The Most Popular Cars From Every Decade

While Impala is one of the longest-running nameplates of American cars, it hit a record in 1964, selling 1,074,925 units, the most of any single model up to that year (via Best Selling Cars Blog). Throughout the decade, the Impala would remain one of Chevrolet’s best sellers, and an extremely popular car overall. Some of the most desirable cars of the period were convertible Impalas, thanks, in part, to the inclusion of a ’64 Impala in the popular hip-hop lyrics of “Boys In Da Hood” by Eazy-E in 1987. Impalas have since become a favorite of lowrider culture, equipped with wire wheels, colorful and iridescent paint, and hydraulics to make them hop.

Honorable Mention: Ford Mustang

Mustang fans might argue their favorite car is obviously the most popular of the ’60s. However, despite sales of the Mustang being a runaway success and spawning the pony car movement, Ford only moved about half as many of these cars as the Impala in 1965, according to Mustang Specs. Still, the impact on culture and the auto industry has been dramatic. The Mustang changed the perception of what a small, fun, and capable American car could be, and set off rivalries among American automakers that are yet to be settled.