Car: Chevrolet Impala Hardtop

Year: 1960

What makes it special: Beginning in 1959, the second-generation Chevrolet Impala was redesigned. Sharing bodyshells with lower-end Buicks and Oldsmobiles as well as with Pontiac, part of a GM economy move, the Chevrolet’s wheelbase was 1-1/2 inches longer. Using a new X-frame chassis, the roof line was three inches lower, bodies were two inches wider, and curb weight increased. Its tailfins protruded outward, rather than upward. Impala became a separate series, adding a four-door hardtop and four-door sedan, to the two-door Sport Coupe and convertible.

What made it famous: The 1960 Impala models reinstated three round taillights on each side, and a white band running along the rear fenders. The available V8’s were reduced to seven, in 283 cu in or 348 cu in displacements. The carbureted Turbo-Fire 283 cu in V8 could have either 170 or 230 hp. The 348 cu in was available in 250 to 320 hp with a 350 hp Special Super Turbo-Thrust with triple 2-barrel carburetors, 11.25:1 compression ratio, and dual exhausts. Fuel injection was no longer an option on full-size Chevrolets. New to the options list was speed and cruise control. A contoured hooded instrument panel held deep-set gauges.

Why I would want one:  I am in love with the low-riding, second-generation Impala model. It has that “Space Race” styling, love the outward-protruding tailfins, giving it the feel of a rocket ship.

Fun fact: The Impala name was first used for the full-sized 1956 General Motors Motorama show car that bore Corvette-like design cues, especially the grille.

Car: Ford Thunderbird 2-Door

Year: 1969

What makes it special: For the 1967 through 1971 model years, the fifth-generation Thunderbird was larger, but still a personal luxury car produced by Ford. The styling had been updated twice during this period.

What made it famous: The Thunderbird now sported a fish mouth front grille with hidden headlights, the sides were of a fuselage type with a coke-bottle beltline after the rear windows. It now featured larger c-pillars, and had sequential turn signals. The 360hp, 429 big-block V8 was introduced the previous year, and had wedge-style heads giving the car more power.

Why I would want one: You don’t see many around, especially in two-door models.

Fun fact: Lincoln’s 1969 Continental Mark III was based on the 4-door version of Ford’s Thunderbird.

Car: Mercury Marauder Hardtop

Year: 1963 1/2

What makes it special: The Marauder was a nameplate used by three different full-sized models produced by Mercury. It got its name because it featured the most powerful engines available in a Mercury model, and was purposely marketed as the highest-performance version of a full-sized car.

What made it famous: The Marauder name was originally a trim package for Mercury full-sized cars, including the Monterey, Montclair, S-55, and the Park Lane. The Marauder debuted as a 1963 1/2 Sports model, and was a two-door hardtop. It was powered by Ford FE-Series V8 powerplants. Standard was a 390 cu in Marauder V8, and the 406 cu in V8 was replaced by a 427 cu in Super-Marauder V8 for the 1964 model year. Transmission offerings were a 3-speed and 4-speed manual and a 3-speed Multi-Drive Merc-O-Matic.

Why I would want one: I love the large engine, full-sized Mercury’s. They were used very often in Stock Car racing back in the day.

Fun fact: The Marauder nameplate made is return in 2003 as a high-performance Mercury Grand Marquis.