South Africa 1973: Chrysler Valiant and Ford Cortina on top
Chrysler Valiant Rebel
* See the Top 15 best-selling models by clicking on ‘Read more’ at end of post! *
Thanks to info shared by Miguel we go back nearly 40 years to detail the best-selling cars in South Africa in 1973… The Chrysler Valiant was the most popular model in the country then, available in four different bodies: the Rebel (sedan), Charger, Barracuda (coupes) and Safari (station wagon).
Ford Cortina
The Ford Cortina took the 2nd spot, ahead of the Hillman Hunter, later produced in Iran to become the Paykan, Ford Escort and Ford Ranger. Notice the Volvo 144/164 at #6 and the Datsun 1600 SSS at #11, the best-selling Japanese car in the country that year.
Full Year 1973 Top 15 Ranking Table and more images below.
Volvo 144
Datsun 1600
South Africa Full Year 1973:
| Pos | Model |
| 1 | Chrysler Valiant* |
| 2 | Ford Cortina |
| 3 | Hillman Hunter |
| 4 | Ford Escort |
| 5 | Ford Ranger |
| 6 | Volvo 144/164 |
| 7 | Chevrolet Constantia |
| 8 | Ford Granada/Consul |
| 9 | BMW 520 |
| 10 | VW Beetle |
| 11 | Datsun 1600 SSS |
| 12 | Toyota Corona |
| 13 | Alfa Romeo 1750 |
| 14 | Chevrolet Commodore |
| 15 | Mercedes 280 |
| * Includes Rebel sedan, Charger & Barracuda coupe and Safari station wagon versions | |
Source: S.A. Car magazine, thanks to Miguel for sharing the data!
Hello,
Can you help me? I’m trying to find a company that sells cheap insurance for vintage cars. My resources are quite limited to mainstream insurance companies. I mean, obviously, it’s not the usual coverage I’m inquiring about but more of a specialty coverage.
GERMAN TOP 15 FROM 1989 “in auto katalog” 1990/91 modelljahr”
1 – OPEL KADETT
2 – VW GOLF MKII
3 – FORD ESCORT
4 – OPEL VECTRA
5 – VW PASSAT
6 – FORD FIESTA MKII
7 – MERCEDES 190
8 – FORD SIERRA
9 – MERCEDES BAUREIHE 124
10 – BMW SERIE 3
11 – VW POLO
12 – BMW SERIE 5
13 – AUDI 80
14 – OPEL OMEGA
15 – OPEL CORSA
Matt, I have the list of the 50 best seller models in South Africa from the year 2000. “in top car ZA magazine” January 2001
1 – TOYOTA COROLLA
2 – TOYOTA CONQUEST
3 – MAZDA MIDGE / FORD TRACER
4 – BMW SERIE 3
5 – OPEL ASTRA
6 – VW POLO CLASSIC SEDAN/ PLAYA HATHBACK
7 – MAZDA ETUDE SEDAN / ASTINA SPORTBACK
8 – NISSAN SENTRA SEDAN / SABRE HATCHBACK
9 – VW GOLF IV
10 – VW CITI GOLF
11 – MERCEDES CLASS C
12 – FORD FIESTA MKIII / MAZDA 121 SOHO
13 – HONDA BALLADE SEDAN / CIVIC HATCHBACK
14 – FIAT UNO MIA
15 – MITSUBISHI PAJERO
16 – LAND ROVER FREELANDER
17 – AUDI A4
18 – RENAULT CLIO
19 – BMW SERIE 5
20 – AUDI A3
21 – FORD FOCUS MKI
22 – AUDI A3
23 – MERCEDES CLASS E
24 – RENAULT MÉGANE
25 – DAEWOO MATIZ
26 TOYOTA CAMRY
27 – RENAULT SCÉNIC SAFARI
28 – ALFA ROMEO 156
29 – FORD MONDEO
30 -VW PASSAT
31 – NISSAN PRIMERA
32 – JEEP CHEROKEE
33 – MERCEDES M CLASS
34 – DAEWOO LANOS
35 – ISUZU FRONTIER
36 – LAND ROVER DISCOVERY
37 – TOYOTA PRADO
38 – AUDI A6
39 – DAEWOO NUBIRA
40 – LAND ROVER DEFENDER
41 – FIAT SIENNA BERLINA / PALIO HATCHBACK
42 – MAZDA 626
43 – JAGUAR X
44 – CHRYSLER NEON
45 – HONDA CR-V
46 – FORD FALCON
47 – BMW SERIE 7
48 – TOYOTA LAND CRUISER
49 – PEUGEOT 406
50 – SUBARU IMPREZA
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