A Guide to 1961 Cars
From snazzy coupes to rugged early SUVs, these are the best 1961 cars.
Written by Jason Tushinski
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
In the early 1960s, a new era dawned in the West, and the space-age vehicle design that became so popular during the previous decade continued full-bore. In particular, 1961 stands out as a banner year for cars from both the U.S. and abroad.
To help you find the best car that 1961 had to offer,
Jerry
, the car insurance
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, has everything you need to know about 1961’s finest fleet of automobiles, from their original specifications to how much they cost today—these prices range from very affordable to very not affordable, as many of these vehicles are now considered collectors’ items.The best cars of 1961
From luxury family haulers to rugged four-wheelers, here are 1961’s best cars.
The best car of 1961: Chevrolet Impala 4-door Sport Sedan
Estimated fair price range: $29,000
Powertrain: 3.8-liter V8 engine w/ three-speed manual transmission
What makes it special:
Widely regarded as the best practical vehicle of 1961, the Chevrolet Impala epitomized the company’s tagline of Jet-Smooth Chevrolet. This sporty, roomy sedan featured a new compound curved windshield, bench seat, a flat top roof, power brakes, steering, and windows, as well as—wait for it—seat belts!
The Impala’s engine boasted 135 horsepower and 294 lb-ft of torque. It was capable of reaching a top speed of 93 miles per hour, which was considered very quick back in the early 1960s.
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The best luxury car of 1961: Ford Thunderbird
Estimated fair price range: $28,600
Powertrain: 6.7-liter V8 engine w/ three-speed automatic transmission
What makes it special:
The 1961
Ford
Thunderbird made its mark on the zeitgeist. The 2-door convertible (it was also available as a hardtop coupe) was featured prominently during President John F. Kennedy’s inaugural parade, no doubt due to the fact that his new Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara, was previously a Ford executive. The Thunderbird also served as the pace car for the 1961 Indianapolis 500.Besides its time in the spotlight, the Thunderbird had plenty of automotive moxie. Its 6.7-liter V8 engine boasted 300 horsepower and 422 lb-ft of torque,along with a 3-speed automatic transmission.
The best family car of 1961: Cadillac Sedan de Ville
Estimated fair price range: $2,400 to $275,000
Powertrain: 6.4-liter V8 engine w/four-speed Hydra-Matic automatic transmission
What makes it special:
If you were hauling a spouse and kids around back in the early sixties, then no doubt the 1961
Cadillac
Sedan de Ville was your chariot of choice. This stylish cruiser was the go-to choice to drive the family around, with its rocket-inspired tailfins; space-age styling; and power brakes, steering, windows and doors—not to mention all that interior spaciousness!A 6.4-liter V8 engine with 325 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque powered this family-mobile. It also came with dual-speed windshield wipers, which was a new-fangled option back in 1961.
The best SUV of 1961: International-Harvester Scout 80
Estimated fair price range: $12,000
Powertrain: 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine w/ three-speed manual transmission
What makes it special:
A precursor to the modern SUV, the 1961 International-Harvester Scout 80 was debuted as a competitor to the
Jeep
CJ, which had basically cornered the early SUV market at the time. This rugged off-roader featured an all-steel body, three doors, and a fold-down windshield, just like the CJ. The Scout 80 was available simply as a jeep, with a removable full-length travel top, or a pickup, with a removable cab.The International-Harvester Scout 80 was offered in either two- or four-wheel drive, and its 2.4-liter engine sported 92 horsepower and 142 lb-ft of torque.
The best truck of 1961: Chevrolet Apache Truck
Estimated fair price range: $12,000
Powertrain: 4.6-liter V8 engine w/ three-speed manual transmission
What makes it special:
The 1961
Chevrolet
Apache Pickup Truck was renowned for its power and versatility. Offered in sizes ranging from a mere 4,300 lbs to a whopping 14,000 lbs, the Apache pickup was capable of handling all your needs, no matter how big or how small.The Apache sported a powerful 4.6-liter V8 engine that produced 160 horsepower. The V8 was paired with a slick-shifting 3-speed manual transmission.
What cars came out in 1961?
One could argue that the car industry was at the peak of its power by the early 1960s, as the car culture that has come to dominate American life was going full-throttle. Here are some of the most popular vehicles released back in 1961.
Model | Vehicle type | Engine | Fair market range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Buick Electra | Sedan | 6.6-L V8 | around $29,000 | Buick’s cruiser, redesigned for 1961 |
Ford Newport | Sedan | 5.9-L V8 | $3,106 to $12,850 | A full-size car with a small car’s fuel economy |
Lincoln Continental | Sedan | 7.0-L V8 | $26,000 to $87,700 | Clean design lines and was available as a convertible |
Pontiac Bonneville | Sedan | 6.9-L V8 | $16,812 to $37,200 | Pontiac’s classic sedan with a redesigned body |
AMC Rambler | Station Wagon | 3.1-L inline-six | $7,675 to $22,700 | 2-door convertible Rambler American was also available |
Buick LeSabre | Sedan | 5.9-L V8 | $4,500 to $14,900 | 37,000 LeSabres sold in 1961 |
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FAQ
What was the fastest car in 1961?
With a top speed of 150 miles per hour, the Jaguar E-Type was the fastest car on record in 1961, going 0 to 60 in just under 7 seconds.
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