Baby Boomers have witnessed a most exciting time in the history of the automobile. From great American muscle cars to European sports cars, from acres of full-size luxury to reliable trucks, and from cheap Japanese imports to affordable economy models, these ten vehicles exemplify the innovation, performance, style and economy that the Baby Boomer Generation has made his and her choice. Chevrolet’s iconic (and long-lasting) Camaro, Pontiac GTO, and Ford’s legendary Mustang were the classics of the muscle car era, and the Shelby Mustang GT350 roared along with them. European classics were better than ever with the Jaguar E-Type and the Triumph TR4, and there was no avoiding the luxury of a Cadillac DeVille, the everyday ability of a Ford F-Series, and the economy of a Toyota Corolla.

Each vehicle also represented a unique car-buying priority of its time. Some valued V8 power, customization, and performance, others aimed for comfort, long-lasting durability, mechanical simplicity, or fuel efficiency. The Mustang and Camaro were undisputed evidence that sporty, customizable cars were in demand. The GTO helped define the muscle car segment. The Corvette was as much about style as it was about the performance that was just starting to evolve. The Jaguar E-Type brought an air of European sophistication to American roads, while the Cadillac DeVille was all about luxury and long-haul presence. The F-Series supported work and play, while the Corolla was all about practical ownership and mileage. Today’s drivers may have different priorities such as the abundance of high tech and modern convenIences, but no one would deny these are the vehicles that captured the essence of American new car ownership of the baby boomer years.

1. Ford Mustang (1964–1970)

The first Mustang was introduced on April 17, 1964 and established a new class of pony cars that has been the pursuit of most of the Detroit automakers for the decades to follow. Ford sold 418,812 of the new cars in the first year, providing a huge surprise for the industry. At the base model’s modest $2,368 price, the Ford Mustang was affordable to the working-class youth who could save enough money to buy one with the ability to modify the engines and trim levels and options as well as the desire. The 2+2 fastback styling with a long nose and short deck made it a sporty looking car in addition to the fun-to-drive factor.

Ford Mustang’s Most Memorable Features:

• Introduced the pony car category
• Sold over 400,000 first-year units
• Offered customizable engines and trims
• Featured iconic long-hood styling
• Delivered performance at approachable prices

And all this was about the car’s styling, affordability, and performance. Steve McQueen helped put the car on the map with his 1968 Highland Green fastback in Bullitt, and the “Bullitt” version remains one of the most recognizable movies ever made. Performance models including the Mach 1 and Boss 302 could actually run on the track while still being affordable, while the base six-cylinder models were attractive and fun alternatives for everyday driving with style. Restored early fastbacks can go for over $100,000 today, and the ultra-rare 1967 Shelby GT500 can fetch over one million at auction. The Mustang continues to be a strong symbol of the affordable performance and personal customization that defined the 60s.

2. Chevrolet Camaro (1967–1969)

The 1967 version of the first-generation (1967-1969) Chevrolet Camaro was Chevrolet’s response to the Ford Mustang, and Chevrolet built the car on the Nova platform. Interest was high right from the start, with 220,000 buyers loading up a Camaro on their shopping list. The car’s long (111-inch) hood, svelte design, and squat stance made for an attractive package with a styling that was elegant but also slightly aggressive, ideal for the value-conscious customer. Almost 80 factory options were available for Camaro buyers, and they could further personalize the vehicle with packages like the Rally Sport that added chrome and hidden headlights, and the Super Sport that added performance suspension. Buyers could choose everything from a 155-horsepower, inline-six to powerful big-block V8s.

Chevrolet Camaro’s Standout Characteristics:

• Challenged the original Ford Mustang
• Offered roughly 80 factory choices
• Featured hidden Rally Sport headlights
• Included powerful big-block V8 engines
• Created the performance-focused Z/28 package

Chevrolet also added the Z/28 package (originally made to meet SCCA Trans-Am homologation specifications). A high-revving 302 cubic-inch small-block V8 engine with 290 horsepower was added with the package, along with a four-speed manual transmission. This solidified the Camaro as a performance landmark and it began a legacy of one of the most easily remembered American cars of that era. The model had quite the appeal to Baby Boomers with a couple of different appearance packages, multiple engines, and a unique size and shape. Model production increased to 235,147 in 1968 before hitting 243,085 during the last year of first generation with 1969.

3. Pontiac GTO (1964–1970)

The Pontiac GTO was instrumental in establishing the muscle car market in 1964 when engineers Jim Wangers and John DeLorean inserted a 389-cubic-inch V8 engine into the two-door body of the Tempest. The combination of a large motor with an intermediate-sized car created an affordable package with some real performance appeal. The GTO name was borrowed from Ferrari’s legendary racing car of the same name, hinting that this was a high-end exotic that was actually within reach. The GTO quickly took on a character of its own with a focus on performance and youthful appeal that separated it from the other competition.

Pontiac GTO Performance Highlights:

• Helped establish the muscle car
• Featured a 389-cubic-inch V8
• Combined power with midsize practicality
• Introduced smoother styling in 1966
• Became a prized collector vehicle

Inside, the 1966 model gained more refined lines, bucket seats, true instrumentation, and hidden headlamps. The GTO gained a new flavor of driving excitement with a ram air hi-performance option that led to real 100+ mph results at the quarter mile strip. The GTO defined its job as delivering speed, power, and durability within a package that still allowed owners to stay away from the full-size luxury machines of the day. Its sporty attitude with a well-muscled engineering drive and a high-interest appearance earned Pontiac distinctions among the newer muscle car brands. Adding a little fame for the ’64s, pop song writers, the Daytonas, recorded a song titled for their car, Ronnie and the Daytonas in 1964. The documented originals now attract heavy attention from aficionados of high-performance machinery, especially by the Baby Boomer generation.

4. Shelby Mustang GT350 (1965–1970)

Back in 1965, as the story goes, Ford decided that the 2+2 fastback Mustang was approaching top performance and called upon Carroll Shelby to see just how good they could make the thing. Shelby fettled the GT350 variant with panel stripes and rear wheel drive with a 289 cubic inch V8 that was rated at 271 horsepower with the first 572 SCCA Homologation units. For those who wanted to push the envelope even further, Shelby improved the induction system and routed the exhaust system to reside under a fiberglass hood to up the ante to 306 horsepower with a supercharger option making 390 horsepower. When you consider that, the GT350 still had a thing of its own design separate from the rest of the Mustang family.

Shelby GT350’s Performance Highlights:

• Developed with Carroll Shelby’s expertise
• Initial production included 572 units
• Engine output reached 306 horsepower
• Optional supercharger approached 390 horsepower
• Total production reached 7,104 examples

The GT350’s popularity further gained momentum when in 1966 Hertz ordered the now-legendary black and gold rental edition, allowing many more drivers to experience Shelby performance. The models continued to change in 1967 with a much larger variety of body options and more exterior colors, including black, blue, red, and green, in addition to the original Wimbledon White. A coupe was also available with the availability of the Shelby GT350, with a convertible joining the roster in 1968, while the entire model line was produced until 1970 with a total of 7,104 built. The GT350 also had a unique combination of highly developed engineering, a clear visual connection to Carroll Shelby’s performance history, and a presence on the road that sets it apart from the average Mustang.

5. Chevrolet Corvette (1963–1967)

The second-generation C2 Chevrolet Corvette was introduced in 1963 as a new model. It saw the addition of an independent rear suspension on a higher-quality frame rather than the solid rear axle that it replaced. Along with a new chassis, Chevrolet provided buyers the option of a fastback coupe or a convertible body style in the new Corvette. A total of 21,513 units were sold during the first model year. The Chevrolet Corvette’s second-generation for 1963 is famous for its distinctively split rear window, which was only available for 1 year. The new 1963 Chevrolet Corvette was hard to beat because of the changes made to the car’s engineering, its unique styling, and its high-performance engine options.

Corvette C2’s Defining Features:

• Introduced independent rear suspension in 1963
• Offered coupe and convertible body styles
• Featured the iconic split rear window
• Delivered 360 horsepower with fuel injection
• Added big-block V8 engine options

The C2 Corvette was originally fitted with a 327-cubic-inch small-block V8. When it was port-injected with a three-speed manual gearbox, the sports car could generate 360 BHP. Chevrolet kept refining the design during the model’s lifespan, as in 1965 the sports car received four-wheel disc brakes and a 396-cubic-inch big-block V8 then, a 427-cubic-inch big-block V8 in 1966. About 27,720 units of the model were sold in 1966, but Chevrolet only made 22,940 examples of it in 1967, its last year in production. The design of the C2 kept evolving in between, and it is quite possibly one of the most easily recognizable sports cars around. It is also quite well known, in the form of its short-lived split-window coupe.

6. Jaguar E-Type (XKE) (1971–1974)

Appealing to baby boomers looking for a taste of Europe and the luxury they associate with that market, the Series III Jaguar E-Type (called the XKE in the U.S.) offered, in addition to its beautiful lines, a 5.3-liter aluminum-alloy V12 with four carburetors. Power was 272 horsepower and 303 lb-ft of torque, providing a significant amount of propulsion while offering the panache of a high-end European grand tourer. Fuel economy averaged 15 miles per gallon; buyers could specify 2+2 coupe or roadster body styles and could select from 15 exterior colors. With its stunning proportions and novel V12 configuration, the Series III E-Type was likely to appeal to the haughtier set among U.S. buyers.

Jaguar E-Type’s Luxury Highlights:

• Featured a 5.3-liter V12 engine
• Produced 272 horsepower and torque
• Offered coupe and roadster body styles
• Included power-assisted steering and rocker switches
• Nearly 70% of production reached America

Standard features on the Series III XKE included the Jaguar new OPUS ignition system, the power-assisted steering and traditional dashboard rocker switches. The upgrade to luxury equipment and the addition of a V12 engine further set this car apart from its smaller sports car contemporaries. Americans bought almost 70 per cent of the 15,917 models built, further enhanced the Jaguar E-Type’s reputation and popularity in the United States. For generations of Baby Boomers, the E-type epitomized the elegance of European motoring and the image of a motorcar laden with prestige. Its elaborate engine compartment and single-piece monocoque body may be intimidating to time-pressed young ‘enthusiasts’, but its uniqueness and muscle will always be a factor of its overall desirability. The Series III E-Type demonstrates how the importing of grand tourers can provide Americans with a different perspective and flair from their domestic muscle car counterpart.

7. Triumph TR4 (1961–1967)

In an era when the typical British roadster played an important role in American sports-car life, the Triumph TR4 had the advantage of a lighter overall body and a driving experience as simple as it was to the point. Georges Michelotti-designed TR4 did have elegant styling, even if it was produced in Coventry, England. It wore a two-seat body atop a 2.1-liter four-cylinder engine and four-speed manual transmission, with 98 hp delivered to the solid rear axle. The American love of lightweighted-ness found a perfect idol in the TR4, 90 percent of which are estimated to have been LHD, with fun instead of HEMI.

Triumph TR4’s Key Characteristics:

• Designed by Giovanni Michelotti
• Featured a 2.1-liter four-cylinder engine
• Paired with a four-speed manual
• Most examples were left-hand drive
• Offered lightweight British roadster character

Triumph revisited the roadster line in 1965 with the TR4A, which received independent rear suspension and a power boost to 102 horsepower. It could speed along to 109 mph, just one of the additional 28,000 cars produced before the end of the line, while still keeping its simple origins intact so that it could be driven as its designers intended. To Baby Boomers, clutching through the TR4’s shifts were the keys to motoring freedom not tied to a big motor or excessive gadgets. It was as simple as it gets, with the status-quo of modern convenience gadgets making the TR4 seem more like a very basic project car today. But its light weight and overall concept made it one of the quintessential British roadsters.

8. Cadillac DeVille (1965–1970)

Displaying a Cadillac in the driveway of a mid-century America home was the way to show you’d made it. The 1970 Cadillac DeVille convertible, the last year Cadillac offered the droptop version of the DeVille before putting them in the Eldorado line, was the last year the American big luxury boat came with a drop-top. Only 15,172 of these 4,690-pound large luxury cruisers were built in ’70 and it combined an imposing presence with serious engine power. Powered by a 472-cubic-inch 8-cylinder rated at 375hp, the DeVille was a presence, designed for comfort, and evoked the experience of traveling in an American-made luxury car rather than a cute little import or smaller sports car.

Cadillac DeVille’s Luxury Features:

• Featured a 472-cubic-inch V8
• Produced 375 horsepower
• Weighed nearly 4,700 pounds
• Offered Firemist paint and automatic speed control
• Limited convertible production reached 15,172 units

The DeVille’s amenities were centered on luxury Firemist paint, automatic speed control, remote door locks, and spacious bench seating all were designed for comfort and convenience, not economy. All of those amenities served the bulk of the DeVille, which was a huge and powerful motorcar designed to project presence and comfort, and symbolize achievement and progress for many Boomers. Cadillac built a convertible on the DeVille platform for one year in 1970, which was the last year the model was offered, as Cadillac began to build Eldorado convertibles other generations of modern-boomers who grew up when fuel economy and petite performance cars were celebrated still might have trouble connecting with the DeVille’s size and fuel appetite. But one can see it as a veritable symbol of a time when luxury on the road was conveyed by size, horsepower, luxury, roominess, and plain old impact.

9. Ford F-Series Pickup Truck

For the average Baby Boomer car buyer, it was still the muscle-car style and performance of the American muscle cars that were a focus. But for the “workaholic” business person or man-about-the-home, the Ford F-Series pickup truck would be a very useful and dependable part of his or her Baby Boomer lifestyle. In recent decades, Ford truck owners tout the simplicity and toughness of a vehicle that went from the construction site to the tree-cutting frenzy of the pre-Mother’s Day mulch run to the home-center to-do list with ease. What to him or her could be more American than taking pride in a build that would save money and look good doing it at the same time?

Ford F-Series’ Practical Strengths:

• Built for rugged everyday durability
• Supported work and home-improvement tasks
• Offered a smooth, dependable ride
• Modern models include trailering technology
• Available with V8 and hybrid powertrains

Modern pickups from the F-Series line of trucks continue this model’s tradition of capable trucks loaded with new trailering technologies, intuitive controls, and a selection of drive trains consisting of powerful but fuel-efficient V8 engines and hybrids. To the Baby Boomers, the F-Series still is the truck they can haul a camper, boat, or camper to a weekend place and get out of town without a problem. It is not built for speed, good looks, or pampering; it is for versatility and broad appeal. But to the younger people looking on, the V-8 powered behemoth parked in the grocery store lot is a costly, energy sapping, and hard-to-maneuver machine. The two viewpoints reflect the different expectations about truck size and personal practicality. Yet the F-Series can never be far removed from the durability and usefulness that has long characterized truck trucks for Baby Boomers.

10. Toyota Corolla (Late 1960s–1970s)

When the first Japanese cars came to America in 1968, the financially conservative driver looking for something sensible to replace Detroit’s big, fast cars would be happy to find the modest Toyota Corolla. It did not boast a quarter mile time or a showy design. Instead, it relied on years of engineering and relative simplicity to keep maintenance costs down. For Baby Boomers who wanted a good daily driver that would not break down, the Corolla was a hit. The savings in fuel economy that came from the 1973 oil crisis made the small Japanese car even more appealing. Its relatively little size and mechanical ease also made it ideal for the average car owner compared to the high-powered V-8s of American comfort cars.

Toyota Corolla’s Practical Advantages:

• Arrived in America during 1968
• Offered low maintenance costs
• Emphasized mechanical longevity and reliability
• Delivered impressive fuel efficiency
• Became valuable during the 1973 oil crisis

Its straightforward engineering and close manufacturing tolerances created a reliability legend that survived many decades. It was an easy-to-love car for Baby Boomers who were more than happy to have a useful and relaxing ride as an alternative to the other things many of the early models didn’t have size, style and a big engine. It was especially attractive during the oil crisis, when maximum miles-per-gallon would work to the car’s advantage. Today, the early Corolla might not appeal to Baby Boomer consumers who prefer the sleek and the stylish it might seem like just another plain, beige car. But the Corolla should be celebrated for what it didn’t have everything to cause undue worry. And for why it became a true Baby Boomer classic in its own right along with the Mustang, GTO, Corvette and other greats of the era.