The 1960s was a time of change; there was the Civil Rights Movement, the Women’s Movement which demanded equal rights, and Elvis blasted into Britain! Things were changing rapidly, and this was no different for the world’s automobiles. The cars of 1960s belonged to a distinct decade of automobile history as economy, muscle and pony cars were created. Let’s take a look…

Economy Cars
The 1960s strengthened the positions of General Motors, Ford and Chrysler as the “Big Three” of car manufacturers in the USA. These firms dominated the market in the USA but also the global market, taking 48% of world sales of automobiles. More compact economy cars began to dribble from the big firms, seeing GM produce the Corvair, Ford the Falcon and Chrysler the Valiant. GM was perhaps the most efficient in terms of creating these smaller economy cars – they created the Oldmobile F-85 which was a compact sedan, coupe and station wagon which has a V8 engine from 1961-1963. In 1964 the F-85 was upgraded to an intermediate sized car.

Muscle Cars
Muscle car was a term used to describe the middle-sized car produced with a large and powerful engine. It usually came with a special trim which was intended for much faster speed. They differ from sports cars which were smaller and two-seated. These high performance muscle cars were extremely popular during the 1960s where speed and power was everything. As the national highway system grew and fuel became cheaper, the trend towards these cars grew. Some of the most well known and popular muscle cars were the Barracuda, Superbird and Firebird.

Pony Cars
Pony cars are based around the Ford Mustang Classic, one of the most famous cars in the history of automobiles. It was built from 1964 through to 1973, and its popularity boomed. Many car manufacturers tried to replicate the sporty characteristics of the car but found it hard to match the qualities of the magical Mustang Classic. Some of the most famous pony cars include the Yenko Cameros, the Hemi Cudas and the AMC Javelin.

If you are a classic car enthusiast and are considering rebuilding one of these fabulous cars from the 60s then it is important to sort out all the extra details before you hit the road. Keep in mind that you can find special insurance policies for your classic car; you can compare car insurance online for a range of quotes.

About the author: Hannah Warder writes for MediaVest (Manchester) on a number of topics, including how to compare car insurance.