Summer Of Love: Remembering The Classic Hippie Cars

2. Volkswagen Beetle

The Volkswagen Beetle became the iconic car of the hippie movement. Also, it was the best-selling car in the world and a symbol of Germany’s rebuilding efforts. Ironically, in just a few decades, this little economy car went from having Swastikas on its doors to transporting millions of peace-loving hippies to rock festivals.

Officially, the production of the VW Beetle started in 1938 and ended in 2003. During that time, they made more than 22 million cars in 14 countries around the world. The Beetle was the first global car in terms of popularity, affordability, and presence. The Ford Model T motorized the world as the first globally popular automobile, but the VW Beetle improved the concept. Soon, it became the car for people who only dreamed about owning a vehicle, especially in third world countries in Africa and South America.

3. Ford Mustang

The first Ford Mustang was so successful, it started a new class of cars they called pony cars. It also entered history books as one of the best first-year sales of all time. Over the years, the Mustang became the automotive symbol of America. In fact, it’s one of the finest and most respected products worldwide. So, what is the secret of the Mustang’s appeal?

First, it’s a mixture of performance with a V8 engine rumble. Second, Ford added a touch of luxury and good looks, putting it in an affordable package with a long list of options. But most of all, it’s the image and legend that was an integral part of the Mustang’s appeal since day one. The hippie buyers loved it since the Mustang represented freedom and a break from regular cars, which lined up perfectly with their life philosophy.

4. Triumph Spitfire

The Spitfire was the definitive British sports roadster from the ’60s. Triumph based the car on a design that Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti produced for the Standard-Triumph in 1957. Despite having similar mechanics, power, and performance, the Spitfire got its name from a World War II fighter plane. Also, it had a much more aggressive and sportier design than the standard Triumph with lower sides and sharper front end.

They presented this legendary roadster in 1962 and powered it with a diminutive 1.1-liter four-cylinder engine producing 63 HP. Over the years, the power grew to a 1.5-liter engine with 71 HP and more torque, which improved the driving dynamics. But like all other British roadsters, the biggest market was in the U.S. So most of the 314,000 Spitfires manufactured ended up in America.

5. Classic Muscle Cars

Although the hippie culture was all about ecology and sustainability, those muscle cars were just too cool to miss, at least for some drivers. But muscle car culture actually corresponded with hippie culture.

Since those powerful Detroit performance cars promoted the same values of freedom and rebellion, some hipsters accepted them. Unfortunately, when the early ’70s came and the oil crisis killed the market, most hippies turned to economy cars, Japanese imports, or back to their VW Beetles.

6. Volkswagen T1 Microbus

Volkswagen produced the Microbus from the late ’40s to the late ’60s. Those vans were workhorses with dependable VW Beetle mechanics. Economical and plentiful, they were the perfect transportation for hippies all over the world since they combined the practicality of a van with the durability of VW mechanics.

The Volkswagen T1 Microbus is one of the best-known hippie cars and the definition of summer of love transportation. They often painted them in vivid colors with flowers and messages of love and peace, making the T1 the quintessential car of the generation and a valuable classic today.

7. Jaguar E-Type

Introduced in 1961, the Jaguar E-Type was a sensation on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Despite Jaguar’s long-lasting tradition of building fine sports cars, the E-Type was years ahead of its time. It came with a superb design, four-wheel disk brakes, independent rear suspension, and powerful straight-six engines. But the best thing was the cost. The E Type had the looks, power, and performance of high-priced Italian exotics yet it cost only a fraction of the price.

The E-Type stayed in production for 15 years until 1976, selling over 74,000 units, most of them in the U.S. Although it was beyond the reach of most hippies, it was popular with movie stars, successful musicians, and other celebrities of the era. The average hippie drove the VW Beetle while the well-to-do ones owned the Jaguar E-Type.

8. MG B Roadster

One of the most popular and typical British roadsters from the ’60s is the MG B. Introduced in 1962, the B was the successor to the MG A, which helped establish the roadster class in the U.S. By the standards of the day, the MG B was a modern car with unibody construction, a roomy interior, and decent suspension and steering.

Some contemporary tests call the MG B underpowered. Even though 95 HP from a 1.8-liter engine isn’t much, since the car weighs only 2,200 pounds, it keeps up with modern traffic. The best thing about the MG B is that it’s simple to maintain and all the relevant parts are still available today. MG produced over 400,000 units of all the variants, selling most of them in the USA.

9. Old Full-Size Sedans

Since most hippie drivers weren’t obsessed with flashy new wheels or the latest models, you could see long-haired drivers behind the wheels of old American full-size sedans. Back in the ’60s and ’70s, American sedans, as well as those station wagons from the ’50s, cost as little as $100.

So hippies all over the country drove them since they were dependable and had plenty of space. Unfortunately, those cars never got the attention or care they deserved. After life in a hippie commune, they went to the scrap yard.

10. School Bus

If the Volkswagen T1 Microbus wasn’t enough, some hippie drivers decided to go bigger and buy a bus. It was common to buy old school buses and transform them into houses on wheels. Back in the day, it wasn’t strange to see a colorful bus happily cruising the back roads with a bunch of people riding in the back.

Some hippies even decided to spend their lives on the road. They even brought their families up between the states, living in buses for years. From this perspective, it’s a bit too extreme for modern people. But back then, it was the hip thing to do.

These are the best classic hippie cars. Which of these cool wheels from the summer of love? Some are still available today, and provide a nostalgic look back at one of the most iconic periods of American history.