One response to the Pontiac GTO is the epic 1965 Chevrolet Impala SS hardtop coupe. Crashing through sales records, the 1965 iteration sold over one million Impalas. Rounded sides and a sharply angled windshield identified this model, strikingly different from the 1964 version. New trim included bodyside moldings, wheelhouse moldings, rear cover trim, and triple-stacked taillights and Super Sport (SS) fender and front grille script.
Inside, bucket seats, SS identification, and an electric clock and a snazzy instrument panel impressed. The best part, naturally, lay in its powertrain. It came standard with a 6-cylinder engine with overhead valves and the revered Hydra-Matic transmission. A 230 cu. in. motor generated 140 horsepower. Upgrading to the V-8 put 200 horsepower into your hands. If that was not enough for you, you could purchase the 400-horsepower option!
1960 Ferrari 250 GT PF Cabriolet
This gorgeous machine packed a SOHC V-12 260 horsepower engine under the hood, driving a 4-speed manual transmission with overdrive, but Pinin Farina (PF) dolled up the coach of Ferrari’s 250 GT cabriolet. And what a beauty! The luxury Grand Tour (GT) debuted in 1959 at the Paris Motor Show.
In all, 200 cars were built. Competition-grade models were revered as the fastest and most prestigious road racers money could buy. The Ferrari 250 PF brought automotive luxury and performance to a new level, soaring high above its predecessors and the competition.
1966 Toyota 2000GT
The 1966 Toyota 2000GT debuted in 1965, and it was to be Japan’s first supercar. It was a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive 2-seater that revolutionized the company’s sportscar division. The 2000GT made its film debut in 'You Only Live Twice' (1967) co-starring with James Bond as a convertible. As the most collectible Japanese car ever, with only 351 units produced, one competitive racer sold for $1.7 million at a recent auction.
When Toyota wanted to be competitive at the SCCA, they put their car under the workmanship of Carrol Shelby. The American auto designer stripped down the Toyota to its base parts, added better tires, boosted the engine size, and replaced the suspension. Two of these modified 2000GTs finished in 1968 in the CP category, losing only to Porsche. One of these is the model that went for $1.7 million.
1966 Ford Thunderbird Convertible
You might recognize this model as the vehicle that propelled Thelma and Louise over the cliff, in the classic film. The 1966 Thunderbird Convertible was legendary in its own day and remains a showstopper. Stocked standard with a 390 cu. in. V-8 engine, buyers could opt for a prodigious 428 cu. in FE-series V-8 345-horsepower-upgrade, a serious powertrain perk.
Perks were plentiful in this glamorous cruiser. High-tech taillights flashed in sequence across the rear end, and a spread of sweet sophistication greeted the driver with elaborate gauges, controls, buttons, and knobs across the dash—a rare treat for 1960s automotive norms. And the 1966 model found the iconic Thunderbird crest moved from the nose of the hood and newly centered on the front grille - a royal relocation.
1961 Chrysler 300G Coupe
Sheer muscle delivered with style. The 1961 Chrysler 300G Coupe is a close ancestor to the 1955 and 1956 Grand National Championship and Daytona 500 winners, from which its powertrain was born. Stepping inside the 300G was a breeze. Swivel seats make entering or exiting the car a high-class endeavor. Settling down amongst perforated leather, chrome-framed instruments, and upscale attention to detail, the interior impressed.
Even the control-center instrument cluster illuminates at night, it was a perfect grand touring vehicle. This car possessed enough power to light the city of San Diego. Under the hood was a 6.6-liter V-8 wedge engine generating 375 horsepower. You had the choice of cruising in class, in a 2-door coupe or a 2-door convertible.