Speed demons, timeless designs, and rebellious engineering—these road warriors from the 1960s redefined what performance meant. Some sparked new automotive eras, others shattered records, and a few became priceless legends. Here are ten sports cars that prove true icons never fade from the spotlight.

Jaguar E-Type

Picture 1961: This beauty rolls onto the Geneva Motor Show floor, and jaws collectively drop. It wasn’t just fast. It was a sculpture on wheels. A top speed of 150 mph made this machine the fastest production automobile of its time. Enzo Ferrari called this model “the most beautiful car ever made.”

Chevrolet Corvette StingRay

Straight out of a jet-age fever dream, the 1963 Corvette StingRay introduced radical styling with its sharp lines and the split rear window. Zora Arkus-Duntov engineered its fuel-injected 327 V8 to pump out 360 horsepower, making this titan an absolute craze on both highways plus racetracks. Sleek, aggressive, and unapologetically American, this roadster screamed “Look at me” in the best way.

Porsche 911

Conventional wisdom says putting the engine behind the rear axle makes no sense. Porsche did this anyway, and in 1964, this machine was born. That flat-six engine? A howling masterpiece. Rear-engined madness should have doomed this vehicle, yet decades later, this model remains a global performance icon.

Ferrari 250 GTO

Good luck buying one of these today. Only a few of these machines were ever made between 1962 and 1964, and if you want one, prepare to auction off your soul. In 2018, one sold for a staggering $70 million. Why? Its 3.0L V12 made this Hulk a dominant race automobile, and its handmade body ensured it looked just as good crossing the finish line.

Shelby Cobra

Lightweight British chassis meets over-the-top American muscle! Carroll Shelby took the AC Ace, shoved a Ford V8 under the hood, and created a model that punched above its weight. The result was a street-legal monster that embarrassed Ferraris and Corvettes alike. Brutal, loud, and impossible to ignore, Shelby Cobra is still a showstopper.

Lamborghini Miura

This is where the script got rewritten. Before 1966, most sports vehicles had their engines in the front like civilized automobiles. Then, the Lamborghini Miura came along, the first production road-legal car to put a 4.0L V12 behind the driver, and suddenly, the world had a new term: “supercar.” This model looked like a spaceship. Even today, this beast is pure automotive theater.

Aston Martin DB5

James Bond didn’t drive just any car; he drove an Aston Martin DB5! It wasn’t the fastest or most powerful, but this beauty oozed class. The 4.0L straight-six was popular for both its performance and legendary value. Silver paint, wire-spoke wheels, and an effortlessly suave presence made the DB5 a timeless icon.

Alfa Romeo Spider

No roadster said “carefree European adventure,” like this 1966 model. Light, nimble, and powered by a four-cylinder twin-cam engine, this machine begged to be driven top-down on scenic coastlines. Made famous by “The Graduate,” it wasn’t about raw speed but about driving with pure joy.

Toyota 2000GT

Before 1967, Japan was mostly known for reliable, economical automobiles. Then Toyota gave us the 2000GT. It looked like a miniature Jaguar E-Type, handled like a dream, and packed a 150-horsepower inline-six that proved Toyota could do more than build sensible sedans. Only 351 were made, making this model rarer than a Ferrari from the same era.

Ford Mustang

Nothing in 1964 hit the streets like this convertible. A stylish, affordable coupe with performance options ranging from mild to wild? Ford Mustang was a sports car movement. It inspired millions to hit the road and never look back.