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Women's 1960s fashion was an extreme style and attitude from the start of the decade to the end. In the early years, the fashion idol was Jackie Kennedy with her perfect white pearls and tailored suit dresses. By the middle of the decade, supermodel Twiggy had women freeing their minds and bodies into clothing that didn't require any extra thought or effort.

From modest to "there is no such thing as too short," 1960s fashion was in many ways like the 1920s flapper revolution. But it didn't happen overnight.

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Women's 1960s Fashion Trends

What clothes were popular in the 1960s? Shift dresses, mini skirts, go go boots, flare pants, jumper dresses, colorful denim, cloche hats, turtleneck shirts, flat shoes, pattern tights, and daisy flower prints. Many of these 60s clothes are back in style now.
Even more 1960s fashion trends were:

Jackie Kennedy, Brigitte Bardot, and Mary Quant were fashion icons.

The Youthquake movement created "Babydoll" clothing.

Short, shapeless shift dresses in bright colors and colorblock patterns became a staple of the Mod look.

Button-down shirts, turtlenecks, and chunky knit sweaters made up casual outfits.

Mini skirts or pencil skirts in plaid were a teenage girl's school outfit.

Jax pants, stirrup pants, bell bottoms, and pantsuits were new trends.

Low heel flats, step in boots, and vinyl shoes made up 60s footwear.

Stockings or tall socks came in all colors.

Pop Art jewelry was collectable.

60s hairstyles could be short and bobbed or long and straight.

Hippie fashion - Blue jeans, ethnic clothing, psychedelic swirls, tie-dye in the mid-late 1960s.

1960s Fashion Icons

Jackie Kennedy's style was clean, simple, and well fitted, with perfectly matched accessories. Janie wore dresses without collars and jackets that buttoned only with one large top button.

On her feet she wore sensible low heeled shoes (although many women still preferred high heels). She was the last celebrity woman to wear hats, a pillbox hat, as a necessary fashion.

Jackie O' put a lot of care into her look, and women both in the USA and abroad copied her style with enthusiasm.

Sadly, after her husband's assassination, Jackie was no longer in the public eye. Women had to find a new 1960s fashion idol to be inspired by.

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Brigitte Bardot was that woman. She was Jackie's opposite. Jackie was put together, simple and modest. Brigitte was tacky, cheap, bold, and even silly. Her 1959 pink gingham wedding dress with white lace trim was so unexpected that gingham and lace quickly became a new trend in the early 60s.

Mary Quant was another 1960s fashion influence. Her style moved away from "grown-up fashion" to playful "youth" driven clothing. Her shift dresses were short, very short, and her prints were bold and colorful "mod" prints. Her fashion as well as her personality set the tone for the rest of the 1960s: "fashion is fun."

It was the whole idea of a return to childhood that drove most of the fashion in the 1960s. Oversized collars, bows, and delicate trim miniaturized women and made them appear smaller.

Shapeless 60s mini dresses de-emphasized a woman's natural form. The flat and boxy look took away women's curves and made them little girls once more.

Kitten heel pumps, Mary Jane strap shoes, and flat sneakers were all childhood shoes returned to the '60s youthquake culture.

It was no coincidence that a young culture had a lot to do with half the American population being under 25 and with European countries having a similarly large youth population, too.

After growing up in the '50s as "little adults," the youth embraced their fond early childhood memories and fashions. By children's fashion, we mean babies and toddlers. The 1960s "babydoll" look was incorporated into dress, hair, and even makeup.

1960s Dresses

The full skirt and tight bodice of the '50s swing dress continued in the early '60s, with a slightly above- or at-the-knee hemline and modest high necklines.

1960s dress colors and patterns were bigger, brighter, and streamlined with simple necklines and short cap sleeves. This full-skirted look didn't leave fashion in the 1960s. Instead, it carried through to the 1970s in a pared down, less fluffy form.

The other style of early 60s dresses was the contoured sheath dress. Like the 50s version, it was knee-length, modest, and simple, but tailored to the hourglass curve of the body. By 1963, the sheath was losing its tight curves (a welcome relief) and relaxing into the shift dress.

The shift dress lacked any sort of tailored waistline, but did pinch in slightly around the ribs and skimmed over the hips to just above the knee. This loose but narrow looking dress was very comfortable and easy to wear. It became the primary women's dress style of the 1960s.

1960s skimmer dresses were a cousin of the shift dress. Skimmers fit straight on the body with a high neckline and (usually) a belt to define the waist, but not shape it. They "skimmed" the body without touching the skin. The hemline also hovered above the knee- how daring!

The 1960s drop waist dress was a 1920s throwback where the skirt circled the low hip and dropped to the knee. It was a bit more fitted than the shift dress, with a gathered or pleated skirt. The drop waist dress seemed to have been favored by mature women who were more used to a tailored fit.

1960s dresses became shorter and shorter. Anything above the knee was a "mini skirt." How short a woman's dress became a sign of how confident she was - not necessarily that she had great legs.

Hem length was directly proportional to how 60s women felt about their own sexual liberation.

1960s short skirts were not meant to attract men for the sake of sexual interest, but instead were a way to attract attention so that a WOMAN could be the one to decide if his attention was wanted. It was sexual power through fashion.

The jumper dress was a Mary Quant invention that captured the youthful, playful side of 1960s fashion. That style immediately made a 20-year-old look 10, a welcome change from the '50s mature fashion. Big bows, large round collars, pastels, and polka dots were all dress details that made women look like a little girl's dolls. The more innocent, the better.

Colors and prints were at first inspired by the pop art and modern art movements, AKA "Mod" culture.

Checkerboard, horizontal stripes, windowpane, polka dots, colorblock, honeycomb, houndstooth and Campbell's soup cans were all placed on short shift dresses with contrasting white cuffs and collars. Black and white was especially MOD.

Psychedelic swirls and prints introduced a trippy edge to clothing that was picked up by the hippies around 1966-1968. Being over the top was never too much. Large paisley swirls, neon flower daisies, and tropical beach prints all made an appearance. Bright yellow, orange, hot pink, and lime green were the favorites. These bold colors and loud patterns were seen on dresses, skirts, tops, and pants.
Shop 1960s style dresses here
There was also a trend of earth tone colors, especially as the 60s decade moved toward the hippie movement. Moss green, earthy browns, mustard yellow, and burnt orange were common colors year-round.

See more examples of vintage 1960s dresses here.

Hippie outfits are popular 60s party costumes. Learn more about who the real 1960s hippies were and what they wore. Shop more 70s style hippie dresses too.

1960s Cocktail, Prom, and Evening Dresses

For swanky 19 60s cocktail parties, the party look of the '60s was the same short shift, tent, and skimmer dress styles in luxury fabrics, mostly in black ... or white.

The two-piece jacket dress was a classic with mature ladies.

For the young, dressy shell tops and cigarette pants were a welcome change from dresses.

In the late '60s, wide-leg jumpsuits became a type of hostess dress, acceptable for evening house parties.

In the 1960s, pastels were worn in the summer and rich jewel tones in fall. Lace was a popular 1960s fabric as well as velvet or a classic light crepe. Most cocktail dresses were undecorated, but some had braid and metallic mesh trim around the necks and hems. "Minimal" was the sixties look to achieve.

For 1960s evenings and prom, the choice was between short or long empire waist dresses.

Usually sleeveless, the longer dresses were shaped like a column with pleats at the back. The top was often a contrasting lace or damask material cinched in with a bow on the front or back.

Short 60s evening dresses looked the same as long dresses, just shorter. Many were tent shaped or A-line instead of the slim column shape.

Learn more about 1960s cocktail party/evening wear/wedding party attire here.

1960s Tops, Sweaters, Coats

1960s women's tops, shirts, blouses, and sweaters all took direction from casual clothing in the 1950s. The primary change was that shirts and sweaters now fit straight on the body, with no emphasis on the bust or waist.

1960s tops could also be worn untucked. Gasp!

Women's 60s tops hung out over pants and skirts and grew longer as the decade advanced. Necklines also grew higher, back to the modest look of the 1930s.

The mock neck blouse or knit shirt was a classic. Sleeveless in summer and typically called shells, the fit was always boxy. They were casual solid tops worn with pants and shorts. Long sleeve black turtlenecks were a uniform of the Beatniks in London, but in the USA horizontal stripes were worn by every young person.

Big roll collars, round Peter Pan collars (often in contrasting white), big bows, and pointed shirt collars called attention to a thin neck and short hair.

Women's 1960s button up shirts took on the look of menswear with round or straight hems, oversized collars, and bold prints.

Bright colors and big prints made colorful statements when paired with a solid color matching pant. Learn more about 1960s blouses, tops, and shirt styles for women.
Shop 1960s tops and shirts here.
1960s knitted sweaters were usually solid colored pullovers or in the boxy cardigan style.

'60s knitwear designs favored texture - thick textured cable knits and wide rib knits were very popular. Many had large fold-out collars and oversized roll necks. Cardigans were usually collarless with some unique print in the early to mid-'60s such as small argyle, checks, chevron, or florals.

Read more about 1960s knitwear and sweaters
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For winter wear, a good wool coat was still necessary. 1960s women's coats narrowed down and shortened up to fit over new, thinner, clothes.

Round collars with big buttons, flap pockets, geometric prints, and maybe a belt kept 60s coats looking cute and fun. Outerwear came down to just above the knee so that long, lean legs would continue to be the focal point.

Women's 1960s legs froze in winter. Only a warm pair of stockings, tights or tall socks could save them.

Short jackets in the 60s, especially those made of suede and leather, were popular options for the young and casual girl.

Shiny plastic-like vinyl was even more trendy with the space-age loving mod set.
Shop 1960s coats and jackets.
Most 60s women, however, chose a blazer-type jacket that was dressy enough to be worn with dresses, but also casual enough to be worn with pants on the weekends.

1960s Skirts

Women's 1960s skirts came in knee lengths with classic circle skirts/swing skirts, straight pencil skirts, and box-pleated A-line skirts (school girl style) in the early to mid 60s. Plaid patterns were very popular in the fall and winter, and solid pastels in spring and summer.

The late '60s saw the first shocker - the mini skirt - enter fashion. Mini skirts were 4-6 inches above the knee in box pleats or A-line button front shapes.

Plaids, pleats, corduroy, and heavy knits were perfect for 60s mini skirts. They were worn with tights and tall go go boots by teens and trendy college-age girls.

Mature women didn't wear minis. They went the opposite direction - longer! Button front knee-length skirts, knee-length skorts, and at-the-knee denim skirts were all newer options for 1960s women.

The maxi skirt came about at the end of the 60s decade too. Women and girls of all ages loved them.

Long skirts were gathered at the waist, sometimes with a tie bow, and hung down in a column shape. They took inspiration from prairie dresses and were made in hippie loving calico prints or swirly psychedelic eye poppers. In the evenings, long skirts were quilted or made with shiny taffeta fabrics.
Shop mini skirts, A-line skirts, long maxi skirts, denim skirts, and more.
The 1960s style skirt has returned to fashion this year.

1960s Pants

1960s Jax pants with a very high waist, shaped hip, and slender leg continued to be favorites from the 1950s. Women's 60s pants were usually lined, with side zippers and no waistband.

Women's 1960s pants could be worn with blouses tucked in, but more often had longer tops untucked.

Crop tops were a favorite in 60s summer - never too short, but occasionally long enough to overlap the pants' waistband.

The 1960s stretch pant and stirrup pant took advantage of a new kind of knit fabric.

Easy to sew and wear, the elastic stirrup under the foot kept pants smooth and straight. It didn't matter that the stirrup was visible. When ankle boots came into fashion, suddenly visible stirrups were taboo. Boots must be worn!

All 1960s pants / trousers came down to just above the ankle until the late '60s, when longer pants became the new trend. They also still zipped up the back or side for most of the decade, but moved to the front for trousers and jean styles.

Pants in the 60s were high waisted (circling the belly button) except for the youthful hip hugger styles that appeared in the mid '60s. They were more popular in Europe than America, and very trendy with the Mods and Beatniks.

1960s denim jeans followed the fit and style of slim pants: high waist, tapered leg, ankle crop, and in many more colors than just blue. White was especially trendy. Blue jeans were not as common as you might expect. They somewhat disappeared in the 1960s, only to return with a vengeance in 1969 with a flared boot cut.
Shop 1960s style pants here.
Flare jeans and pants may have started in the 1960s, but didn't go mainstream until 1969 and into the 1970s. There were a few casual flared leg pants designed as early as 1967, but for the most part, flared jeans and bell-bottom pants were not part of the 1960s. Even the hippies wore straight-leg pants in the 1960s. Learn more about 1960s pants, capris, jeans and culottes.

1960s Suits

Women's 60s suits, like the '50s, were dresses (or skirt and top separates) worn with a matching short jacket. They were the most professional choice for looking polished and lady-like.

Mature women liked the tailored suits with pencil skirts and cropped jackets, while young women embraced the knit suit with an open cardigan style jacket or light blazer.

As shocking as a 1960s mini skirt was to society, there was an equal confusion over the new pantsuit. It was a look directly copied from men's suits, but tailored down to feminine proportions.

Some 1960s work offices and establishments forbade women from wearing pantsuits. There was confusion over whether they were an insult to femininity or empowerment for women (which "disrespected men").

While 1960s fashion magazines debated, women flocked to the stores to buy pantsuits. Women were already wearing casual pants everywhere else, so wearing dressy pants seemed only natural.

Jumpsuits were another outfit that emerged in the late 1960s. These ultra wide leg one piece top and bottom overalls came in dramatic prints with big belts to match.

Many 1960s jumpsuits were sleeveless but could be worn over a blouse. They could be worn for lounging around the house or hosting an elegant house party.

They differed from the 1970s jumpsuit with a straight, wide palazzo leg.

Two peice jumpsuit looking sets were a matching tunic top and palazzo pant. Shop 60s and 70s jumpsuits.

1960s Shoes and Stockings

With women's 1960s legs now fully exposed by short hemlines and the youthful girl look on-trend, shoes took a drastic turn from high fashion with high heels to street fashion with low to no heels. Flats were in. Cheap was in. Color was in. Sophistication was out.

Thanks to new materials, notably PVC (Vinyl), women's 60s shoes could be mass-produced for cheap and come in a lot of bright colors to match dresses. The low heel made them easy to walk and live life in.

All the footwear designs of the earlier decades- loafers, Mary Janes, T-straps, monk straps, ballet, saddle shoes, and Oxfords - were designed into a low heeled shoe for the '60s.

Tall and skinny stiletto heels were still an option for evenings in the 1960s. The single strap Mary Jane came back in fashion, as did the slingback with cutouts on the sides.

Even 60s boots had flat heels. Thanks to an interest in all things futuristic looking, tall boots in white or silver became the new black. Everyone wore them.

1960s boots looked great with short dresses and mini skirts.

Tall white boots were called go-go boots, named after night club dancers in LA who wore them. Teens loved them and wore them with mini skirts to school (if they were allowed). Go Go boots are the most iconic shoe of the 1960s.

In the late '60s, suede boots in natural colors dominated fall and winter fashions. Both tall and short boot styles were worn with short shift dresses. Booties could be worn with long pants too.

Most 1960s boots were step in or pull on styles with a side zipper. The lace up boot was coming into style closer to the 1970s.

In the summer, it was the 1960s sandal heel, flip flop, and mule that had women feeling cool in the heat.

1960s summer shoe colors were bright and the straps were either very wide or very skinny.

Women's 60s sandal heels had a closed square toe, whereas casual sandals had a large open toe. Sandals were every woman's new favorite shoe. They could be worn with almost any outfit at any time of day, and not look out of place.

Women's 1960s casual shoes were canvas flat sneakers that we often refer as the brand name "Keds" today.

Keds were either slip-on loafers or lace-up sneakers in bright, happy colors, chosen to coordinate with an outfit. They were cheap, so women could afford to have one in every color. In the spring and summer, they were worn without socks.
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Read more about ALL the 1960s shoe styles here.

1960s Colored tights were worn with short skirts and dresses in a variety of colors and textures: white, black, purple, yellow, green, orange, fishnet, herringbone, ribbed, and lace. Tights covered up ugly knees and didn't cause garter straps like sheer stockings did.

Once pantyhose were perfected, they were the savior of women's legs anywhere. 1960s pantyhose camouflaged hair, bumps, bruises, and wide kneecaps. Even skin tone tights were thick and dark. To go bare-legged with dresses in the '60s was still too immodest. Ironic?

Shop colorful tights and socks inspired by the 1960s.

Tall socks could be worn instead of tights in the sixties. Chunky rib knits with a fold-down cuff were a mainstay for teens and young adults. All primary colors were worn as well as deep textures: waffle, cable knit, ribbed, honeycomb and others.

1960s Jewelry

Colorful women's clothing needed equally colorful 1960s jewelry.

In the early 60s, traditional jewelry continued to favor textured gold, white pastel, and colored pearls. These pretty and safe designs complemented the feminine 1950s style clothing.

The one change to traditional jewelry was the length. Longer pearls and tassel tip necklaces were preferred over the older short styles.

1960s necklaces hung down low on plain front shift dresses but were usually of a matching color so as not to distract from the dress. Round button earrings or small chandelier earrings matched 60s necklaces.

The new youth with their obsession with fake plastics, vinyl, and bold colors favored jewelry inspired by Pop Art.

Geometric shapes made their way onto over-sized dangling earrings.

Large chunky bangles or stacks of thin bracelets jingled up and down bare arms.

Novelty shapes were still popular, but they embraced brighter colors and more comical themes.

The same went for flowers, now made from plastic resins. They were cheerful pastel or primary-colored clusters hanging from 60s necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.
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Learn more about 1960s jewelry styles here.

1960s Hairstyles

Without a hat to call attention to a woman's head, 1960s hairstyles became a new focus for women. The 60s bouffant hairstyle teased hair to new heights... literally.

Guiche curls kissed her cheeks (made possible by a bit of nail polish to keep them pointed to a crisp). All that volume made faces appear smaller and more doll-like.

60s hair length rose from shoulder to chin to cropped above the ears as the decade progressed, only to come crashing down again in the '70s.

See more examples of 1960s hairstyles here.

Headbands were a trendy 60s hair accessory. Simple, wide satin headbands swept hair away from the face.

Hair scarves/bandannas were also trendy in the later half of the decade.

Cloche hats experienced a revival with the mod look. Pillbox hats and flower pot hats were in style with the early 60s looks.

Shop hats, hair accessories, and wigs here.

1960s Makeup

The early 60s makeup saw the exaggerated cat eye and full red lip continue. Eyebrows were shaped into subtle peak instead of a high curve. Pink blush was subtle and almost non-existent.

There were also 1960s makeup styles for the mod look (AKA babydoll face), specialty products for black women, looks for eveningwear, and others.

Powder - Flesh tone.

Blush - Soft rose pink.

Eye Shadow - White-pink, purple, light blue, aqua.

Eye Liner - Dark brown or black, top and bottom lined and extended outwards.

Lipstick - Deep pink, orange-red.

Eyebrows - Shaped into a soft peak.

Learn more about 1960s makeup.

Late 1960s Fashion: The Hippie Look

The late '60s saw a movement of anti-fashion, a political statement that grew so popular it became a mainstream fashion style. Real hippie clothing and hippie fashion were completely different.

Early on in the 1960s movement, festival going hippies wore mainstream fashions such as the shift dress in psychedelic colors of 1966-68. Tye-die was popular in 1968, taking plain white men's undershirts and dyeing them with multiple colors. The more color, the better - and the gaudier the colors, the better!

In 1968-69, the fashion shifted to earth tones, faded denim jeans, embroidered tops and tunics, and handmade accessories such as headbands, friendship bracelets, and hair wraps.

The flower child decoration of patches, embroidery, painting, and peace signs were added by many hippies to make their jeans feel less commercial or to make an anti-war statement.

60s Hippie fashion influenced mainstream designers who turned back to the down to earth, homemade, ethnic arts and crafts styles. Forest green with brown suede, and sunshine yellow with denim blue were signature colors of the ethnic-hippie '60s.

Crochet pieces, suede vests, wood beads, headbands, sandals, and embroidered trim decorated shift dresses or flared jeans. It was a blend of current silhouettes and folk art decoration.

Learn more about 60s hippie fashion influences, history of 60s hippie clothes and check out these 10 hippie outfit ideas.

The 1970s continued the hippie trend into mainstream fashion. The youth-oriented looks turned to the complete opposite - granny style.

Romanticized granny clothes from several generations ago, like pioneer women, returned fashion back to long dresses and sleeves, ruffles, lace trim, small cotton prints, and long hair (worn down this time, not up).

The age of the mini skirt "grew up" and turned into adults, not like their parents but instead like those of generations before, which seemed to have a simple life that hippies idolized.

Continue learning about 1970s fashion here.

More 60s History and Outfit Ideas

Need more help with your 60s outfit? Just ask us anytime!

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1960s fashion history for women. A return to youth, shocking colors, shorter hemlines, pop art and the hippie movement. What did women wear? Answered.

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1964 Pontiac GTO

In many ways, the 1964 Pontiac GTO was regarded as one of the pioneer muscle cars during the golden age of the 60s and 70s if only because of the simple premise behind the build of the car. The idea was to find the largest engine and put it on the lightest body you can build. The brainchild of Russell Gee, Bill Collins, and John DeLorean, the GTO was born because of a decision to put emphasis on a car's street performance after General Motors, at that time, issued a ban on factory-sponsored racing.

All together, the three visionaries built the GTO as a muscle car that featured a 389 cu in (6.4-liter) V8 engine with an output of 325 horsepower at 4,800 rpm with an optional "Tri-Power" carburetion that produced an increased output of 348 horsepower. Road tests done on the GTO at that time included a 0-60 mph time of 6.6 seconds, a standing quarter-mile of 14.8 seconds, and a quarter mile trap speed of 99 mph.

Incidentally, the name of the Pontiac GTO was the idea of John DeLorean who took the name from the Ferrari 250 GTO, one of the most iconic race cars in history, with the "GTO" standing as an Italian abbreviation for Gran Turismo Omologato. Through much controversy surrounding the name of the car and the general apprehension in how it was going to do in the box office, the GTO surprised a lot of people by becoming one of the most legendary muscle cars of all time.

1967 Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake

Despite it's streamlined, sports-car looks, the 1967 Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake had the pulse of American muscle coursing through its veins. And judging by the limited number of cars built for this particular model, it shouldn't be surprising that the most powerful Shelby to ever be built still carries the title of being one of the rarest American muscle cars in history.

Carroll Shelby always wanted to have the fastest and meanest car on the road, and he set about doing it by introducing the Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake back in 1967. Limited to only two units - yep! two! - the Cobra 427 Super Snake was essentially a race car that was modified for use on the street and still holds acclaim as the most awesome of all the Cobras ever to be built. Not only was it powered by the Cobra's top-of-the-line 427 cu. in. V8 Shelby engine, but to give it some extra juice, Shelby decided to add in a pair of Paxton superchargers to the mix, effectively doubling the output of the 427 Cobra to a mind-boggling 800 horsepower.

An American muscle car from the 60s that produces 800 horsepower. Really, that's all you need to know about the 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake.

1968 Dodge Charger R/T

The 1968 Dodge Charger R/T is one of those muscle cars that have definitely withstood the test of time. How else do you explain the car's popularity these days, more than 40 years after the car first made waves in the late 60s?

The answer, as Vin Diesel's character in Fast and the Furious will tell you, is pretty simple: the '68 Charger R/T was, and still is, a true man's car. It's the type of muscle car that imposes an image of fear and star quality wrapped in one awesome package. With an unmistakable design that features the now famous hidden headlight grille, the overall curvy body, the refined tail, and the prevalent use of chrome on the car, the '68 Charger R/T was in a class of its own back then.

More than the impressive aesthetics and timeless design, the Charger R/T also boasted of a powertrain that featured a 440 cu. in. four-barrel Magnum V8 engine that produced 375 horsepower with an engine option in the form of the 426 Hemi engine that came with 425 horsepower.

While other muscle cars at the time came out either with a more dynamic profile or a more powerful engine, nothing could compete with the Charger R/T when it came to the whole package.

1968 Plymouth Road Runner Hemi

It may have had a name that's inspired from the Looney Tunes character, but make no mistake about it, the Plymouth Road Runner Hemi was all business, all the time. Coming with a standard powertrain that featured a 383-cid, four-barrel V8 engine with 335 horsepower or a more powerful 426-cid Hemi engine with 425 horsepower, the Road Runner Hemi became a popular choice for a muscle car in the late 60s because it offered customers a back-to-basics package that underscored everything people wanted in a muscle car without the frills attached.

In building the Road Runner Hemi, Plymouth pretty much put emphasis on the car's performance, leaving all the styling intricacies behind. Nothing about the car's looks screamed incredible because everything that wasn't essential in improving the car's performance was left out, including the interior where "added options" became a foreign concept. But despite its pedestrian looks, the Road Runner Hemi's impressive powertrain certainly made up for all of it.

As a side note, Plymouth actually paid Warner Brothers $50,000 for the rights to use the name and likeness of the Road Runner and another $10,000 to develop the "beep, beep" horn. Just goes to show that despite being a simple-as-can-be muscle car, the Plymouth Road Runner Hemi still offered plenty of character.

1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

The 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 holds the distinction for being one of the fastest and most powerful American muscle cars of its time. It was conceived by drag racer Dick Harrell specifically for drag racing and came with a 427 cu in big-block V8 engine called the ZL1. This particular powertrain gave the Camaro all the performance output it needed - 500 horsepower worth - to be considered as one of the foremost American beasts of its time, capable even of hitting 0-60 mph in just 5.3 seconds.

All told, only 69 ZL1 Camaros were ever built, making this model one of the rarest and most important American muscle cars of its time.

1969 Ford Mustang 428 Cobra Jet

The Ford Mustang has produced its fair share of doozy pony cars in the past, but nothing draws "oohs and ahhs" more than the 1968 Mustang 428 Cobra Jet. Regarded as the model that took the fight to the big-block Camaros and Firebirds of the time, the Mustang Cobra Jet was a more powerful version of the Mustang and came with a powertrain worthy of its stature.

Powering the Mustang Cobra Jet was a 428-cid V8 engine that featured larger valve heads than the standard Mustang, a ram-air induction, and a functional hood scoop, while also carrying the same intake manifold as that of its less powerful brethren. While Ford rated the Mustang Cobra Jet as having "only" 335 horsepower, the truth was its output hit closer to 410 horsepower.

This figure was notable because it ushered in a new wave of interest for the Ford Mustang, which had been lagging behind the Chevrolet Camaro, the Pontiac Firebird, and the Plymouth Barracuda. With the release of the Mustang 428 Cobra Jet, the tables were finally turned and everyone started looking up to the legendary Mustang.

1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS

A lot of people today are quick to label the Camaro as Chevrolet's muscle car and while that, to an extent, is accurate, not a lot of people know that before the Camaro became Chevy's go-to-muscle car, that title belonged to the Chevrolet Chevelle SS.

After being introduced in 1964 to signal Chevrolet's entry into the world of muscle cars, the Chevelle trudged along for a number of years, registering enough to make a name for itself, but not enough to make its rivals worry. It wasn't until 1970 when the Chevelle SS finally broke out, thanks in large part to a 454 cu. in. big-block V8 engine that produced 450 horsepower and 500 lb/ft of torque with a 0-62 mph time of six seconds.

Understated because of its more famous successor, the Chevelle was once Chevrolet's official muscle car, something not lost to those who had the pleasure of owning this spectacular machine back in the day.

1971 Plymouth Hemi'Cuda Convertible

One of the rarest and most important muscle cars of the 70s is the 1971 Plymouth Hemi'Cuda Convertible, a car that, to this day, remains as one of the most sought-after muscle cars in history. The Hemi'Cuda, a direct descendant of the Plymouth Barracuda, became a rare gem, not only because it came with a 425 cu. in. V8 engine that produced 425 horsepower, but because it served as Plymouth's answer to the established names of that time, particularly the Camaro and the Mustang.

But of all the Barracudas that ever came out, the 1971 Hemi'Cuda Convertible remains the crown jewel of them all. Limited to only 11 units, the Hemi'Cuda Convertible is about as rare as any muscle car you'll ever find. It certainly helped its cause for being an aesthetically attractive car, one that came with a combination of imposing good looks and top-of-the-line performance credentials.

Just to give a perspective as to how rare and sought-after this muscle car is these days, one model was auctioned off at Barrett Jackson for a whopping $4 million.

1973 De Tomaso Pantera

The De Tomaso Pantera may not have the first-name recall of some of the other muscle cars on this list, but rest assured, it's got an impressive pedigree that dates back to the 70s. The car was born from the mind of Alejandro De Tomaso, an Argentinian racing driver who sought to combine Italian engineering with American muscle. Together with the help of Tom Tjarda - the man responsible for the styling of the car - and Giampaolo Dallara - the man tasked to build the structural design of the Pantera and coincidentally, also aided in the development of the Lamborghini Miura. De Tomaso quickly went about and sought a way to infuse both ideologies into one powerful muscle car. Thus, the Pantera was born.

Powering the Pantera was a 351 cubic-inch 'Cleveland' V8 engine with 330 horsepower and mated to a ZF five-speed manual gearbox with a 0-60 mph time of 5.5 seconds and a top speed of 150 miles per hour.

First introduced at the New York Auto Show in 1970, the Pantera quickly gained popularity in the 70s, thanks to a combination of its eye-catching yet simple design and powerful engine. It became so popular that the Pantera became one of the most sought after celebrity muscle cars of its time, including one that was owned by no less than the King of Rock and Roll himself, Elvis Presley.

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The Top Muscle Cars Of The 60s And 70s News @ Top Speed

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In many ways, the 1964 Pontiac GTO was regarded as one of the pioneer muscle cars during the golden age of the 60s and 70s if only because of the simple premise behind the build of the car. The idea was to find the largest engine and put it on the lightest body you can build.

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Viet Cong (VC), in full Viet Nam Cong San, English Vietnamese Communists, the guerrilla force that, with the support of the North Vietnamese Army, fought against South Vietnam (late 1950s-1975) and the United States (early 1960s-1973). The name is said to have first been used by South Vietnamese Pres. Ngo Dinh Diem to belittle the rebels.

Though beginning in the mid-1950s as a collection of various groups opposed to the government of President Diem, the Viet Cong became in 1960 the military arm of the National Liberation Front (NLF). In 1969 the NLF joined other groups in the areas of South Vietnam that were controlled by the Viet Cong to form the Provisional Revolutionary Government (PRG). The movement's principal objectives were the overthrow of the South Vietnamese government and the reunification of Vietnam.

The early insurgent activity in South Vietnam against Diem's government was initially conducted by elements of the Hoa Hao and Cao Dai religious sects. After 1954 they were joined by former elements of the southern Viet Minh, a communist-oriented nationalist group. The overwhelming majority of the Viet Cong were subsequently recruited in the South, but they received weapons, guidance, and reinforcements from North Vietnamese Army soldiers who had infiltrated into South Vietnam. During the Tet Offensive of 1968, the Viet Cong suffered devastating losses, and their ranks were later filled primarily by North Vietnamese soldiers. For the most part, the Viet Cong fought essentially a guerrilla war of ambush, terrorism, and sabotage; they used small units to maintain a hold on the countryside, leaving the main population centres to government authorities.

Under terms of the agreement reached at the peace negotiations held in Paris in 1971-73, the PRG won acknowledgment of its authority in areas under its control, pending general elections to determine the future of South Vietnam. The peace agreement soon broke down, however, as both the South Vietnamese government and the PRG began trying to improve their military and territorial positions at each other's expense. Following the full-scale North Vietnamese invasion of South Vietnam and the subsequent rapid collapse of the government of South Vietnamese Pres. Nguyen Van Thieu in the spring of 1975, the PRG assumed power as the government of South Vietnam. The following year, when reunification of the country was accomplished, the PRG joined other political groups in forming a National United Front. Real governmental power was subsequently exercised by the Vietnamese Communist Party and its North Vietnamese leadership.

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Viet Cong | Definition, Tactics, & History

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Viet Cong (VC), in full Viet Nam Cong San, English Vietnamese Communists, the guerrilla force that, with the support of the North Vietnamese Army, fought against South Vietnam (late 1950s-1975) and the United States (early 1960s-1973). The name is said to have first been used by South Vietnamese Pres.

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Kennedy Assassination

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Shortly after noon on November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated as he rode in a motorcade through Dealey Plaza in downtown Dallas, Texas.

By the fall of 1963, President John F. Kennedy and his political advisers were preparing for the next presidential campaign. Although he had not formally announced his candidacy, it was clear that President Kennedy was going to run and he seemed confident about his chances for re-election.

At the end of September, the president traveled west, speaking in nine different states in less than a week. The trip was meant to put a spotlight on natural resources and conservation efforts. But JFK also used it to sound out themes-such as education, national security, and world peace-for his run in 1964.

A month later, the president addressed Democratic gatherings in Boston and Philadelphia. Then, on November 12, he held the first important political planning session for the upcoming election year. At the meeting, JFK stressed the importance of winning Florida and Texas and talked about his plans to visit both states in the next two weeks.

Mrs. Kennedy would accompany him on the swing through Texas, which would be her first extended public appearance since the loss of their baby, Patrick, in August. On November 21, the president and first lady departed on Air Force One for the two-day, five-city tour of Texas.

President Kennedy was aware that a feud among party leaders in Texas could jeopardize his chances of carrying the state in 1964, and one of his aims for the trip was to bring Democrats together. He also knew that a relatively small but vocal group of extremists was contributing to the political tensions in Texas and would likely make its presence felt-particularly in Dallas, where US Ambassador to the United Nations Adlai Stevenson had been physically attacked a month earlier after making a speech there. Nonetheless, JFK seemed to relish the prospect of leaving Washington, getting out among the people and into the political fray.

The first stop was San Antonio. Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, Governor John B. Connally, and Senator Ralph W. Yarborough led the welcoming party. They accompanied the president to Brooks Air Force Base for the dedication of the Aerospace Medical Health Center. Continuing on to Houston, he addressed a Latin American citizens' organization and spoke at a testimonial dinner for Congressman Albert Thomas before ending the day in Fort Worth.

A light rain was falling on Friday morning, November 22, but a crowd of several thousand stood in the parking lot outside the Texas Hotel where the Kennedys had spent the night. A platform was set up and the president, wearing no protection against the weather, came out to make some brief remarks. "There are no faint hearts in Fort Worth," he began, "and I appreciate your being here this morning. Mrs. Kennedy is organizing herself. It takes longer, but, of course, she looks better than we do when she does it." He went on to talk about the nation's need for being "second to none" in defense and in space, for continued growth in the economy and "the willingness of citizens of the United States to assume the burdens of leadership."

The warmth of the audience response was palpable as the president reached out to shake hands amidst a sea of smiling faces.

Back inside the hotel the president spoke at a breakfast of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, focusing on military preparedness. "We are still the keystone in the arch of freedom," he said. "We will continue to do...our duty, and the people of Texas will be in the lead."

The presidential party left the hotel and went by motorcade to Carswell Air Force Base for the thirteen-minute flight to Dallas. Arriving at Love Field,President and Mrs. Kennedy disembarked and immediately walked toward a fence where a crowd of well-wishers had gathered, and they spent several minutes shaking hands.

The first lady received a bouquet of red roses, which she brought with her to the waiting limousine. Governor John Connally and his wife, Nellie, were already seated in the open convertible as the Kennedys entered and sat behind them. Since it was no longer raining, the plastic bubble top had been left off. Vice President and Mrs. Johnson occupied another car in the motorcade.

The procession left the airport and traveled along a ten-mile route that wound through downtown Dallas on the way to the Trade Mart where the President was scheduled to speak at a luncheon.

Crowds of excited people lined the streets and waved to the Kennedys. The car turned off Main Street at Dealey Plaza around 12:30 p.m. As it was passing the Texas School Book Depository, gunfire suddenly reverberated in the plaza.

Bullets struck the president's neck and head and he slumped over toward Mrs. Kennedy. The governor was shot in his back.

The car sped off to Parkland Memorial Hospital just a few minutes away. But little could be done for the President. A Catholic priest was summoned to administer the last rites, and at 1:00 p.m. John F. Kennedy was pronounced dead. Though seriously wounded, Governor Connally would recover.

The president's body was brought to Love Field and placed on Air Force One. Before the plane took off, a grim-faced Lyndon B. Johnson stood in the tight, crowded compartment and took the oath of office, administered by US District Court Judge Sarah Hughes. The brief ceremony took place at 2:38 p.m.

Less than an hour earlier, police had arrested Lee Harvey Oswald, a recently hired employee at the Texas School Book Depository. He was being held for the assassination of President Kennedy and the fatal shooting, shortly afterward, of Patrolman J. D. Tippit on a Dallas street.

On Sunday morning, November 24, Oswald was scheduled to be transferred from police headquarters to the county jail. Viewers across America watching the live television coverage suddenly saw a man aim a pistol and fire at point blank range. The assailant was identified as Jack Ruby, a local nightclub owner. Oswald died two hours later at Parkland Hospital.

That same day, President Kennedy's flag-draped casket was moved from the White House to the Capitol on a caisson drawn by six grey horses, accompanied by one riderless black horse. At Mrs. Kennedy's request, the cortege and other ceremonial details were modeled on the funeral of Abraham Lincoln. Crowds lined Pennsylvania Avenue and many wept openly as the caisson passed. During the 21 hours that the president's body lay in state in the Capitol Rotunda, about 250,000 people filed by to pay their respects.

On Monday, November 25, 1963 President Kennedy was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. The funeral was attended by heads of state and representatives from more than 100 countries, with untold millions more watching on television. Afterward, at the grave site, Mrs. Kennedy and her husband's brothers, Robert and Edward, lit an eternal flame.

Perhaps the most indelible images of the day were the salute to his father given by little John F. Kennedy Jr. (whose third birthday it was), daughter Caroline kneeling next to her mother at the president's bier, and the extraordinary grace and dignity shown by Jacqueline Kennedy.

As people throughout the nation and the world struggled to make sense of a senseless act and to articulate their feelings about President Kennedy's life and legacy, many recalled these words from his inaugural address:

All this will not be finished in the first one hundred days, nor in the first one thousand days, nor in the life of this administration. Nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin.

To learn more about President Kennedy's funeral and grave site, go to the Arlington National Cemetery website.

The Warren Commission

On November 29, 1963 President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed the President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy. It came to be known as the Warren Commission after its chairman, Earl Warren, Chief Justice of the United States. President Johnson directed the commission to evaluate matters relating to the assassination and the subsequent killing of the alleged assassin, and to report its findings and conclusions to him.

The House Select Committee on Assassinations

The US House of Representatives established the House Select Committee on Assassinations in 1976 to reopen the investigation of the assassination in light of allegations that previous inquiries had not received the full cooperation of federal agencies.

Note to the reader: Point 1B in the link below to the findings of the 1979 House Select Committee on Assassinations states that the committee had found "a high probability that two gunmen fired" at the president. This conclusion resulted from the last-minute "discovery" of a Dallas police radio transmission tape that allegedly provided evidence that four or more shots were fired in Dealey Plaza. After the report appeared in print, acoustic experts analyzed the tape and proved conclusively that it was completely worthless-thus negating the finding in Point 1B.

The committee, which also investigated the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., issued its report on March 29, 1979.

Assassination Records Collection

Through the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992, the US Congress ordered that all assassination-related material be housed together under supervision of the National Archives and Records Administration.

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November 22, 1963: Death of the President

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Although he had not formally announced his candidacy, it was clear that JFK was going to run and he seemed confident-though not over-confident- about his chances for re-election. At the end of September, the President traveled west speaking in nine different states in less than a week.

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The Brady Bunch

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The Brady Bunch (TV Series 1969–1974) ⭐ 6.8 | Comedy, Family

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The Beatles

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The Beatles were a legendary rock group that transformed popular music for more than a decade, beginning in 1960, and produced songs like 'Yesterday,' 'Hey Jude,' 'Day Tripper' and 'Come Together.' Learn more about John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, only at Biography.com.