What was the coolest car in 1962?

The Ferrari 250 GTO was the coolest car in 1962—an almost unbeatable blend of race-winning performance, sculptural design, and extreme rarity that captured both the paddock and the public imagination. While rivals like the Shelby Cobra and Jaguar E-Type turned heads and won hearts, the GTO defined the era’s pinnacle of desirability and achievement.

The verdict: Ferrari 250 GTO

Unveiled in 1962 to meet FIA homologation rules, Ferrari’s 250 GTO was engineered to dominate Grand Touring racing—and it did. With a 3.0-liter Colombo V12 producing roughly 300 horsepower, a top speed approaching 170–174 mph, and a competition pedigree that helped Ferrari clinch the 1962 International Championship for GT Manufacturers (a feat it repeated in 1963 and 1964), the GTO fused function and beauty in a way few cars have matched before or since. Its hand-formed alloy bodywork by Scaglietti, long-nose aerodynamics, and race-bred chassis made it as effective on the track as it was mesmerizing at a standstill. Only 36 were built (plus a handful of closely related 4.0-liter cars), instantly conferring status—and mystique.

What made the GTO untouchable in 1962

Several attributes set the 250 GTO apart from its contemporaries. The following points outline the core reasons it became the definitive “cool” car of its year.

• Race dominance: Central to Ferrari’s 1962 GT title campaign, the GTO routinely bested rivals on circuits from Europe to North America.
• Design purity: A wind-cheated silhouette with purposeful details—faired headlights, triple front vents, Kamm-style tail—turned functional needs into timeless style.
• Exclusivity: With production measured in mere dozens, it was rare even in period, making it near-mythical among enthusiasts.
• Engineering pedigree: A lightweight tubular frame, 5-speed gearbox, and competition-tuned V12 delivered real pace as well as endurance.
• Cultural cachet: In an age obsessed with speed and progress, the GTO embodied the cutting edge—technologically and aspirationally.

Taken together, those factors created a car that didn’t just win races—it set the tone for what road-going competition machines could be, cementing the GTO’s reputation as the era’s standout.

The field it beat: other icons of 1962

“Cool” is subjective, and 1962 was rich with contenders. These models defined different flavors of allure—from raw American muscle to sculptural British elegance—and each had a legitimate claim on the year’s zeitgeist.

• Shelby Cobra (260): Carroll Shelby’s AC-bodied, Ford V8-powered roadster debuted in 1962, delivering brutal, minimalist performance and a new American sports-car identity.
• Jaguar E-Type Series 1 (3.8): Fresh from its 1961 launch, the E-Type was still headline news in 1962—claimed 150 mph, disc brakes, independent suspension, and a design even Enzo Ferrari admired.
• Chevrolet Corvette (1962): The last of the C1s introduced the 327 V8, with optional fuel injection rated at up to 360 hp—quick, glamorous, and distinctly American.
• Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato: Ultra-rare, lightweight, and stunning, it was a couture version of British performance, built in tiny numbers around the early ’60s.
• Ford Galaxie 406: A full-size brute with up to 405 hp in tri-power form, it foreshadowed the muscle era and was a terror on the ovals and drag strips.
• Studebaker Avanti: Revealed in 1962 for the 1963 model year, its Raymond Loewy–led design and advanced features signaled a sleek American futurism; Avanti-based speed records would follow in 1963.

Each of these cars helped define what “cool” meant to different audiences—track diehards, boulevard cruisers, and style seekers alike—but the GTO’s blend of results, rarity, and romance put it a nose ahead.

How we judged “cool” in a 1962 context

Assessing cool requires more than stopwatch times. In 1962, technology, racing success, cultural impact, and design all shaped perception. Here are the criteria that matter most for that year.

• Authentic performance: Real-world speed and handling, proven on road and track.
• Motorsport pedigree: Wins, championships, and the ability to beat rivals in period competition.
• Design impact: A shape and stance that felt modern in 1962 and looks timeless today.
• Rarity and desirability: Scarcity that magnified allure without diminishing relevance.
• Cultural resonance: The car’s role in media, public imagination, and the broader “space age” mood of the early ’60s.

Judged against these yardsticks, the 250 GTO excels across the board, explaining why it continues to dominate lists of all-time greats.

Lasting legacy and values today

The GTO’s legend has only grown. In 2023, a closely related 1962 Ferrari 330 LM/250 GTO sold at auction for $51.7 million, the highest price for a Ferrari ever sold at auction. Private sales of 250 GTOs have reportedly exceeded that figure, underscoring a market view that aligns with the car’s period reputation: it is the ultimate blue-chip sports racer of its age. Meanwhile, E-Types, Cobras, and Fuelie Corvettes have also become blue-chip collectibles, reflecting their enduring cool and broad appeal.

The counterpoint: accessibility versus aura

There’s a fair argument that the “coolest car” should be one you could realistically buy and drive in 1962. On that score, the Jaguar E-Type and Chevrolet Corvette were cultural juggernauts—affordable relative to exotics, widely seen, and genuinely fast. The Shelby Cobra added raw theater. But the question isn’t about popularity or availability—it’s about the apex of cool in that moment. That apex was the Ferrari 250 GTO.

Summary

In 1962, amid a field crowded with icons, the Ferrari 250 GTO stood tallest. It combined front-line racing success, breathtaking design, engineering excellence, and extreme rarity in a way no rival quite matched. The E-Type, Cobra, and Corvette were authentically cool and more accessible, but the GTO was the era’s purest distillation of speed, beauty, and status—then and now.

What was the fastest car in 1962?

The 1962 Studebaker Avanti R2 is generally considered the fastest production car of that year, having broken multiple speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats and earning the title “The World’s Fastest Production Car”. It achieved an official speed of 178 mph and 29 other records, thanks to its lightweight fiberglass body, a supercharged V8 engine, and disc brakes. 
Key Details of the 1962 Studebaker Avanti R2

• Claim to Fame: Marketed as “The World’s Fastest Production Car” after setting new records at the Bonneville Salt Flats. 
• Engine: Featured a factory-supercharged 289 cubic inch V8 engine (the R2 version) that produced 290 horsepower, along with a naturally aspirated R1 version with 240 horsepower. 
• Design: The Avanti had a unique, aerodynamic fiberglass body designed by Raymond Loewy. 
• Performance: The R2 version was capable of a 0-62 mph time of just 7.3 seconds and achieved a top speed of almost 170 mph on the salt flats. 
• Key Features: It included safety features, a limited-slip differential, and disc brakes, making it an advanced and high-performance vehicle for its time. 

What was the coolest car in the 60s?

The Greatest Cars of All Time: The Sixties

• 1960 Austin Mini.
• 1961 Jaguar XK-E.
• 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray.
• 1964 Pontiac GTO.
• 1965 Ford Mustang.
• 1966 Lamborghini Miura.
• 1968 BMW 2002.

What was the best car in 1962?

The 1962 Chevrolet Impala was a popular car known for its distinctive “C” pillar styling and the introduction of the “convertible roof” on Sport Coupe models. It was the best-selling car in America in 1962, with over 700,000 units produced. The Impala SS, a high- performance version, was particularly sought after.

What is considered the coolest car of all time?

• Ford Capri. Years: 1969-1986.
• Nissan Skyline R34. Years: 1999-2002.
• Toyota 2000 GT. Years: 1967-1970.
• AC Cobra. Years: 1962-1969.
• Vauxhall Lotus Carlton. Years: 1990-1992.
• Aston Martin Lagonda. Years: 1976-1990.
• Dodge Challenger. Years: 1970-1974. Number built: 165,437.
• Mazda Cosmo. Years: 1967-1972. Numbers built: 1,176.