3 Most Forgotten 1960s Cars That Were Actually Amazing!

3 Most Forgotten 1960s Cars That Were Actually Amazing!

Three of the most forgotten but truly amazing cars of the 1960s—the Oldsmobile Jetfire, the Monica 560, and the Monteverdi High Speed 375S. Each of these cars broke boundaries, introduced bold technology, and carried stories of ambition, innovation, and sometimes heartbreak.

The Oldsmobile Jetfire, launched in 1962, was America’s first mass-produced turbocharged car. At a time when automakers believed bigger engines were the only way to make more power, Oldsmobile proved otherwise. With its compact aluminum V8 and a Garrett turbocharger, the Jetfire delivered one horsepower per cubic inch, an engineering milestone. Even more fascinating was its “Rocket Fluid” system, which injected a methanol-water mix to prevent engine knock. Unfortunately, poor dealer support and owners forgetting to refill the special fluid led to failures, cutting short its production. Yet today, surviving Jetfires are rare treasures, worth tens of thousands of dollars.

Across the Atlantic, French industrialist Jean Tastevin was building his dream—the Monica 560. Inspired to create a “French Ferrari,” Tastevin spent years and a fortune designing a luxury sports sedan unlike anything else. After early struggles with custom engines, the Monica adopted a reliable Chrysler V8 paired with advanced engineering like an aluminum body and space frame chassis. The result was stunning: a four-door sedan that could hit 149 miles per hour. Sadly, bad timing struck. Launched during the 1973 oil crisis, priced like a Rolls-Royce, and lacking a dealer network, the Monica failed. Only a handful were built, making them today some of the rarest cars in existence.

Finally, we travel to Switzerland, where Peter Monteverdi turned a clash with Enzo Ferrari into motivation to build his own cars. The Monteverdi High Speed 375S combined Swiss engineering, Italian styling by Pietro Frua, and American muscle from Chrysler’s 440 Magnum V8. This blend gave it Ferrari-level performance with unmatched reliability. The car could sprint to 60 in just over 8 seconds and reach 142 mph, proving Monteverdi’s bold vision was no joke. Though never a household name, Monteverdi carved out a place in automotive history as Switzerland’s unlikely supercar builder.

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