Some years give rise to memorable automobiles, but 1966 stood apart. It introduced everything from tiny, high-revving sports cars and practical compact sedans to refined Italian grand tourers, pioneering supercars, and muscular American V8-powered machines. Among them were the modest yet hugely successful Toyota Corolla and the legendary Lamborghini Miura.

Even so, these vehicles earned their legendary status for very different reasons. Some evolved into enduring nameplates that came to dominate their segments, while others reshaped performance-car engineering or became cultural symbols in their own right. Nearly six decades later, their impact remains strikingly diverse, underscoring how important 1966 was in automotive history.

Toyota Corolla

Power: 60 bhp

The Toyota Corolla started its extraordinary story in 1966, first appearing at the 13th Tokyo Motor Show before reaching the Japanese market in November. It arrived at a time when Japan was entering an age of mass car ownership, and Toyota developed the Corolla to deliver a blend of performance, quality, comfort, and affordability. Although its origins were modest, the first-generation model was powered by a 1.1-liter four-cylinder engine producing 60 bhp at 6,000 rpm. That simple formula would ultimately give rise to one of the most successful automotive nameplates in the world, with more than 50 million Corollas sold by 2021.