Forgotten 1960s Performance Cars: 10 Rare Machines History Left Behind

The 1960s are often remembered as the golden age of performance cars, with muscle cars and European sports machines dominating the conversation. But beyond the famous names, several genuinely impressive models from that era have faded into obscurity. Here are 10 performance cars from the decade that time has largely forgotten.

The 1962 Oldsmobile Jetfire stands out as one of the world's first turbocharged production cars, thanks to its turbocharged 3.5-liter V8 producing 215 horsepower. Nearly 10,000 units were built, yet it remains overshadowed by more celebrated muscle cars.

The 1966 Saab Sonett II offered just 60 horsepower from its 841cc two-stroke inline-three, but its featherweight construction and stripped-back design delivered a pure driving experience. Saab also turned the Sonett into a formidable racer, performing well on both tarmac and European rally stages.

The 1964 Marcos GT featured a sweeping hood and steeply raked rear window, with power ranging from a humble inline-four to a Ford-derived 3.0-liter V6. Despite reasonable success for the small British brand, it remains overlooked next to icons like the E-Type and early Porsches.

The 1969 Gilbern Invader was the ultimate expression of Wales' only production car manufacturer. With a fiberglass body and a Ford-derived V6, it offered a purposeful GT experience, but today only a small band of enthusiasts remembers it.

The 1966 Chevrolet Corvair Yenko Stinger was Don Yenko's road-racer before his legendary Camaro builds. Only 185 were produced, with the most potent Stage IV version making 240 horsepower from a tuned flat-six. Its rarity and the later fame of Yenko's Camaros pushed the Stinger into the shadows.

The 1967 Monteverdi 375 came from Switzerland, not a typical hub of performance motoring. With Italian styling by Frua and a massive 7.2-liter V8 making 375 horsepower, only about 151 were built, leaving this luxury GT largely forgotten.

The 1964 Gordon Keeble GT combined Italian styling by Giorgetto Giugiaro with a Chevrolet-derived 5.4-liter V8 producing 300 horsepower. Only 100 were assembled, and competing against established names like Bentley and Aston Martin made it a tough sell.

The 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt was a scarce, limited run of road-legal drag racers, with only 100 built. Powered by a 427 big-block V8 rated at 425 horsepower, it used fiberglass and aluminum to keep weight down. Devoted Ford fans know it, but most enthusiasts have never heard of it.

The 1960 OSCA 1600 GTZ championed lightness over displacement. With just 105 horsepower from a 1.6-liter inline-four and bodywork styled by Zagato, it was a competitive sports car of its era, but more prominent models have since claimed the spotlight.

The 1960 Warwick GT was so scarce that few knew about it even when new. Only around 40 were built over two years. Interestingly, when it failed commercially, the project passed to John Gordon and Jim Keeble, who developed it into the Gordon Keeble GT that debuted in 1964.