good discussion. Am so glad you mentioned/complimented the 68/9 Pontiac GTOs as the 1968 GTO set the standard for future styling and features. The public loved and bought it too, such a great car. thank you
Adam, I'm impressed by your eloquent and accurate description of the design and design techniques employed on these cars. I have thoroughly enjoyed class!
The ‘65-‘68 Mustang would like a word. As would countless other models from both Chrysler and the 3 other domestic manufacturers. Chrysler in particular had a lot of hideously styled cars in the ‘60s. They got the styling RIGHT with the ‘68 Charger, but it would be ridiculous to judge the entire’60s Chrysler lineup based solely on the ‘68 Charger. Even a broken clock displays the correct time twice a day.
@@madmeh2929 The 1970 and later Barracuda and Challenger both were quite good looking cars, but their design seemed a few years late - in 1970, the Camaro and Firebird were strictly fastback, (or fastback-ish) and the Mustang coupe and Cougar were flirting with fastback-ish lines to their C pillars. The Javelin was always a fastback. But the new for '70 Barracuda and Challenger still looked like a '67-'69 Camaro/Firebird, or a '64-'68 Mustang coupe. Though the '64 Barracuda, which beat the Mustang into the showrooms by a few weeks, was strictly fastback, and the '67-'69 offered coupe, fastback, and convertible, like Mustang.
GM had some beautiful styling in the 1960s. I was born in 1968 and my dad's brother's all owned GM cars. I remember my uncles 1969 gold Riviera. Beautiful car. We had a 1969 Grand Prix. I currently own my uncles 1970 Yellow Formula 400 which he purchased new in 1970. My dad currently owns a 1962 Grand Prix that he bought in the early 80s and restored over a few years. I love that red Tornado that you showed in this and other episodes. That's a stunningly beautiful car. GM of the 60s was a pinnacle imo.
Excellent tutorial on styling, Adam! All these little cues have escaped me for all these years - but now it makes total sense! Thank you for turning us into connoisseurs!
Never feel discomfort or discussion about personal thoughts. This is what makes people/friends stronger. Not everyone thinks/feels the same way but talking about it helps us grow. I also love Pontiac in the 60s/70s but also like the lincoln coupes during the same decades.
I have to agree that G.M. had more interesting styling, particularly mid-60s, but Ford certainly had a couple of winners… like the Mustang, and my personal favorite, the ‘67 & ‘68 Cougar. My absolute favorite of all time from Ford was the ‘56 & ‘57 Continental Mark II. Pure class & style.
I'm a GM guy, but you clearly have taste! I love the first gen Cougar and those Continental Mark IIs are just amazing. To my eye, it inspired the 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe by Pininfarina. And this Tifoso would actually prefer the Continental in that case!
To me the 1st generation Mustangs just looked like tin. Part of this came from Ford underestimating sales. The first set of dies were not made with hardened surfaces. They wore out really fast and the sheet metal showed it. The 2nd generation looked much better. The best looking Mustangs of the era are the 70 fastbacks imo.
I agree with you. Pontiac design was the best in the 60s. That is how I felt in the sixties. In high school I had a teacher who purchased a new Gran Prix. What a beautiful car.
For me, Mopar falls into two distinct categories: the Exner years and the Engel years. Like when Mitchell took over from Earl, Engel put his stamp on Mopar cars from about '65 onward and most of the cars were successful. I still admire Dick Teague over at AMC and the work he did on a shoestring budget.
Thank you for confirming why I wish for our brand new '67 Pontiac Catalina we had growing up. It was baby blue with white hard top and those great Batmobile stacked headlamps. Inside interior was deep blue with a torquoise transparent steering wheel. The dash design was completely across the front in a tasteful straight design.
When I was young my grandfather had a burgundy 67 tempest. I was very young but always loved that car. I felt cool around it and in it, even with my grandpa spitting hawkers out the window every minute or so. Italian off the boat with a lead foot. The whole thing was a package. With the stacked headlights and pointed nose the styling ques were obvious to a kid and had me on the lookout in traffic for Pontiacs at all times. Made sense in my head as did being in my parents 68 bug. Had very obvious designs i was influenced by and readily looked for. All had little hints of being iconic even tho I didn't realize what caught my eye, just knew what I liked. The only thing I liked better than all else was the 70 Barracuda. Don't know if it fits here but that car was everything to me. Maybe because we never knew anybody that had one so getting close to check one out was rare.
Adam, We may never agree on a brand but the vast majority if us will agree the 1960s were indeed peak styling. For the record, you will never catch me going '100 miles an hour in the right lane' as that would ruin all the fun of being in the slow lane. 😁😁
I agree with you, but it’s important to note that GM had more styling opportunities simply because of its size and the multitude of models it sold each year. The other domestic manufacturers had a much smaller selection of brands and models.
We had a 69 GTO 400/4-Speed. Yellow w/Black Vinyl top. Had the hood tach too. An unusual color setup. My mom had issues with it. She couldn't take off from a stop sign without spinning the tires. My dad finally told her to just take off 2nd. We traded it in not long after that for brand new 71 Nova with a straight six. He was able trade it straight across. That Goat was the most beautiful car we ever had
We can all argue on styling, but GM had the best options. You could get in dash air and power windows in mid size and even Firebird. Much later it was offered on Ford's and Mopar.
One particular area where GM was, hands-down, the ultimate winner. Best A/C in the business! (back then at least) And the most advanced systems & features earliest on in the game...
Your first three are my top three, though I'd put the Eldo in front of the C2 Vette, even though I'm a sports car guy at heart. I guess I'm getting old...
I love American car styling from the 1960s and the best of the best is from GM. Four examples of GM's mid-century styling expertise: 1963 split window Corvette, 1963 Riviera, 1966 Toronado and the 1967 Eldorado - each one a timeless styling masterpiece.
You are 100% correct. I could never have explained what you do here, citing the major differences between GM and Ford designs. GM designs just looked better. That’s from a mostly Ford guy. Very well done.
The breathtaking 65 Impala coupe styling was a masterpiece. The Buick Wildcats and Electras in that time as well, with the "W" nose and the graceful fenders and haunches. I know that the C-2, the Rivs, and the other E cars were spectacular, but these "common" GM B and C cars were stunning. -Yes, the 68 and later A-Cars, especially the 2 door versions.
@@jeenkzk5919 My grandfather used to say that about cars from the '60s and '70s. He thought peak design occurred in the '50s. Cars from the '60s and '70s stand out now because they're rare and styling has moved on. In the 1970s, when everything was shaped the same, there were a bunch of old farts going on with "they don't make them like they used to", same as it ever was.
1968 Dodge Charger, 1965-66 Chrysler New Yorker, and 1967-68 Chrysler New Yorker all had styling surfacing that rivaled GM. Of the three I mentioned, I especially love how the 1967-68 Chryslers have a concave body section that created an upside down reflection in the body side. I actually am surprised you do not own one Adam!
I'm a GM guy. But I would take any American car from the 60s. I think my favorite 60s cars are the Chrysler compacts of the early 60s. Most people say they're ugly. But the canted headlights and other 'strange' design elements to me are beautiful. My second choice would be the GM senior compacts. They all had similar designs, yet different ways of executing them. But then again, I'm a sucker for any GM from the 60s to 80s
I'm a Pontiac guy, but ever since I watched "Bullitt" as a kid, I've had a thing for 1968 Chargers. I actually watched once solely to be able to count the number of hubcaps that went flying off that black beauty! (Those guys were some serious wheel men in that movie) I honestly can't remember the total # but it was several cars worth.
@@Rick-S-6063 The 66 Ambassador had some elegance. The 65 and 66 Classic and Marlin were absolute turds styling wise. ÀMC spent a big chunk of cash for them on the 232 and 290/343 engine lines.
General Motors stood head and shoulders above the others. 1960s was peak General Motors. They had the best artists and sculptors in the industry and it showed. Nobody else was playing at their level.
I have to agree with you after having watched the video. Really interesting story and as always a great insight into the Automotive industry's inner workings. Cheers from Sweden!
It's just incredible to have an individual like yourself with the technical knowledge of the history of engineering and vehicle design from the major companies.
1969 Dodge Charger definitely had some sweet curves, flowing lines and neat details. With the possible exception of the wing windows, it still looks fresh today. The scallops in the doors that flow to the rear. The stainless trim on the tail lights. The bulging fenders. Not a bad line anywhere and plenty of visual surfacing!
I agree. Overall, across their full line-ups, GM had the best-looking cars, especially from 1965 to 1968. There was hardly an ugly car in their entire portfolio. I think the 69 & 70 GM full-size models started to lose some ground to Chrysler + Ford and definitely went backward in 1971 with the redesigns. I think Chrysler did a nice job on their 68 -71 redesigns. Challenger, Charger, New Yorker, etc. I think most of the 1971 -1974/1975 GM full-size cars were not attractive. They just got so bloated and the build quality also went South.
Adam; another exceptional video. Though I must disagree about the manufacturers styling, I prefer the more dignified and less busy styling of the Fords and Mercurys. Something must be said about not needing attention. Jaguar, I believe, said it best, Grace, Space, Pace. Cheers.
Thanks, again for this video and discussion of design and styling of the 1960's. As someone who grew up in the 60's and loved cars and wanted to be a "stylist" when I grew up, I love the emphasis you put on design. Overall with a few exceptions, I agree GM had the best design and styling and set the standard and trends for the industry in the 60's. Such as the "coke bottle" shape and kick-up in the fender lines over the rear wheels. I especially love the overall 65 big/standard car line and the 68 intermediate car line designs. Thanks, again for the great videos and channel.
Another great video sir! At first I had no idea how one could choose between so many great looking cars from that era. But your specifics on your choice were enlightening. As a GM guy I was very happy that you gave them the prize but no disrespect to Ford and Chrysler. 🙌🏻
Adam i was born an raised in oakland county. Im pretty old now but back in the day when you knew all your neighbors an actually talked an did things with them most familys seemed to be strongly aligned with one of the big three. You had families that always drove Fords, GM, or Chrysler products. My dad was especially a Pontiac man. We were pretty poor so they were all carefully picked used cars. He was pretty talented at doing all his own repairs himself. The only time our family ever strayed from Pontiac was when my mom talked dad into buying a used 1962 T Bird. It was black with a red leather interior. We kids were freaked out at this car! Unfortunately those T Birds had a defect with the transmission an in a short time our car had the problem twice, sooo dad never got talked into another Ford!
I was raised in a family where Lincoln's were always a primary source of transportation in our household. Beginning with my great uncle Robert and Aunt Odessa's black 1962 Lincoln Continental with a red leather interior, and my parents 1st black 1969 Lincoln Continental 4 door sedan with red leather interior. My family was captivated by the distinctively classic and elegant 1961-1969 Lincoln styling. Thanks for your wonderful insight into the designers goals, for each of the manufacturers in the 1960's. I greatly appreciate your discerning commentary. 😎
In case you hadn't noticed, while Caddy was usually the sales leader in the luxury league, in the '50s, '60s & maybe beyond, the Presidential fleet was generally comprised of Lincolns. Even JFK was not riding in a Caddy....
The last Lincoln Presidential Limousine was the 1989 Lincoln Town Car, used by President George HW Bush. I think it's time we returned to the Lincoln brand to provide our Presidential Limousines! 😎
Totally agree. GM styling was miles ahead in Mitchell era. Surfacing and details were just on another level compared to Ford or Chrysler. Probably part of the reason GM had a 50% market share in the 60's
Their are so many great designs.....GTO...Camaro.....68-69 Charger.........Mustang.....just to name a bit of muscle. And I love the big boats also. They all made great ones, but I would agree with another comment......GM had the best overall styling I think.
Those '68-'69 Lemans/GTO are some of my favorite cars, but the Skylarks of those years still had more style - I didn't say better styling, just more details in the design. I LOVE those Skylarks as much or maybe even more!
Very interesting clay model at 18.35. Adam has spoken many times about the Eldo, Riv and Toro sharing the same platform. Obviously this clay in Riv on the right and Toro on the left. Wow.
Great video, as usual, Adam. There were nice designs from Chrysler & Ford, but I agree that GM cars of the 60s and 70s were the most beautiful designs.
Those years were car ecstacy. GM's were beautiful at the time. I loved Pontiacs and Oldsmobiles, but also found the 65-67 Ford Galaxies were stunning. The sides of the Fords may have not been super interesting, but the taillight design were awesome. I thought my dad's 64 Olds Dynamic 88 was really balanced in its design, both exterior and interior. By 69, his Buick LeSabre lost me. As a kid, I loved the exhaust note of the Fords, but my favorite of all times was the 69-70 Grand Prix. I had a beater 70 GP and wish I had it today. That is still my dream car.
Your Toronado is one of my faves. The black Eldo and turquoise Catalina round out my top three. Nothing against your Ford/Lincoln/Mercury cars. As I’ve said before, your Park Lane is gorgeous!
Thank you Adam. The video was educational and informative. GM was on their styling game in the 1960's. They were into the early 1980's. They lost their way in the 1980's style wise and Ford took design leadership for a while with the aero look. Chrysler was on their game in the 1990's GM started making there way back with cars like the 1992 Seville. You stated some true facts: everyone is buying suv's and trucks and they all do look a like and there is not much difference among them other than the quality and the brand.
Late 60's was Chrysler, closely followed by GM and then Ford and AMC. All four were at their best. Early 60's, I don't like most of them, so I can't rank, The Corvair's were a standout in a good way.
I do agree that Pontiac for about 7 or 8 years really had the best look. Not just the outside but the dashboards where works of art. I think a lot of what we all like has to do with how we were introduced to it. I remember in my town (Wheaton Il) when someone got a new car all the kids in the neighborhood would ride their bikes over and gaze at the car. I remember when the dentist down the street bought a new 68 Black on black LTD. That was one of the most gorgeous cars I had ever seen. Then another house bought two new 68 Cutlasses one was a 442 and for the wife a Vista Cruiser. Again we were blown away. My personal favorite car from the 60s is a 65 Chevy sport coupe. I owned one. With all this said, color plays a huge role in how you were introduced to a car. My dad bought a lot of white cars. Yawn ! good video.
There were SEVERAL amazing cars from that era, particularly starting in 1968- The NEW style Charger, the Ford Torino SPORTSROOF/"Fastback", and of course the NEW style G.T.O. with endura bumpers!!!!
Enjoy and appreciate the backstory and archival footage always learn something from these vids. I'm a fan of the styling of the '72 Mercury Marquis and the '69 Lincoln Mark 3. It seemed to work on those 2 vehicles. However that Bonneville as you pointed it out with its more intricately sculpted lines is certainly next-level styling. GM indeed took the design cake during the golden age of American auto design. Unfortunately during the malaise era they lost their way for awhile, times changed, re-badging, the global platform etc.
You are very astute and correct with Pontiac's design and it's very interesting to know about the art degree requirement. You educate us as usual. Mopar was left out of this video, so I really have to say they did manage to create beauty with those muscle cars they made from 66 to 73. Some were big and bulky mind you, but they had a presence that can not be ignored. Another video I suppose. However, this was a good education on Ford vs GM. Both companies did their best and had their clientele.
I think in Overall, GM had the best styling throughout the 60’s hands down! Both Ford and Chrysler had some cool stuff. But no one had as many home runs as GM. I totally agree with you on the 68, 69 GTO as being the most beautiful car of the 60’s. They were perfect from any angle.
Excellent discussion, once more you have added to my knowledge. I can agree with you as to the best looking cars being in the GM stable with the proviso that the simplistic of the Fords has its own element of attractiveness. Oh and no surprise, of the cars viewed that GTO is just beautiful, it almost does not belong with the other cars shown but in a class of its own, its like a fighter jet more than a car.
I knew you were gonna say GM. You make some good points. I think part of it is that we just see so many more GM cars from that era now makes it kind of the "standard" for what '60s cars looked like. For me, peak GM was '66-67. In '67 you had the Camaro and Firebird first gens debut, and the midsize cars still had that great styling from '66. Unfortunately, by '67 the full-size line had been revised to just add too much more visual "weight". The '65-66 was so much more trim and handsome.
My opinion changes day to day...some days I'm a GM guy, other days I like Ford styling, and then there may be times when I like Chrysler or AMC the most. But, if I had to pick one I generally like Oldsmobile's styling most consistently.
I absolutely agree with you.I was a little kid when these cars were new and always been kind of a Mopar guy. The GM cars always seemed to be a step above though. They just looked like a higher quality product.
Each manufacture had studios at the top of their game during that time. One of the things that made them great was that they were delightfully different. Who was best? Hard to say. They all had great looking cars and some not so. A lot of it is personal taste, and also what they did to make the cars visually appealing with what they had to work with.
I wanted to be a car designer all my life. I look at SUVs and I'd never wish that job on my worst enemy.
Agreed! Hideous. 😮
Or pretty much everything from the last several decades.
good discussion. Am so glad you mentioned/complimented the 68/9 Pontiac GTOs as the 1968 GTO set the standard for future styling and features. The public loved and bought it too, such a great car. thank you
Adam, I'm impressed by your eloquent and accurate description of the design and design techniques employed on these cars. I have thoroughly enjoyed class!
Glad you liked it!
Yeah not bad for a finance guy!
The '68 charger.... Beautiful.
The ‘65-‘68 Mustang would like a word. As would countless other models from both Chrysler and the 3 other domestic manufacturers.
Chrysler in particular had a lot of hideously styled cars in the ‘60s. They got the styling RIGHT with the ‘68 Charger, but it would be ridiculous to judge the entire’60s Chrysler lineup based solely on the ‘68 Charger. Even a broken clock displays the correct time twice a day.
The Charger and Challenger from that era are beautiful, but GM had more beautiful designs overall.
@@alantrimble2881 Always loved Drag Racing, especially the funny cars from the sixties..'68 Corvette, '69 Mustang, 68 Javelin, etc.
@@madmeh2929 The 1970 and later Barracuda and Challenger both were quite good looking cars, but their design seemed a few years late - in 1970, the Camaro and Firebird were strictly fastback, (or fastback-ish) and the Mustang coupe and Cougar were flirting with fastback-ish lines to their C pillars. The Javelin was always a fastback. But the new for '70 Barracuda and Challenger still looked like a '67-'69 Camaro/Firebird, or a '64-'68 Mustang coupe. Though the '64 Barracuda, which beat the Mustang into the showrooms by a few weeks, was strictly fastback, and the '67-'69 offered coupe, fastback, and convertible, like Mustang.
The 68' Charger absolutely stole the new for 68' Stingray's thunder. What GM looked better than the 68-70' Chargers?
GM had some beautiful styling in the 1960s. I was born in 1968 and my dad's brother's all owned GM cars. I remember my uncles 1969 gold Riviera. Beautiful car. We had a 1969 Grand Prix. I currently own my uncles 1970 Yellow Formula 400 which he purchased new in 1970. My dad currently owns a 1962 Grand Prix that he bought in the early 80s and restored over a few years. I love that red Tornado that you showed in this and other episodes. That's a stunningly beautiful car. GM of the 60s was a pinnacle imo.
60’s pontiacs were just beautiful and had great drivetrains
Agreed. Imo, the '65 Bonneville and Catalina (especially the 2+2) two-door hardtops were the prettiest full size cars of that decade.
Excellent tutorial on styling, Adam! All these little cues have escaped me for all these years - but now it makes total sense! Thank you for turning us into connoisseurs!
Teague. Engle and Mitchell. A triumvirate of genius design never to be experienced again.
Amen!
@@markdc1145 Thank you.
I think Dick Teague was at his best in the early '70s at AMC.
I'll second that 👍
At least Teague and Engel weren't egotistical and tyrannical. They never said "I tell people what they like" as regards automotive styling.
Never feel discomfort or discussion about personal thoughts. This is what makes people/friends stronger. Not everyone thinks/feels the same way but talking about it helps us grow.
I also love Pontiac in the 60s/70s but also like the lincoln coupes during the same decades.
GM-Oldsmobile division-starring the Olds Toronado!
@@billgueltig6136 If only that was rwd.
I agree. I'm just not a fan of front wheel drive on a car like that. @@jamesmancuso3666
I have to agree that G.M. had more interesting styling, particularly mid-60s, but Ford certainly had a couple of winners… like the Mustang, and my personal favorite, the ‘67 & ‘68 Cougar. My absolute favorite of all time from Ford was the ‘56 & ‘57 Continental Mark II. Pure class & style.
I'm a GM guy, but you clearly have taste! I love the first gen Cougar and those Continental Mark IIs are just amazing. To my eye, it inspired the 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe by Pininfarina. And this Tifoso would actually prefer the Continental in that case!
X2 on the Cougar - I had a '68 Standard Dan Gurney Special.
But for me, a Mustang guy, I'd have to specify the '65-'66 2+2 fastback Mustang.
@@DanEBoyd I had a ‘67 XR7 as my first post-graduation car. I too love Mustangs but I preferred the concave rear lights of the ‘67… Bullitt green.
To me the 1st generation Mustangs just looked like tin. Part of this came from Ford underestimating sales. The first set of dies were not made with hardened surfaces. They wore out really fast and the sheet metal showed it. The 2nd generation looked much better. The best looking Mustangs of the era are the 70 fastbacks imo.
I learn SO much about automobile design on this channel. Thank you!!!
I think they all had their Gems
I agree with you. Pontiac design was the best in the 60s. That is how I felt in the sixties. In high school I had a teacher who purchased a new Gran Prix. What a beautiful car.
For me, Mopar falls into two distinct categories: the Exner years and the Engel years. Like when Mitchell took over from Earl, Engel put his stamp on Mopar cars from about '65 onward and most of the cars were successful. I still admire Dick Teague over at AMC and the work he did on a shoestring budget.
Like the AMX and Javelin right.
True..Exner=ugly, Engle a big improvement.
@@matrox
Exner is responsible for the ugliest car ever built in the US. The 61 Variants.
@@mpetersen6 True
Thank you for confirming why I wish for our brand new '67 Pontiac Catalina we had growing up. It was baby blue with white hard top and those great Batmobile stacked headlamps. Inside interior was deep blue with a torquoise transparent steering wheel. The dash design was completely across the front in a tasteful straight design.
When I was young my grandfather had a burgundy 67 tempest. I was very young but always loved that car. I felt cool around it and in it, even with my grandpa spitting hawkers out the window every minute or so. Italian off the boat with a lead foot. The whole thing was a package. With the stacked headlights and pointed nose the styling ques were obvious to a kid and had me on the lookout in traffic for Pontiacs at all times. Made sense in my head as did being in my parents 68 bug. Had very obvious designs i was influenced by and readily looked for. All had little hints of being iconic even tho I didn't realize what caught my eye, just knew what I liked. The only thing I liked better than all else was the 70 Barracuda. Don't know if it fits here but that car was everything to me. Maybe because we never knew anybody that had one so getting close to check one out was rare.
Adam, We may never agree on a brand but the vast majority if us will agree the 1960s were indeed peak styling. For the record, you will never catch me going '100 miles an hour in the right lane' as that would ruin all the fun of being in the slow lane. 😁😁
Yep, GM all the way, as sales prove. Chrysler and Ford had some cars that had nice styling, but GM was consistently best overall.
I agree with you, but it’s important to note that GM had more styling opportunities simply because of its size and the multitude of models it sold each year.
The other domestic manufacturers had a much smaller selection of brands and models.
@@alantrimble2881 Yes, it's harder to take risks that some love and some hate.
@@digitalfutur Also GM had more money to invest on design than Ford or Chrysler.
@@alantrimble2881 AMC's Richard Teague could style an entire vehicle on less that what GM would budget for redoing a hood ornament.
@@Rick-S-6063 - So AMC it still in business?
As a UK teen in the '60s, I was always struck by the beauty of Pontiacs of that era. The '68 GTO in particular
We had a 69 GTO 400/4-Speed. Yellow w/Black Vinyl top. Had the hood tach too. An unusual color setup. My mom had issues with it. She couldn't take off from a stop sign without spinning the tires. My dad finally told her to just take off 2nd. We traded it in not long after that for brand new 71 Nova with a straight six. He was able trade it straight across.
That Goat was the most beautiful car we ever had
GM. The split window C2 Vette was a world class masterpiece of the era.
My dad had a gold 1968 Pontiac Tempest Custom coupe. Very neat car and the 350 4 barrel was no slouch.
I like the Fords - mostly because my Dad drove them - but those 1960s Pontiacs were something special!
All brands hit the odd home run occasionally but GM had MANY sharp cars across all their brands. Great video. Thanks !
You are without question correct. GM styling was known to be better in the 60's. Your excellent comparison makes the difference clear.
We can all argue on styling, but GM had the best options. You could get in dash air and power windows in mid size and even Firebird. Much later it was offered on Ford's and Mopar.
One particular area where GM was, hands-down, the ultimate winner. Best A/C in the business! (back then at least) And the most advanced systems & features earliest on in the game...
Interesting perspective. I've always appreciated the 68 Olds Cutlass design as
my eyes are drawn to the sculpting of these timeless classics
Riv, Vette, Eldo, C10, Impala, GTO... The list goes on. And on.
Your first three are my top three, though I'd put the Eldo in front of the C2 Vette, even though I'm a sports car guy at heart. I guess I'm getting old...
@@starkparker16 Toronado, Wildcat, Delta 88, Cutlass, Camaro and Firebird.
I love American car styling from the 1960s and the best of the best is from GM. Four examples of GM's mid-century styling expertise: 1963 split window Corvette, 1963 Riviera, 1966 Toronado and the 1967 Eldorado - each one a timeless styling masterpiece.
Plus great interiors. Especially the dashes.
Interesting video, as usual!
The GM cars were the best looking. And that is hard for me to say as a Ford fan. But it's true.
Adam, I love every time you show your Catalina.Beautiful.Mike the Greek
That 1966 Catalina 2dr is, in my opinion, the most beautifully designed car ever.
You are 100% correct. I could never have explained what you do here, citing the major differences between GM and Ford designs. GM designs just looked better. That’s from a mostly Ford guy. Very well done.
The breathtaking 65 Impala coupe styling was a masterpiece. The Buick Wildcats and Electras in that time as well, with the "W" nose and the graceful fenders and haunches. I know that the C-2, the Rivs, and the other E cars were spectacular, but these "common" GM B and C cars were stunning. -Yes, the 68 and later A-Cars, especially the 2 door versions.
GM simply knew distinctive styling cues to be more elaborate in a lovely way
I've had a 68 Impala and Caprice. Beautiful cars. 1968 was a great year for GM.
Excellent video, Adam!
Whether you hate or love you have to admit GM was the best in the design department.
Depends on the model and year, totally.
The 61 Lincoln was of huge influence
It’s a shame cars today don’t have exciting designs. Even the most expensive cars today are boring.
Agreed!
@@jeenkzk5919 My grandfather used to say that about cars from the '60s and '70s. He thought peak design occurred in the '50s.
Cars from the '60s and '70s stand out now because they're rare and styling has moved on. In the 1970s, when everything was shaped the same, there were a bunch of old farts going on with "they don't make them like they used to", same as it ever was.
@@SirOsisofLiver well,at least I know I’ve earned my old fart stripes. Lol
You're spot on! I loved GM styling and I felt that they were really on the forefront of design.
I’m a FOMOCO guy, but to my eye, GM was the undeniable style victor during that era.
1968 Dodge Charger, 1965-66 Chrysler New Yorker, and 1967-68 Chrysler New Yorker all had styling surfacing that rivaled GM. Of the three I mentioned, I especially love how the 1967-68 Chryslers have a concave body section that created an upside down reflection in the body side. I actually am surprised you do not own one Adam!
I love the 65-66 New Yorker
I'm a GM guy. But I would take any American car from the 60s. I think my favorite 60s cars are the Chrysler compacts of the early 60s. Most people say they're ugly. But the canted headlights and other 'strange' design elements to me are beautiful. My second choice would be the GM senior compacts. They all had similar designs, yet different ways of executing them.
But then again, I'm a sucker for any GM from the 60s to 80s
Hell yeah to all that, except the '80s part. 😁
GM was hitting homeruns almost every time they went to the plate. The others had good looking cars. GM had consistent styling winners.
No love for Mopars? The Chargers and Challengers were full of character and interesting body lines. However, overall, GM was top of the heap.
Mopar for me, and on the whole '68 was the best year for them.
I loved the very late '60s Hemi 'Cuda. That yellow Nash Bridges car was gorgeous.
I'm a Pontiac guy, but ever since I watched "Bullitt" as a kid, I've had a thing for 1968 Chargers. I actually watched once solely to be able to count the number of hubcaps that went flying off that black beauty! (Those guys were some serious wheel men in that movie) I honestly can't remember the total # but it was several cars worth.
Loved the first Cudas. Valiant with a piece of fast back glass on the trunk. What a designers joke.
I'm a big fan of the Buick styling myself.
The 1968 AMC AMX
I really liked the 1967 and 1968 AMC Ambassadors. The '65 and '66 were very sharp, too.
@@Rick-S-6063
The 66 Ambassador had some elegance. The 65 and 66 Classic and Marlin were absolute turds styling wise. ÀMC spent a big chunk of cash for them on the 232 and 290/343 engine lines.
Nah..
Marlin.
General Motors stood head and shoulders above the others. 1960s was peak General Motors. They had the best artists and sculptors in the industry and it showed. Nobody else was playing at their level.
I have to agree with you after having watched the video. Really interesting story and as always a great insight into the Automotive industry's inner workings. Cheers from Sweden!
Thank you. A very interesting description of the artistic era of American automobiles.
I am a GM guy myself, but I think they all had some pretty cool designs. I just love seeing as many old cars as I do.
It's just incredible to have an individual like yourself with the technical knowledge of the history of engineering and vehicle design from the major companies.
1969 Dodge Charger definitely had some sweet curves, flowing lines and neat details. With the possible exception of the wing windows, it still looks fresh today. The scallops in the doors that flow to the rear. The stainless trim on the tail lights. The bulging fenders. Not a bad line anywhere and plenty of visual surfacing!
I agree. Overall, across their full line-ups, GM had the best-looking cars, especially from 1965 to 1968. There was hardly an ugly car in their entire portfolio. I think the 69 & 70 GM full-size models started to lose some ground to Chrysler + Ford and definitely went backward in 1971 with the redesigns. I think Chrysler did a nice job on their 68 -71 redesigns. Challenger, Charger, New Yorker, etc. I think most of the 1971 -1974/1975 GM full-size cars were not attractive. They just got so bloated and the build quality also went South.
Aussie here and totally agree. Our HQ holden was a good example.
Adam; another exceptional video. Though I must disagree about the manufacturers styling, I prefer the more dignified and less busy styling of the Fords and Mercurys. Something must be said about not needing attention. Jaguar, I believe, said it best, Grace, Space, Pace. Cheers.
Thanks, again for this video and discussion of design and styling of the 1960's. As someone who grew up in the 60's and loved cars and wanted to be a "stylist" when I grew up, I love the emphasis you put on design.
Overall with a few exceptions, I agree GM had the best design and styling and set the standard and trends for the industry in the 60's. Such as the "coke bottle" shape and kick-up in the fender lines over the rear wheels. I especially love the overall 65 big/standard car line and the 68 intermediate car line designs. Thanks, again for the great videos and channel.
Another great video sir! At first I had no idea how one could choose between so many great looking cars from that era. But your specifics on your choice were enlightening. As a GM guy I was very happy that you gave them the prize but no disrespect to Ford and Chrysler. 🙌🏻
Adam i was born an raised in oakland county. Im pretty old now but back in the day when you knew all your neighbors an actually talked an did things with them most familys seemed to be strongly aligned with one of the big three. You had families that always drove Fords, GM, or Chrysler products. My dad was especially a Pontiac man. We were pretty poor so they were all carefully picked used cars. He was pretty talented at doing all his own repairs himself. The only time our family ever strayed from Pontiac was when my mom talked dad into buying a used 1962 T Bird. It was black with a red leather interior. We kids were freaked out at this car! Unfortunately those T Birds had a defect with the transmission an in a short time our car had the problem twice, sooo dad never got talked into another Ford!
I was raised in a family where Lincoln's were always a primary source of transportation in our household. Beginning with my great uncle Robert and Aunt Odessa's black 1962 Lincoln Continental with a red leather interior, and my parents 1st black 1969 Lincoln Continental 4 door sedan with red leather interior. My family was captivated by the distinctively classic and elegant 1961-1969 Lincoln styling. Thanks for your wonderful insight into the designers goals, for each of the manufacturers in the 1960's. I greatly appreciate your discerning commentary. 😎
In case you hadn't noticed, while Caddy was usually the sales leader in the luxury league, in the '50s, '60s & maybe beyond, the Presidential fleet was generally comprised of Lincolns. Even JFK was not riding in a Caddy....
The last Lincoln Presidential Limousine was the 1989 Lincoln Town Car, used by President George HW Bush. I think it's time we returned to the Lincoln brand to provide our Presidential Limousines! 😎
@@howardfauntroy8345 Buck Fush
Totally agree. GM styling was miles ahead in Mitchell era. Surfacing and details were just on another level compared to Ford or Chrysler. Probably part of the reason GM had a 50% market share in the 60's
Front end of the 67 GTO was spectacular. 63 vette was awesome
Their are so many great designs.....GTO...Camaro.....68-69 Charger.........Mustang.....just to name a bit of muscle. And I love the big boats also. They all made great ones, but I would agree with another comment......GM had the best overall styling I think.
A great tutorial. It's hard to argue with your position that GM was the winner.
Chrysler took the most chances, Fords were the stodgiest, while the General made masterpieces.
Stodgy. The 65/66 Classic was the epitome of stodgy.
Chevrolet. Especially the 1965 full-sized Chevys. Beautiful lines.
Those '68-'69 Lemans/GTO are some of my favorite cars, but the Skylarks of those years still had more style - I didn't say better styling, just more details in the design. I LOVE those Skylarks as much or maybe even more!
7:46 there’s a 74 Meteor Rideau in that exact same colour as this with the matching hubcaps near me for sale. It’s a sharp colour on these big boats
I think the '62 thru '67 Pontiacs and Oldsmobiles were the most memorable. My dad had a '62 and a '65 Olds 98, and a '67 GTO. All beautiful cars.
That's probably why, with just a few exceptions, GM cars are more sought after, even decades later. Especially the early sixties.
I would have an extremely hard time choosing 😞😞😞. I love them all
Adam, maybe you could do a “glossary” video, for people who don’t know terms like beltline, pillars, rocker panels etc.
Love those late '60s Mercury pinstripes seen @0:25 with the two equally sized stripes!! My '68 Cougar had those too!
Very interesting clay model at 18.35. Adam has spoken many times about the Eldo, Riv and Toro sharing the same platform. Obviously this clay in Riv on the right and Toro on the left. Wow.
I think 1967 was the best year of designs across all manufacturers. Each brand had stellar designs that in my opinion still look fresh today.
My 68 XL has awesome lines.
I agree with you on GM. Mid 60s Pontiac was a great example.
Agree with you Adam, the GM’s had the “best” styling in my mind. Love that Bonneville!
Great video, as usual, Adam. There were nice designs from Chrysler & Ford, but I agree that GM cars of the 60s and 70s were the most beautiful designs.
5:30 That split clay of the Toronado and RIviera is cool.
Pontiac has my vote. Inside and out 👍
Those years were car ecstacy. GM's were beautiful at the time. I loved Pontiacs and Oldsmobiles, but also found the 65-67 Ford Galaxies were stunning. The sides of the Fords may have not been super interesting, but the taillight design were awesome. I thought my dad's 64 Olds Dynamic 88 was really balanced in its design, both exterior and interior. By 69, his Buick LeSabre lost me. As a kid, I loved the exhaust note of the Fords, but my favorite of all times was the 69-70 Grand Prix. I had a beater 70 GP and wish I had it today. That is still my dream car.
We have had several Pontiacs in my family. I owned a few myself. My 84 Grand Prix had wide chrome along the bottom.
Your Toronado is one of my faves. The black Eldo and turquoise Catalina round out my top three. Nothing against your Ford/Lincoln/Mercury cars. As I’ve said before, your Park Lane is gorgeous!
Thank you Adam. The video was educational and informative. GM was on their styling game in the 1960's. They were into the early 1980's. They lost their way in the 1980's style wise and Ford took design leadership for a while with the aero look. Chrysler was on their game in the 1990's GM started making there way back with cars like the 1992 Seville. You stated some true facts: everyone is buying suv's and trucks and they all do look a like and there is not much difference among them other than the quality and the brand.
Late 60's was Chrysler, closely followed by GM and then Ford and AMC. All four were at their best. Early 60's, I don't like most of them, so I can't rank, The Corvair's were a standout in a good way.
I have to agree with you , the mid to late 60 's Chrysler Corp. had the best over all styling .
I do agree that Pontiac for about 7 or 8 years really had the best look. Not just the outside but the dashboards where works of art. I think a lot of what we all like has to do with how we were introduced to it. I remember in my town (Wheaton Il) when someone got a new car all the kids in the neighborhood would ride their bikes over and gaze at the car. I remember when the dentist down the street bought a new 68 Black on black LTD. That was one of the most gorgeous cars I had ever seen. Then another house bought two new 68 Cutlasses one was a 442 and for the wife a Vista Cruiser. Again we were blown away. My personal favorite car from the 60s is a 65 Chevy sport coupe. I owned one. With all this said, color plays a huge role in how you were introduced to a car. My dad bought a lot of white cars. Yawn ! good video.
I was always a Pontiac guy. Bought a '74 Firebird, '77 Grandprix, '87 6000, '02 Grand Am
In the 60s it was GM for sure.
This article is very well discudsed
There were SEVERAL amazing cars from that era, particularly starting in 1968- The NEW style Charger, the Ford Torino SPORTSROOF/"Fastback", and of course the NEW style G.T.O. with endura bumpers!!!!
For overall 1960s I’d have to go with GM, but for the last few years of the 60s Mopar had some phenomenal looking models.
Enjoy and appreciate the backstory and archival footage always learn something from these vids. I'm a fan of the styling of the '72 Mercury Marquis and the '69 Lincoln Mark 3. It seemed to work on those 2 vehicles. However that Bonneville as you pointed it out with its more intricately sculpted lines is certainly next-level styling. GM indeed took the design cake during the golden age of American auto design. Unfortunately during the malaise era they lost their way for awhile, times changed, re-badging, the global platform etc.
You are very astute and correct with Pontiac's design and it's very interesting to know about the art degree requirement. You educate us as usual. Mopar was left out of this video, so I really have to say they did manage to create beauty with those muscle cars they made from 66 to 73. Some were big and bulky mind you, but they had a presence that can not be ignored. Another video I suppose. However, this was a good education on Ford vs GM. Both companies did their best and had their clientele.
I think in Overall, GM had the best styling throughout the 60’s hands down! Both Ford and Chrysler had some cool stuff. But no one had as many home runs as GM.
I totally agree with you on the 68, 69 GTO as being the most beautiful car of the 60’s. They were perfect from any angle.
Excellent discussion, once more you have added to my knowledge. I can agree with you as to the best looking cars being in the GM stable with the proviso that the simplistic of the Fords has its own element of attractiveness. Oh and no surprise, of the cars viewed that GTO is just beautiful, it almost does not belong with the other cars shown but in a class of its own, its like a fighter jet more than a car.
I knew you were gonna say GM. You make some good points. I think part of it is that we just see so many more GM cars from that era now makes it kind of the "standard" for what '60s cars looked like. For me, peak GM was '66-67. In '67 you had the Camaro and Firebird first gens debut, and the midsize cars still had that great styling from '66. Unfortunately, by '67 the full-size line had been revised to just add too much more visual "weight". The '65-66 was so much more trim and handsome.
My opinion changes day to day...some days I'm a GM guy, other days I like Ford styling, and then there may be times when I like Chrysler or AMC the most. But, if I had to pick one I generally like Oldsmobile's styling most consistently.
I absolutely agree with you.I was a little kid when these cars were new and always been kind of a Mopar guy. The GM cars always seemed to be a step above though. They just looked like a higher quality product.
Each manufacture had studios at the top of their game during that time. One of the things that made them great was that they were delightfully different. Who was best? Hard to say. They all had great looking cars and some not so. A lot of it is personal taste, and also what they did to make the cars visually appealing with what they had to work with.
GM cars were so stunning....Just gorgeous!