Production began on the very first run of Mustangs in March of 1964, and they were technically considered part of the 1965 model year. But, because the first models were produced four months before the beginning of the usual production year, true Mustang enthusiasts refer to the muscle car’s first run as “1964½” models. The Mustang has been the embodiment of the American muscle car ever since.

The very first Mustangs were available with 2.8-liter in-line 6-cylinder, 4.3-liter V-8, or 4.7-liter V-8 engines. The high-end V-8 models were capable of a top speed of 117 mph, produced 210 horsepower, and traveled from 0–60 in 7.4 seconds.

The best luxury car of 1964: Aston Martin DB5

Average retail: $1.3 Million

Powertrain: 4.0-liter in-line 6-cylinder engine w/ 5-speed manual or 3-speed automatic transmission.

What makes it special:

The 1964 Aston Martin DB5’s IMDB page reads like that of an A-level celebrity. And it’s just as recognizable, too. Appearing in six James Bond films, including 1964’s GoldenEye, the DB5 has earned a special place in the hearts of 007 fans everywhere.

But, the luxury sports coupe is a megastar in its own right. Widely regarded as the most splendid Aston Martin ever to roll off the line, the DB5 sported 15-inch wheels, leather seats, and electric windows. Under the hood, the 4.0-liter aluminum straight-6 cylinder engine supplied 330 horsepower, providing a top speed of 145 mph and a 0–60 clocking of six seconds.

The best SUV of 1964: Chevy Suburban

Average retail: $30,800

Powertrain: Seven options ranging from 3.8-liter In-line 6 cylinder to 5.4-liter V-8 engine w/ 3 or 4-speed manual transmission or Powerglide.

What makes it special:

When it first hit the streets in 1935, the

Chevy

Suburban looked like so many other boxy wood-paneled station wagons of the time. But by 1964, the Suburban had finally begun to look like the full-size SUV we know today.

Although the term “SUV” wouldn’t be coined for another 10 years, you don’t need 23andMe to see that the ‘64 Suburban is undoubtedly a member of the family. With I-6 and V-8 engine options, the Suburban’s 270 pound-feet of torque combined with available four-wheel-drive option made it great for off-road scenarios.

The best luxury SUV of 1964: Jeep Wagoneer

Average retail: $10,750

Powertrain: Six or eight-cylinder engine w/ 3 or 4-speed manual or 3-speed automatic transmission.

What makes it special:

The Wagoneer was Jeep’s first luxury SUV, offering all the amenities of a station wagon with the ruggedness of a truck. You could get in and out of it like a regular car, and yet it still had excellent ground clearance.

And it was full of innovative ideas, too. It was the first vehicle to offer an automatic transmission in concert with four-wheel drive and an independent front suspension. Inside, the Wagoneer featured a stylish instrument panel, air conditioning, and could seat six comfortably—very comfortably.

The Jeep came equipped with a 140 horsepower, 3.8-liter six-cylinder engine, and wood side paneling, as was the style at the time. The Wagoneer was so popular that, by the time Jeep put it in the stable in 1994, it was the longest-running continuously manufactured vehicle, period.

The best family car of 1964: Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser

Average retail: $36,600

Powertrain: 5.408-liter Rocket V-8 engine w/ 3 or 4-speed manual, or 2 or 3 speed automatic transmission.

What makes it special:

With a 5.4-liter 230 horsepower V-8 engine and available three-row seating, the

Oldsmobile

Vista Cruiser was 100 cubic feet of family road trip fun. The Olds station wagon offered plenty of amenities to keep everybody in good spirits on those long cross-country treks to visit the cousins, including under-floor storage, second-row sun visors, and an optional see-through roof.

While not quite as famous as James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5, the Vista Cruiser has had a respectable television career, most famously for its recurring role on the hit series That 70s Show.

The best sports car of 1964: Porsche 911

Average retail: $771,700

Powertrain: 2.0-liter to 3.3-liter air-cooled flat 6-cylinder w/ 5-speed manual or 4-speed semi-automatic transmission.

What makes it special:

The

Porsche

911 might have been the best car of 1964 if not for the Ford Mustang. The ‘64 911 was built with a rear-mounted, air-cooled 130 horsepower flat-six engine, and was capable of reaching 60 mph from a standstill in 8.3 seconds.

The 911 is the most popular sports car in the world and over a million units have been manufactured since its 1964 debut. Over one hundred 911s are built every day in Porsche’s Stuttgart factory, which is the only factory to make the Porsche 911.

The 911’s iconic design makes it one of the most recognizable cars on the road. If you stare long enough at a Porsche 911 you might start to notice a small resemblance to the Volkswagen Beetle. That’s no coincidence—the two vehicles were both designed by Ferdinand Porsche.

MORE: What is the best Porsche 911?

The best truck of 1964: Dodge D100 Sweptline CSS

Average retail: $18,200

Powertrain: 5.2-liter Chrysler A, 2.786-liter slant-6, or 3.605-liter slant-6 engine w/ 3 or 4-speed manual, 3-speed push-button automatic, or 4-speed automatic.

What makes it special:

America’s love affair with muscle cars was in full swing in 1964, and

Dodge

took advantage by sticking a 365 horsepower engine under the hood of a pick-up truck. The result was the Dodge D100 Sweptline Custom Sports Special.

Dodge advertised the D100 Sweptline CSS as a luxury sport truck, which featured bucket seats, a center console, carpeted floors, chrome bumpers and grille, and snazzy racing stripes. All this power and luxury helped Dodge reach new markets. Where previously pick-up trucks were seen as vehicles only farmers used, the D100 brought the truck to urban drivers, setting the stage for today’s generation of pickups, like the Ram 1500, GMC Sierra, or the Ford F-150.

MORE: The Dodge Magnum vs. the Dodge Charger

What cars came out in 1964?

There were a lot of great cars available in 1964, many in their second and third generations. But, there were a lot of brand new models born that year. Here’s a look at some of the cars turning 56 this year.

Model	Vehicle type	Engine	Average retail	Notes
Chevrolet Chevelle 300	4 door sedan	Engine	$7,775	Three generations, 1964–1977
Ferrari 275	2 door convertible	Engine	$1,118,600	Named 3rd best Ferrari of all time by MotorTrend
Honda S600	2 door roadster	Engine	$14,950	One generation, 1964–1966
Mercury Cyclone	2 door hardtop	Engine	$29,800	Five generations, 1964–1972
Plymouth Barracuda	2 door fastback	Engine	$12,600	1971 Hemi convertible is considered to be one of the most valuable collectible muscle cars
Buick Sport Wagon	4 door sport wagon	Engine	$33,000	Came with optional tinted sky roof
Chevrolet Malibu	4 door sedan	Engine	$11,150	Originally a Chevelle trim, it replaced the Chevelle in 1978
Chevrolet G10	½ ton van	Engine	$1,875	Three generations, 1964–1996

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FAQs

What was the most popular car in 1964?

The most popular car in 1964 was the Ford Mustang. That was the year that the iconic American muscle car was first made available to the public. The 1964½ Ford Mustang sold 121,538 units.

What was the fastest car in 1964?

The fastest car in 1964 was the aptly named Ferrari 500 Superfast, whose top speed was 171 miles per hour. There were only 36 Superfasts ever made, with one selling recently at auction for over $3 million.

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