The 1963 Buick Electra 225 was General Motors’ full-size luxury vehicle fully loaded with premium features. The Electra 225 was GM’s largest, poshest, and most pricey model, and it came renovated for a 1963 release with sleek and austere vertical-edged tails and distinctive wheel housing. The red-filled Electra 225 badge on its tail fenders boasted of its impressive 225-inch berth.
Packed with a Wildcat 6.6-liter nail head V-8, it possessed all the vigor necessary to scream to a haul. Inside, power seats, A/C, heater, power brakes, power steering pampered the driver. This car was meant to cruise the boulevard in style. The Electra enjoyed its denomination for over thirty years until 1991 when GM renamed it the Buick Park Avenue.
1964 Pontiac GTO
The 1964 Pontiac GTO blazed the way for the American muscle car, in spite of General Motors' reluctance. Elderly and conservative clientele frowned upon these new-fangled "super" cars. They bristled at its rowdy cultural significance and winced at superfluous displays of raw power. But the folks over at Pontiac made it happen anyway. Working on a car that Americans would love, John DeLorean conspired with Pontiac’s VP of Advertising, Jim Wangers.
The promotion went so well that 5,000 cars were on the order sheets before even one car was built. The Pontiac GTO was nothing short of badass. Car and Driver magazine legendarily compared it to the Ferrari GTO. Of course, it was named “Car of the Year.” In 1965, sales numbers doubled, and the muscle car race was well on its way. Ford, Chevy, and Mopar began beefing up a new line of performance cars.
1964 Aston Martin DB5 Vantage Coupe
You’ve seen this one before. Everyone knows Bond, James Bond, first drove the Aston Martin DB5 in 'Goldfinger', right? What a beauty. A Silver Birch finish lined in red interior, designed by classy Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Touring, the DB5 was a head-turner. But you might not know what powers this pretty thing.
Under the fine lines that adorn the hood, a 4.0-liter DOHC straight-6 coupled with a ZF 5-speed transmission comprised the powertrain which delivered 282 horsepower and up to 288 lb. ft. of torque. The DB5 is a rare machine, indeed. Only 1,021 were built. The grand tourer could be acquired in a 2-door convertible or coupe.
1966 Alfa Romeo Spider Duetto
This glamorous co-star of 'The Graduate' was the design work of Pinin Farina, maestro of Carrozzeria Pininfarina, and it was Farina’s last personally designed auto. His avant-garde sleek lines debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in March of 1966. A long and sloping hood parallels a tapering rear end, identifying the Alfa Romeo look. Inside, leather seats, a smooth-as-silk shifter, and an elaborate panel of instrumentation pampered the driver.
The rear-wheel-drive two-seater, known as the Duetto, yet never officially named so, is an icon of classic cars. Motored by an Alfa Romeo all-aluminum, double overhead cam, 108 horsepower was the product of its inline-4 1570 cc., 95.8 cu. in. powertrain. Top speeds hit 115 mph, and it zipped 0-60 in 11 seconds. The Spider was in production until 1993.
1965 Mustang GT K-Code Fastback
The 1965 Mustang GT K-Code Fastback was a special edition Mustang that sheathed the same blazing engine as the Shelby. Designated “K-Code” for its corresponding VIN starting-letter, these Mustang GTs were factory-fit with a special 289 cu. in., high-performance stallion. The K-Code cost drivers an extra $276 in the options package, but it was worth it.
The “High Performance 289” badge on the front fender was no gimmick. This car was built for performance. Upgraded pistons, cylinder heads, carburetor, lifter heads, and connecting rods meant business, as did the chrome air cleaner and valve covers sparkling under the hood. Ford knew drivers of these vehicles would push it to its limit, so a warranty on a Mustang K-Code covered just 3 months, as opposed to the 12-month warranty on a standard Mustang.