The 1960s swapped tailfins for clean lines and pony cars. You can rent the real thing: Ford Mustangs from 1965 to 1967, a 1960 Corvette, a 1967 Pontiac Firebird, a 1966 Lincoln Continental, Cadillac and Buick convertibles, Rolls-Royce Silver Clouds, a Phantom V and a British Princess limousine.
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The 1960s threw away the tailfins and started again. Cars became crisper, cleaner and faster, the Ford Mustang created a whole new kind of car overnight, and American muscle met British elegance on the same streets. It was the decade of the space race, the Beatles and Mad Men style, and its cars still look effortlessly cool. Here are the real 1960s cars you can rent through our classic car rental service, the story behind each one, and what people book them for today.
The 1960s at a glance
| Year | Car | Great for |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Chevrolet Corvette | Sports-car style and photo shoots |
| 1960 | Cadillac convertible | Big, red, top-down glamour |
| 1960s | Bentley | Understated British luxury |
| 1960–1962 | Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II | Weddings and formal arrivals |
| 1961 | Buick Invicta convertible | A colorful, open-top ride |
| 1961 | Rolls-Royce Phantom V | A royal-style arrival |
| 1962 | Austin Princess limousine | A formal arrival for up to six |
| 1963–1965 | Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III | 1960s polish for weddings |
| 1965–1967 | Ford Mustang | Proms, birthdays and road-trip cool |
| 1966 | Lincoln Continental | Mad Men style and golden photos |
| 1967 | Pontiac Firebird convertible | Pony-car fun in red |
What made 1960s cars special
- Goodbye, fins. After the giant fins of 1959, designers cut them back year by year. By the middle of the decade, sharp, clean lines had taken over.
- The pony car. The Ford Mustang, launched in April 1964, was sporty, affordable and endlessly customizable, and it created a whole new class of car. Rivals like the Pontiac Firebird followed.
- Muscle. Big V8s found their way into mid-size cars, setting up the muscle-car boom that peaked in 1970.
- British elegance. Rolls-Royce, Bentley and the British Princess limousines brought hand-built luxury to the decade.
- Convertibles everywhere. The 1960s were a golden age for open cars, from Cadillacs to Mustangs.
The 1960s cars you can rent
1960 Chevrolet Corvette
America’s sports car started life in 1953, and by 1960 the first-generation Corvette had grown into a confident, quad-headlight two-seater with a V8. This one wears Honduras Maroon, a genuine 1960 Corvette color, with contrasting side coves. It’s the car that bridges the chrome of the 1950s and the speed of the 1960s.
Great for: photo shoots, car lovers, a two-person getaway, brand campaigns.
1960 Cadillac convertible
After the record-breaking fins of 1959, Cadillac’s 1960 cars toned things down with lower, cleaner fins and a more elegant line. This red convertible is still pure Cadillac glamour: long, wide and made to be seen with the top down.
Great for: parades, photo and film shoots, a top-down entrance.
1960s Bentley
In the early 1960s, Bentley’s S2 and S3 saloons shared their bodies with the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II and III, with a rounder Bentley grille in place of the Rolls-Royce one. This silver-blue 1960s Bentley offers all of that elegance with a quieter, more discreet presence.
Great for: weddings, garden parties, British-themed events.
Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II, 1960 to 1962
The Silver Cloud II looks almost identical to the first Cloud, but in 1959 Rolls-Royce gave it a new V8 engine. It remains the classic wedding Rolls-Royce. Choose from a white 1960 Silver Cloud, a white 1960 Silver Cloud II, a deep auburn 1960 Silver Cloud II, a 1961 Silver Cloud, another white 1961 Cloud, or a 1962 long-wheelbase Silver Cloud II with extra room in the back.
Great for: weddings, formal arrivals, anniversaries.
1961 Buick Invicta convertible
Buick’s 1961 cars were all new: lighter, lower and cleaner than the chrome-heavy 1950s models. The Invicta was the sporty full-size Buick of its day, and this convertible in bright blue is a joyful, open-top way to arrive.
Great for: beach weddings, photo shoots, summer parties.
1961 Rolls-Royce Phantom V
The Phantom V was the grandest Rolls-Royce of the 1960s, a long limousine built from 1959 to 1968, with only 516 made. Queen Elizabeth II rode in Phantom Vs, and John Lennon had his painted in psychedelic colors. In white, this 1961 Phantom V is an arrival fit for royalty.
Great for: formal weddings, grand arrivals, period film scenes.
1962 Austin Princess limousine
Built in London by the coachbuilder Vanden Plas from 1952 to 1968, the Princess was Britain’s other great limousine, and with its tall, upright grille it’s often mistaken for a Rolls-Royce. This white 1962 Princess has room for six, which makes it perfect for a bride with her bridesmaids or a family arriving together.
Great for: bridal parties, family groups, formal arrivals.
Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III, 1963 to 1965
The last of the Clouds has four headlights in pairs and a slightly lower grille, which gives it a crisper, more 1960s face. Choose a 1963 Silver Cloud III in a warm gray, a 1964 Silver Cloud with a quilted interior, or a white 1965 Silver Cloud III. For more, see our guide to classic Rolls-Royce wedding cars.
Great for: weddings, city celebrations, 1960s themes.
Ford Mustang, 1965 to 1967
The Mustang went on sale in April 1964 and became a sensation: Ford built its one-millionth Mustang less than two years later, and the “pony car” class was named after it. Choose a cherry red 1965 Mustang, a white 1965 Mustang GT convertible, a blue 1966 Mustang convertible or a 1967 Mustang convertible, the first year of the bigger, more muscular redesign.
Great for: proms and homecomings, 60th birthdays, photo shoots, a fun getaway.
1966 Lincoln Continental
The 1961 to 1969 Lincoln Continental is one of the most admired American designs ever: long, flat-sided and elegant, with rear doors hinged at the back so they open from the center. President Kennedy’s parade car was a Continental of this generation. This one, nicknamed “Goldie,” is finished in gold, and it’s pure Mad Men.
Great for: 1960s parties, weddings, film and fashion shoots.
1967 Pontiac Firebird convertible
Pontiac answered the Mustang with the Firebird, launched in 1967 on the same platform as the Chevrolet Camaro. This first-year Firebird convertible in red is pure pony-car fun, and it draws a crowd wherever it parks.
Great for: quinceañeras, proms, birthday parties, photo shoots.
Before the 1960s: the 1950s
The early 1960s cars still carry a little 1950s glamour in their chrome and fins. To see where it all came from, look at the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air, the two-seat 1957 Ford Thunderbird or a 1950s Silver Cloud, all in our guide to 1950s cars for rent.
After the 1960s: the 1970s
The muscle-car boom of the late 1960s peaked in 1970, with cars like the 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454, before fuel crises and new rules changed everything. The 1970s also brought disco-era glamour, from the 1976 Cadillac Eldorado convertible to the Rolls-Royce Corniche. Explore them in our guide to 1970s cars for rent.
What people rent 1960s cars for
- 1960s parties. Mad Men nights, mod and Motown themes, surf parties and Beatles tributes.
- Weddings. From a Silver Cloud for the bride to a Mustang convertible for the getaway.
- Proms, homecomings and quinceañeras. A red Firebird or a Mustang makes an arrival everyone remembers.
- Film, TV and music videos. Period scenes, commercials and music videos with real 1960s style.
- Photo shoots. Fashion, engagement and senior portraits, brand campaigns.
- A 60th birthday or a diamond anniversary. Born or married in 1966? Celebrate in a car from that very year.
Booking a 1960s car: what to know
- Choose by seats. The Corvette is a two-seater; the Phantom V and the Princess limousine carry more. Tell us how many will ride.
- Plan for the weather. Many of these cars are convertibles, and air conditioning varies from car to car. Ask if it matters to you.
- Keep the route reasonable. 60-year-old cars are happiest on shorter routes at gentle speeds.
- Book early. Mustangs and Silver Clouds are popular on spring, summer and fall weekends.
Questions people ask
Can I rent a 1960s Ford Mustang?
Yes. You can choose from a 1965 Mustang in cherry red, a 1965 Mustang GT convertible, a 1966 Mustang convertible and a 1967 Mustang convertible.
What is a pony car?
A sporty, affordable car with a long hood and a short rear deck, named after the Ford Mustang, which created the class in 1964. The Pontiac Firebird and Chevrolet Camaro followed in 1967.
Why does the Lincoln Continental have backward-opening rear doors?
The 1961 to 1969 Continental’s rear doors are hinged at the back, so both doors open from the center pillar. It makes getting in and out gracious, and it’s one of the car’s most famous features.
Is the Austin Princess a Rolls-Royce?
No. It’s a British limousine built by Vanden Plas, often mistaken for a Rolls-Royce because of its tall, upright grille.
Do you have cars from the 1950s and 1970s too?
Yes. See our guides to 1950s cars and 1970s cars for rent.
