The golden age of American automotive design wasn’t just about chrome and fins; it was also a time of remarkable innovation and experimentation inside the cabin. From futuristic dashboards to groundbreaking seating configurations, the era between 1955 and 1970 witnessed a fascinating evolution of car interiors. Let’s take a nostalgic road trip through some of the coolest and most influential American car interiors of this iconic period.
#10: 1960-62 Chrysler 300 Letter Series – The “Astradome” Era
1962 Chrysler 300H interior
No list of cool car interiors would be complete without mentioning the Chrysler 300 letter series and its iconic “Astradome” dashboard. This innovative design, a hallmark of the 1960-62 models, was a testament to Chrysler’s commitment to pushing design boundaries.
Beyond the “Astradome”, the 300 letter series was a pioneer in the four-place sporty car segment. It featured a full-length center console and four bucket seats, a configuration that would later become synonymous with performance-oriented vehicles. The 300 letter series paved the way for Chrysler’s own personal luxury coupes, the 1962 Pontiac Grand Prix and Oldmobile Starfire, further solidifying its place in automotive history.
#9: 1965 Buick Riviera – A Blend of Luxury and Efficiency
1965 Buick Riviera front seat
The 1963-65 Buick Riviera often finds itself atop lists of the coolest car interiors, and for good reason. While its exterior styling was stunning, its interior was equally impressive, showcasing General Motors’ design prowess during this period.
What made the Riviera’s interior particularly noteworthy was its clever combination of luxury and cost-effectiveness. By sharing many dashboard components with the 1963 full-sized Buick line and seamlessly integrating a center console, Buick created a luxurious ambiance without breaking the bank. This strategic approach to design and manufacturing helped make the Riviera a more attainable and ultimately more successful personal luxury coupe.
#8: 1957-58 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser – Innovation Ahead of its Time
1958 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser dashboard
The 1957-58 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser stands as a testament to the fact that even commercially unsuccessful cars can be design trendsetters. While its sales figures may have disappointed, the Turnpike Cruiser was a pioneer in incorporating practical innovations into its interior.
One of the most striking features of the Turnpike Cruiser was its unique roofline. It featured air vents on top of the windshield and a roll-down rear window – features rarely seen in other cars of the era. The dashboard, too, was ahead of its time with its clean, airy design and generous use of padding, setting a new standard for driver comfort in the late 1950s.
#7: 1955 Studebaker President Two-Door Hardtop – The Dawn of the Modern Dashboard
1955 Studebaker President dashboard
In the annals of automotive design, the 1955 Studebaker President two-door hardtop holds a special place as the harbinger of the modern dashboard. Its clean, horizontally oriented design, particularly remarkable for the mid-1950s, set the stage for the dashboard layouts we see in cars today.
Beyond its groundbreaking dashboard, the President, along with other Loewy coupes, played a significant role in popularizing the two-place back seat. This configuration, which maximized passenger comfort and style, would go on to become a mainstay in coupe design for decades to come.
#6: 1958-60 Ford Thunderbird – Setting the Template for the Personal Luxury Coupe
1958 Ford Thunderbird interior
While not the first postwar personal coupe, the 1958-60 Ford Thunderbird undeniably established a design blueprint for the segment that resonated throughout the 1960s. Its combination of bucket seats, a center console, and sculpted back seats perfectly captured the essence of personal luxury.
The Thunderbird’s interior of this era was characterized by its understated elegance. Its design, while innovative, never strayed into gimmickry, allowing the car’s inherent quality and craftsmanship to shine through. This focus on timeless design rather than fleeting trends has ensured the 1958-60 Thunderbird’s enduring appeal among automotive enthusiasts.
#5: 1968-70 Chevrolet Corvette – A Glimpse into the Future
1968 Chevrolet Corvette interior
The 1968 Chevrolet Corvette represented a radical departure from its predecessors, both inside and out. While its exterior was a masterclass in futuristic design, its interior was equally groundbreaking. The Corvette’s cabin was thoroughly modern, featuring a deeply inset dashboard and dramatically sculpted bucket seats and door panels that hinted at the brand’s future design language.
Beyond its avant-garde styling, the 1968 Corvette also introduced the removable T-top to the American automotive landscape. This innovative feature, which provided open-air driving thrills without sacrificing structural rigidity, quickly gained popularity and became a hallmark of 1970s car design.
#4: 1966-67 Dodge Charger – Versatility Meets Style
1966 Dodge Charger interior
The 1966-67 Dodge Charger, while not a commercial success, offered a compelling blend of style and versatility that set it apart in the mid-1960s. As a larger sibling to the 1964-69 Plymouth Barracuda, the Charger inherited its practical fold-down rear seat and convenient trunk access door, making it an unexpectedly capable cargo hauler.
Adding to its appeal, the Charger’s interior boasted a number of upscale appointments, including bucket seats for all passengers, a full-length center console, and a stylish dashboard with a full complement of gauges. These features, combined with its practical cargo-carrying abilities, made the 1966-67 Charger a unique offering in the American automotive landscape.
#3: 1964-66 Ford Thunderbird – A Flight of Design Fancy
1965 Ford Thunderbird dashboard
The 1964-66 Ford Thunderbird embraced its role as a design icon, both inside and out. Its interior, a captivating blend of style and innovation, captivated drivers with its jet-inspired cockpit, wrap-around rear seats, and disappearing convertible top. The Thunderbird offered a driving experience unlike anything else on the road.
The Thunderbird’s design team was given free rein to explore unconventional ideas, and the result was a car that prioritised style and luxury over pure practicality. From its tilt-away steering wheel to its aircraft-inspired controls, the Thunderbird was a testament to Ford’s willingness to push design boundaries in the pursuit of automotive excellence.
#2: 1963-64 Studebaker Avanti – Innovation on a Shoestring
1964 Studebaker Avanti interior
The 1963-64 Studebaker Avanti, with its wraparound dashboard, was years ahead of the curve. While other automakers, such as Ford and Pontiac, would later adopt this design element, the Avanti’s execution was arguably more driver-focused. Instead of clustering all controls within the dashboard’s wraparound design, Studebaker cleverly prioritized driver visibility and ergonomics by placing gauges directly in front of the driver, a design choice that was both stylish and functional.
The Avanti’s interior was a testament to Studebaker’s commitment to innovation. From its form-fitting bucket seats to its overhead controls and integrated roll bar, the Avanti’s cabin was packed with unique and forward-thinking features. Other noteworthy elements included a vanity mirror integrated into the glove box and an access panel behind the rear seats for easy access to the trunk. The Avanti’s interior was a triumph of design ingenuity, demonstrating that even smaller automakers could make a significant impact on the automotive landscape.
#1: 1961-63 Lincoln Continental – Ushering in a New Era of Elegance
1962 Lincoln Continental dashboard
The 1961-63 Lincoln Continental is often lauded for its exterior design, but its interior was equally groundbreaking. The Continental marked a decisive shift away from the futuristic designs of the late 1950s toward a more modern interpretation of classic luxury.
The Continental’s interior was a masterpiece of restraint and elegance. It was designed to create an intimate and luxurious experience for four passengers, a departure from the larger, more opulent American luxury cars of the time. The car’s curved front seatbacks hinted at the bucket seat design that would become popular later, while its two deeply recessed dashboard pods added a touch of modern sophistication. The Continental’s exceptionally thick C-pillars further enhanced the sense of privacy and seclusion for rear passengers, making it a favorite among celebrities and dignitaries.
Of course, no discussion of the 1961-63 Continental would be complete without mentioning its iconic suicide doors and four-door convertible body style, features that evoked the golden age of American automotive design. These unique elements, combined with its luxurious interior, cemented the Continental’s status as a design icon, influencing a generation of luxury cars that followed.
FAQs
Q: What factors were considered when ranking these interiors?
A: The ranking considered various factors, including innovation, aesthetics, ergonomics, historical significance, and influence on future designs.
Q: Are these rankings purely subjective, or are there objective measures involved?
A: While aesthetic preferences play a role, the rankings are based on a combination of design principles, historical context, and the cars’ impact on the industry.
Q: Did any of these interior designs inspire future trends in the automotive industry?
A: Absolutely! Several innovations from this era, such as bucket seats, center consoles, wraparound dashboards, and T-tops, went on to become commonplace in car interiors.
Q: Why were some of these cars not as successful in terms of sales, despite their innovative interiors?
A: Several factors influence a car’s sales, including pricing, marketing, brand perception, and overall economic conditions, which sometimes overshadowed design advancements.
This list is by no means exhaustive, and opinions on the coolest car interiors are as diverse as the cars themselves. What we can all agree on, however, is that the American automotive industry between 1955 and 1970 was a period of unparalleled creativity and innovation, a legacy that continues to inspire and influence car designers to this day.
