The 1960s Weren't Known For Being Subdued, But These Cars Were
The 1960s in the United States was an era of peace and love, filled with VW vans, front-wheel drive, and the iconic Ford Mustang, introduced in 1965. But elsewhere in the world, compact cars were the order of the day, with Europeans focusing on shortening their cars. There were, however, some notable American compacts from the 60s. Let's go over some of the coolest (and most unusual) compact cars of the era.
Chevrolet Corvair
The Chevrolet Corvair might not be top-of-mind when you think of compact cars, but for 1960s America, it was quite compact. With a 108-inch wheelbase and abandoning the tailfins in favor of a lower profile, the Corvair was tiny compared to the gargantuan sedans most Americans drove back then.
Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, Wikimedia Commons
Ford Falcon
The Ford Falcon was another entrant into the sort-of compact American "compact car" division in 1960, with a wheelbase of just 109.5 inches and weighing 2,300 pounds. Vinyl upholstery greeted you inside, with Ford's commitment to remain economical becoming clear. Maybe they were saving up to build the most iconic Pony car in history.
Plymouth Valiant
First introduced in 1960, the Plymouth Valiant was supposed to be a small, light car that didn't sacrifice passenger or luggage space. Impossible? Not so for Plymouth, which built one of the most durable and reliable cars of the era. The Valiant would become one of the best-selling cars of the 1960s and 70s, and is widely viewed as "one of the best all-round domestic cars".
Emdx, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Dodge Dart
The Dart was a 1960s car that was crafted with simplicity in mind. Introduced in 1963 to replace the defunct Dodge Lancer, the Dart was an immediate success, fitted with a 2.8L six-cylinder engine that produced 101 hp. The Dart was exactly the sort of affordable small car that most Americans were clamoring for.
Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, Wikimedia Commons
Mercury Comet
The Mercury Comet was an unusual beast in the 1960s. It was compact, yet fitted with trappings of luxury. A fine mesh grille, Mercury's "M" logo that seemed to float, chrome excess, and a 114-inch wheelbase made the Comet the perfect option for those who wanted luxury without the gargantuan fuel bills. Powered by either a 2.4, 2.8L inline-six, or a 4.7L V8 engine, the Comet produced about 90 hp.
allen watkin from London, UK, Wikimedia Commons
Studebaker Lark
The Studebaker manufacturer was struggling in the 1960s (and had been for awhile), so the Lark was their answer. It was a small (144-inch wheelbase) compact car that visually resembled Mercedes, without the high price point. It also featured a simple headlight arrangement, a large front grille, vinyl and cloth interiors, and was the first compact car in the US to offer a V8 engine.
Pontiac Tempest
Built on General Motors' first unibody chassis, the Tempest had a sports car flair to it in a compact body—Tailfins, ample legroom in front, and the signature Pontiac split grille. But most impressive was the front-engine layout with a rear axle that gave this fiery compact a near-perfect 50/50 weight distribution.
Oldsmobile F-85
The Oldsmobile F-85 was the top-level trim of the classic Oldsmobile Cutlass. Using a unibody construction, the F-85's wheelbase was just 112 inches long. It was small but mighty, powered by a new "Rockette" V8 engine that produced 155 hp.
Buick Special
The Buick Special was Buick's answer to everyone else around them making compact cars. The Special had "delta wing" rear fenders, with a horizontal bar grille and dual headlights. With a touch of luxury inside and out, the Special did everything the bigger Buicks did, without compromising on space.
Jiri5801, cropped and levels altered by uploader Mr.choppers, Wikimedia Commons
Peel P50
Produced by Peel Engineering in the UK between 1962 and 1965, the Peel P50 was the smallest production car ever made. The three-wheeled microcar received the record from Guinness in 2010, which sparked renewed interest in the car. Equipped with just one headlight, one windscreen wiper, one door, and available in just three colors, the P50 is now available as an EV. There was no reverse gear in the original, but you could lift the car up and move it around by a handle at the rear.
Phil Parker from Leamington Spa, UK, Wikimedia Commons
Bond Minicar Mark G
The Bond Minicar had nothing to do with everyone's favorite spy and everything to do with practicality. Fit for small shopping trips between 20 and 30 miles from your destination, the Minicar came with a 0.8L engine and a cruising speed of 30 mph. It was among the first British cars to use fiberglass panels, and the last Minicar to roll off the line did so in November 1966.
Mighty Antar, Wikimedia Commons
Reliant Regal Mark 7
From the makers of the Reliant Robin that took the UK by storm in the 1970s, the Regal was its predecessor. The three-wheeled car was produced throughout the 1960s, put out just 24 hp and was legally considered a tricycle under UK law. More than 50,000 of them sold in the UK throughout the 1960s.
BMC Mini
The BMC Mini is an absolute classic compact car for the ages. First released in 1959, the British Motor Corporation built the Mini to be a practical compact car for passengers and luggage, with over 80% of the Mini's floor being used for legroom. The BMC Mini was voted the second most influential car of the 20th century and is considered an iconic British 60s car.
Johannes Maximilian, Wikimedia Commons
Ford Anglia 105E
Britain's Ford division produced the Ford Anglia 105E between 1959 and 1968, building more than a million units. Featuring a narrower grille with "eye-style" headlights and an overhead valve inline-four engine with a top speed of 87.5 mph, the Anglia 105E secured International World Records for speed and durability.
Andrew Bone from Weymouth, England, Wikimedia Commons
Hillman Imp
The Hillman Imp was produced in the UK in 1963 and quickly caught on due to its elegance and class, while being a simple, smooth ride. The Imp was 139 inches long, weighed just 1,720 pounds, and was the first mass-produced British car to have an engine block cast out of aluminum. It was considered unorthodox in Britain at the time, but sold just under 500,000 units in its 13 years of production.
Julian P Guffogg , Wikimedia Commons
Vauxhall Viva
The Vauxhall Viva was another great British compact car built in 1963. A near carbon copy of the Opel Kadett (thanks to GM's ownership of both Vauxhall and Opel), the Viva came with a 1.05L inline-four engine and was generally well-received by the British public.
Austin A40 Farina
Another British compact in an era of British compact cars, it seemed, is the Austin A40 Farina. With a body designed by Ferrari's car designer, Pininfarina, it had more room for passengers in the rear and rear folding seats to allow for a large luggage compartment. Praised for its versatility, the A40 would become one of the world's first hatchback cars.
Morris Minor
The Morris Minor was first unveiled in 1948, but the "Morris Minor 1000" is the 1960s version, which emphasized a shift toward high-scale production figures. Also, the introduction of the highway system in the UK meant that fuel economy was much more prescient. A new engine elevated the Minor to 75 mph and saw it shoot from 0 to 60 in just 31.3 seconds.
Graham Robertson, Wikimedia Commons
Citroen Ami
The Citroen "Ami" was the perfect French introduction to our list. The compact nature of the Ami meant you could get really close to "les amis". A huge engine upgrade from the 1950s 2CV, the Ami featured a 1.08L flat-four cylinder engine. The Ami's ovular headlights and curved hood design gave it the appearance of eyes and eyebrows. Kinda creepy, but it was functional and the French bought 1.8 million units between 1961 and 1978.
Brian Snelson from Hockley, Essex, England, Wikimedia Commons
Renault R3
The Renault R3 is a bit of a mystery in compact car lore of the 1960s. Appearing alongside the R4 when it was unveiled in 1963, the R3 was as barebones as you can get. No fuel gauge, no chrome trim, three shades of grey for paint options, and as minimalist as it got in 1960s France. Discontinued in 1962 after just 2,571 units were produced, everyone switched over to the R4.
Simca Aronde P60
The Simca Aronde was Simca's first original design. The French company unveiled the Aronde in 1948, but the P60 version would become one of the most popular compact cars of the 1960s. Powered by a 1290cc overhead valve inline-four engine, the P60 produced 70 hp from a four-speed manual transmission. Though mostly available as a four-door sedan, a Simca Aronde Sport version was released in 1950 as a compact sports coupe.
unknown, affiliated with Garage de l'Est, uploaded by User:Bravada, Wikimedia Commons
Messerschmitt KR200
One of the most interesting cars on our list is the Messerschmitt KR200. Designed and built by Messerschmitt (that German airline company), the KR200 was a three-wheeled bubble car produced from 1955 until 1964. The Kabinenroller 200 was a one-door car powered by a two-stroke engine. Although, impressively, it could travel at a 56-mph top speed and produce 9.9 hp.
Gjermundsen, Wikimedia Commons
Glas Isar
The Glas Isar was another compact German car of the 1960s that much mirrored the design of the Morris Minor. Featuring small rounded headlights and a long, ovular chrome front grille, the Isar was fitted with a "boxer" profile engine, where the cylinders were arranged horizontally. The Isar was mostly built in Argentina throughout the 1960s and is known as one of the country's most popular cars of that decade.
Lloyd Arabella
The Lloyd Arabella is the first West German car on our list, built between 1959 and 1961, under the Lloyd division of Borgward, a West German car manufacturer that went bankrupt due to shady business practices. The Arabella was a small family car powered by a four-cylinder Boxer engine. It was fitted with an at-the-time innovative manual handbrake and 13-inch wheels. The Arabella was only sold for a short time, but it was one of the classic West German cars of post-war Germany.
Flominator (talk), Wikimedia Commons
NSU Prinz 4
Another West German car manufacturer was NSU. They developed the Prinz (Prince) Mark 4 in 1961, with a body shape that closely resembled the Chevrolet Corvair. The rod-driven camshaft and a combined starter-generator were built into the camshaft. In 1969, Volkswagen acquired NSU, but the Prinz was one of the most successful West German compact cars.
Volkswagen Beetle
The VW Beetle is one of the most iconic cars ever. Although its life began in the 1938, it would take many years after the end of World War II for the Beetle to become popular. In 1961, the Type 1 had a fully-synchronized four-speed manual transmission, and a top speed of 90 mph. It's exemplified in Herbie, a VW Beetle from the Disney movie The Love Bug (1968).
ReneeWrites, Wikimedia Commons
BMW 700
The BMW 700 might be the compact car that saved BMW in the mid-1960s. Built between 1959 and 1965, BMW was producing 155 cars every day, with a total of 155,211 being produced over those six years. BMW would leave the economy car market after the 700, despite the success of the car.
Lothar Spurzem, Wikimedia Commons
Opel Kadett
The Opel Kadett was produced by German manufacturer Opel between 1962 and 1973. Available as either a two-door or three-door saloon, the Kadett had a wheelbase length of just over 100 inches. Fitted with an Opel inline four-cylinder engine, the Opel Kadett exported more than 50% of its 1.1 million cars.
Alexander-93, Wikimedia Commons
DKW F102
The DKW F102 was produced by the German manufacturer, Auto Union, and was one of the last cars made with a two-stroke engine in West Germany. Auto Union's four conjoining circles might look similar, as this would later become the logo of Audi.
Lothar Spurzem, Wikimedia Commons
Fiat 500D
The Fiat 500D was produced between 1960 and 1965, with a very similar look to the Volkswagen Beetle. The economy car was sold either as a two-door saloon or semi-convertible car, measuring just 9 feet, 9 inches long with a 1.5L engine. The 500D was considered one of the world's first city cars and was perfect for bustling Italian cities of the 1960s.
Alfa Romeo Giulietta
The Alfa Romeo Giulietta was another compact car for the ages from Italy. Although nowhere near as tiny as the Fiat 500D, the Giulietta was outfitted with a 1.6L engine that produced 73 hp and could reach an impressive top speed of almost 100 mph. The compact car was replaced by the Giulia line in 1962.
Mr.choppers, Wikimedia Commons
SEAT 800
SEAT is a Spanish automaker that's been in business since 1950. The SEAT 800 was a four-door upgrade to the popular SEAT 600, lengthening the wheelbase by 9 inches. The front doors were rear-hinged doors, whereas the rear doors were conventional, with decent trunk space. The 800 was manufactured between 1963 and 1968.
Saab 96
The Saab 96 was a Swedish compact car that replaced the Saab 93, built between 1960 and 1980, and fitted with a Volvo B18 engine. Saab wanted to source a four-stroke engine for the 96 and kept the project so secretive that they built the engine in a rented house in Kristinehamn, Sweden. The result was a compact with a hatchback look that was as impressive on the track as on the road. It won three World Rally Championship victories in the mid-1970s.
Staffan Andersson, Wikimedia Commons
ZAZ Zaporozhets 965
The supermini ZAZ Zaporozhets was built by the Soviet-Ukrainian manufacturer ZAZ, from 1958 until 1994. These rear-engine cars featured a 23-hp V4 engine from the National Automobile Institute (NAMI), complete with rear-hinged doors to make it more accessible for the disabled. The car's wheelbase was just 85 inches long! It is still well-known in Ukraine today, although we're not sure if any of these minicars are still driven.
Singlespeedfahrer, Wikimedia Commons
Subaru 360
Everyone seemed to be borrowing parts of their appearance from the VW Beetle in the 60s. With a short trunk, curved roof and hood, and much more, the Subaru 360 was yet another example of this. Its 70-inch wheelbase and weight of just 1,000 pounds exemplified the Japanese approach to compact cars. Known as the "Ladybug" in Japan, the 360 had a top speed of 60 mph and was perfect for getting around cramped cities.
Tokumeigakarinoaoshima, Wikimedia Commons
Mazda R360
Another Japanese manufacturer, Mazda, saw the success of the Subaru 360 and decided they'd get in on the action. They produced the R360, releasing it in May of 1960 as a "kei car" (the smallest vehicle permitted on Japanese expressways). The four-seat, two-door coupe used acrylic rather than glass to keep the weight down (its curb weight was just 838 pounds). The nifty little car had a top speed of 52 mph and was an immediate success.
Alexander Migl, Wikimedia Commons
Toyota Publica
The smallest Toyota vehicle made between 1961 and 1978, the Toyota Publica was produced as part of the Japanese government's drive (no pun intended) to produce a "national car". This national car policy urged the creation of a car that had a top speed of over 62 mph, a weight of under 882 pounds, and excellent fuel economy. The Publica ticked all of these boxes and was available as a sedan, station wagon, and even a utility coupe.
Datsun 310 Bluebird
The Datsun Bluebird 310 was Nissan's entry into the compact car business in Japan in the 1960s, powered by a 1.2L Nissan engine and a three-speed manual transmission. Available first as a four-door sedan or five-door station wagon, the Bluebird was renowned for its durability and overall longevity.
Isuzu Bellel
The Isuzu Bellel marked an important moment for Isuzu, as the Japanese car manufacturer went out on its own for the first time. The Bellel was the first car produced independently by Isuzu, and it uniquely used a diesel engine for the first time in Japanese automotive history. Fitted with either a 1.5 or 2.0L gasoline engine, with a 1.5L diesel option, the latter made the Bellel a perfect choice for commercial enterprises like taxicabs.
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