How Well Do You Know '60s Sports Cars?

AUTO

By: John Miller

5 Min Quiz

Image: Petrolicious

About This Quiz

In the 1960s, sports car designers hit their strides, making memorable models from Britain to Detroit to Italy and back again. Fancy names like Porsche and Ferrari made their marks, but so too did more pedestrian manufacturers like Ford and Dodge. Do you think you really know the ‘60s sports cars in this high-speed quiz?

By the time the ‘60s rolled around, the family sedan was getting a bit stale, and Baby Boomers had the cash to blow on fancier models. Manufacturers scrambled to accommodate demand by offering high-performance sports cars with flashy designs that wowed bystanders and drivers alike. Do you recall some of the first popular sports cars of the decade?

All of the big car companies got into the act. BMW offered its CS, Austin-Healey had the Sprite, and Fiat and Ford all participated in the speed feeding frenzy. Do you think you can match the iconic models of the age to the correct manufacturers?

The youth-driven market sparked a desire for ever greater speed, with big-block engines and crazy horsepower ratings making cars faster than ever before. Suddenly, “pony cars” were a thing. Forget hot rodding — in the ‘60s, you could buy a production car that was faster than anything your parents ever could have dreamed of. Take our ‘60s sports car quiz now and see if you really know these speedy cars of yesteryear!

In the 1960s, Ford unleashed an affordable sports car called the ______.

Introduced in 1964, the Ford Mustang essentially created a brand-new "pony" car category. The Mustang helped to spark the muscle car frenzy of the ‘60s.

Advertisement

Which famous Porsche model was introduced in 1963?

In 1963, Porsche unveiled what is likely the company’s best-known model, the 911. The little two-door car has an iconic curved shape that hasn’t changed much over the decades.

Advertisement

What was one reason the Porsche 911 really stuck out in a crowd in the 1960s?

The 911s featured rear-mounted engines. And with just a few tweaks, racing teams used these little cars to win competition after competition.

Advertisement

The 1962 Lotus Elan 1600 was initially built in what configuration?

The 1600 was a roadster, letting you get the wind in your hair as you raced around hairpin curves. A hardtop version was introduced the following year.

Advertisement

Which company made a '60s star called the E-Type?

Jaguar introduced its E-Type in 1961, and with its long, streamlined body, this car is still a head-turner. It could zoom from 0 to 60 mph in less than 7 seconds.

Advertisement

The Jaguar E-Type featured what sort of engine?

The first E-Types featured a 3.8 L 6-cylinder engine. The motor could generate more than 260 hp.

Advertisement

True or false, were the first Porsche 911s air-cooled?

It’s true, in the ‘60s, the 911s were very much air-cooled. In fact, they were still air-cooled all the way up until the 1990s.

Advertisement

What sort of power does the 1963 Aston Martin DB5 produce?

The DB5 is a two-door sports car with a 282 hp engine. That motor helps the car hit top speeds of more than 140 mph.

Advertisement

What was Chevy’s answer to Ford’s Mustang?

Chevy couldn’t stand by idly while Ford made off with the sports car craze. In 1967, the first Camaros hit the market, competing directly with the Mustang.

Advertisement

Which car raced to four straight 24 Hours of Le Mans titles in the late ‘60s?

From ‘66 to ‘69, the Ford GT40 ruled the famous race called the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The car was so fast and capable that in the ‘66 race, it swept the podium.

Advertisement

The Stingray is a variant of which popular sports car?

The Stingray is a variant of the Chevy Corvette. The Stingray had fantastic "hidden" headlamps that rotated out of view when they weren’t in use.

Advertisement

Which car maker built the famous MGB?

Starting in 1962, MG began making the MGB, a little sports car that was produced until 1980. The MGB wasn’t exactly setting the highways on fire — it had a 0-60 mph time of around 11 seconds.

Advertisement

Which company manufactured a car called the DB5?

From 1963-65, Aston Martin built its legendary DB5, which gained fame due to it being featured in the James Bond film "Goldfinger." Just over 1,000 of these cars were made.

Advertisement

Legendary car maker Enzo Ferrari called it "the most beautiful car ever made." Which car was it?

Coming from a master car maker like Ferrari, it was quite the compliment. Enzo called the Jaguar E-Type "the most beautiful car ever made."

Advertisement

Which sports car did Toyota introduce in 1967?

The Toyota 2000GT was a 1967 supercar that is now a serious collector’s item. One of the cars wound up featured in the James Bond film "You Only Live Twice."

Advertisement

The AC Cobra was known as the _____ in the United States.

In the UK, it was the AC Cobra. In the U.S., though, this fast sports car gained fame as the Shelby Cobra.

Advertisement

Which company introduced the 250 GTO in ‘62?

In 1962, Ferrari introduced its 250 GTO. Only a few dozen of the cars were made, and they had crushingly-powerful V-12 engines.

Advertisement

Which sports car did Alfa Romeo debut in 1966?

In ‘66, Italian car maker Alfa Romeo introduced the Spider, a snappy roadster. It featured a five-speed manual transmission and 108 hp engine.

Advertisement

What sort of engine did the AC / Shelby Cobra pack under its sleek hood?

The AC / Shelby Cobra is a small car with a big V-8 engine. Later, the company made a Cobra 427 variant that produced 485 hp.

Advertisement

The S800 was the first Honda car to accomplish which feat?

The S800, with its 70 hp engine, barely qualifies as a sports car. But it was a zippy car, and Honda’s first to top 100 mph in maximum speed.

Advertisement

What was the approximate top speed of a Jaguar E-Type?

In the ‘60s, the E-Type was accurately called one of the fastest cars around. It had quarter-mile times of about 15 seconds and could hit more than 150 mph.

Advertisement

Which company introduced the Miura in 1966?

Lamborghini debuted the Miura in ‘66 and produced it until 1973. Its sleek appearance and huge V-12 engine drew raves from reviewers and buyers alike.

Advertisement

What sort of engine was under the hood of the Corvette C2?

The C2 featured a famous small-block V8 engine. Customers could also upgrade to the big-block version if they were extra power-hungry.

Advertisement

The original Jaguar E-Type came with what sort of transmission?

The E-Type had a 4-speed manual transmission. Later versions made a 3-speed automatic version available.

Advertisement

What was incredible about the Maserati Mistral Spyder?

The Mistral Spyder was a powerful contraption ... it sneaked an F1-worthy engine into a rather normal-looking car. A few dozen of these little cars had big 4.0 L engines.

Advertisement

Which ‘60s sports car could be had with a Hemi engine?

Dodge, of course, is famous for its Hemi engines, and its Charger muscle car had a Hemi option. The ‘66 Hemi was a 427 cubic-inch, 7.0 L beast.

Advertisement

Which Pontiac muscle car was introduced in the ‘60s?

In ‘64, Pontiac unveiled its GTO, a muscular sports car. The "Grand Tempest Option" had a big 6.4 L V-8 engine that gave lead-footed drivers a thrill.

Advertisement

The first MG MGBs sported what sort of transmission?

The MGB featured a 4-speed manual transmission. And if you wanted it, you could pay for optional overdrive, too.

Advertisement

The Supersnake was a variant of which sports car?

In 1966, a new "Supersnake" version of the AC Cobra was unveiled. It essentially made the race-worthy Cobra legal for street driving.

Advertisement

Which sports car was the first U.S. production vehicle to have a spoiler?

Dodge ramped up the Charger for racing purposes, but its high-speed handling was terrible ... until a spoiler helped to improve traction. The Charger eventually was the first production car with a spoiler.

Advertisement

Explore More Quizzes

About Autoversed

Welcome to Autoversed: your online auto destination. If you consider a vehicle more than just means of transportation; if you treat your ride with love and care; if, even after years of driving, the feeling of accelerating hard on the open road still gets you revved up – you’ve come to the right place.

Whether you’re a daily commuter looking for a reliable ride, a car enthusiast thinking about your next hot rod, or a parent who needs to get the kids from A to Z, Autoversed has something for you. We’ve got the lowdown on hot exotic rides, pricy luxury vehicles, eco-friendly green machines, rugged off-roaders, and more. Come take a look!