1966 was a big year for US automakers—an increased focus on both comfort and safety brought some amazing innovations, while the love of all things big and brash made for some seriously iconic styling.

There are entirely too many amazing cars to include here, but car insurance

super app

and licensed broker

Jerry

has put together a list of some of the most notable cars of 1966.

The best cars of 1966

The 60s were an embarrassment of riches when it came to cars. Sporty coupes, massive lead sleds, and so many tail fins. For every entry here, there are a least a half dozen viable alternatives, but here are some of the highlights of 1966:

The best car of 1966: Pontiac GTO

NADA fair market range: $25,300 to $75,300

Powertrain: 6.4 liter V8, manual or automatic transmission

What makes it special:

Previously offered as a package on the

Pontiac

Tempest, the GTO was introduced as a separate model in 1966. It wasn’t the first-ever muscle car, but most automotive historians consider it the one that set the parameters and ushered in the era of the muscle car.

With its alluring coke bottle silhouette and the ability to crank out up to 365 horsepower with the optional Tri-Power engine, the GTO sold nearly 97,000 units in 1966. Stacked headlights and a mesh grille gave it a distinctive look on the outside, while interior features like a wooden dashboard and air conditioning made sure you’d be racing in style and comfort.

The GTO could run a quarter-mile in 15 seconds or less, go 0-60 in 7.9 seconds, and had a top speed of around 125 mph. The little GTO even had a

hit song written about it

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The best luxury car of 1966: Rolls Royce Silver Shadow

NADA fair market range: $12,550 to $38,500

Powertrain: 6.2-liter V8 engine, automatic transmission

What makes it special:

There was a lot of competition in this category, as the 60s brought some luxury land yachts the likes of which have never been seen before or since. Honorable mention goes to the

Chrysler

Imperial Crown Coupe and the

Lincoln Continental

, but the Rolls Royce Silver Shadow is our pick for the best luxury car of 1966.

Sleek, classic styling, lambswool carpets, leather interior, walnut dash, and door trims…don’t worry about its gas mileage or maintenance issues. Just know its top speed of 120 mph and 179 horsepower output made it one of the most powerful luxury cars of its day, and that if you drive one you’ll look like a Bond villain.

The best SUV of 1966: Volkswagen Type 2 (aka the Microbus)

NADA fair market range: $15,400 to $64,100

Powertrain: 1.3 liter 4-cylinder, manual or automatic transmission

What makes it special:

We’re being generous with the definition of “SUV” here, but it seems wrong to talk about the 60s and not mention the VW Microbus. Was it fancy? No. Fast? Absolutely not. But as the quintessential hippie van, the

Volkswagen

Type 2 helped to define the counterculture of the era. What the VW Type 2 lacked in power (most sites list its 0-60 spec as “not applicable”) it made up for in versatility—removable seats, customizable window configurations, and a split windshield meant that it was as free form as the decade itself.

MORE:

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The best luxury SUV of 1966: Jeep Super Wagoneer

Fair market range: N/A

Powertrain: 5.4 liter V8, automatic transmission

What makes it special:

The venerable grandfather of the SUV family, the

Jeep

Wagoneer was a pioneer in the field of sport utility vehicles. The line was first introduced in 1963, but the Jeep Super Wagoneer’s arrival in 1966 is widely regarded as the beginning of the luxury SUV market. The Super Wagon had features that seem run of the mill or even outdated by today’s standards, but at the time were the lap of luxury: standard air conditioning, power steering and brakes, electric windows, and a push-button radio. Very few of these were produced, and they’re pretty rare to find—a fully restored one is currently listed for sale on a classic car site for almost $90,000.

The best family car of 1966: Mercury Colony Park Station Wagon

NADA fair market range: $12,400 to $49,700

Powertrain: 6.4 or 6.7 liter V8, manual transmission

What makes it special:

Nothing screams “vintage family car” like a wood-paneled station wagon. With ample room for kids and cargo, the

Mercury

Colony Park station wagon was a fixture in the childhoods of many generations of Americans. With such features as the new-for-1966 “Magic Doorgate” which could be folded down like a tailgate or opened from the side like a door and optional sideways facing third-row seats, the Colony Park was a soccer mom car before there were minivans.

The best sports car of 1966: Lamborghini Miura

NADA fair market range: $795,800 to $1,076,200

Powertrain: 3.9 liter V12, 5-speed manual

What makes it special:

Another prized collector’s car, the Lamborghini Miura is considered the world’s first supercar. Its rear mid-engine two-seat layout became the standard for all supercars that followed, and the Lambo Miura was the car that all the celebrities of the day had to own. 350 horsepower and exceptional aerodynamics made it the fastest production car on the planet when it debuted in 1966, and its popularity was further bolstered in 1969 when it was featured in the “The Italian Job’s”

opening sequence

. Originally around $7,000 new, a 1966 Miura can cost upwards of seven figures today.

MORE:

How to make money restoring classic cars

The best truck of 1966: Chevrolet C10

KBB fair market range: $19,200 to $67,400

Powertrain: various V6 and V8 options, manual transmission

What makes it special:

A vintage truck is a thing of beauty, and the 1966

Chevrolet

C10 is a hard-working American classic. Rugged styling, up to 220 horsepower, and a good dose of low-end torque meant that this was a truck that was ready to get its hands (tires?) dirty. The 1966 model came with optional air conditioning, a fancy new feature in those days. In restored condition, these classic steel beasts can fetch upwards of $70,000.

MORE:

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What cars came out in 1966?

The sixties saw a lot of new changes come around, and that included the debut of many new cars. Take a look at a few of the cars that were first introduced in 1966:

Model	Vehicle type	Engine	Original MSRP	Notes
Oldsmobile Toronado	Luxury car	7.5-L V8	$4,585	Motor Trend’s Car of the Year
Toyota Corolla	subcompact car	inline 4	$1,700	Not available in the US until 1968, Toyota’s most successful car of all time
Dodge Charger	Muscle car	Wide array of V8 engines	$3,122	First appearance of the 426 Hemi engine
Porsche 911 S	Sports car	2.0-L flat 6	$7,074	First high-performance 911 variant
Volvo 144	Sedan	1.8-or 2.0-L inline-four	$3,000	First Volvo to feature the now-classic boxy styling
Chevrolet Camaro	Muscle car	Various inline 6 or V8 options	$2,466	Introduced as a competitor to the Ford Mustang

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12 best used cars for first-time drivers

How to save money on used car insurance

Although it typically costs less to

insure a used car

than a new one, many of the cars on this list are less in the “used car” category and more in the “prized collectible” one.

If you’re able to get your hands on some of these rare creatures, make sure you have an insurance policy that will protect your investment.

Classic car coverage

would be a wise choice for several of these models, as they are uniquely valuable and way more than just a “used” car.

Figure out your best insurance options quickly and easily with help from the

Jerry

super app. Just download, enter in your information, and you’ll be presented with a group of quotes from some of the nation’s top providers. On average, Jerry users save over $800 a year on their car insurance!