Early 1960s sports cars with a high-performance racing pedigree like Ferrari, the Shelby AC Cobra and Aston-Martin were usually out of the financial reach of most North American buyers. An exception was the One thousand nine hundred sixty one to One thousand nine hundred seventy five Jaguar XKE E-Type. It had all-wheel disc brakes, an independent suspension and a triple carburetor setup.
Corvette
Sports cars of the 1960s generally were two-seater or 2+2 fastback European cars. An argument can be made the Corvette was not a true sports car, but an American muscle car disguised as a sports car. However, the first-generation One thousand nine hundred sixty one and One thousand nine hundred sixty two Corvettes were not that much bigger than European counterparts. Only the fuel-injected 360-horsepower Three hundred twenty seven cubic-inch V-8 set it apart from the others. The Corvette sat on a 102-inch wheelbase. It reached the quarter mile in 14.9 seconds and achieved a top speed of One hundred thirty two mph.
Alfa Romeo
The One thousand nine hundred sixty one to One thousand nine hundred sixty eight Alfa Romeo Two thousand six hundred Spider two-seater featured an in-line six-cylinder engine, which was rare for a European import. Alfa Romeo placed the Spider on a tidy 98.4-inch wheelbase and the body measured 177.2 inches long. Under the hood was the 2.6-liter six-cylinder generating One hundred sixty two horsepower and One hundred fifty nine foot-pounds of torque. Although the Alfa was about Three hundred lbs. lighter than the Corvette, it didn't fare as well in straight-line racing. It reached the quarter mile in 16.9 seconds and had a top speed of One hundred twenty four mph.
Triumph
The One thousand nine hundred sixty one to One thousand nine hundred sixty five Triumph TR4 fit the perfect image of a two-seater sports car. It was rugged, noisy and made sure that every bump, pebble and dip in the road caressed the driver's backside. Its power derived from a 2.1-liter four-cylinder engine that developed One hundred five horsepower and One hundred twenty eight foot-pounds of torque. The power wasn't impressive, but the ultra-short 88-inch wheelbase and featherweight 2,235-lb. curbside weight made it a joy to drive on curvy two-lane roads.
MG
Perhaps one of the most common sports cars on the road in the early 1960s was the MG MGB, which had a 1962-to-1980 production run. It was more conservatively styled than the Alfa Romeo and Triumph, but no less nimble on road. It featured a 91-inch wheelbase and 153.2-inch body length. It cleared the ground by only 4.2 inches and weighed a scant 2,080 lbs. Under the hood was a modest 95-horsepower 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine.
Jaguar
Alfa Romeo
produced six-cylinder roadsters and coupes in the early 1960s.Automakers designed early 1960s sports cars for handling, and not necessarily speed. The Chevrolet Corvette was an exception, but sports car purists tended to thumb their noses at the two-seater Corvette, which enthusiasts perceived as too large and stuffed with too much power. Typically, the early 1960s sports car didn't bother with safety features and came equipped with a modest engine, primitive interior and low ground clearance that emphasized the roadster's nuanced handling of the road. It had an extremely long hood to accommodate a 265-horsepower 3.8-liter straight-six. It was heavier than most British imports at 2,700 lbs., but it could achieve an incredible top speed of One hundred fifty mph. Its $5,600 ($39,915 in Two thousand ten dollars) sticker price was more than the One thousand nine hundred sixty two Corvette, but about Fifty percent less than a Ferrari.
