The car of the year: the sensible sixties

The very first (European) Car of the Year (COTY) competition took place 60 years ago and to this day the original rules for selecting the winner have remained fundamentally the same. As with the Eurovision Song Contest, there is a jury of industry experts, each of whom receives 25 points with a maximum of ten to a car and the judges can justify their selection in writing to prevent favoritism. However, unlike the often unpredictable music competition, in COTY there is no public vote that could influence the outcome.

The first prize was awarded in 1964 to the groundbreaking Rover 2000 (P6). Another British car, BMC’s Austin 1800, took the COTY crown again the following year, with the remaining COTY winners of the 1960s coming from numerous continental European countries.

The 2025 COTY winner will be announced at the Brussels International Motor Show in January. So we’re waiting to see what the 61st is^st will be the recipient, here you will find the first summary of the previous title holders, starting with the 1960s. Stay tuned for a future anorak that covers the ten cars that won the award in the 1970s…

1964: Rover 2000 (P6)

The Rover 2000 (P6) was launched in 1963 as Britain’s first passenger car and was aimed at the new generation of aspiring ‘leaders’. He was an instant success. This important new model not only helped to firmly establish Britain’s emerging luxury car sector, but also contributed enormously to reinventing Rover’s previously respectable but stuffy middle-class “bank manager” image, which it has acquired with its capable but cumbersome, upright P4 models.

Rover recognized at the time that the P6 was heavily influenced by the Citroen DS, with its “floating” roof and removable exterior panels. He scored a total of 76 points and won the 1964 COTY title, putting the car ahead of the Mercedes-Benz 600 and Hillman Imp.

1965: BMC Austin 1800 (ADO17)

The 1800 (ADO17) was the finale of Alec Issigonis’ clever and hugely influential trio of front-wheel-drive, transverse-engined models and was by far the largest and most comfortable representative of BMC’s modern Issigonis Mini family (ADO15). Morris 1100-1300 (ADO16) and 1800. Originally only available as the Austin 1800 was a cleverly designed and spacious, if somewhat dull, enlarged version of BMC’s best-selling ADO16 1100.

The technologically advanced Austin has always been a reliable but uninteresting family sedan and had a huge interior space. However, the car always felt too wide and its Pininfarina style was unusually uninspiring. The Austin 1800 won the 1965 COTY title with 78 points, beating the Autobianchi Primula – the Fiat Group’s successful first attempt at developing a front-wheel drive car.

1966: Renault 16

One of the landmark and most influential cars of the 1960s, the Renault 16 was one of the very first mid-range family five-door hatchbacks, later giving rise to front-wheel drive examples such as the less-resolute Austin Maxi and the Chrysler Alpine. Starting in 1965, the sensible, spacious, robust and reliable Renault was popular worldwide throughout its long 15-year career.

In addition to its practical versatility, the comfortable 16 was also equipped with modern features such as disc brakes and a completely new light alloy engine, which ensured smooth running and plenty of Gallic charm. This capable all-rounder received 98 points and took the 1966 COTY title, while the second-placed Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow received 81 points.

1967: Fiat 124

The clean but boxy lines of the Fiat 124 would become very well known around the world, as the mid-size sedan model became the world’s third best-selling car type of all time, behind the VW Beetle and the Ford Model-T. More than 21 million examples of this friendly but anonymous mid-size 124 were built. Technically quite conventional, the 124 was Fiat’s “Ford Cortina-beater” from 1966 to 1974, but with much more verve and style as you would expect from an Italian car.

To win its 1967 COTY title, the Fiat 124 received 144 points, well ahead of the second-place BMW 1600 (later ’02) with just 69 points. Fiat and its associated group of Italian car manufacturers (Lancia and Alfa Romeo) claimed an impressive twelve COTY titles in total.

1968: NSU Ro80

At least on paper, it’s arguably the most advanced car to ever win the COTY title. The amazingly aerodynamic NSU Ro80 had it all – a supremely modern, wind-resistant design, front-wheel drive, all-round disc brakes, electric rack-and-pinion steering, a clever semi-automatic transmission with full driver control, and so on. For the COTY title, the NSU Ro80 received 197 points, beating the Fiat 125.

Its real party trick was a surprisingly small but powerful Wankel engine, but it also proved to be the car’s (and its makers’) downfall. The engine was underdeveloped when the first Ro80 deliveries took place, and the enormous cost of frequent goodwill replacements led to the failure of NSU’s business. The problems were solved, but the Ro80’s reputation never fully recovered.

1969: Peugeot 504

The decade ended with the respectable and conservative Peugeot 504 taking the COTY crown in 1969. Designed by Pininfarina to replace the aging Peugeot 404, the handsome new 504 was a strong but stylish and elegant upper-midsize sedan. Like its predecessor, the 404, the technically understated 504 was durable and a consummate long-distance cruiser built to last.

The 504 enjoyed great popularity on the African and South American continents and remained in production in France until 1982, but continued to be built in Africa and Argentina well into 21^st Century. The Peugeot 504 received 119 COTY jury points, taking first place ahead of the BMW (E3) 2500/2800.