The 60s were a great decade for the car industry, especially in America. With rising power, performance, and new technologies, 60s cars are marked with variety, more horsepower, and elegant lines. However, with this came the rising prices on the enthusiast market, and the 60s models are amongst the most expensive models you can get, so what to do if you fell in love with chrome bumpers, cool shapes, and roaring engines of American cars from this decade? Here are ten alternatives that are still affordable.
1. Chevrolet Corvair
In the late ’50s, Chevrolet presented the Corvair, a revolutionary compact car with a rear-mounted, air-cooled, flat-six engine. This was a big step for Chevrolet since the Corvair sat opposite the company’s other vehicles and featured different concepts, technology, and design. The American car industry was intrigued when Chevrolet presented the Corvair. It was a compact car in a time when compact cars were rare on U.S. soil and produced mainly by foreign brands.
Then, it had the engine in the back rather than in the front as all other domestic vehicles had, and third, it was a six-cylinder boxer, not a straight six or V8 as everybody expected. Overall, it was a bold and unusual move by conservative Chevrolet.
2. Ford Falcon
The secret of the Falcon’s success was its affordability and a long list of options, and even though the standard model only had a 2.4-liter 90 hp engine, you could get bigger six-cylinder and 260 V8 engines.
Also, the Falcon was available in several body styles, including convertible, sedan delivery, and three or 5-door station wagon, which broadened its appeal. In 1964, the Falcon received its first redesign, and in the same year, the Mustang was introduced, which was based totally on the Falcon’s underpinnings.
3. Cadillac Calais
The Calais was introduced in 1965 as an entry-level Cadillac model. The company realized that it needed a more affordable car in its lineup than the somewhat expensive DeVille, so the Calais became the most inexpensive way to own a new Cadillac.
During its 11 years of production, the Calais served well and was a reasonably popular choice with buyers. The easiest way to distinguish the Calais from the rest of the model range was that it had less chrome trim, no vinyl roof option, and no convertible version.
4. Pontiac Tempest
In the early ’60s, all major US car makers introduced compact models. Chevrolet had the Corvair; Ford had the Falcon; Plymouth had the Valiant; and Pontiac presented the Tempest. The new Tempest had independent suspension, and all cars used live rear axles.
Then, it featured an economical four-cylinder engine, a cut-down V8 when all competitors had six cylinders. The third thing is the most interesting, and Tempest used a rear-mounted gearbox, the transaxle design, which was unheard of at the time.
5. Pontiac LeMans
We have bad news if you are a Pontiac GTO fan seduced by the original muscle car’s lines, power, and magic. All GTOs are now over an average enthusiast’s budget, and no cheap models are available. But there is another way, and that is Pontiac Le Mans.
The Le Mans was a sporty version of the Tempest on which the GTO was based. Le Mans shares the same body, chassis, and dimensions as the GTO, and in the late ’60s, Le Mans was the perfect candidate for the GTO replica.
6. Chevrolet Chevy II
Before the Nova, there was a 1962 to 1965 Chevy II as an entry-level model. Even though this was an economy car, some versions came with V8s, which made this compact car a capable cruiser.
The Chevy II looked cool and came in several body styles, so you could find cool two-door models or even an elegant convertible. The parts supply is excellent, and the car is easy to work on. It can be a great starter classic or a fun little project car.
7. Buick Wildcat
The Buick Wildcat is one of the exciting but today almost forgotten models that were pretty popular back in the day. Introduced in 1963, the Wildcat was something between a personal luxury model and a muscle car.
It featured restrained and elegant styling, much like the rest of Buick’s lineup, but it also had powerful engines, sporty trim, and nice performance. In 1967, Wildcat was also offered as a four-door, which boosted its appeal and helped improve sales numbers.
8. Oldsmobile Cutlass
Oldsmobile is one of the greatest but sadly defunct car companies, which were, for the better part of the 20th century, a symbol of elegance and power in the GM range. Oldsmobile fans will tell you this company was at the forefront of the muscle craze in the early ’60s.
But if you are an Olds fan and need a classic Olds muscle car in your life, the best way to do so is to find a good Cutlass in a two-door coupe or convertible form. The Cutlass was a mid-size Oldsmobile model, a best seller in its class, which served as a basis for 442.
9. Mercury Cougar
The Cougar was built on the Mustang platform but stretched a couple of inches to add comfort and improve ride quality. Also, the Mercury Cougar was available with V8 engines only, while the small six-cylinder units were reserved for entry-level Mustangs.
The body panels and the front fascia with hidden headlights were all unique. Mercury offered a trimmed dash, leather seats, and all kinds of creature comforts in the interior. The Cougar was just a luxury Mustang, but in reality, it was an independent model and a pretty successful car in its own right. Until 1969, no convertibles were offered, just coupes.
10. Dodge Coronet
Most people know Coronet for its fire-breathing muscle car versions of the late ’60s, but Dodge offered this model as a boring four-door and station wagon. Forget about 440 or Hemi-powered Coronets since those are six-figure cars now, but enter the world of six-cylinder and small V8-powered Coronet sedans, which still look cool but are not fast.
The full-size sedans from the ’60s are still cool classics that are cheap to buy and easy to work on. All of that makes it a great starter classic or fun project.