25 sporting saloons from the ’60s

Fast-chance saloons

Fancy your fast, classic fun in something a little more practical and refined than an outright sports car? Then how about these sporting saloons from the 1960s?

Quick enough to be engaging and roomy enough to take the family, here’s a selection of swift saloons, in alphabetical order.

1. Alfa Romeo Giulia 105

The epitome of the three-box saloon style, Alfa Romeo’s 105-series Giulia is pugnaciously handsome and that suits the way it drives.

Under the simple exterior lies Alfa’s delightful twin-cam, four-cylinder engines in sizes from 1.3 to 1.6 litres.

A five-speed manual gearbox was a rarity when the Giulia was launched in 1962 and it works well with the zesty engines.

Handling is good, too, and most came with disc brakes all round, so the 105 Giulia is a very capable compact sports saloon. Little wonder Alfa shifted 836,323 of these cars in a decade.
 

2. BMW 2000tii

The Neue Klasse saloon that arrived in 1961 defined BMW’s character that continues to the current day.

A roomy saloon with good comfort, BMW upped the ante with the 1800ti and its 110bhp engine, but the quickest of the bunch came in 1969 with the 130bhp fuel-injected 2000tii.

This was BMW’s first road car with fuel injection and could see off 0-60mph in a brisk 9.8 secs. Top speed was 118mph, so the 2000tii was easily on a par with rivals from Rover, Triumph and Volvo.

However, only 1952 tii models were made by the time the 5 Series replaced the Neue Klasse in 1972.

3. Chrysler Valiant

Chrysler Australia took over full production of the Valiant with the launch of the second-generation model in 1965.

It proved a shrewd move, because the factory was soon working flat out to meet demand for this simple, rugged car.

The Valiant to have was the V8 model with its 4.5-litre motor. Working through an automatic gearbox, it could hit 109mph flat out and managed 0-60mph in 8.8 secs.

In showroom spec, a pair of Valiant V8s even won their class in the 1966 Bathurst 500 race for standard road cars.

4. Dodge Polara

The Dodge Polara was a run-of-the-mill, four-door saloon for most US buyers.

However, if you were a police department, this opened up the choice of the Pursuit model that packed a 440cu in (7.2-litre) Magnum V8, with a higher compression, special camshaft and dual exhaust.

All of this made the Polara an unlikely fast saloon, which was just what the police loved – 0-60mph came up in 6.3 secs and the Polara could hit 149mph.

That made it the quickest four-door car to lap Chrysler’s own test track, until this record was beaten some 25 years later.

5. Fiat 124

Fiat’s 124 saloon might not have the film-star looks of its coupé sibling, but the four-door that arrived in 1966 has all the same driving zing.

Even the most humble 1.2-litre model feels peppy and is good for 90mph, while the larger 1.4-litre model will nudge past 100mph.

Just as important as the engines is the way the 124 drives. It handles nimbly, helped by a well-located rear axle riding on coil springs that was much more advanced than the Ford Escort’s set-up.

There are also disc brakes all round, so the 124 could be trusted to stop as well as it went.

6. Ford Cortina 1600E

While the Lotus Cortina fulfilled Ford’s need for an outright performance model, the 1968 Cortina 1600E accounted for almost 14 times more sales.

This made the 1600E good business sense for Ford, and it was great for drivers thanks to its late GT-spec 88bhp 1.6-litre engine giving 96mph and 0-60mph in 11.8 secs.

Choosing the 1600E, you still got the same suspension set-up as the Mk2 Lotus Cortina, so the E handled very well.

On top of that, you also got all the luxury of front spotlights, RoStyle wheels, a leather steering wheel and a wooden dash. The result was a family saloon that looked just as good as it went.

7. Ford Escort GT

The Ford Escort range swiftly expanded to offer something for everyone.

For the lucky few, the Twin Cam gave rapid performance, but for most the 1.3-litre GT provided enough bang for fewer bucks, thanks to its potent engine and a close-ratio, four-speed gearbox that helped it feel even crisper.

Ford fitted the GT with wider wheels and front disc brakes as standard, so it really did straddle the divide between basic Escort and Twin Cam.

Initially offered as a two-door saloon from 1968, the GT gained a four-door option the following year, though sales tailed off with the arrival of the sportier and faster Mexico that went on sale in 1970.

8. Ford Galaxie

Ford tended to keep its most powerful engines for two-door Galaxie models, but a four-door 500 version joined the line-up in 1963.

It came with a choice of engines, ranging from the modest ‘Mileage Maker’ 223cu in (3.7-litre) straight-six to the full-house 406cu in (6.6-litre) V8.

This most powerful choice was an option called ‘Thunderbird’ and came with other upgrades such as improved brakes, suspension and wider wheels – just as well when a car specified in this way could manage 0-60mph in 6.5 secs and 125mph.

9. Holden HK

In 1968, Holden introduced its first V8-powered models to Australian buyers with the HK.

A Chevrolet 307cu in (5-litre) V8 could be ordered for all models, including the saloon, but only the two-door Monaro GTS coupé got the larger 327cu in (5.4-litre) V8.

Performance was strong for a family saloon, offering 0-60mph in 9.9 secs when coupled to the smooth three-speed automatic gearbox.

The HK could also hit 118mph all out, even if the handling was not quite able to keep up with the acceleration.

10. Jaguar S-type

Think of sporting four-door Jaguars from the 1960s and the Mk2 is the obvious choice.

However, the 1963 S-type is the better car in many ways. It came with a choice of 3.4- or 3.8-litre XK straight-six engines borrowed from the Mk2, and the S-type had independent rear suspension for improved handling and ride comfort.

An elongated tail added a little to the boot space, if not to the overall looks.

The S-type might not have the same glamour as its more compact sibling, but it’s a fine sports saloon and was the preferred choice of many police forces for its superior driving manners.

11. Lagonda Rapide

Basing a sporting saloon on an Aston Martin DB4 is a very good starting point – and exactly what the firm did for its Lagonda four-door.

The elongated platform received a larger 4-litre straight-six than the DB’s 3.7-litre unit, helping to overcome the extra size and weight of the saloon. Aston’s sports cars would have to wait three years to use the same motor.

Performance was more than decent thanks to a 130mph top speed, and the Lagonda was an elegant, if expensive, car to travel in.

However, the Touring-styled front end didn’t win many fans and only 55 of this Lagonda model were ever made.

12. Lancia Flavia Berlina

Lancia’s conservative styling of the Flavia Berlina did a very good job of hiding what a fine car this was to drive.

The flat-four engine started out as a 1.5-litre unit, later growing to as big as 2 litres, and it thrived on being revved.

A fast cross-country pace could be maintained thanks to agile handling and all-round disc brakes. Later models from 1967 offered a floor-mounted gearchange in place of the column shift.

However, the Berlina always lived in the shadow of its more svelte coupé sibling and sales of the saloon only just outnumbered the coupé by three to one.

13. Maserati Quattroporte

The first Quattroporte signalled a new era for Maserati, because it introduced a new V8 engine and a new chassis.

Both went on to be used in a wide range of cars from the Italian manufacturer, and they showed how advanced the Quattroporte was at its 1963 launch.

The V8 engine grew from 4.1 to 4.7 litres in 1968, making this the fastest production saloon then on sale with a claimed top speed of 158mph.

Even if that was optimistic, the Maserati handled superbly and made light of its size and weight, while easily delivering the comfort and luxury demanded by the 776 customers who chose this car.

14. Mazda 1800

Mazda launched its 1500 saloon in 1966, with its build quality and pace putting it into contention with the BMW Neue Klasse.

The 1500 was good for 90mph, but it was when the engine was enlarged to create the 1800 model did it take on a sporting edge thanks to a 110mph top speed.

The 1800 also came with a floor-mounted gearchange and servo-assisted front disc brakes.

Along with pert styling from Bertone, it marked out the Mazda as a very competent, compact sporting four-door.

15. Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.3

The Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.3 was a muscle car for those not keen on showing off bulging biceps.

What you got instead was the appearance of a sober German luxury saloon that just happened to pack the same 247bhp V8 as Mercedes’ huge 600 limousine.

However, it wasn’t the power that gave the 6.3 its sporting class but the torque, all 369lb ft of it. It could see the SEL from 0-62mph in 6.5 secs and on to 137mph, all while smoothly whirring through its four-speed automatic gearbox.

There were also strong disc brakes on all four wheels to slow things down, fine handling and air-cushioned suspension for comfort. And a price higher than a contemporary Ferrari Daytona’s.

16. MG Magnette

The BMC Farina family saloon was not the obvious choice for a sporting model, even with an MG badge attached.

However, the Magnette pulled it off thanks to its twin carburettor 1.5-litre engine, and then a more powerful 1.6 unit from 1961.

It might not have been as low-slung as the Midget or B roadster, but the Magnette offered family drivers a taste of the sporting life.

It also provided a surprisingly opulent interior with its wood and leather trim to let you know you were in a car that was a bit more special than an Austin Cambridge or Morris Oxford.

17. Nissan Skyline GT-R

Nissan introduced the first Skyline GT-R in early 1969 and can have little known how important the name was to become among sports-car fans.

The GT-R was launched as a four-door saloon, with the coupé version following in 1971.

At the heart of the Skyline was a 2-litre straight-six engine that helped the car reach 60mph from rest in 8.0 secs and head on to 124mph, making this compact Japanese saloon as quick as the much more powerful Jaguar Mk2 3.8.

18. NSU TTS

Building on the appeal of its 1200 TT model, NSU fitted a fiery 996cc four-cylinder engine to create the TTS.

It was Germany’s answer to the Mini Cooper ‘S’, and had the performance to back it up thanks to a 100mph top speed and 0-60mph in 11.6 secs.

The rear-engined, rear-wheel-drive layout gave excellent traction and the TTS handled well, too.

Along with its light weight – it tipped the scales at 650kg – this boxy, small, two-door saloon proved as successful on the track as it did on the road, though only 2404 of the TTS models were sold compared to 63,289 of the less exotic and more affordable 1200 TT.

19. Renault 8 Gordini

Not to be outdone by the Mini Cooper ‘S’, the Renault 8 Gordini arrived in 1964 with a 95bhp 1108cc engine fizzing behind the rear wheels.

There was also lowered suspension and front disc brakes in a bid to keep this feisty little saloon in check when being driven hard.

Handling was not as good as the Mini’s, but Renault didn’t worry about that and instead increased power to 103bhp in 1967 with the 1255cc engine.

This motor came with a five-speed manual gearbox, easily allowing for a top speed in excess of 100mph and vivid acceleration through the gears.

20. Rover P6

The Rover P6 had proved itself as a hugely capable executive saloon, but it wasn’t until the 3.5-litre V8 engine arrived in 1968 that it finally had a chance to shine as a sporting machine.

At a stroke, Rover created one of the most complete cars of its era, delivering performance to upset Jaguar drivers and a ride quality only Citroën owners would recognise.

The only thing that held back the P6B, as it was named, was Rover launched it with an automatic gearbox only.

That was sorted out in 1971 when the 3500S arrived with a four-speed manual ’box. Always good to drive, it’s no wonder Rover sold 79,057 P6Bs.

21. Sunbeam Imp Sport

The Rootes Group chose Sunbeam for its hotted-up Imp Sport and it worked well as a simple saloon-shaped alternative for anyone considering a Mini Cooper.

The four-cylinder 875cc engine is a gem, revving hard and quick. It’s helped by a high-lift camshaft and twin carburettors.

Servo assistance for the brakes meant the Imp Sport stopped as well as it went, while the handling was also more than up to the task and aided by wider wheels.

On sale in 1966, the Imp Sport was outdone on the practical front by newer hatchback rivals with the dawn of the ’70s, but it served keen drivers well as an affordable slice of fun.

22. Tatra T603

The Tatra T603 is an unconventional looking saloon, matched by its unusual mechanical configuration. A fastback tail hides a rear-mounted, air-cooled 2.5-litre V8 engine that was rugged and reliable, and strong enough to take the T603 to 100mph.

Originally launched in 1955, an update in 1962 ushered in the 2-603 version with a wider rear track for improved handling and high-speed stability.

The Czech-made Tatra was very well built and proved a useful contender in long-distance rallies, such as the Marathon de la Route where it took a 1-2-3 class victory in the 1966 edition.

23. Triumph 2.5 PI

Marrying the TR5’s fuel-injected 2.5-litre straight-six with the handsome 2000 saloon in 1968 gave Triumph an instant sporting hit, good for 105mph with nifty acceleration that breezed past 60mph from rest in 11.5 secs.

Even if the fuel injection system proved less than reliable when new, the 2.5 PI was sought after for its speed and handling.

The roomy four-door enjoyed a facelift to the Mk2 shape in late 1969, while Triumph switched back to carburettors for the 2.5 in 1974 with a notable drop in power.

24. Vauxhall Viva GT

Vauxhall had tried to pep up the Viva range in 1967 with the tuned Brabham model, hoping for a similar effect BMC had enjoyed with its Mini Cooper.

This was not a success, but the Viva GT was a very different proposition and beat Ford to the punch by offering a relatively large 2-litre engine in a compact saloon.

The 1975cc motor gave the GT plenty of oomph, driving the rear wheels through a close-ratio, four-speed manual gearbox.

It could top 100mph and see off 0-60mph in 11.4 secs, making it a close rival to the Mk2 Cortina-Lotus. Improved suspension and brakes from the Victor saloon also meant the Viva GT dealt with corners and stopping as well as it accelerated.

25. Volvo 123GT

Like all 120-series Volvos, the 123GT had a disarmingly plain look that would fool all but the keenest fans of the Swedish firm.

One clue was the 123GT only came as a two-door saloon, while another was front spot lamps and the driver gained a dash-mounted rev counter.

However, it was under the bonnet where the big change was thanks to a 1.8-litre engine running on twin SU carburettors from the P1800S coupé. Its claimed top speed was 108mph for the 123GT, with 0-60mph in 12.5 secs.

If not the quickest sporting saloon when launched in 1967, the Volvo handled very well and came with a limited-slip differential and front disc brakes as standard.