Car of the Year award winners from the 1960 through 1969.
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Chevrolet’s brand new for 1960 Corvair was made from 1960-1969 and featured a rear mounted, air cooled engine – the only American designed car ever to have such a configuration. The name Corvair is a combination of CORVette and Bel AIR and was first used in 1954 as a Corvette concept car.
Designed by John DeLorean, the Tempest was Pontiac’s foray into the midsize market joining Ford’s Falcon and Chevy’s Corvair. Photo Lars Göran.
The 1962 Buick Special was Buick’s entry into the mid-sized segment. Rather than use a straight 6-cylinder engine, the Buick Special used a V6 – becoming the first U.S. brand to do such. The Buick Special first appeared in 1938 and was discontinued in 1996 where it was renamed the Buick Century. Photo Mr. Choppers.
1963 would mark the first year in the 1960s in which a make rather than a brand would win. AMC was recognized for the Rambler, American, Classic and Ambassador brands.
Following AMC's 1963 win, the Car of the Year award would go to an automaker rather than specific model. Highlighting Ford’s top honors would spotlight on Ford’s 1964-1/2 model year Mustang.
For the third year in a row, an entire make rather than a specific model won the Car of the year Award. Pontiac was chosen due to their overall marketing, styling, engineering and performance attributes. 1965 would mark the last year that an entire make would win the award.
The Toronado would mark the return of a front wheel drive U.S. model since the Cord in 1937. The Toronado would feature a 7.0 litre Super Rocket V8 engine rated at 385 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. 1966 would be the first and only time that any Oldsmobile would win this award. A front wheel drive Cadillac Eldorado would follow Oldsmobile’s lead in 1967. Photo: Karrmann.
Storming onto the stage in 1967, the Mercury Cougar was Mercury’s answer to its sister, the Ford Mustang. The Cougar would feature vastly different interior and exterior styling than the Mustang and it was only available with V8 engines. 1967 would mark the first and only year in which a Mercury would win this award.
The newly redesigned Pontiac GTO featured a new steamlined body along with horizontal headlights in place of the familiar stacked versions. Engine enhancements included new cylinder heads dubbed Ram Air II. 1968 GTO sales would hit 87,684 units – its second best year, which was only eclipsed by 1966’s production of 96,946 units. Photo: Bull Doser.
The 1969 Roadrunner would see the introduction of the Air Grabber “Ram Air” intake system and a convertible option. While only 2,128 convertibles were made, 10 were equipped with the earth pounding 426-Hemi. 1969 would also mark the introduction of the 440 Six-Pack (A12) option. Featuring three Holley carburetors, and a black fiberglass lift off hood, which was only held on by four hood pins and a Dana 60 axle featuring 4.10 gears. The menacing 440-6V Roadrunner production totaled 1,432 units. Photo: Joe Ross.
