Five of the best – 1960s GTs

 Not all the best GTs of the '60s cost the earth, as proven by the humble MGB GT. The tin-top version of the affordable roadster arrived two years after its brother in 1965, combining the good looks and low cost of the ragtop with much-improved practicality. Leaks and drips were a thing of the past, and a small rear bench and large hatchback – one of the first of its type – meant carrying children and luggage was now a possibility. 

The only thing letting down 'the poor man's Aston' was its power plant which, while durable and easy to maintain, was underpowered when the extra weight of the coupé body style was taken into account. The answer was the MGC GT. 

Though it shares a striking similarity with its sibling (the only external difference is the bonnet bulge), the MGC GT is a very different car with its own unique characteristics. The main difference, hinted at by the bonnet, is the engine, which is a 2912cc straight-six borrowed from the Austin-Healey 3000. A handy 145bhp was a vast improvement over the four-pot, and enabled the C to sprint to 60mph in just 10 seconds. It's top speed was 120mph. 

Though early evaluations found the heavy engine a hinderance to the handling, modern tyres and a few subtle suspension modifications are all that's required to turn this into a true contender – especially when you consider the price. 

Buying one today

 Breathe a sigh of relief – the MGC is still eminently affordable. Examples regularly crop up for less than £10,000, but you'll need to spend a shade more to get a very tidy car. Values are on parity with the MGB GT V8 which, as a son of the '70s, wasn't eligible for our list. 

Click here to see our pick of the classifieds – £16,995

This 1967 car is finished in a lovely shade of green and boasts a number of sensible upgrades. It looks to be very well cared for. 

£20,000-£30,000 – Jensen Interceptor

 Launched in 1966, the Interceptor was an intoxicating mix of British engineering, Italian styling and American muscle aimed squarely at the world's business elite – those rich enough to demand luxury and performance, but who desired a more understated package than gauche foreign imports. Slab-sided and purposeful, the Interceptor's masculine lines framed a cabin draped in leather and walnut, the perfect place from which to hire and fire – but never perspire. 

Comfortable it may have been, but one of the main draws was the thumping 383cu in Golden Commando V8 engine – Chrysler's free-revving and free-breathing 325bhp star of the '60s. It was enough to kick the hefty 1680kg GT to 60mph in just 7.3 seconds, and to cover a standing quarter mile of just 15.7 seconds. 

In total, 6408 Interceptors were produced from 1966-'76, making them a rare sight on today's roads. But that doesn't mean they're difficult to run. Its detractors will be quick to point out the prodigious thirst of its V8 engine, but the motor is actually one of its greatest strengths – every engine component is available off the shelf, with brand-new crated items also available at sensible-ish money. 

Buying one today

 As a general rule of thumb, the earlier the Interceptor, the more expensive it will be (except the SP, convertible and, perversely, the notchbacked Coupé. The first run of Vignale-built cars command a premium, while later Series 1 models will be next in line. Your best chance of a bargain will be a Series 2 or 3 car, which were in a lower state of tune.

Around £15,000 should be enough to pick up a serviceable example, but you'll still have to tread carefully. Concern yourself more with the condition of the bodywork than mechanical components, as it will be much more expensive to put right in the long run.

Click here to see our pick of the classifieds – £17-19,000

This MkI car is coming up for auction at H&H's Pavilion Gardens sale, and it could be a bargain. However, we'd want to inspect it carefully before bidding.

£30,000 – £150,000 – Jaguar E-type

 When the E-type first hit showrooms in 1961 it stunned a public more familiar with Humber Sceptres than sleek and sexy sports cars. At a stroke the curvaceous hard-top (along with its roadster brother) became an icon of the Swinging Sixties, enamouring car buyers in Britain and the US, where it sold very well. 

The aerodynamic, long-nosed Malcolm Sayer design was modern and daring compared with the competition that, for the most part, was still talking in a design language belonging to the immediate post-war era. But looks were only part of the recipe for success – the E-type was also powerful, capable of 150mph, and remarkably affordable. 

The combination of looks, performance and price was a successful one – Jaguar sold more than 70,000 from 1961-'75.

Buying one today

Sadly, the days of affordable E-types are now a thing of the past. Series 1 'flat floor' cars are the most desirable (and as a result, hugely expensive), with Series 2 cars coming a close second. It's the later Series 3 cars the offer the best value for money: many claim the 5.3-litre V12 engine spoiled the car's handling, while 2+2 Coupé configuration makes for an ungainly shape. 

But, even in Series 3 guise, the E-type is a beautiful creation, and the fickle finger of fashion means prices are still within reach of the average enthusiast. Around £25,000 should be enough to secure a good example, with the potential for more desirable models falling within your budget. 

Click here to see our pick of the classifieds – £41,995

Ok, it's well above our proposed budget, but we reckon a straight-six car would make a better investment – not to mention being a better steer. 

£150,000-£350,000 – Ferrari 330GT 2+2

These days, Ferrari seems to have lost its way slightly. Perhaps pandering to a celebrity culture packed with overpaid footballers are dolly birds famous for being famous, its model line-up is as vulgar as a chip shop on a Saturday night. Thankfully, things were different in the '60s. 

The 250GTO may grab the headlines, but it was the 330GT 2+2 that really made a case for being a brilliant grand tourer. Never pretending to be a racing car, the successor to the 330 America arrived in 1964 sporting a longer wheelbase, quad headlamps and a more defined nose and tail. A year later, the model received a five-speed 'box, making the Tom Tjaarda-penned beauty the perfect car in which to blast across the Alps in comfort. 

Today, the 330GT 2+2 has become the thinking man's Ferrari. It's handsome and mature; understated with a level of sophistication poles apart from the world of record-breaking auction prices.

Buying one today

The market has yet to cotton-on to the value of these magnificent GTs, meaning prices are considerably lower than many of its contemporaries. Could you justify an Aston Martin DB5 at twice the price? Budget £250,000. 

Click here for our pick of the classifieds – £205,000

This example has got just 18,000 miles on the clock and has been in storage for the past 35 years. It would be a fantastic project. 

£350,000-£500,000 – Aston Martin DB5

It's no secret that the Aston Martin DB5 owes much of its success to a starring role in the 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger (though the actual car that featured in the film was a late DB4 GT), but even without its foray onto the silver screen, it's a capable GT that stands up to scrutiny.

Aston Martin had always favoured evolution over revolution, and so it was with the DB5. The car first went on sale in 1963 finding immediate favour with period road testers, despite its Superleggera coachwork sharing a striking resemblance to the DB4, on which the car was based – and the similarities were more than skin deep. 

The Tadek Marek-designed engine was pretty much the same unit that was fitted to the DB4 Vantage, though bored-out to 3995cc. All but the earliest cars benefited from the addition of a five-speed ZF gearbox. While this took away from the more sporting characteristics of the DB4, it gave the DB5 true grand touring credentials – as did the addition of rear seats. 

Plush it may have been, but it was also a very quick car for the period. Its 282bhp engine could hustle it to 60mph in around 8 seconds, but more impressive was its top speed of 143mph. 

Buying one today

We all know a guy who knows a guy who was offered a tatty DB5 for £500 in the '80s – and we cling to that hope. The reality is that only a lottery win would get most of us into a DB5. If you were to pass one in a showroom it would likely be priced between £350-600,000. If only there was an affordable alternative. 

Click here to see our pick of the classifieds – £POA

This is a particularly special example of the model, being one of the early 1963 cars that was fitted with a four-speed gearbox.