Compact Coupés

Small, specialist manufacturers created many GT cars in Europe in the 1960s, which, owing to their ingenuity and inventiveness, rivaled those of the big car makers. Hardtop coupes became increasingly popular, and trends toward front-wheel drive or even mid-engine layouts were appearing Aerodynamic testing produced some very efficient shapes.

Ford Consul Capri, 1961

 

Origin	UK
Engine	1,498 cc, straight-four
Top speed	83 mph (134 km/h)

Ford’s first attempt to make a sporty coupe for Europe just didn’t catch on-it was far too American in its styling. Only 18,000 were sold in three years.

TVR Grantura, 1958

 

Origin	UK
Engine	1,798 cc, straight-four
Top speed	108 mph (174 km/h)

The TVR wasn’t styled, it grew. Its cheeky, chunky looks and lively performance due to its light weight brought small yet steady volume sales and competition success into the 1960s.

Porsche 356B, 1959

 

Origin	Germany
Engine	1,582 cc, flat-four
Top speed	111 mph (179 km/h)

By 1960 Porsche’s brilliant VW-based sports car of 1950 had moved a long way from its roots. This sophisticated 2+2 coupé was well built and reassuringly expensive.

Gilbern GT, 1959

 

Origin	UK
Engine	1,622 cc, straight-four
Top speed	100 mph (161 km/h)

Wales’ only successful car maker used a spaceframe chassis, attractive fiberglass body, and high quality interiors to sell this handsome MGA/B/Midget-powered coupé.

Volvo P1800, 1961

 

Origin	Sweden
Engine	1,778 cc, straight-four
Top speed	106 mph (171 km/h)

Initially assembled in Britain by Jensen but soon transferred to Sweden to improve quality, the P1800 was a stylish and incredibly durable two-seat Grand Tourer.

NSU Sport Prinz, 1959

 

Origin	Germany
Engine	598 cc, straight-two
Top speed	76 mph (122 km/h)

Italian styling house Bertone worked wonders to create this winsome little coupé for the bravely independent NSU. Over 20,000 were sold in the 1960s.

Matra Djet, 1962

 

Origin	France
Engine	1,108 cc, straight-four
Top speed	118 mph (190 km/h)

Designed by René Bonnet and built by Matra, the aerodynamic Djet pioneered the mid-engine layout for roadgoing sports cars, and was fast with Renault Gordini power.

Ogle SX1000, 1962

 

Origin	UK
Engine	1,275 cc, straight-four
Top speed	110 mph (177 km/h)

Industrial designer David Ogle designed this bubble-like coupe, which successfully hid the Mini-Cooper running gear below. Sadly, few were made.

Marcos 1800, 1964

 

Origin	UK
Engine	1,778 cc, straight-four
Top speed	115 mph (185 km/h)

Dennis Adams styled this ultra-low two-seater, with fixed lay-back seats and adjustable pedals. A wide range of engines found their way under the long, low hood.

Broadspeed GT, 1965

 

Origin	UK
Engine	1,275 cc, straight-four
Top speed	113 mph (182 km/h)

Broadspeed founder Ralph Broad took the Mini Cooper 1275S and added a fiberglass fastback rear body that, with some engine tuning, made it a real flyer

Lancia Fulvia Coupe, 1965

 

Origin	Italy
Engine	1,216 cc, V4
Top speed	100 mph (161 km/h)

Lancia flouted convention with beautifully built, compact, twin-cam V4 engines and front-wheel drive in designer Pietro Castagnero’s 2+2 coupé-the last true Lancia.

Ford Capri, 1969

 

Origin	UK
Engine	2,994 cc, V6
Top speed	122 mph (196 km/h)

Five years after the Mustang took the U.S. market by storm, Ford managed the same in Europe with the Capri, helped by engine options from 1,300 cc to 3,000 cc.

Saab Sonett, 1966

 

Origin	Sweden
Engine	1,498 cc, V4
Top speed	100 mph (161 km/h)

Front-wheel drive, a freewheel, and a column gearchange were unusual features derived from the Sonett’s sedan parent, but the neat fiberglass body looked good.

Lotus Elan +2, 1967

 

Origin	UK
Engine	1,558 cc, straight-four
Top speed	123 mph (198 km/h)

Not wanting to lose its loyal two-seater buyers when they started families, Lotus developed this upmarket 2+2 Elan, still on the superb-handling, backbone chassis.

Triumph GT6, 1966

 

Origin	UK
Engine	1,998 cc, straight-six
Top speed	112 mph (180 km/h)

Triumph neatly combined the Spitfire chassis and 2000 engine in a pretty, Michelotti-styled body to make the GT6, soon dubbed a “mini E-type.” This is the 1970 restyle.

Unipower GT, 1966

 

Origin	UK
Engine	1,275 cc, straight-four
Top speed	119 mph (192 km/h)

The best-looking Mini-based sports car of all, the Unipower had its Mini engine over the rear wheels in a lightweight spaceframe chassis bonded to its fiberglass body.

Alfa Romeo 1750 GTV, 1967

 

Origin	Italy
Engine	1,779 cc, straight-four
Top speed	116 mph (187 km/h)

Alfa Romeo’s Giulia series, launched in 1962-63, was hugely successful. This car was the perfect compact four-seater sporting coupe, with twin-cam power and great handling.

Sunbeam Rapier H120, 1969

 

Origin	UK
Engine	1,725 cc, straight-four
Top speed	106 mph (171 km/h)

Sunbeam’s U.S. ownership was clear in the Plymouth Barracuda-derived styling, but the Rapier became an effective sports coupé with Holbay tuning.

 

It is a quote. The Definitive Visual History Of The Automobile 2011