Classic Cars Of 1961
 

The car selected by Motor Trend magazine as the car of the year for 1961 was the Pontiac Tempest. Designed by John Z. Delorean, this car is credited with having a nearly 50/50 weight differential and a rear mounted Corvair trans-axle—part of an axle arrangement called a “rope drive” which had been used only in “concept” cars before the Tempest. Evidently this car was considered “compact” in it’s day. One wonders what they would have called a Prius.

Another classic car of 1961 was the Lincoln Continental. The 1961 Continental was remarkable for several reasons. First, its design differed radically from the Continental of 1960. The rear doors—later dubbed “suicide doors”—opened from the front. The car itself was two feet shorter than its predecessor—this feature being requested by company president, and future defense secretary, Robert McNamara. Evidently the larger more cumbersome Continentals were unpopular, and McNamara was faced with the choice of disbanding the Continental line all together or totally redesigning it. He chose the latter, and, happily, ended up with a car that became the prototype for 4-door sedans for years to come. On a less upbeat note, the 1961 Lincoln Continental is probably best remembered as being the car in which John F. Kennedy was assassinated, (as he sat in the back, with the top down).

Ironically the 1961 Thunderbird was originally supposed to look like a Lincoln Continental. Fortunately the designers went with a different plan. In 1961 the Ford Motor Company started its third line of “T-birds.” This ‘61version, later nicknamed “The Bullet Bird” for its relatively pointed front end, symmetrical sides, and smooth, streamlined shape is, generally acknowledged as one of the most beautifully designed cars of all time.

Another of the more beautifully designed classic cars of 1961 is the Oldsmobile Cutlass F-85. This car was initially offered as a station wagon, or a four-door sedan. Although a collector’s item today, initial sales of this vehicle were sluggish. So in May of 1961, Oldsmobile introduced a two-door, Cutlass sports coup. Which, with its powerful V-8 engine and roomy bucket seats increased sales considerably.

No overview of the automobiles of 1961 would be complete without a mention of the worst car ever: GM’s 1961 Corvair. These air-cooled, rear engine cars, were later made famous in Ralph Nader’s, Unsafe At Any Speed. Despite their own suspicions that the Corvair’s rear mounted engine caused it to spin out, GM did nothing to safe guard the vehicle—or, for that matter, its owners. Despite a smart look and an aesthetically appealing design, the Corvair was a death trap, and GM paid royally for their oversight.