Mini.
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All 911s have been manufactured in one place since 1964.
The 911 was originally called the 901.
In its first year of production, it was front-wheel-drive.
The 911 was originally called the 901, shown here, and 82 units were produced under this name. Peugeot objected to this, however, as the French automaker had exclusive rights to car names that used three numbers with a zero in the middle.
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The '63 model outsold Ford's Thunderbird.
Many claimed that Buick's Riviera drove, stopped and turned better than Ford's Thunderbird, which was its direct competitor. Unfortunately for Buick, the Thunderbird consistently outsold the Riviera every year. A 1963 model is shown here.
It had frameless side windows.
It used a 401 ci Nailhead V8 engine.
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Only 10 models were produced in 1963.
Considered by some to be the most beautiful car of all time, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL won't be found cheaply at auction. You'd be particularly lucky to find a '63 model, shown here, as just 26 were produced that year.
The model was produced from 1955 - 1963.
One example sold for $5 million at auction.
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The Impala was originally supposed to be a top-of-the-line Bel-Air.
It's named after an African antelope.
Its reverse lights were yellow.
The Impala broke away from the Bel-Air line in 1959 and quickly became the standard of comfort in American vehicles. Some consider the Impala to have been the precursor or, at least, one of the precursors to the American muscle car. Shown here is a 1960 Impala Coupe.
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It was Motor Trends' "Car of The Year" in 1969.
Its 426 ci Hemi produced 425 horsepower
It got to 60 mph in 4 seconds flat.
At the time of its launch in 1968, the Plymouth Road Runner was thought of as a cheap, no-frills muscle car with a stomping-great engine. The model could be had with a 426 Hemi under the hood. This setup would get to 60 mph in just 5.1 seconds. A 1969 model is shown here.
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"W Bus"
The Microbus, also known as the "Type 2," is synonymous with the free-loving '60s scene. Depending on where you are, you'll hear a different nickname for the Microbus. In the U.S., it's often referred to as the "Vee-Dub." In Germany, it's called the "Hippie-Van" or "Bully." Shown here is a 1968 Type 2.
"Vee-Dub"
"Hippie-Van"
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It featured suicide doors.
It was used as a presidential state car.
The 1961 model had a V6 engine.
The Lincoln Continental was extremely luxurious, making it the go-to presidential state car during the '60s ... and go-to car for members of the Mafia. It was powered by a 430 ci V8 engine that pumped out 300 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. A 1961 model Lincoln Continental is shown here.
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Just six were made.
It topped out at 196 mph.
Carroll Shelby's personal Daytona was stolen and is still missing.
The Shelby Cobra was a fantastic racing car and won its fair share of races, but it had a major weak point: aerodynamics. On tracks with long straights, the Cobra would fall behind, leading to the need for a more aerodynamic model like the Daytona. Since the Daytona had an extra 30 mph on its top-end over the Cobra, it was perfect for these faster tracks. Shown here is a 1964 Shelby Daytona Coupe.
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The cars weighed about 2,205 pounds.
It was developed with the use of a wind tunnel.
It won the 1968 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Alfa Romeo's Giulia was — and still is — an incredibly beautiful car with stunning proportions. The Giulia was one of the first four-door models produced by a mainstream manufacturer to mix a lightweight body (around 1 ton) and a relatively large engine (up to 1.6-liter). The result was an impressively peppy four-door sedan. A Type 1-5 from the mid-1960s is shown here.
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Only 10 were made.
If you ever get to lay eyes on a Ferrari 250 GTO, then you're one of the lucky ones. This is especially true when you consider that just 36 were made. The model's rarity ensures that, when one does appear at auction, it fetches an astronomical sum.
It was powered by a V12 engine.
A 250 GTO sold for $48.4 million.
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It was built to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
It's based on a Ferrari chassis.
Shelby American worked in conjunction with Ford to develop the GT40 which would go on to place first, second, and third in the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans race. The cars 485 horsepower V8 engine helped it to a top speed of around 210-215 mph. Shown here is the Ford GT40 Mk II that took second place in the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans.
It could chew up a quarter-mile strip in 12 seconds.
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A later version lends its name to a Clint Eastwood movie.
It was named after the city of Turin.
It launched in Mexico six months before it launched in the U.S.
Ford's Torino was named after the city of Turin, which is "Torino" in Italian. The third generation of this model, the Gran Torino, found on-screen success both as Starsky and Hutch's car and in the Clint Eastwood movie with which it shares its name. A 1968 Ford Torino GT Fastback is shown here.
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The DB5 used in "Goldfinger" has been missing since 1997.
There has been a DB5 in every Bond movie.
There has been an Aston Martin in 12 out of the 24 Bond movies. All these models have their own special place in people's hearts. But the DB5 used in "Goldfinger" is one of the most iconic Bond vehicles of all time, and it has been missing since 1997! The DB5 shown here appeared in the Bond movie, "Skyfall."
The "DB" in "DB5" stands for David Brown.
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The '61 model got to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds.
It had a 150 mph top speed.
It produced 390 horsepower.
Under the hood of the '61 Jaguar E-Type, shown here, is a 3.8-liter engine that produces 265 horsepower. This was enough to propel the E-Type to 150 mph, which was an astronomically high speed for the time. These stats, coupled with the E-Type's £2,097 (around $2,700 in 1961) starting price, made it an instant hit!
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It was used in NASCAR races.
It's also known as the "T-Bird."
It was named after a real bird.
Ford launched the Thunderbird to compete with the success of Chevrolet's Corvette. But instead of making the Thunderbird a sports car, Ford positioned it as a "personal luxury vehicle," essentially creating the class in America. Shown here is a 1960 model. There are several versions as to how the car got its name, but a thunderbird is a mythical creature, not a real bird.
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The DS is recognized as one of the most influential cars of all time.
It was in "Back to the Future Part II" and "Scarface."
10 million units of the DS were sold.
The DS didn't just look futuristic with its aerodynamic styling, it really was a cut above. For example, it featured hydraulic suspension and transmission systems, as well as a hydraulic clutch. The model placed third in the Car of the Century competition and sold a total of 1,455,746 units during its production.
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It had a 200 mph top speed.
When the Miura launched in 1966 it got to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds and had a top speed of 163 mph, making it the fastest production car in the world. These incredible numbers were all thanks to its aerodynamic body which housed a 4-liter V12 engine. Shown here is a 1966 Lamborghini Miura P400.
Most consider it to be the first supercar.
It had a mid-mounted V12 engine.
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The model was in production for 10 years.
Anyone who has seen "Fast and Furious 4" will be familiar with the Chevelle SS 454 shown here. The Chevelle was a hugely successful model during its production, which lasted from 1964 to 1977. It's as popular as ever today with one example selling for $1.15 million at a 2013 Mecum auction.
It was thought of as "America's most popular mid-sized car."
It shares a platform with the El Camino.
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It had a 3-speed manual gearbox.
The Trans Am and the Firebird were exactly the same.
The Trans Am was a performance package for Pontiac's Firebird. Owners of the Trans Am could expect better handling and out and out performance than owners of the standard Firebird. Shown here is a 1969 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am.
Its engine produced 430 lb-ft of torque.
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It was named after the CEO's son.
Over 44 million Toyota Corollas have been sold worldwide, making it the best-selling car of all time. A Corolla has been sold every 37 seconds since it launched, but since 2013, the model has sold every 27 seconds on average. This shows sales of the world's most popular model are increasing! Shown here is a first-generation 1968 Toyota Corolla 1100 Deluxe.
It's the best-selling car of all time.
A Corolla has sold every 37 seconds, on average, since 1966.
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It was known as the "Italian Mustang."
The Alfa Romeo Spider oozes Italian class. Anyone who has seen "The Graduate" will remember that Ben Braddock (Dustin Hoffman) received a red Alfa Romeo Spider as a graduation gift from his parents. After the movie launched, the Spider became an even more sought after car. Shown here is a 1969 Alfa Romeo Spider Series 1.
Its was produced for 28 years.
It was featured in "The Graduate."
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It was the fastest commercial vehicle to complete a standing kilometer.
100 units were made.
The Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale was speedy for its time with a 160 mph top speed and 0-60 mph time of just 5.5 seconds. These figures meant it could cover a standing kilometer in 24 seconds flat. Between 1967 and 1969, only 18 examples were produced, making this an extremely rare car. A 1968 model is shown here.
"Stradale" is Italian for "road-going."
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Its official name is the "365 GTB4."
The model finished 1 - 2 - 3 at the Daytona 24-Hour Race in '67.
The model placed first at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in '67.
Although this Ferrari is officially known as the "365 GTB4," most will only know it as the "Daytona." After Ferrari placed first, second, and third at the Daytona 24 Hour Race in '67, its unofficial name was coined. A 1969 Ferrari 365 GTB4 Daytona is shown here.
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Ferdinand Porsche created the first Beetle.
About 23.5 million units have been sold worldwide.
It's the second-best-selling car of all time.
The Volkswagen Beetle was, and still is, a hugely popular car. To date, over 23.5 million Beetles have been sold worldwide. This makes the Beetle the fourth-best-selling car of all time, with VW's Golf taking third place (as of 2019). A 1961 Volkswagen Type 1 Beetle is shown here.
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It gets to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds.
It tops out at 180 mph.
The 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake was incredibly quick, and would eventually top out at 165 mph. In 1966 it could get down a drag strip in 12.4 seconds which, to this day, is still a mind-boggling feat. To put this into perspective, a 2017 BMW M5 does a quarter-mile in 11.75 seconds. Only two 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snakes were ever made.
It has two superchargers.
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The Corvette was named after a small warship.
The 1963 Stingray could get to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds.
The 1963 Stingray topped out at 130 mph.
The 1963 Corvette Stingray, shown here, was designed from the ground up and took the world by storm when it launched. Some of these models were fitted with 327 ci, small-block, fuel-injected V8 engines which produced 360 horsepower. These units gave the Stingray a published top speed of 151 mph.
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It launched 16 days before the Mustang.
The 1967 model was a 4-door.
The 'Cuda was built around the Formula-S package and released in 1969 which helped the automaker to compete with the likes of Shelby and Boss Mustangs. The 6.3-liter V8s in these models produced an impressive 330 horsepower. Shown here is a 1967 Plymouth Barracuda hardtop.
The 'Cuda was a performance variant of the Barracuda.
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It had 355 horsepower.
It had 420 lb-ft of torque.
It could do a 10-second quarter-mile stock.
The 1967 Shelby Mustang GT500 was pretty quick for its time thanks to the 428 ci V8 under its hood. This powerplant produced 355 horsepower which got the GT500 to 60 mph in around six seconds and meant it would keep accelerating until it maxed out at 130-140 mph. These performance figures meant the GT500 could chew up a quarter-mile in 14-15 seconds.
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It launched in 1964.
The Camaro was Chevy's answer to Ford's Mustang, although the Camaro wouldn't launch until 1966: two years after the first Mustang. To this day, early examples — like the 1967 model shown here — are still highly sought after.
Eight different engine options were available in its debut year.
1967 Camaros had 13-inch wheels.
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