What we were driving 50 years ago: cars of 1965

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | March 11, 2015

[artichokegrower]

From the mundane to the exotic, these are some of the new cars we were diving in 1965.

[cuban leaf]

Some company sells a suspension package for late 60’s muscle cars for around $35k. They are still easily outperformed by their modern brethren (Mustang, challenger, etc.)

People forget that the first mustang was a Falcon with a sexier body. There was a reason we called my friend’s 1969 Charger a led sled.

[ansel12]

I have never liked being forced into these little boxes that the government created, I would much prefer to have my 1960 cars with the natural technological improvements that would have taken place over 55 years, just as they did before 1960.

[9422WMR]

They even labeled the “ash receiver “.

[ansel12]

I owned a convertible Corvair as well, it was a blast.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

I was always at least 5 years behind.

[ansel12]

Wing windows and bench seats, two wonderful things.

[Canedawg]

I remember the blackout, but was only old enough to be “driving” a bicycle.

[Fresh Wind]

In (or about) 1968, my mom decided she wanted/needed a new car. She was partial to Chrysler products.

I told her that she should get a Charger.

She actually went to a dealer and asked about it. The saleman couldn’t figure out why a middle-aged woman would want a Charger, so he asked her what was up.

She allowed as how her son had recommended it. The salesman asked her how old I was, and she said 19.

That was the end of that.

She ended up with a Coronet, which was basically the same car. I did succeed in convincing her to go with the 318, so it was a partial victory.

[9thLife]

Not a bad collection of pics, and the comments weren't too millenial-centric (just a little). I like how they included the Sunmbeam Alpine but if you're going to do that, you have can't leave out its big brother, the Tiger, which they did.

I don't recall ever seeing or even knowing about one of these:

[9thLife]

Not better cars than those available today but a better time to live in America than today.

Only because we were oblivious to the snakes that were in the grass.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

I had to drive my Mom’s car, a first year Riviera. My Dad always got every engine option available. Car was fast, but my Dad figured that with bucket seats front and back, I wouldn’t get laid at the drive-in.

[smokingfrog]

My wife had a lime green Malibu Sports Coupe when I married her.

You didn't have any input on the choices of paint colors, did you?

[smokingfrog]

It’s great until you find yourself in a rollover accident.

[arthurus]

Back when cars looked like cars (except for Jeeps which looked like Jeeps) and women wore plastic hair.

[Florida native]

She ended up with a Coronet, which was basically the same car. I did succeed in convincing her to go with the 318, so it was a partial victory.

Yay...my mom got her first new car - a '67 Cherry Red in/out Dodge Coronet 440 - V8 318 - 2 door.

I learned to drive in that car, it was fast, fun to drive. Hated when she traded it 10 years later.

[9thLife]

The more modern XJS was designed by the same fellow. I had one of those. You not only need the mechanic on retainer, you needed a line of credit at the Fed.

[bgill]

Much more class and style than the cookie cutter cars today.

[9thLife]

Back when cars looked like cars (except for Jeeps which looked like Jeeps) and women wore plastic hair.

Cue the "Cars" video.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

bumpers are no longer, well, really bumpers. They are now just for looks only.

Actually, they have an ugly steel bumper that looks similar to a chunk of guardrail, with a molded flexible plastic cover hiding it.

[Pirate Ragnar]

Not the only one; I was 16 in 1956. My first car was a ‘52 Chevy coupe with stick shift, dual pipes and a suicide knob on the steering wheel. I used to wax it and use baby powder to finish it off. Was great at the drive in.