Small Cars of the Early 1960s

[Music] [Music] the American compact Market exploded in the early 1960s so to stay competitive the Rambler American was updated for 1961. still on 100 inch wheelbase it was 173 inches long weighing 2500 to 2700 pounds priced between 1800 and 2400 136 000 were sold for the year the 3.2 liter 196 cubic inch straight six had 90 to 125 horsepower and could do nearly 100 miles an hour a 12 and a half second zero to sixty and a low 19 second quarter mile Chevrolet's Corvair of 1960 used the rear mounted air-cooled 2.3 liter 140 cubic inch flat 6 with 80 to 95 horsepower they were 180 inches long on 108 inch wheelbase and weighed about 2300 pounds priced just over two thousand dollars more than 250 000 sold the first year with a top speed near 100 60 took just over 12 seconds and the quarter mile was in the mid-18s a 62 Monza spider with the new turbo had 150 horsepower and 210 pound-feet of torque hitting 60 in just over 8 seconds and doing the quarter mile in the low 16s Ford introduced the Falcon in 1960 and took fast control of the segment with first year sales over 435 thousand it used a relatively large 110 inch wheelbase was 181 inches long and weighed 2300 to 2600 pounds initially offered with a 2.4 liter 144 cubic inch 6 with 90 horsepower it soon upgraded to a bigger 2.8 liter 170 with 101 horsepower then with a 4.3 liter 260 cubic inch 164 horsepower 258 pound-feet of torque V8 a 1960 model started between two thousand and twenty three hundred dollars did more than 85 miles an hour hit 60 in the mid-15s and the quarter mile and just over 20 seconds the later V8 model was three seconds quicker in the quarter mile and could do roughly a hundred the Valiant of 1960 would become a Plymouth for 1961 at least in the U.S it was 184 inches long on 107 inch wheelbase 2600 to 2900 pounds costing 2100 to 2600 with first year sales around 175 000 the 2.8 liter 170 cubic inch slant 6 came in 101 and 148 horsepower versions The 148 horsepower 153 pound foot of torque power pack did 60 in under 11 and a half seconds and the quarter mile in under 19 with a top speed over a hundred a new Dodge Dart replaced the Lancer in 1963. it was 196 inches long on 111 inch wheelbase and 2600 to 2800 pounds except the wagon 155 000 were sold with prices around 2000 to 24 hundred dollars the slant 6 came in 2.8 liter 170 cubic inch 101 horsepower 155 pound-feet of torque and 3.7 liter 225 cubic inch 145 horsepower 215 pound for the torque versions The Big Six did 95 miles an hour 60 in under 11 seconds and a high 17 second quarter mile a 180 horsepower 260 pound-feet of torque or 0.8 liter 273 V8 would be offered the second year Mercury's 1960 Comet was not as successful as forged Falcon with 115 000 made but it shared its engines including the base 2.4 liter 144 cubic inch 90 horsepower 6 and like the Falcon a V8 version was just a few years away it was bigger at 195 inches long on 114 inch wheelbase and weighing 2400 to 2600 pounds except the wagon and started at 2000 twenty four hundred dollars the updated Studebaker Lark of 1962 and 63 attempted to look more like the Mercedes that shared its dealerships with offered in 109 and 113 inch wheelbase at 184 to 188 inches long and weighing 2 800 to 3 300 pounds engines included a 2.8 liter 170 cubic inch 112 horsepower 6 a 4.2 liter 259 cubic inch 180 to 195 horsepower and 4.7 liter 289 cubic inch 210 to 225 horsepower v8 as well as a supercharged 289 horsepower R2 version priced between 2 000 and 2800 nearly 95 000 sold including the sliding top wagon air the six sedan could do about 95 and get to 60 and 14 and a half seconds while a 225 horsepower 305 pound footage be a coupe was a low 16 second car in the quarter mile and topped out near 120. the Pontiac Tempest of 1961 was similar to its GM counterparts on its 112 inch wheelbase and 189 inch length as well as its 2 800 to 3000 pound weight 2100 to 2600 price range and available 155 horsepower 3.5 liter 215 cubic inch V8 where it differed was its fully independent suspension limited slip rear transaxle and the 3.2 liter 195 cubic inch trophy four-cylinder with 110 to 140 horsepower capable of speeds over 100 miles an hour 60 below 13 seconds and the quarter mile below 20. Pontiac would sell just under a hundred thousand for 1961. oldsmobile's version the f-85 was also on 112 inch wheelbase and 188 inches long weighing 2500 to 2800 hundred pounds priced between 2300 and 2900 just under seventy five thousand were made mostly with the 155 horsepower 210 pound foot of torque 215 B8 with a top speed over 105 a 0 to 60 under 10 seconds and amid 17 second quarter mile but you could opt for the 185 horsepower power pack or wait a year for the 215 horsepower turbo version the Buick special was also the same car with the same 155 to 185 horsepower 215 V8 and weighing 2600 to 2800 pounds priced between 2300 and 2800 just under 85 000 sold in 1961 and in 1962 you could get a 3.2 liter 198 cubic inch V6 with 135 horsepower and 205 pound-feet of torque for a top speed over a hundred a ten and a half second zero to 60 and a sub 18 second quarter mile practically Giants compared to the rest of the world while Britain created the king of small the pop-50 it was 54 inches long on a 50-inch wheelbase and weighed about 130 pounds approximately 50 plp50s were sold at two to three hundred pounds each it used a 50cc 4 horsepower single for speeds near 40 miles an hour while getting close to 85 miles per gallon there was the last Bond mini car the mark G of 1961-1966 more than 3 200 were made weighing 800 to 850 pounds it used a 66 inch wheelbase and was 132 inches long initially with a two-stroke 250cc 12 horsepower single and after 1963 a 250 CC 15 horsepower twin good for about 50 miles an hour the Mark 7 Reliant Regal of 1962 was 100 135 inches long on a 76 inch wheelbase and weighed 950 pounds the 600cc inline 4 had 24 horsepower and 28 pound-feet of torque for up to 100 kilometers per hour and it could get there in about 55 seconds British motors introduced the mini in 1959 to be sold under several brand names in a hundred countries on an 80-inch wheelbase it was 120 inches long and 1300 pounds initially with an 850 CC inline 4 with 37 horsepower and 45 pound-feet of torque capable of 75 miles an hour and getting to 60 in just over 22 seconds the Ford Anglia 105e was also introduced in 1959 with a one liter inline four on a 91 inch wheelbase it was 154 inches long and 1600 pounds starting around 600 pounds over a million would be sold I'm American Market versions had 41 horsepower and 55 pound-feet of torque could do nearly 75 miles an hour get to 60 in about 23 and a half seconds and get 34 miles per gallon the Imp was Hillman's response to the mini in 1963 priced at 500 pounds it was 141 inches long on an 82 inch wheelbase and 1600 pounds power came from an 870 CC inline bore with 42 horsepower and 56 pound-feet of torque pushing it above 70 miles an hour to get to 60 in 21 seconds the Vauxhall Vivo was also introduced in 1963. it was 155 inches long on a 92 inch wheelbase weighing 1600 pounds the 1100 inline 4 initially had 44 horsepower and more than 300 000 first generation Viva would be made Austin got the A40 Farina Mark II for 1961. it was 140 five inches long on an 87 inch wheelbase and weighed 1800 pounds initially with the 37 horsepower 950cc inline four then It upgraded to a 48 horsepower 1100 cc4 the bigger engine could do 75 miles an hour got 30 miles per gallon and cost 700 pounds the Morris Minor became the first British car to sell a million units for 1962 It upgraded to an 1100 cc engine with 48 horsepower and 60 pound-feet of torque able to exceed 75 miles an hour and do a low 18 second zero to 60. in France the Citroen Ami of 1961 was certainly an upgrade from the 2cv the me was 154 inches long on a 95-inch wheelbase and weighed 1400 pounds the 600cc boxer twin produced 22 horsepower and 30 pound-feet of torque giving the car a top speed of 65 taking nearly a minute to get there where no launched the R3 and R4 for 1961. the same car with the R3 using a 23 horsepower 600 cc4 and the R4 27 horsepower 750 cc4 at least to start they were 142 to 144 inches long on a 95-inch wheelbase and roughly 1300 pounds the R4 took nearly 40 seconds to reach 60 on its way to over 65. the Simca Ron p60 ran until 1964 and was simply called the five in the U.S it had a 96 inch wheelbase was 165 inches long and weighed about 2 000 pounds engines included a 42 horsepower 1100 and a 1300 with up to 70 horsepower and 80 pound-feet of torque which could do more than 85 miles an hour and get to 60 in 14 and a half seconds the German measure Schmidt KR 200 ran until 1964. the 111 inch long car used an 80-inch wheelbase and weighed 500 pounds the 10 horsepower single was good for speeds over 55 miles an hour the glass ice Arc came in Coupe or Combi wagon starting in 1960 on a 79-inch wheelbase they were 135 inches long and way 1400 to 1500 pounds available with either a 20 horsepower or 28 pound-feet of torque 600 or a 30 horsepower 36 pound-feet of torque 700 CC boxer twin the t700 could do nearly 60 and get there in about 33 seconds turbot 600 of 1962-65 sold more than 105 000 units on an 80-inch wheelbase they were 132 inches long and weighed 1400 to 1500 pounds the air cooled two-stroke two-cylinder had 23 horsepower for a top speed of 100 kilometers per hour or just over 60 miles an hour the NSU Prince 4 was on an 80-inch wheelbase was 135 inches long and just over 1200 pounds the 600cc engine had 30 horsepower and 32 pound-feet of torque for speeds near 75 miles an hour and taking less than 24 seconds to reach 60. prices started well below 600 pounds the Volkswagen Beetle would see an early 60s sales boom in North America and would also see regular updates for 1961 the 1200 cc engine had higher compression for 34 horsepower and 61 pound-feet of torque and in 1962 it got new bigger tail lights the BMW 700 was made from 1959 to 1964. it was 139 inches long on an 84 inch wheelbase weighing 1400 to 1500 pounds the 700 CC flat twin had 35 horsepower and 38 pound-feet of torque giving it a top speed near 75 and a 0-60 of less than 26 seconds opel's Cadet of 1962 used a one liter inline bore had a 92 inch wheelbase was 155 to 157 inches long and weighed about 1500 pounds with 46 horsepower and 54 pound-feet of torque it could exceed 75 miles an hour get to 60 in under 19 seconds and 650 000 would be sold by 1965. the f-102 would be the last dkw before the Revival of the Audi name it was 169 inches long on a 98 inch wheelbase weighing 2 000 to 2100 pounds the one 1.2 liter two-stroke inline three produce 68 horsepower and 76 pound-feet of torque for 85 miles an hour and 60 in the high 16 second range the small Mercedes-Benz was the 190c of 1961. with more american-like proportions it was 186 inches long on 106 inch wheelbase and weighing 2 800 to 2900 pounds over a hundred and thirty thousand with the 90 horsepower 113 pound-feet of torque inline 4 were sold which was almost a hundred thousand less than the 60 horsepower 87 pound-feet of torque diesel version but the petrol version was more than 10 miles an hour faster reaching 90 and 10 seconds quicker to 60 getting there in just under 15. in Italy fiat's 500d of 1960 saw a number of minor changes including the move to suicide doors with a 499 CC 22 horsepower 26 pound a torque engine it was 117 inches long on a 72 inch wheelbase and weighed 1100 pounds it had a top speed just over 55 miles an hour taking almost 40 seconds to get there the Lancia apia 3rd series ran from 1959 to 1964 being updated for 1960. it was 158 inches long on a 99-inch wheelbase and weighed 2100 pounds the 1100 CC V4 had 48 horsepower and 63 pound-feet of torque for speeds over 80 miles an hour reaching 60 in 21 seconds Alfa Romeo's Julieta Berlin effer 1961 was 159 inches long on a 94 inch wheelbase weighing 2100 pounds the 1.3 liter inline 4 produced 70 horsepower 74 pound-feet of torque exceeding 85 miles an hour and doing 60 in 16 and a half seconds Spain had the say at 800. a bigger four-door version of the 600 being 137 inches long on an 86 inch wheelbase weighing 1400 pounds the 600cc engine produced 32 horsepower and 38 pound-feet of torque for a top speed near 70 and reaching 60 in 35 seconds in Sweden Saab was up to a 9-6 it was 158 inches long on a 98 inch wheelbase and weighed 1800 pounds initially with an 850 CC inline 3 with 42 horsepower and 61 pound-feet of torque reaching 75 miles an hour and 60 in 20 and a half seconds the Czech skoda Octavia replaced the 400 Series in 1959 it was 160 inches long on a 95 inch wheelbase and weighed 2100 pounds available with an 1100 cc engine with 43 to 52 horsepower and 51 to 54 pound-feet of torque or a 1200 with 46hp power and 62 pound-feet of torque an 1100 touring sport could do nearly 80 and a 23 and a half second zero to 60. the Soviet Union had the zaz Zapora zets 965 starting in 1960. it was 131 inches long on an 85 inch wheelbase weighing 1500 pounds starting with a rear-mounted 23 horsepower 750 cc V4 and costing 1800 rubles in 1963 the 965a upgraded it to a 900 CC V4 with 27 horsepower more than 320 000 would eventually be sold while the mosque 407 was 160 inches long on a 93-inch wheelbase weighing 2200 pounds and used a 1.4 liter inline four with 44 horsepower and 64 pound-feet of torque good for 70 miles an hour and 60 in just over 32 seconds in Japan the Mitsubishi sedan was introduced for 1962. it was 118 inches long on a 75-inch wheelbase weighing 1100 pounds the 360cc twin made 17 horsepower and 20 pound-feet of torque for a top speed just under 50. by this point the Subaru 360 was up to 18 horsepower and 23 pound-feet of torque the 850-pound car was 118 inches long on a 71 inch wheelbase and could do better than 50. Mazda would soon be making the Carroll r360 with 18 horsepower and 15 pound-feet of torque it was 117 inches long on a 76 inch wheelbase weighing 1200 pounds in 1963 a bigger 126 inch long version with a 28 horsepower 30 pound foot of torque 600 CC twin was offered allowing the car to reach 65 miles an hour and taking less than 34 seconds to reach 60. Toyota's publica cost 390 thousand yen or about twenty seven hundred dollars in 1961. just over 43 000 were sold the first year it was 139 inches long on an 84 inch wheelbase weighing 1300 pounds and used an 800 CC horizontally opposed twin with 32 horsepower the Daihatsu compagno was 149 inches long on an 87 inch wheelbase and just over 1600 pounds it's 800 CC inline 4 produced 40 horsepower and 47 pound-feet of torque for a top speed over 65 miles an hour and reaching 60 in under 24 seconds the 1960 Datsun 310 Bluebird was 154 inches long on a 90 inch wheelbase and weighed about 1900 pounds U.S versions of the 1.2 liter had 48 horsepower and 61 pound-feet of torque for a top speed near 75 miles an hour and 60 under 26 seconds Isuzu introduced the belay in 1963 it was 157 inches long and a 93-inch wheelbase and weighed 2 000 to 2200 pounds it used either a 1.5 liter with 62 horsepower and 81 pound-feet of torque or a 1.8 liter diesel with 50 horsepower and 81 pound-feet of torque gas versions could almost reach 90 and took 15 and a half seconds to get to 60. clearly small could mean very different things in different parts of the world as always thanks for watching don't forget to comment below and like And subscribe thank you [Laughter]

Channel: The Hopeless Car Guy

Views: 142,672

Keywords: Rambler American, Falcon, Corvair, Valiant, Dart, Comet, Lark, Tempest, F-85, Special, Skylark, Peel P50, Bond Minicar, Reliant Regal, Mini Cooper, Anglia, Imp, Viva, Austin, Morris, Citroen Ami, R3, R4, Aronde, KR200, Isar, Trabant 600, NSU Prinz, Beetle, BMW 700, Kadett, DKW, 190c, 500D, Appia, Guilia, SEAT 800, Saab 96, Octavia, ZAZ, Moskvich, Minica, 360, Carol, Publica, 310 Bluebird, Compagno, Bellett, Glas, Zaporozhets, Messerschmitt, Renault, Simca

Id: ISyo7OCrnus

Length: 21min 47sec (1307 seconds)

Published: Fri Jul 21 2023