Interior design through the decades: 1960s

We glance back at one of the most extraordinary times of car design. A time of The Beatles, lava Lamps and turtlenecks. Bring on the '60s.

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Interior design through the decades: 1950s

1962 Chrysler Imperial

Interestingly, the Imperial's handbrake grips the driveshaft and not the rear brakes. (Image source: ImperialClub.org)

Call it ugly. Call it beautiful. Regardless of which, you have to admit its one hell of a design.

Run on an advertising campaign that involved Imperials being delivered to homes just for a test drive, the '62 Chrysler Imperial's interior was absolutely jam packed with blunt corners, plush leather, and lashings of chrome. Not to mention all the toys: power door locks, power windows, automatic headlamp dimmer, "Auto-Pilot" cruise control, six-way power front seat, electroluminescent lighting on the dash, and a push button gear selector were just some of the many features.

Thankfully, you could get different coloured leather. (Image source: ImperialClub.org)

Despite the tech inside, however, it's the overall design that catches the eye. The square steering wheel, the huge instrument cluster, and the fin-like accessories panel on the sides just draw you in. I don't want to know what it's like during a crash, but you can't have everything.

1964 Mercedes-Benz 600

Available for almost USD $33,000 brand new (which was twice the amount for a Roly-Poly and quadruple the amount for a Cadillac Fleetwood 75 limo), or about AUD $289,000 today, the obese Mercedes-Benz 600 was, pretty much, built for the world's worst dictators. Jack Nicholson bought one too.

Elvis Presley owned a 600 Grosser, as did Nicolae Ceauşescu... (Image source: Retro Legends)

While this handmade car came with exquisite wood panelling, automatic climate control, interior curtains, rear window deflectors, a "bar" in the centre console with crystal shot glasses, it was the hydraulic system that was the star of the show. Hydraulically operated windows, sunroof, door locks, seats, suspension, cowl induction vent, and boot were just some of the innovative features found in the 600. Yet despite all of the stuff that came as standard, it was what you ordered that made it special. If you wanted a television set built in, you could have it. If you wanted panelling installed to separate you from 'the help' up front, you can have it. You could even specify a built-in phone, if you could afford it.

Top speed in the 600 was 204kph. (Image source: DriveDrill.com)

While the huge American cars of the day were about the gross display of wealth, the Mercedes was slightly more reserved. I mean, why would you purchase a luxury car for the common peasant to enjoy?

1968 Dodge HEMI Dart Super-Stock

A limited edition high-performance variant of the 1968 Dodge Dart, the HEMI Dart Super-Stock spawned one of the most interesting American interiors of the '60s.

(Image source: Pinterest)

What was in it? Nothing. But that was the point. While Yank tanks generally focused on cramming as much stuff inside as possible, the HEMI Dart Super-Stock ripped almost everything out. The centre console, heater, radio, and carpets - they were all removed. The standard seats were replaced by lightweight ones from a A-100 van and seat-belt style straps replaced the window cranks. Even the sound insulation was removed.

Instead of cramming in features, the Dodge HEMI Dart took them all out.

While it would probably be a noisy pain to complete a road trip in, we can certainly appreciate the commitment that went into the HEMI Dart Super-Stock.

1965 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow

The God is in the details. While the Roly-Poly lacked the glitzy tech of its trans-Atlantic rivals, it preferred to alternatively perfect the foundation of luxury, rather than re-invent it.

(Image source: RRSilverShadow.com)

The leather, for example, is made from Simmental cows. All of them are male too, because they don't get stretchmarks. And they're enclosed by standard fencing, not barbed wire, so they don't nick their hides. They're also raised in high-moisture temperate climates, so their skin doesn't dry out.

The 6.2 V8 pushed out 172hp in 1969, which Rolls-Royce liked to call "adequate". (Source: RRSilverShadow.com)

The carpets are so thick you can lose your entire thumb in it. The wood on the dashboard is a genuine lump of heavy English Walnut cleanlyand is crafted, varnished, and put in by hand. And the heavy metal switches, knobs, and air vents - they were done by hand too. The sight, the smell, the feel of the interior; it's a sensory event that just comes together so nicely.

And there's even more good news; Rolls-Royces don't even break down. They 'fail to proceed', apparently.

1961 Jaguar E-Type Mk.I

It doesn't matter what year you go for - they're all good.

(Image source: Classic Performance Car)

Loved by the celebrity jet set of the 1960s, the Jaguar E-type was, and still is, an elegant design that captured the imagination of revheads all around the world.

A typical English convertible filled with leather and weather. (Image source: Pinterest)

Featuring two, huge white-on-black dials that crisply displayed the speed and RPM, the interior of the Jaguar was heavily influenced by the racing cars of the era. A big wooden sports-drilled steering wheel sat in front of you, accompanied by a beautiful single pressed metal dash that housed all the miscellaneous engine dials and giant toggle switches. Nice.

Alas, it probably spent most of its time being driven through rain, or on the back of a tow truck, but it's still an amazing design that reminds us of how some cars can get interiors just right.

Are there any interiors that you think should've got on the list? Tell us what you think in the comments below.