They show how the city’s skyline changed during that period, from the construction of Coventry Cathedral - for which a huge RAF helicopter had to be brought in - to the rise of a revolutionary 17-storey tower.
They show some of the city institutions we have lost over the years, including the much-loved Tiffany’s nightclub and the popular Owen Owen department store.
And they depict major events from the era, from a devastating fire at Coventry City’s Highfield Road home to Rolls-Royce workers being locked out as an industrial dispute raged.
Also featured in this retro photo gallery are more intimate moments, from hard-working nurses enjoying some well-deserved down time to Sky Blues manager Jimmy Hill signing autographs for delighted young fans.
Do these photos bring back any memories for you, and what do you miss most about those years? Let us know in the comments section.
13. Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II in Coventry during his visit to England, in May 1982 | Getty Images Photo: Hulton Archive
14. Don't look down
Builders concreting part of the roof of Coventry Cathedral during its construction in 1960 | Heritage Images via Getty Images Photo: Historic England Archive
15. Railway station
Two men (probably architects William Robert Headley and Derrick Shorten) pictured in the newly reconstructed Coventry Railway Station, in April 1962 | Getty Images Photo: R. Viner/Daily Express/Hulton Archive
16. The Specials
The Specials performing at Butts Stadium, Coventry, in June 1981 | Getty Images Photo: Steve Rapport