FIRST, SECOND, OR THIRD GENERATION—WHAT’S THE COOLEST?

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Every car brand has a model that extends across three or more generations.

This generational shift was based on the newer-better-cooler-than- your-neighbor automotive advertising mantra of the 50s, 60s and 70s.

The first example extends across the ’57-59 Chevy lineup. These cars were clearly defined by year because there is no visual connection between the three generations.

The ’57 Chevy wins the popularity contest because it’s a rock star to this day–but for me, the ’59 Chevy Impala is the first draft choice every day–all day.  The bat-wing fins sealed the deal.

The Ford Thunderbird had many versions over many generations, but for this I’m looking at the first (’55-57), the second (’58-60) and the third (’61-63) generation T-birds.

No contest. The Ford Thunderbird is number one because it reflected the space-age far more than the previous two versions. It was clean, it was cool. and it told the world the 60s  Space Age was here. 

The first (1964-66), second (’67-69) and third Gen (’70-74) Barracuda were three distinct cars. You probably expected the third gen to be my pick, but for me the 2G version will always be number one and the 1G will be number two.

I know, none of the 1 or 2G cars will ever hit seven figures like a ’70-71 HemiCuda, but the fastback versions were the first ‘cudas I ever knew when I was an impressionable kid. That’s impossible to forget.

The Charger is another legendary Mopar name. They range from the first (1966-67) to the second (’70-74) to the third (’71-74) generations.

Most readers would expect me to pick the 2G version as a favorite, but it’s the 1G that gets first place. The ’68 runs a close second, but the fastback roof called to me when I was a kid—just like the 1G Barracuda.

The Corvette is a legend to this day, but I want to focus on the first (1953-62), second (’63-67) and third generation (’68-’82) Vettes.

This isn’t close. The ’63 Vette was the coolest version to me because it was like an atom bomb in the car culture when it hit the showrooms. The split-window Corvette is—and will always be number one in my world because that first impression to a very young me was never lost.

The Camaro came late to the game, but it was an instant legend. There was the first (’67-69), second (’70-73) and third (’74-82) generations of the Camaro.

The ’69 Camaro is at the high-water mark for price, but in my world the 2G Camaro is the star. It was a clean-looking car, and it spoke to the next decade with its cutting-edge style.

The Firebird is another GM pony car, and it debuted slightly after the Camaro and the 1G (’67-69) was followed by the 2G (’70-76) and the 3G (’77-78) versions. Pontiac guys will point out the 2G and 3G are the same platform but I’m basing this on the visual  side of the two versus four headlights front end.  

I’m a big fan of the 2G ‘70 Firebird because it encompasses an era when horsepower was real–plus it has that cool 70s look.

The Ford Fairlane is another great study in generations. They ranged from the 1G (1962-4 ) version to the 2G (’66-67) version to the 3G (’68-69) Fairlane.

The ’65 was an outlier in the game, so I’ve taken it out of the equation, but for me the ’68 Fairlane was the coolest version. The ’66-7 Fairlane was close, but the fastback ’68 edged it out because—you guessed it—I liked the fastback better.

The last example of three generational rivalry is found in the legendary Chevelle. There was the 1G (1964-65), the 2G (’66-67) and the 3G (’68-9).

In my world, the 1966 Chevelle won the cool factor race because it was such a big player in the 1960 muscle car wars. It was a stripped-down look that worked well for a business-only street warrior.

By: Jerry Sutherland

Jerry Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer with a primary focus on the collector car hobby. His work has been published in many outlets and publications, including the National Post, Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette, Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Regina Leader-Post,  Vancouver Sun and The Truth About Cars. He is also a regular contributor to Auto Roundup Publications.

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