Classic / 1960-1979
Muscle Era Classic Rentals — Mustang, GTO, Corvette, Westfalia on PickRV
The muscle era (1960s-1970s) is the most-rented classic segment on PickRV — Mustangs, Corvettes, GTOs, plus the parallel counter-culture of VW Westfalia camper vans and Airstream Globetrotters. The largest cohort in the classic vertical.
Year range
1960-1979
Iconic platforms
6 listed
Best for
4 use cases
Era on the timeline
3 of 4
What defines this era
American performance arc from the original 1964½ Mustang through the 1973 oil-shock retreat and back into the smog-era 1970s. The 1969 Mustang Mach 1, 1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda, 1969 Camaro Z/28 are the platform peaks.
Parallel counter-culture vehicles: VW Westfalia (1968-1979 Type 2 transporter), VW Vanagon early years (1980-1991), GMC Motorhome (1973-1978).
First-generation safety regulations begin — front shoulder belts mandatory 1968, three-point belts mandatory 1972. Most muscle-era cars on PickRV are seatbelt-compliant.
Iconic platforms
Ford Mustang Fastback / Mach 1 · 1964½-1973
Most-iconic American performance car. Parts and service network is the most comprehensive of any classic platform.
Chevrolet Corvette Stingray · 1963-1979
C2 (1963-67) and C3 (1968-82) Corvette generations. PickRV cohort favors restored C3 convertibles.
Pontiac GTO · 1964-1974
The original muscle car (1964 GTO 389). 1969-70 GTO Judge is the cohort peak.
Volkswagen Westfalia / Vanagon · 1968-1991
Counter-culture camper van. PickRV cohort includes early VW Type 2 Westfalias and 1980s Vanagon Westfalias.
Airstream Globetrotter / Sovereign / International · 1962-1979
Second-generation Airstream trailers. Larger floor plans than 1950s era.
GMC Motorhome · 1973-1978
The only American-built front-wheel-drive motorhome. Unique platform with cult following.
Driving reality
- Big-block muscle cars (Pontiac 455, Chevy 454, Ford 460) drink fuel — 6-10 mpg highway is normal. Plan fuel stops accordingly.
- Four-speed manual transmissions (Hurst shifters, Muncie M22 'rock crusher') require muscle to operate. Power steering became optional in mid-1960s; many muscle cars omit it.
- Drum-front / drum-rear brakes on early muscle, disc-front upgrade became common 1968 onwards. Stopping distance still longer than modern.
- VW Westfalia is air-cooled, 60-70 hp, top speed approximately 65 mph. Mountain passes require patience.
- GMC Motorhome (front-wheel drive, 455 Olds engine) has its own learning curve — the host walkthrough is detailed.
Who it fits
- PCH road trip in a 1969 Mustang Fastback — the iconic American performance tour.
- Counter-culture nostalgia trip in a 1972 VW Westfalia, ideally to Big Sur, Olympic National Park, or Joshua Tree.
- Concours or Goodguys event arrival in a restored GTO Judge or Camaro Z/28.
- GMC Motorhome rally (Cape Cod, Florida Keys winter) with the small but dedicated GMC community.
Sources cited (AACA / Hagerty / SCM / manufacturer archives)
FAQs
Will a Mustang survive a multi-day road trip?
Yes — Driver-grade Mustangs handle multi-day trips well. Hosts service the rigs every 3,000 miles or before each rental. Trip-disabling mechanical events are uncommon but documented; refund pathway in the booking terms.
How slow is a Westfalia?
60-65 mph cruising on flat highway. Mountain passes (Vail, Cascade, Sierra) drop the rig to 35-40 mph in lower gears. Plan accordingly — Westfalia trips are slow on purpose.
Is a Corvette comfortable for a couple's trip?
C3 Corvette convertible is tight on cabin space and luggage — pack soft duffels, not hard suitcases. Two adults are the upper limit. Day trips and weekend trips are the usual format.
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