Diamond-anniversary celebrations for these classic cars in 2025
Reaching 60 is a milestone in any life and for these 30 classic cars that arrives in 2025.
This selection shows that 1965 was a great year, because it saw the launch of a great variety of cars.
From economy-focused saloons and the world’s first family hatchback, to sleek, high-speed GTs and the beginnings of the modern SUV, it all started happening in this year.
We look at some of the most intriguing, interesting and unusual cars to arrive in 1965, in alphabetical order.
1. AC Cobra 427
The biggest, baddest roadgoing incarnation of the AC Cobra pitched up in 1965 and took its name from the 427cu in (7-litre) V8 bristling under its bonnet.
A larger-diameter chassis and improved suspension with coil springs were used to cope with the V8 motor’s output, while the body gained wider wheelarches and a bonnet scoop to distinguish the 427 from its more delicately styled 289 sibling.
The defining characteristic of the 427, however, was its performance. With that much power in a car weighing little more than a tonne, it could burst from 0-60mph in 4.2 secs and carry on to as much as 165mph, depending on gearing.
Little wonder Carroll Shelby used to tape a $100 bill to the dashboard and dare anyone in the passenger seat to grab it while he floored the throttle. He never lost a dime on that bet.
2. Alfa Romeo Gran Sport Quattroruote
Before the boom in pastiche cars in the 1970s, Alfa Romeo came up with its Gran Sport Quattroruote as a retro tribute to the 6C 1750 Gran Sport of the 1930s.
The car took part of its name from the original and the Quattroruote element from the Italian car magazine of that title
An article in the magazine had inspired the idea and Alfa Romeo sent purpose-built chassis to Zagato for the hand-formed bodies to be fitted.
Power came from a 91bhp 1.6-litre engine and five-speed manual gearbox taken from the contemporary Giulia. The same model also donated its suspension and brakes.
The first Gran Sport Quattroruote was on the road in April 1965, and a total of 92 were built between then and 1967. They were sold through official Alfa Romeo dealers.
3. Alfa Romeo GTA
The GTA version of Alfa Romeo’s oh-so pretty GT coupé might have looked very similar, but those appearances really did deceive. In almost every way, the GTA was very different.
Built for racing homologation, the ‘A’ in GTA stood for Alleggerita, ‘lightened’ in Italian, and it took this to heart with aluminium body panels and thinner-gauge steel for the structure beneath.
Bumpers were done away with and the wheels were alloy as well to further pare the weight. A standard GTA tipped the scales at a mere 820kg (1808lb).
The 1.6-litre engine with two spark plugs per cylinder didn’t escape the pursuit of lightness, because its sump, cam cover and clutch housing were all made from magnesium alloy.
4. Aston Martin DB6
Aston Martin’s DB6 was an early proponent of the Kamm tail design on a road car.
Wind-tunnel testing had shown a tendency for the rear of the car to go light at high speeds, so this cut-off rear was used to counteract it.
Another notable feature of the DB6 included its 3.75in longer wheelbase compared to the DB5 it replaced. Along with this, a higher roofline made the DB6 a passable four-seat grand tourer, while the 4-litre engine continued with 282bhp in standard trim.
Even so, and despite the DB6 weighing more than its predecessor, it was quicker than the DB5 due to the improved aerodynamics.
A Vantage version of the DB6 was offered with a claimed 325bhp, while the open-top model was the first to adopt the Volante name.
Aston Martin updated the DB6 in 1969 with flared wheelarches, power steering and optional fuel injection.
5. Audi 72
The Audi 72 was something of a mish-mash of inputs from various German car makers.
Its main body was a reworked version of the DKW F102, hence this car being referred to within Audi as the F103, and the engine was a Mercedes-Benz unit. All of this was created under the watchful eye of Volkswagen.
Far from being a car put together by committee, the Audi 72 was a very decent machine that went on to be offered in two- and four-door saloon shapes, as well as an estate. It sold very well in Germany, but foreign sales were more elusive.
Audi went on to develop the car into the 60, 70, 75, 80 and 90, notching up a very respectable sales total of 416,852 of all versions by the time production ceased in 1972.
6. Cadillac Calais
In 1965, the Cadillac Calais took over from the popular Series 62 as the US firm’s entry point to its take on the luxury car.
The Calais name came from one of a pair of brothers in Ancient Greek mythology rather than the French port. As a god of wind, Calais was felt to give the new Cadillac range a suitably svelte appeal.
As a full-size luxury model offered in saloon, and two- and four-door hardtop bodies, the Calais looked good and sold well right up until it was replaced by an all-new model for 1971.
Power for the Calais came from General Motors’ usual catalogue of 429cu in (7-litre) and 472cu in (7.7-litre) V8s.
Smoothness was prioritised over performance and all Calais models came with a three-speed automatic transmission.
They also had power steering, reversing lights, two-speed wipers and servo-assisted brakes included.
7. Chrysler Valiant
The Chrysler Valiant had been around in a couple of guises since 1962, but the AP6 Series car of 1965 was a new model built and sold in Australia.
Updated styling made the AP6 Valiant a handsome saloon, station wagon or two-door ‘ute’ pick-up.
These models could be powered by the sensible 3.7-litre straight-six engine, or you could opt for the performance offered by the 4.5-litre V8 that came with an automatic gearbox as an option.
Although only on sale for a short time between February 1965 and March 1966, Chrysler sold 43,344 Valiants of the AP6 generation.
8. Dodge Coronet
After a six-year hiatus, the Dodge Coronet reappeared in 1965 as a mid-size saloon, two-door hardtop, convertible or station wagon.
A coupé was offered from 1968 and lasted until this generation of Coronet was superseded for 1971.
The Coronet was an instant hit for Dodge, shifting 209,000 cars in 1965 alone.
It helped that the Coronet could be ordered with a modest 225cu in (3.7-litre) straight-six for those more interested in economy, or you could have a V8 in sizes ranging from 273cu in (4.5 litres) up to 440cu in (7.2 litres).
This latter motor was for the Coronet R/T, though the 426cu in (7-litre) Hemi-powered model was more powerful.
9. Dodge Monaco
The year 1965 was crucial for Dodge, because it introduced the mid-size Coronet and its full-size Monaco.
The Monaco was unveiled in late 1964 and hit the ground running for the start of 1965 in four-door saloon, station-wagon, and two- and four-door hardtop styles. There was also a convertible for the Canadian market.
Customers in Canada were also the only ones to have the option of a 318cu in (5.2-litre) V8 engine.
Those in the US and elsewhere could pick between the base 225cu in (3.7-litre) six-cylinder engine or the much more appealing V8 choices that came in 383cu in (6.3-litre) or 440cu in (7.2-litre) capacities.
A facelift sharpened the Monaco’s looks in 1967 and this first-generation model was then replaced by a new model in 1969.
10. Fiat 850 Coupé and Spider
Visitors to the 1965 Geneva motor show got more than they bargained for on the Fiat stand with the arrival of both the 850 Coupé and Spider models.
While the 850 saloon they were based on was somewhat frumpy, these new models were anything but.
The Coupé had fashionable fastback looks, while the Spider enjoyed sleek lines courtesy of coachbuilder Bertone, which also built this delightful two-seat drop-top.
11. Ford Bronco
Ford had been involved in building the original Jeep during the Second World War, but it took until 1965 for it to come up with its own take on a compact 4x4 with the Bronco.
The idea for the Bronco was to create something more refined than the contemporary Jeep that could be used off-road, but also as an alternative to a station wagon.
A sturdy separate chassis underpinned the Bronco, while coil-spring front suspension offered a more comfortable drive than most 4x4’s leaf springs.
Power came from a range of straight-six and V8 engines, while the Bronco’s clean lines made it a sales hit from the start. This first-generation model continued up to 1977, generating a total of 225,495 sales.
12. Ford Falcon XP
The short-lived Ford Falcon XP arrived in 1965 to give Australian buyers an alternative to the Holden Premier.
For the Falcon XP, Ford came up with a range of four-door saloon and estate bodies, as well as two-door hardtop, van and ‘ute’ shapes.
All were powered by a straight-six engine, with a choice of 2.3-, 2.8- and 3.3-litre motors depending on the model you chose.
The XP introduced a much stronger subframe than its XM predecessors, which had damaged Ford’s reputation in Australia with its fragile construction.
When the Falcon XP ended production in September 1966, just 18 months after it arrived, it had found 70,998 buyers and was replaced by the Falcon XR.
13. Holden HD
The Holden HD was a vital string in the company’s bow to compete with arch rival Ford and its new Falcon XP.
There were obvious similarities in the HD’s styling to the Vauxhall Victor of the same time. However, the Holden didn’t bother with its cousin’s mere 1.6-litre, four-cylinder engine and under its bonnet was a choice of 2.4-, 2.9- and 3.2-litre straight-sixes.
Recognising the need to widen the car’s appeal, Holden also offered the HD with the company’s first performance pack, called the X2. This came with twin carburettors, a new camshaft and freer-flowing exhaust manifolds to give 140bhp.
The Holden clearly appealed to Australian buyers, who snapped up 178,927 HDs in just 14 months on sale up to April 1966.
14. Iso Grifo
The Grifo was a big step for Iso, because it took the small Italian firm into contention with the very best from Ferrari, Maserati, Jaguar and Aston Martin.
To cope with this tough crowd, Iso turned to Giorgetto Giugiaro for the car’s elegant fastback styling.
The chassis was a shortened version of the Rivolta’s, while power came from the US in the form of a 295bhp Corvette V8 with manual or automatic transmission options.
While most European/US hybrids stumbled, the Grifo sold steadily in small numbers and was praised for its handling, performance and comfort.
This helped see the car through to 1974 with various revisions, and a sales tally of 414 for both the coupé and Spider convertible.
15. Mercedes-Benz W108/W109
Some might have felt the Mercedes-Benz W108’s styling was too sensible and toned down from the previous saloon’s with its tailfins.
However, time proved Mercedes’ decision to be sound, because the basic look of the W108, and its long-wheelbase W109 sibling, influenced the company’s saloons for the next 15 years.
These two models established what would become the S-Class, though they never took this name. The top of the line W109 was the astonishing 300SEL 6.3 that used the V8 engine from the 600 limousine to create a luxury rocketship.
Only 6526 of these high-performance versions were made versus more than 250,000 of all other W108 and W109 models.
16. Mini Marcos
There was a good deal of innovation in the design of the Mini Marcos, not least its glassfibre monocoque body that helped make it light, stiff, and a very capable car on the road or track
It made good use of a Mini’s front and rear subframes, with the engine at the front dictating the high bonnet line compared to the low roof.
The sloping tail made the Mini Marcos very aerodynamic, which helped get the best from its modest engine when tuned.
With a standard Cooper ‘S’ engine fitted, the Mini Marcos could reach 105mph, while a race version was the only British finisher at the 1966 Le Mans 24 Hours race.
In later life, the Mini Marcos was produced by racing driver Rob Walker and carried on up to 1981.
17. Mitsubishi Colt 800
Mitsubishi didn’t bother with a kei car design for its small Colt 800 model. This was a larger car intended to compete with the likes of the Mini and Suzuki Fronte 800.
The Colt 800 was Mitsubishi’s first fastback design, yet it offered room for four people inside and some luggage in the boot. However, the storage space was accessed through a traditional boot rather than a full tailgate.
A three-cylinder, two-stroke, 843cc engine was the first unit to be fitted to the Colt 800, which delivered 44bhp for reasonable performance and economy.
This was joined in 1966 by a four-stroke, 1-litre, four-cylinder engine with 54bhp to make the car more refined.
The Colt 800 was a rare sight outside its Japanese home market, but it did sell in Australia where a ‘ute’ pick-up version was also offered.
18. Nissan President
The Nissan President lived up to its name when it was launched in 1965 by only being available through select special dealerships.
Its price and specification also saw to it that only top brass could afford this luxury saloon.
Those with half an eye on the budget could choose a 3-litre, straight-six engine for the President, but the one to have came with a 4-litre V8 delivering 177bhp.
This model was used by the Japanese royal family and prime ministers, lending it the credibility the company desired.
The President served as a technical test-bed for Nissan and was the first Japanese car fitted with anti-lock brakes in 1971.
Four generations of President were built and lasted up to 2010, by which time 56,000 of all generations had been produced.
19. NSU TT
The NSU 1000 arrived in 1964, but a year later the TT performance version was added by the German firm.
Although called the 1000TT, this faster model came with a 1085cc engine offering a peppy 54bhp.
The TT was easily spotted thanks to its twin headlamps, while front disc brakes helped counter the increased performance. To begin with the TT offered a top speed of 92mph and 0-60mph in 14.8 secs.
In 1967, the TT gained a 1.2-litre engine, but it was the revvy TTS that grabbed more attention with its 68bhp 1-litre motor and 100mph top speed. Only 2402 TTS models were made, while the TT racked up 64,269 sales in total.
20. Opel Kadett
When Opel launched its new Kadett B at the Frankfurt motor show in 1965, it was a big step up from the original Kadett.
The new car was much roomier inside and adopted a bang-up-to-date look with its simple, unadorned flanks and sharp edges.
Some traditional Opel customers were not keen on the looks, but Opel’s equally unadorned pricing soon had them buying the Kadett in its two- and four-door saloon bodies.
You could also have it as a three- or five-door estate, and even a two-door coupé that had the appearance of a scaled-down US muscle car.
The Coupé Rally was the sporty number to have thanks to its twin carburettor engine, front disc brakes and matt-black-painted bonnet.
In all, the Opel Kadett B sold 2,649,501 in all its various models, which was around four times as many as the previous generation had managed.
21. Peel Viking
Basing a car company on the Isle of Man is not for the faint-hearted when it comes to logistics, but the Peel Viking was a car aimed at the bolder driver.
The Viking set out its bold stall with a glassfibre monocoque and shape that attempted to be more practical than the other Mini-based, low-volume cars that blossomed around the same time.
It was also supplied as a kit of parts for the new owner to install the front and rear subframes, and engine from a Mini.
With a Cooper ‘S’ motor installed, the Peel Viking was a very quick car. However, the ready availability of the equally practical Mini meant only around 25 Vikings were ever sold.
22. Peugeot 204
The Peugeot 204 marked a significant change in the French company’s approach to its small-model range.
Gone was the traditional front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, replaced with front-drive and a transversely mounted motor.
The huge advantage of this change was to free up a lot of cabin space, and in saloon or estate forms the Peugeot 204 was very roomy for this class of car.
Stylish coupé and convertible models joined the range a year after the mainstream models arrived and gave the 204 a welcome spritz of glamour.
While the saloon and estate were more worthy than wow factor, they did have very good handling. They were also offered with a diesel engine from 1968 that added to the appeal of the 204 for cost-conscious drivers.
23. Porsche 912
Wary of alienating customers who loved their 356s with the pricier new 911, Porsche split the difference and offered the 912 from 1965.
Retaining all the looks and style of the 911 coupé, the 912 used the 1582cc, flat-four engine from the last of the 356 line to create a more affordable model.
With 90bhp, the 912 was some 40bhp down on the 2-litre 911, but less weight helped compensate for this and it could see off 0-60mph in 11.9 secs and go on to 119mph.
The 912 was praised for its handling, which some reckoned was better than the 911’s thanks to less weight behind the rear axle line.
The original 912 lasted up to 1969 and then Porsche revived the idea in 1975 with the 912E that used a 2-litre, fuel-injected Volkswagen engine.
This was solely for the US market and lasted only to 1976 with sales of just 2099. The earlier 912 was much more popular, with 30,300 produced.
24. Rambler Marlin
The Rambler Marlin aimed to pair sensible everyday use with the appeal of the new breed of muscle cars.
To do this, the 1965 Marlin, styled by Dick Teague, came with a fastback shape that offered more space than a Ford Mustang inside.
Under the bonnet, the level-headed approach continued with an engine range that began with a 232cu in (3.8-litre) straight-six.
Fortunately, there were also the options of V8s in 287cu in (4.7-litre) and 327cu in (5.4-litre) capacities to bring some muscle-car motivation.
Performance was decent rather than downright quick, but the Marlin was praised for its handling.
For 1966, the Rambler name was dropped and the car became known as the AMC Marlin, and it was then replaced for 1967 with a larger successor.
25. Renault 16
In its humble way, the Renault 16 was the most important French post-war car at the time of its launch in 1965.
No one element was groundbreaking, but bringing all of them together in a single, affordable family car certainly was.
The most distinctive feature of the 16 was its rear tailgate hatch. Unlike rival saloons, it made the Renault more practical and presaged the two-box family hatch.
There was also front-wheel drive to maximise cabin space, an alloy engine to reduce weight, plus disc front brakes as standard.
A typically absorbent Renault ride quality was matched with competent handling, though performance from the original 1470cc engine was modest thanks to just 54bhp. In 1973, the TX model arrived with a sporting 92bhp and a five-speed manual transmission.
With so much going for it, the Renault 16 overcame initial caution about its clever design and went on to sell 1.846 million cars up to the end of its lengthy production life in 1979.
26. Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow
By the mid-1960s, even Rolls-Royce and its Bentley sister company were well aware of the need for a slightly more egalitarian model.
Enter the Silver Shadow, and Bentley T-Series, saloons with sleek modern styling, unitary construction, and an appeal that would see these models sell in numbers previously unimaginable in the Rolls-Royce boardroom.
The looks, luxury cabin and cosseting drive of the Silver Shadow soon had buyers queuing to own one.
This was a car that appealed to both the company’s traditional buyers and a much wider range of younger, affluent customers emerging in the decade of its launch.
A new three-speed automatic gearbox arrived in 1979 and the original 6.2-litre V8 was replaced by an enlarged 6.75-litre version in 1970.
There were also coupé and convertible models, and a facelift in 1977 for the Shadow II. When the curtain came down on the saloon in 1980, around 30,000 Shadows and derivatives had left the Crewe factory.
27. Suzuki Fronte 800
The clue was in the name of this small car from Japan, because the Suzuki Fronte 800 came with a 0.8-litre engine mounted at the front and driving the front wheels.
Performance was modest from the 785cc, two-stroke, three-cylinder engine, which owed much to Suzuki’s motorcycle knowledge.
A four-speed manual gearbox was the only transmission option and the Fronte could reach a top speed of 71mph.
The simple, two-door saloon style was the only one offered for the Fronte and it gained separate front seats in 1966.
However, the poor performance and cramped cabin meant the Suzuki Fronte 800 was a slow seller in its Japanese market and fewer than 3000 were made during its life span that lasted to early 1969.
28. Toyota Sports 800
If Toyota had chosen to export its Sports 800 outside its Japanese homeland, the MG Midget and Triumph Spitfire would have had a much tougher time of it.
Unlike the very sophisticated Honda S800, the Toyota Sports 800 was technically much more basic.
It was based on the Publica saloon with its torsion-bar independent front suspension, solid rear axle and drum brakes.
An air-cooled, two-cylinder engine was also simple, but effective, too, because it powered the Toyota to 96mph with its 44bhp.
With nippy performance for its class, the Toyota Sports 800 also offered good year-round ability thanks to its targa roof panels and fixed rear roof section.
However, only 3120 Sports 800s were made by the time Toyota ended production in 1970.
29. Triumph 1300
The 1300 should have pointed the way to a new future for Triumph in 1965, but this front-wheel-drive model was left to wither with no replacement planned or siblings in the line-up.
Using a Triumph Herald engine still mounted longitudinally to work with a gearbox sited behind and below, the 1300 needed a higher bonnet line to accommodate this front-drive set-up.
However, it also freed up lots of cabin space in the compact saloon and the Michelotti styling gave it sharp lines.
A TC twin carburettor model arrived in 1967 with better performance. A 1500 version soldiered on to 1973, but by then Triumph had the rear-drive Dolomite ready to replace its front-wheel-drive experiment.
30. Wolseley 1100
Not quite as luxuriously appointed as the Vanden Plas Princess 1100 that it shared its platform with, the Wolseley 1100 was still a gracious small car to own in 1965.
There was a walnut-veneer dashboard and door cappings to make this a scaled-down version of larger Wolseley models. You could also choose two-tone exterior colour schemes to add to that impression.
The 1100 version used an all-synchromesh four-speed manual gearbox with twin carburettor engine, while the automatic transmission saw the engine detuned with a single carb. A 1300 model was added to the line-up in 1967.
All Wolseley 1100s stuck with the traditional illuminated badge in the upright chromed grille, which gave the car sufficient appeal to sell 17,497 examples up to its 1968 demise.
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