In the 1960s, it was rare to see cars crossing 150mph, but some of the luxury vehicles created records by surpassing the 150 mph mark. These cars were known for speed, performance, and endurance as well. In this article, let us see some of the fastest cars in the 1960s.
Fastest Cars in 1960s
Ford Thunderbird
The range of Ford Thunderbird was incredible and it is still deemed as a top-tier vehicle even after its production is stopped. The fourth-generation Ford Thunderbird cars were one of the fastest vehicles in the 1960s. These were available in production between 1964 and 1966. Ford Thunderbird 1964 editions were built with 390 cu in (6.4 L) FE V8 and 427 cu in (7.0 L) FE V8 engines. Ford Thunderbird 1964 models had horsepower of 300. These cars were driven at a maximum speed of 125 mph -130 mph. Ford Thunderbird 1964 to 1966 models sold more than 2 lakh units and these were luxury cars.
Plymouth Belvedere
Belvedere is a classic edition from Plymouth and it was one of the fastest cars in the 1960s. These cars were known for their performance and durability with sophisticated features. The top speed of Plymouth Belvedere was 125mph. Plymouth 1964 models were manufactured using 225 cu in Slant-Six (3.7L inline-6) and 318 cu in V8 (5.2L). The cars included 3-speed manual and 4-speed manual transmissions. Belvedere cars were popular, and it was used in the NHRA stock racing and films as well.
Dodge Charger Daytona
Dodge Charger Daytona was an iconic vehicle which also appeared in the Fast and Furious films. The first-generation Daytona Charger vehicles were launched in 1969 and these were known as muscle cars. Daytona Charger was primarily a race car with 4-speed manual transmission. It was built with 426 cu in (7.0 L) Hemi V8 and 440 cu in (7.2 L) Magnum V8 engines. The Daytona Charger was one of the most used vehicles in NASCAR and it created a new record by crossing 200mph at Talladega. A report states the vehicle also breached the 235mph mark in a test ride. Dodge Charger vehicles were go-to cars for many drivers in NASCAR.
Lamborghini Miura P400
Popularly known as the world’s first true mid-engine supercar, Lamborghini Miura was built using Transverse-mounted mid-engines. These cars were available with 350 horsepower and 5-speed manual transmissions. Lamborghini Miura created a record by crossing 170mph. The car also reached 100mph in 14 seconds. The Lamborghini Miura P400 was one of the best and fastest cars in the late 1960s.
Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Chevrolet Camaro cars were in production for just 3 years. The Camaro ZL was in production till 1969. It was considered one of the best American muscle cars. Chevrolet Camaro ran upto 145mph with horsepower of 430. In 1969, a total of 69 Chevrolet Camaro cars were available and all of these were sold. There were demands for more units as well. The heads of the car were made using aluminium and it was built with 427 cu in (7.0 L) V8 engines.
Shelby Cobra 427
Shelby Cobra 427 cars were run at a speed of 165mph making it one of the fastest cars in the 1960s. The car weighed 2400lbs and was considered an iconic car in American Motorsports. Shelby Cobra 427 became a sensational vehicle for its speed, rarity, and style. The speed of Shelby Cobra 427 models shocked other models and this made it more popular. Only 348 models of Shelby Cobra 427 were manufactured and sold during the period.
Iso Grifo GL 7-Litri
The 7-Litri model of Iso Grifo was unleashed in 1968. The car was built with a Chevrolet L71 big-block engine and 435hp. The Iso Grifo GL 7-Litri clocked 170mph and it even crossed 180mph in test runs. These models were available till 1972 before the Grifo IR-8 editions arrived. The Iso Grifo GL 7-Litri was another luxury vehicle with powerful torque and engines. These cars were available in red, yellow, and black colors.