Model Masters: Planes & Cars

The '67 Chevy Impala: a classic muscle car! Huge, stylish, and instantly recognizable. A staple of 60s Americana, seen in countless movies and TV. In 1967, the Impala got a pretty significant redesign, with a longer, more sculpted body, a wider grille, and the option for a range of powerful engines.

The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray was a significant leap forward for the Corvette, featuring a new, more aerodynamic design and a host of improvements. It was the first Corvette with hideaway headlights and independent rear suspension, and the "Sting Ray" name came from a mako shark that designer Bill Mitchell caught while deep-sea fishing.

The 1960 model year saw a major change in suspension, with a newly designed torsion bar system in the front and a coil spring and trailing arm design in the rear. This resulted in a much smoother ride compared to previous models.

The 1968 model year saw the "Beetle" name officially used, including in German brochures as "Der Käfer". This iconic car's popularity led to it becoming the most produced car in the world, with production eventually ending in Mexico in the 1990s, according to Auto World Museum. The 1968 Beetle, in particular, was a practical, inexpensive, and durable car, with a factory price of $600. It was also known for its unique sound and styling, as well as its good fuel economy.

A thoroughbred fighting aeorplane, the P-51D Mustang was produced in great numbers than any other varient and introduced a number of improvements over earlier models. With a new wing decision, teardrop canopy and lower rear fuselage, the P-51D was the mount of many USAAF aces and became the primary US fighter in the European Theatre, following its introduction in 1944.

Despite being the most advanced aircraft of WWII, Adolf Hitler insisted that the Me262 be developed into a fast attack bomber, diverting valuable resources from much needed fighter production. Known as the "Stormbird" the attack version included hard points for two 500kg bombs under the nose of the aircraft, with its speed making it almost invulnerable from Allied air interception.