Ahead of Their Time: 22 Of The Best Concept Cars of the Swinging 60s

The 1960s were a golden age for automotive design. It was a time when carmakers dared to dream big. Concept cars weren’t just prototypes; they were visions of the future. Sleek lines, bold shapes, and futuristic tech defined these experimental machines. They pushed boundaries, turning heads at auto shows and inspiring generations of gearheads.

Some of these concepts became production legends. Others faded into obscurity. But all of them captured the spirit of innovation that makes the 1960s unforgettable for car enthusiasts.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the best concept cars of the decade. From jaw-dropping designs to groundbreaking engineering, these cars had it all. Get ready to rev up your nostalgia and admire the machines that shaped the future of driving.

1969 Chevrolet Astro III

1969 Chevrolet Astro III
General Motors

The Chevrolet Astro III looked more like a fighter jet than a car. It had a unique, three-wheeled design with a single wheel in the front and two in the back. Powered by a gas turbine engine, this concept car screamed innovation.

Its bubble-like cockpit and low-slung profile made it look straight out of a sci-fi movie. While impractical for everyday use, the Astro III proved that Chevrolet wasn’t afraid to think outside the box.

1962 Ford Cougar 406

Ford Cougar 406
6D – Ford Cougar 406 / Wikimedia Commons

This sleek two-seater coupe was Ford’s attempt to mix performance and style. Powered by a powerful 406-cubic-inch V8 engine, the Cougar 406 had a long hood and sharp lines that screamed muscle car.

What set it apart was its luxurious interior and a unique grille design. Although it didn’t go into production, the Cougar name would live on in a different form through Mercury’s later models.

1964 Ford Allegro

ford allegro 1964 concept car
Ford

The Ford Allegro was all about innovation. With its futuristic design and sliding doors, it was meant to explore what family cars could look like in the future. It also featured a spacious interior, designed for comfort on long trips.

Though it wasn’t flashy like a sports car, the Allegro was practical and forward-thinking, showcasing Ford’s ability to combine style and functionality.

1963 Chrysler Turbine Car

Chrysler Turbine Car
Karrmann – Chrysler Turbine Car / Wikimedia Commons

The Chrysler Turbine Car ran on—you guessed it—a turbine engine. This innovative vehicle could run on various fuels, including diesel and even kerosene. It was smooth, efficient, and unlike anything else on the road.

Only a few prototypes were ever built, and they were later destroyed, making the surviving models rare treasures today.

1968 Dodge Charger III

dodge charger III concept car
Dodge

The Dodge Charger III was a dramatic departure from the already iconic Charger. With its low-slung, wedge-shaped design, it looked like a race car ready to dominate the track.

One standout feature? Its cockpit opened like the canopy of a jet fighter. This bold design influenced Dodge’s later muscle cars, leaving a lasting legacy.

1963 Chevrolet Testudo

Bertone Tetsudo
Andrew Bone – Bertone Tetsudo / Wikimedia Commons

Designed by legendary Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro, the Bertone Testudo was a futuristic coupe based on the Chevrolet Corvair. Its name, “Testudo,” means turtle in Italian, referencing its curved, shell-like roof.

The gullwing doors and sleek body hinted at a new era of sports cars. Though it remained a one-off, its influence can be seen in later Bertone designs.

1967 Lamborghini Marzal

Lamborghini Marzal
Matti Blume – Lamborghini Marzal / Wikimedia Commons

The Lamborghini Marzal was a four-seater concept car with a unique twist—it had transparent gullwing doors and a hexagonal design theme. Inside, it was all silver upholstery and futuristic vibes.

Though it was never produced, it helped inspire the Lamborghini Espada, which became a legendary grand tourer.

1968 Alfa Romeo Carabo

Alfa Romeo Carabo
Matthias v.d. Elbe – Alfa Romeo Carabo / Wikimedia Commons

The Alfa Romeo Carabo was one of the most radical designs of the decade. Its wedge-shaped body and scissor doors were groundbreaking, influencing sports car design for years to come.

Painted in a striking green-and-orange color scheme, the Carabo was more than a showpiece—it was a statement about Alfa Romeo’s bold vision for the future.

1966 Pininfarina Ferrari 365 P Berlinetta Speciale

Pininfarina Ferrari 365 P Berlinetta Speciale
MrWalkr – Pininfarina Ferrari 365 P Berlinetta Speciale / Wikimedia Commons

Nicknamed the “Tre Posti” because of its three-seat layout, this Ferrari concept by Pininfarina was groundbreaking. The driver’s seat was positioned centrally, flanked by two passenger seats—a layout later popularized by the McLaren F1.

The sleek, aerodynamic body was quintessentially Ferrari, blending beauty and performance. While it remained a concept, its influence can still be felt in Ferrari’s modern designs.

1964 Alfa Romeo Canguro

Alfa Romeo Canguro
Gear$Head -Alfa Romeo Canguro / Wikimedia Commons

The Alfa Romeo Canguro was another masterpiece by Bertone, with a sleek, lightweight body that rested on the Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ chassis. Its name, meaning “kangaroo,” reflected its nimble and agile design.

This concept was tragically damaged in an accident during testing, and it never reached production. However, it remains an icon of ‘60s automotive design.

1967 AMC Amitron

AMC - AMC Amitron / Wikimedia Commons
AMC Amitron

The Amitron was AMC’s vision of the future—a small, electric car designed for urban environments. It featured a compact, boxy design with advanced battery technology for its time.

While the Amitron was far ahead of its era, the world wasn’t quite ready for an electric car in the 1960s. Decades later, its ideas seem prophetic.

1969 Autobianchi A112 Runabout

Autobianchi A112 Runabout
Ketil3 – Autobianchi A112 Runabout / Wikimedia Commons

Designed by Marcello Gandini at Bertone, the Autobianchi A112 Runabout was playful and sporty. Its open-top design and rear-mounted engine gave it a fun, go-kart-like feel.

With its wedge-shaped nose and distinctive roll bar, the Runabout inspired the Fiat X1/9, a production sports car that arrived in the 1970s.

1968 Bizzarrini Manta

Bizzarrini Manta
Matti Blume – Bizzarrini Manta / Wikimedia Commons

The Bizzarrini Manta was an aggressive, wedge-shaped concept car with an incredibly low profile. It had a three-seat layout, with the driver positioned centrally, just like the Pininfarina Ferrari 365 P Berlinetta Speciale.

Its design was futuristic and bold, showcasing Bizzarrini’s ambition to stand out in the crowded sports car market of the time.

1963 Chevrolet Rondine

Chevrolet Rondine
Mr.choppers – Chevrolet Rondine / Wikimedia Commons

The Rondine was a Corvette-based concept designed by Pininfarina. With its elegant, European-inspired lines, it was a departure from the American muscle car aesthetic of the standard Corvette.

The Rondine’s body was made of steel instead of fiberglass, and it was designed to combine Corvette performance with Italian flair. Though it remained a one-off, it’s still celebrated for its unique style.

1962 Chevrolet Monza GT

Chevrolet Corvair Monza GT
Bzuk – Chevrolet Corvair Monza GT / Wikimedia Commons

The Monza GT was a revolutionary concept, featuring a mid-engine layout and gullwing doors. It was based on the Chevrolet Corvair platform but looked nothing like the production car.

The low-slung design and innovative features made it a standout. It heavily influenced the design of future Chevy sports cars, including the Corvette.

1961 Chrysler TurboFlite

chrysler turboflite concept car
Chrysler

The TurboFlite was Chrysler’s bold experiment with a turbine-powered car. Its most distinctive feature was a giant, transparent canopy that covered the cockpit, giving it a futuristic jet-inspired look.

Although it was never practical for production, it demonstrated Chrysler’s willingness to explore the limits of automotive design and engineering.

1961 Dodge Flitewing

dodge flitewing concept
Dodge

The Dodge Flitewing was a sleek, futuristic concept that featured innovative sliding doors and a unique cantilevered roof design. These features gave it a clean, uncluttered profile.

Inside, this Dodge concept car focused on luxury and convenience, with advanced controls and a minimalist dashboard. It was a bold vision of what Dodge thought the future might hold.

1961 Ford Gyron

Ford Gyron
Insomnia Cured Here – Ford Gyron / Flickr

The Ford Gyron was unlike anything else—a two-wheeled, gyroscopically balanced car. Its teardrop-shaped body and futuristic styling made it look like it came straight out of a sci-fi film.

While it was purely a design exercise, the Gyron explored radical ideas about vehicle dynamics and transportation efficiency.

1964 Pontiac Banshee

Pontiac Banshee
artistmac – 1964 Pontiac Banshee / Wikimedia Commons

The Pontiac Banshee was GM’s attempt to create a competitor to the Ford Mustang. It had a compact, lightweight design and a sporty two-seater layout.

While GM killed the project to avoid competition with the Corvette, the Banshee influenced future Pontiac designs, including the Firebird.

1966 Vauxhall XVR

Vauxhall XVR
Edvvc – 1966 Vauxhall XVR / Wikimedia Commons

The Vauxhall XVR was a sleek, low-slung sports car concept that featured gullwing doors and a sharply angled windshield. Its minimalist design emphasized speed and performance.

Although it never made it to production, the XVR reflected the growing influence of aerodynamic design in the ‘60s.

1964 GM Firebird IV

1964 gm firebird iv concept
GM

This car looked like something out of The Jetsons. Designed with sleek, futuristic lines, the GM Firebird IV wasn’t just about looks—it had technology aimed at autonomous driving. Yes, you read that right. Engineers envisioned a car that could drive itself, guided by a computerized highway system.

It was also about luxury. The interior featured a television, telephone, and fully reclining seats, almost like a mobile living room. While the Firebird IV never hit the roads, its forward-thinking ideas hinted at a tech-driven automotive future.

1963 Buick Riviera Silver Arrow

Buick Riviera Silver Arrow
Michael Barera – Buick Riviera Silver Arrow / Wikimedia Commons

The Silver Arrow I was an evolution of the Buick Riviera, one of the most stylish cars of the 1960s. This concept was sleeker and lower than its production sibling, featuring hidden headlights and a fastback rear. It was all about turning heads.

Inside, it was packed with luxury, including a futuristic dashboard with aircraft-inspired controls. Though the Silver Arrow I remained a concept, it inspired later Riviera designs, keeping its legacy alive.

The Groovy 70s Featured Some Wild Concept Cars

Mercedes-Benz C111
Wladyslaw – Mercedes-Benz C111 / Wikimedia Commons

Take a step back in time to view just how forward thinking some auto companies were. These concept cars were designed in the 1970s, but are so futuristic you might find it surprising! 

The Most Daring Concept Cars From Toyota

toyota ex7 from 1970 auto show
Toyota

Explore some of Toyota’s most innovative concept car designs. Each is a blend of innovation, style, and technology, showcasing the brand’s vision for tomorrow. See some of the best concepts Toyota has created over the years.

 

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