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The Nineteen Sixties delivered among the most memorable convertibles ever to hit American roads, combining fashion with the pure pleasure of open-air driving.
Whether or not you’re dreaming about including one to your assortment or simply respect automotive historical past, these drop-tops characterize an period when designers took dangers and engineers weren’t afraid to stuff massive engines below lengthy hoods. From muscle automobiles to luxurious cruisers, the last decade provided one thing for each style.
Let’s take a cruise by means of twelve of the best convertibles from this golden age of motoring.
1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray Convertible
The split-window coupe would possibly get all of the glory, however the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray convertible was the actual star of the present. This was the yr Chevy lastly gave America’s sports activities automotive the beautiful physique it deserved, with these iconic hidden headlights and razor-sharp traces penned by Larry Shinoda.
Beneath that sculpted hood, you can go for something from a light 250-horsepower 327 V8 as much as the fire-breathing 360-horsepower fuel-injected model. The impartial rear suspension was a game-changer, giving the Sting Ray dealing with that might really again up its seems to be. With round 10,919 convertibles constructed that first yr, discovering one as we speak means you’ve bought one thing really particular.
Authentic fuel-injected fashions can command properly over $100,000, making them critical investments wrapped in fiberglass magnificence.
1965 Ford Mustang Convertible
When Ford unleashed the Mustang in April 1964, they created a completely new class of automotive — and the convertible model allow you to get pleasure from it with the wind in your hair. By 1965, the formulation was perfected, providing every thing from the economical 200-cubic-inch six-cylinder to the throaty 289 V8 with as much as 271 horsepower in high-performance trim.
What made the Mustang convertible work so properly was its mixture of sporty seems to be, cheap worth, and limitless customization choices. You would construct yours as a secretary’s automotive or a real efficiency machine, all from the identical order sheet. Ford moved over 73,000 Mustang convertibles in 1965 alone, proving that America was hungry for inexpensive enjoyable within the solar.
Right now, clear examples begin round $30,000, with restored GT variations climbing considerably increased.
1961 Jaguar E-Kind Roadster
When Enzo Ferrari calls your automotive probably the most stunning ever made, you’ve completed one thing proper. The Sequence 1 E-Kind roadster mixed beautiful Italian-influenced design with correct British engineering and a 3.8-liter straight-six that might push it to 150 mph.
That lengthy hood, coated headlights, and completely proportioned physique made it appear like it was doing 100 whereas standing nonetheless. Inside, you bought correct bucket seats, a wood-rimmed steering wheel, and sufficient toggle switches to make you’re feeling like a fighter pilot. Jaguar offered these for a fraction of what a Ferrari or Aston Martin value, making unique efficiency accessible to mortals.
Discovering a clear Sequence 1 roadster as we speak will set you again at the least $150,000, however you’ll personal a real automotive icon.
1967 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible
Chevy took a yr to reply Ford’s Mustang, however when the Camaro arrived in 1967, it introduced critical angle to the horse automotive celebration. The convertible provided the identical aggressive stance and efficiency choices because the coupe, from the bottom 230-cubic-inch six all the best way as much as the legendary 375-horsepower 396 big-block.
With the highest down, the Camaro’s lengthy hood and brief deck proportions regarded even higher, particularly with the non-obligatory Rally Sport hidden headlights or Tremendous Sport hood. The inside was driver-focused in a manner that felt extra grown-up than the Mustang, with deeply cowled gauges and a pleasant grip on the steering wheel. Chevy constructed about 25,000 convertibles that first yr, making them rarer than their hardtop siblings.
A stable first-gen Camaro convertible begins round $40,000, with big-block SS fashions commanding considerably extra.
1964 Pontiac GTO Convertible
John DeLorean and his group at Pontiac principally invented the muscle automotive formulation after they shoehorned a 389-cubic-inch V8 into the mid-size Tempest. The GTO convertible took that profitable recipe and added sunshine, creating one of the crucial fascinating muscle automobiles of the period.
Customary tools included 325 horsepower, however checking the Tri-Energy possibility introduced three two-barrel carbs and 348 horses able to gentle up the rear tires. The formulation was easy: take a comparatively gentle automotive, add far more engine than it wants, and watch patrons line up at dealerships. Pontiac constructed simply 6,644 GTO convertibles in 1964, making them considerably rarer than their hardtop counterparts.
Right now, these characterize the beginning of muscle automotive mania, with pristine examples reaching $100,000 or extra, particularly with fascinating choices and documentation.
1962 Ford Thunderbird Sports activities Roadster
Ford tried one thing attention-grabbing with the 1962 Thunderbird Sports activities Roadster, creating a singular tackle convertible fashion. They took the usual Thunderbird convertible and added a fiberglass tonneau cowl that hid the rear seats, making a two-seater look paying homage to traditional roadsters.
Wire wheels and a particular badge bundle accomplished the transformation from luxurious cruiser to sports activities automotive pretender. Beneath the hood, the 300-horsepower 390 V8 offered loads of thrust, even when the 4,500-pound curb weight stored it from being really sporty. Ford solely constructed about 1,427 Sports activities Roadsters in 1962, making it one of many rarer Thunderbird variants.
The tonneau cowl usually bought misplaced through the years, so discovering one as we speak with all its distinctive items can command $75,000 or extra from collectors.
1968 Plymouth Barracuda Convertible
Plymouth’s Barracuda was already a stable competitor within the pony automotive wars, however the 1968 redesign gave it aggressive styling that lastly matched its efficiency potential. The convertible model provided the identical long-hood, short-deck proportions that outlined the period, with a clear fastback-influenced profile even with the highest up.
Engine choices ranged from the economical Slant Six to the 318 and 340 small-blocks and the legendary 383-cubic-inch big-block for critical efficiency. The System S bundle added heavy-duty suspension, disc brakes, and visible upgrades that turned the Barracuda right into a reliable muscle automotive. Plymouth constructed fewer than 3,000 Barracuda convertibles in 1968, making them fairly uncommon as we speak.
Clear examples begin round $45,000, with big-block automobiles commanding considerably extra from collectors who respect their efficiency credentials.
1969 Mercury Cougar Convertible
Mercury positioned the Cougar because the Mustang’s extra subtle cousin, and the convertible model delivered on that promise with fashion. Sequential flip indicators, hidden headlights, and a extra luxurious inside gave it an upscale really feel whereas sharing a lot of its mechanical DNA with Ford’s pony automotive.
The bottom 289 V8 offered satisfactory efficiency, however the 390 GT possibility introduced real muscle automotive credentials with 320 horsepower on faucet. Mercury included options like bucket seats, full instrumentation, and higher sound insulation than its Ford counterpart as normal tools.
Solely about 5,000 Cougar convertibles rolled off the road in that first yr, making them comparatively uncommon as we speak. Values have been climbing steadily, with clear examples beginning round $50,000 and GT fashions reaching increased relying on situation and choices.
1964 Chevrolet Impala SS Convertible
The 1964 Impala SS represented full-size American luxurious and efficiency in a single stunning bundle, and the convertible added open-air enchantment to the combination. That yr introduced cleaner styling than the earlier fin-tastic designs, with a extra subtle look that aged gracefully.
The Tremendous Sport bundle added bucket seats, particular trim, and efficiency choices together with the legendary 409-cubic-inch V8 immortalized within the Seaside Boys music. With the highest down, the Impala’s substantial dimensions regarded much more spectacular, turning heads at each stoplight. Chevy constructed about 36,000 SS convertibles in 1964, offering an excellent provide for as we speak’s collectors.
Costs differ broadly based mostly on situation and drivetrain, beginning round $35,000 for six-cylinder automobiles and climbing previous $100,000 for well-documented 409 or 427 examples.
1969 Pontiac Firebird Convertible
By 1969, Pontiac had refined the Firebird right into a genuinely aggressive pony automotive with fashion that set it other than its Camaro cousin. The convertible provided that particular split-grille entrance finish and non-obligatory hood-mounted tachometer for max visible impression.
Engine decisions ranged from an overhead-cam six-cylinder to a number of V8 choices, topped by the 400-cubic-inch Ram Air mill producing 335 horsepower. The Trans Am bundle debuted this yr, although the convertible model wouldn’t arrive till later, making normal convertibles the drop-top alternative.
Pontiac constructed roughly 11,600 Firebird convertibles in 1969, offering respectable availability for collectors as we speak. Strong examples begin round $40,000, with Ram Air automobiles and particular editions commanding premium costs based mostly on choices and documentation.
1966 Oldsmobile 442 Convertible
Oldsmobile’s 442 introduced sophistication to the muscle automotive section, and the convertible model allow you to get pleasure from that refined energy with the highest down. The title initially stood for four-barrel carburetor, four-speed transmission, and twin exhaust, although by 1966 it had developed into an entire efficiency bundle.
The 400-cubic-inch V8 produced 350 horsepower in normal trim, offering easy acceleration wrapped in understated styling. Not like some muscle automobiles that shouted their presence, the 442 convertible may cruise quietly or unleash fury relying in your proper foot’s place. Oldsmobile constructed about 2,750 442 convertibles in 1966, making them fairly uncommon in comparison with their coupe counterparts.
Right now’s collectors respect their mixture of muscle and sophistication, with values beginning round $50,000 and climbing for well-preserved examples with fascinating choices.
1960 Chrysler 300F Convertible
The letter-series Chrysler 300s characterize the start of the efficiency automotive motion, and the 1960 300F introduced that custom into a brand new decade. This wasn’t some stripped-down dragster — it was a real luxurious automotive that occurred to pack critical efficiency from its 375-horsepower 413-cubic-inch wedge V8.
The convertible model mixed that energy with elegant styling, together with distinctive fins and a complicated inside with each consolation characteristic accessible. Chrysler focused patrons who needed each efficiency and status, creating a singular area of interest that opponents struggled to match. Solely 248 300F convertibles left the manufacturing unit in 1960, making them genuinely uncommon as we speak.
Collectors prize these early muscle/luxurious hybrids, with pristine examples commanding $150,000 or extra at public sale, particularly with documentation and authentic options intact.
Conclusion
The Nineteen Sixties gave us convertibles that completely captured America’s optimism and love affair with the car. These twelve characterize completely different approaches to the identical purpose — combining efficiency, fashion, and the straightforward pleasure of driving with the highest down.
Whether or not you like the uncooked muscle of a GTO, the sophistication of an E-Kind, or the all-American enchantment of a Mustang, this decade delivered choices for each style and funds. Right now’s collectors respect these automobiles not simply as investments however as rolling items of automotive historical past. The excellent news is that many of those convertibles are nonetheless attainable, providing the possibility to personal a bit of the last decade that outlined American automotive tradition.
Simply keep in mind to examine the flooring fastidiously — convertibles and rust have a sophisticated relationship that spans generations.
