Vintage cars continue to be part of the world’s love of and nostalgia for classic decades, including the muscle and luxury cars of the 1960s and the chaotic, tumultuous, massive cultural shifts of the 1960s. The cars of this decade catered to Americans of all ages seeking horsepower, sleek styles, cool colors, etc.
1968 was a tumultuous year of lots of change.
The Beatles’ single “Hey, Jude” topped the charts, their double album “White Album” was the biggest album of the year, and the comedy “Funny Girl” was the top-grossing film of the year, with Stanley Kurbrick’s groundbreaking film, “2001: A Space Odyssey,” being a very close second.
1968 was, unfortunately, a year of violence and loss. The Vietnam War was raging, and both MLK, Junior, and RFK were assassinated. LBJ was president, and the country was undergoing a significant cultural transformation in technology and advancements in space and exploration.
Car-wise, 1968 was still a banner year for muscle cars and classics like Ford’s iconic and very popular Mustang.
Introduced as part of the first generation of Mustangs, the 1968 model benefited from the massive popularity of the Mustang’s initial launch in 1964, which established it as a symbol of the “pony car” segment—affordable, sporty, and compact cars with long hoods and short rear decks.
Here are some quick facts about the 1968 Mustang:
The 1968 Mustang’s styling was as sleek and sporty as previous makes but with some subtle updates of earlier years, like deleting the Mustang logo from the grille for a cleaner, more elegant look. Buyers could choose from various body styles, including coupe, fastback, and convertible.
The Mustang cemented its place in popular culture with film appearances, most notably in “Bullitt,” where Steve McQueen drove a 1968 Mustang GT Fastback in a legendary car chase. This built-for-speed scene boosted the car’s image and cemented its reputation as a performance icon. It is said that the British rock band’s hit single, “Highway Star,” is about Steve McQueen driving that 1968 Mustang GT Fastback in “Bullitt.”
The 1968 Stang offered various engine options, including the 289 V8, a new 302 V8, and the mighty 390 and 428 Cobra Jet engines. Drivers looking for speed and power loved these models; classic car lovers still do.
The Mustang was affordable compared to high-end sports cars of that year, making it accessible to a broader range of buyers, especially younger drivers who wanted something sporty without a high price tag.
The 1968 Mustang remains a classic and highly collectible today. Enthusiasts value it for its iconic style, cultural impact, and performance potential. The 1968 Mustang symbolizes speed, freedom, fun, and a decade of massive change.
1967: The Summer of Love and Fast Cars.
1967 was considered the Summer of Love and another pivotal year in popular culture, fashion, music, and films. It was also another stellar year for cool cars.
The Beatles released their monumental musical achievement, “Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album, and the groundbreaking event, the Monterrey Pop Festival, took place. “The Graduate” was the top film of the year. The miniskirt was all the rage, and bell-bottom jeans and turtlenecks were popular attire.
The 1967 Chevrolet Caprice was famous among drivers seeking a full-size, stylish, and luxurious vehicle with plenty of power. Chevrolet positioned the Caprice as its premium full-size offering above the Impala, and it became known for its comfort and style.
Chevrolet marketed the Caprice as a more refined and luxurious model, adding premium touches to set it apart from other full-size Chevrolets. It had high-quality interior options like wood-grain trim, upscale upholstery, and additional sound-deadening features for a quieter ride. While these “features” might be considered passe now, back in 1967, they were considered cool, Daddy-O.
Caprice buyers could choose from various body styles, including a two-door hardtop, four-door hardtop, and station wagon, offering versatility for families and individuals alike. There were also many engine choices, ranging from the inline-6 to powerful V8s like the 396 and 427, which appealed to those looking for performance and speed.
Smooth Operator: The Caprice was well-known for its smooth and comfortable ride, partly due to its larger size and a suspension setup designed for comfort rather than sporty handling. This made it ideal for road trips and daily use.
In the late 1960s, there was a growing trend in the U.S. toward “personal luxury cars”—vehicles prioritizing comfort, style, and convenience over horsepower and performance. The Caprice fits the luxury bill and offers features like power windows, air conditioning, and cruise control. Those features might be considered standard in 2024 but were huge “luxury” features in 1967.
Though not as celebrated in pop culture as the Mustang or Camaro, the 1967 Caprice is still fondly remembered by classic car enthusiasts today for its luxury, looks, and versatility.
At Cyclone Car Care, we’ve seen and worked on almost every car, truck, and van still on the road today, but it’s not every day that we get to work on a 1968 Ford Mustang or a 1967 Chevy Caprice. While not every car attains the status of a classic car, Americans still love their rides. Cars are still a big part of being an American, enjoying youth, and reliving memories. These cars represent a golden age of muscle and large cars and, thus, are part of our history and collective consciousness.
Today’s cars are more complicated and come in more configurations than ever. Today’s engines don’t look the same as engines of classic muscle cars and luxury autos, but they still share the same DNA as their forebearers, but it’s a new bag. Can you dig it? I knew you could.
Whether your car is new or old, classic or ordinary, we can cover you. From brakes and the lowest-priced oil change in St. Louis to something as “radical” as a new engine rebuild and drop-in, we can tackle all your St. Louis automotive repair and routine maintenance needs. Trust your car to Cyclone Car Care.