Former Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and Iso engineer, Giotto Bizzarrini, founded the Bizzarrini Automotive Manufacturer company in 1964. Starting design in 1963, Bizzarrini’s 1964 Strada 5300 GT was a marvelous gran turismo vehicle that proved to be the company’s most sought-after model.
A low-slung two-seater coupe, this gorgeous automobile had a small-block, 327 Corvette engine and could accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in under seven seconds. The Strada 5300 GT reached speeds of up to 174 mph, had four-wheel disc brakes, a four-speed manual transmission and great rear suspension. Only 133 units were produced, and the Strada 5300 GT remains a coveted collectible even to this day.
1967 Mazda Cosmo
Mazda is another car manufacturer that has stood the test of time, and their 1967 Mazda Cosmo was a weird, tiny sports car that was the first ever mass produced vehicle to feature a rotary engine. The Japanese car manufacturer's first ever sports car, the Mazda Cosmo was a feat of engineering that previewed what was to come from the legendary Mazda Motor Corporation.
The Cosmo launched the famous Mazda Wankel engine, and its name was chosen by the company to leverage the decade's fascination with the Space Race.
1968 Jensen Interceptor
British car manufacturer Jensen Motors released their grand touring model, Jensen Interceptor, from 1966 to 1976. The custom, hand-built Interceptor was produced at the prestigious Kelvin Way Factory in Birmingham, England, and it had a classic steel body-shell designed by Carrozzeria Touring, an outside Italian design firm.
The powerful V8 engine and overall cool design of the Jensen Interceptor made this two-door fastback wildly popular back in the '60s, and it still has a devoted cult-following up until this day.
1960 Jaguar XK150
Produced by the legendary Jaguar company from 1957 to 1961, the Jaguar XK150 is an engineering masterpiece. This stunning sports car was designed by Jaguar as a response to the Mercedes-Benz's 300 SL Roadster, and its 250 bhp "S" configuration made it much faster than the previous XK models.
It's comfortable design, D-type racer disc brakes and weather-tight features made it an instant favorite among car connoisseurs. The XK150 had a dashboard trimmed in leather, thinner doors that allowed for more interior space, and came in a variety of colors that had drivers going crazy over the small Jaguar.
1965 Iso Grifo A3/C
The 1965 Iso Grifo A3/C was a classic beauty produced by Iso Autoveicoli, a prominent Italian car manufacturer. The Iso Grifo was designed as a response to the Ferrari and Maserati GTs, and it featured many components from the Ford and Chevrolet companies. Iso wanted a car with a luxurious Italian look and a sturdy, reliable American performance.
The mechanics were built by revered designer and Bizzarrini company owner, Giotto Bizzarrini. The 1965 Iso Grifo had a 327 V8 engine and a Borg-Warner four-speed manual transmission. This stunning piece of machinery could hit 68 mph in first gear.