Vintage 1960s Automobiles The Chevrolet Corvair

 

Automobiles

The Chevrolet Corvair

 

Manufactured by Chevrolet for model years 1960–1969, is still the only American-designed, mass-produced passenger car with a rear-mounted, air-cooled engine. 

Initially, the innovative Corvair was manufactured and marketed as a 4-door sedan.

The compact Chevrolet Corvair was designed to compete with Volkswagens in the US market.

The 1960 Corvair went on sale on October 2, 1959, and was the first American compact sedan with a rear-mounted, air-cooled engine, unit-body construction, three-across seating, and the availability of an automatic transmission. Only four-door sedans were available at first, then came the 2-door coupe, convertible, 4-door station wagon, passenger van, commercial van, and pickup truck body styles.

Though inspired by Volkswagen’s four-cylinder engine, Chevrolet engineers used Porsche engines as a guide.

To stay competitive with the VW Beetle, the new Ford Falcon, and Plymouth Valiant, Chevrolet chose to cut corners right where it showed: on the interior. The base model 500 was particularly drab. Everything inside was gray, both the fabric and vinyl upholstery and black rubber floor mats. The 700 models came with three interior colors from which to choose. Extra-cost options on both the 700 and 500 models included things we take for granted today, like sun visors for both driver and passenger, armrests, or a cigarette lighter.

The Corvair sales took a significant upturn when the Monza coupe debuted at the 1960 Chicago Auto Show. Though the Monza would rewrite what everyone's idea of a Corvair was an alternative to the typical front-engined American family cars of the period.

The death knell for the Corvair came when Ralph Nader’s 1965 book “Unsafe at Any Speed” claimed that the car’s design that incorporated swing-axle suspension created a far greater risk of the vehicle rolling, which he described as 'the one-car accident.' Even though the suspension had been redesigned for much better handling and safety, the damage was done. Nader’s book became a best-seller, but in the consumer’s mind, the reputation of the Corvair was tarnished forever.  Chevrolet ceased production of the Corvair with the 1969 model.

 

 

 

Vintage 1960s Food Zucchini Bread

 

Breakfast

          Tang was all the rage in the early 1960s thanks to its use by the space program, while other popular new products introduced during this decade included Pop-Tarts and Carnation Instant Breakfast. Towards the end of the decade, healthy and natural breakfast foods including granola, whole-grain toast, herbal tea, and zucchini bread began to catch on thanks to the influence of the Hippies.

 

Zucchini Bread

 

1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 cup margarine, softened

3/4 cups granulated sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cup shredded zucchini

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/2 cup raisins

Preheat oven to 350°. Spray 9 x 5-inch loaf pan with no-stick spray; set aside.

 

Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg in medium bowl; set aside. Beat margarine with sugar in a large bowl with electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla until blended. Beat in zucchini.

 

Gradually beat in flour mixture until blended. Stir in walnuts and raisins. Spoon batter into prepared pan.

Bake 50 to 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes on wire rack; remove from pan and cool completely. Served with melted butter.

Servings 4-6

Vintage 1960 Women's Clothes

 

 

In the 1960s, Women's wear followed three broad trends: a continuation of the previous year’s ladylike elegance, the youthful styles, the Space Age influence, and the late 1960s “hippie” style. It was a decade that broke many fashion traditions, mirroring social movements during the time.

Here are just a few of the influential fashion designers of the 1960s. They set the trends for the mainstream and interpretations of their designs are easy to spot if you know what to look for.

 

Meet the influencers behind the sixties' fashions:

 

BIBA

Founded by, Polish-born, Barbara Hulanicki, in the 1960s, the lines (which eventually included makeup) were aimed mostly at teenagers and consisted of what we refer to as today's high street fashion. Her color palette was softened colors of brown, reddish-brown, grey, and plum. Best known for:  Mini-skirts, Long tight sleeves, Maxi skirts, Catsuits, gingham print dresses, and triangular headscarves.

 

GIVENCHY

Hubert de Givenchy's creations were refined and helped to define the 1960s style of chic and classy dressing of movie stars. The actress, Audrey Hepburn, was dressed in Givenchy's clothes on and off-screen. Givenchy's most famed design was:  The little black dress, which Hepburn wore it in the movie, "Breakfast at Tiffany's"

 

ANDRÉ COURRÈGES

Courrèges was a fashion designer who made his debut n the Parisian fashion world of 1960 with his futuristic, youthful but  "high fashion" label. His fashion creations included: Triangle shaped shift dress, Halter top, Short skirts, Hip-hugger pants, White mid-calf boots, Vinyl trimmed coats and suits, and Cigarette pantsuits.

 

PIERRE CARDIN

He was the originator of the fifties bubble dresses. Italian born, he is also famous for innovative, contemporary designs that bordered on the unusual and futuristic in the 60s. He came up with the use of hammered metal jewelry, industrial zippers, and plastic in his creations. His styles included:  Thigh-high boots, Collarless jackets, Bright colored min-shift dresses, The Unisex cosmos suit, Skinny double-breasted suits, and Space-age designs.

 

YVES SAINT LAURENT

Algeria born, he has had a great impact on the European fashion industry.

He contributed to many of the sixties fashion trends. Some of his most popular clothing styles include the Mondrian shift dress, Peacoat, Safari jacket, Women tuxedos, Sheer blouse, Jumpsuit, and Women smoking jackets

 

EMILIO PUCCI

Known as the, "The Prince of Print" his designs were recognized for his

trademark "psychedelic look"- electric colors. Fashionable women and important personalities such as Jackie Kennedy, Sophia Loren, and Marilyn Monroe wore this styles. Best known for:   Palazzo pantsuits, Silk headscarves, Body-hugging mini-skirts, Silk jersey clothing, Cropped Capri Pants, Space-age inspired air hostess uniforms.

 

 

MARY QUANT

The "Quant Look" contained the silhouette mini skirt or mini shift dress, patent leather boots, colored opaque tights, a bob style haircut, prominent and dark eye makeup and false lashes. Her designs included the following:  Colorful raincoats, Boots with detachable tops, Mix and match separates, Tight mini-skirts, hot pants, Lounging pajamas, and Dresses/skirts with matching colorful tights.

Vintage 1960's Tevision

 

Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke was a American radio and television program which first aired September 10, 1955. The stories take place in Dodge City, Kansas, during the settlement of the American West. The central character is lawman Marshall Matt Dillon, played by William Conrad on radio and James Arness on television.

          The radio series ran from 1952 to 1961was written by John Dunning. The television series ran for 20 seasons on CBS with 635 total episodes, from 1955 to 1975.

         During its second season in 1956, the program was on the list of the top ten television programs broadcast in The United States. It quickly moved to number one and stayed there until 1961. James Arness and Millburn Stone portrayed their Gunsmoke characters for 20 consecutive years. George Walsh, the announcer for the show, began in 1952 on radio's Gunsmoke and continued until television's Gunsmoke was canceled in 1975. The first seven seasons were jointly sponsored by L&M cigarettes and Remington shaving products.

 

Added note

James Arness has a brother, Peter Graves who starred in the TV series Mission Impossible.