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UK 1974-1975: Ford Cortina & Escort popular, Austin Allegro shines

January 29th, 1976 Leave a comment Go to comments

Austin Allegro

* See ‘Read more’ for the Top 80 best-selling models! Many thanks to DC and Chris *

In 1974 the UK new car market is hit full frontal by the recession: down 24% year-on-year to 1,268,655 registrations, then a further 6% in 1975 to 1,194,115 units. The Ford Cortina and Escort dominate the models ranking over the period: the Cortina sells 131,243 units for a 10.3% share in ’74 vs. 91,699 and 7.2% for the Escort. In ’75 the two models are much closer, with the Cortina at 106,787 sales (-19%) vs. 103,817 (+13%) for the Escort.

Leyland Princess

The BMC Mini and Morris Marina rank 3rd and 4th both years with the Mini maintaining itself at 7.1%. The Austin Allegro has its best years in the country at #6 in ’74 with 60,619 units and #5 in ’75 at 63,339 sales. The Triumph Dolomite lands in 8th position both years, while the Leyland Princess breaks into the UK year-end Top 10 in 1975 at #9 with 29,067 sales.

Datsun Sunny

Imports-wise, the irresistible progression continues: from 5.1% share in 1965, they reach 27.o9% in 1974 and 33.2% in 1975… The Datsun Sunny is up 65% to #11 and 27,136 units in ’75, the best score ever so far for a Japanese model in England, whereas the VW Golf, launched in ’74, is up to #14 in ’75 for its first full year of sales in England at 19,069 units. The Rover P6 is in a solid 16th place in 1974 with 18,488 sales.

Rover P6

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Full Year 1974 and 1975 Top 80 Ranking Tables below.

Triumph Dolomite

Leyland Princess

Note: I have different figures for UK and England for the period so they are separated below.

UK 1974:

Pos Model 1974 % /73 1973 % Pos
1 Ford Cortina 131,243 10.3% -28% 181,616 10.9% 1
2 Ford Escort 91,699 7.2% -20% 114,296 6.9% 3
3 BMC Mini 89,686 7.1% -7% 96,383 5.8% 5
4 Morris Marina 81,444 6.4% -29% 115,041 6.9% 2
5 Vauxhall Viva 71,889 5.7% -27% 98,000 5.9% 4
6 Austin Allegro 60,619 4.8% 111% 28,713 1.7% 14
7 Hillman Avenger 60,244 4.7% new 0 0.0%  -
8 Triumph Dolomite/Herald 45,008 3.5% 155% 17,627 1.1% n/a
9 Ford Capri 37,569 3.0% -3% 38,793 2.3% 12
10 Austin Maxi 36,072 2.8% -32% 52,853 3.2% 9
11 Hillman Hunter 33,048 2.6% -48% 63,100 3.8% 7
12 Ford Granada 27,127 2.1% -33% 40,231 2.4% 10
13 BMC 1800/3-litre 25,341 2.0% -21% 31,935 1.9% 13
Datsun Cherry 22,012 1.7% n/a n/a n/a
Rover P6 18,488 1.5% -22% 23,627 1.4%
Vauxhall Victor 19,004 1.5% n/a n/a n/a
Triumph 2000/2500 16,395 1.3% -22% 21,000 1.3%
MGB/MGC/Midget/Sprite 9,852 0.8% -28% 13,755 0.8%
BMC 1100/1300 7,890 0.6% -87% 59,198 3.6% 8
Triumph Sports cars 4,801 0.4% -47% 9,112 0.5%
Triumph Stag 3,020 0.2% -5% 3,175 0.2%
BMC Minor 1,637 0.1% 1131% 133 0.0%

England 1974:

Pos Model 1974 74/73 1973 Pos
1 Ford Cortina 124,576 -31% 181,641 1
2 Ford Escort 86,749 -24% 114,301 3
3 BMC Mini 84,932 -12% 96,383 5
4 Morris Marina 78,376 -32% 114,600 2
5 Vauxhall Viva/Magnum 67,434 -31% 98,000 4
6 Austin Allegro 58,231 103% 28,713 12
7 Hillman Avenger 58,114 new 0  -
8 Triumph Dolomite 43,270 n/a n/a n/a
9 Ford Capri 36,111 -7% 38,793 11
10 Austin Maxi 34,712 -35% 53,100 9
11 Hillman Hunter 31,806 -50% 63,100 7
12 Ford Granada 25,644 -36% 40,292 10
13 Leyland Princess 24,424
14 Datsun Cherry 21,036
15 Vauxhal Victor 17,772
16 Rover P6 17,080
17 Datsun Sunny 16,407
18 Triumph 2000/2500 15,833
19 Hillman Imp 15,797
20 Renault 12 15,331
21 VW Beetle 14,627
22 Renault 16 11,879
23 Jaguar/Daimler Saloon 11,684
24 Fiat 127 11,389
25 Renault 5 10,378
26 Fiat 128 9,874
27 Fiat 126 9,778
28 MGB/Midget 9,531
29 Simca 1100 9,511
30 Datsun Bluebird 8,420
31 DAF 8,056
32 BMC 1100/1300 7,880 -87% 59,800 8
33 Mazda 7,589
34 Audi 100 7,388
35 Citroen GS 7,104
36 Datsun Violet 6,706
37 Renault 6 6,602
38 Toyota Corolla 6,558
39 Renault 4 6,532
40 VW Passat 6,514
41 Peugeot 504 5,987
42 Audi 80 5,822
43 Skoda 5,662
44 Simca 1301/1501 5,459
45 Triumph TR6/Spitfire 4,737
46 Simca 1000 4,367
47 Saab 99 4,170
48 Alfa Romeo 3,696
49 Simca 180/2L 3,530
50 Opel Kadett 3,503
51 Toyota Carina/Corona 3,421
52 Peugeot 304 3,257
53 Wartburg 3,084
54 Fiat 132 3,073
55 Citroen Dyane 2,987
56 Honda 2,961
57 Triumph Stag 2,948
58 Citroen Ami/2CV 2,873
59 Saab 95/96 2,748
60 Toyota Celica 2,629
61 Moskwitsch 2,358
62 Renault 15/17 2,275
63 Mercedes “Small” Class 2,271
64 Range Rover 2,068
65 Lada 2,025
66 Opel Manta 1,691
67 Lotus Reliant 1,636
68 Peugeot 204 1,616
69 Mercedes S Class 1,359
70 Rolls-Royce/Bentley 1,315
71 Opel Ascona 1,295
72 Datsun 240 K-GT 1,224
73 Peugeot 104 1,207
74 Datsun Laurel 1,204
75 Volvo 244/245 1,063
76 Opel Rekord 1,056
77 Vauxhall Ventora 1,051
78 Datsun Custom/Skyline 769
79 Lotus 768
80 Opel Commodore 640

UK 1975:

Pos Model 1975 % /74 1974 % Pos
1 Ford Cortina 106,787 8.9% -19% 131,243 10.3% 1
2 Ford Escort 103,817 8.7% 13% 91,699 7.2% 2
3 BMC Mini 84,688 7.1% -6% 89,686 7.1% 3
4 Morris Marina 78,632 6.6% -3% 81,444 6.4% 4
5 Austin Allegro 63,339 5.3% 4% 60,619 4.8% 6
6 Vauxhall Viva 54,731 4.6% -24% 71,889 5.7% 5
7 Hillman Avenger 38,377 3.2% -36% 60,244 4.7% 7
8 Triumph Dolomite 30,199 2.5% -33% 45,008 3.5% 8
9 Leyland Princess 29,067 2.4% 15% 25,341 2.0% 13
10 Hillman Hunter 28,966 2.4% -12% 33,048 2.6% 11
11 Datsun Sunny 28,264 2.4% 64% 17,275 1.4% 17
12 Ford Capri 27,678 2.3% -26% 37,569 3.0% 9
13 Austin Maxi 26,950 2.3% -25% 36,072 2.8% 10
14 Ford Granada 20,116 1.7% -26% 27,127 2.1% 12
15 Vauxhall Chevette 19,847 1.7% new 0 0.0%  -
16 VW Golf 19,069 1.6% new 179 0.0%  87
17 Datsun Cherry 16,233 1.4% -26% 22,012 1.7% 14
18 Renault 12 15,981 1.3% n/a n/a n/a n/a
19 Rover P6 15,280 1.3% -17% 18,488 1.5% 16
20 Renault 5 14,780 1.2% n/a n/a n/a n/a

England 1975:

Pos Model 1975 75/74 1974 Pos
1 Ford Cortina 100,728 -19% 124,576 1
2 Ford Escort 96,604 11% 86,749 2
3 BMC Mini 81,766 -4% 84,932 3
4 Morris Marina 75,262 -4% 78,376 4
5 Austin Allegro 60,597 4% 58,231 6
6 Vauxhal Victor 52,762 197% 17,772 15
7 Hillman Avenger 37,765 -35% 58,114 7
8 Triumph Dolomite 29,245 -32% 43,270 8
9 Hillman Hunter 27,869 -12% 31,806 11
10 Leyland Princess 27,263 12% 24,424 13
11 Datsun Sunny 27,136 65% 16,407 17
12 Ford Capri 26,621 -26% 36,111 9
13 Austin Maxi 26,078 -25% 34,712 10
14 VW Golf 19,111 new 179 87
15 Ford Granada 18,860 -26% 25,644 12
16 Vauxhall Viva/Magnum 18,325 -73% 67,434 5
17 Datsun Cherry 15,602 -26% 21,036 14
18 Renault 12 15,376 0% 15,331 20
19 Rover P6 14,879 -13% 17,080 16
20 Renault 5 14,245 37% 10,378 25
21 Jaguar/Daimler Saloon 13,454 15% 11,684 23
22 Volvo 244/245 12,787 1103% 1,063 75
23 Triumph 2000/2500 11,867 -25% 15,833 18
24 Vauxhall Ventora 11,798 1023% 1,051 77
25 Renault 16 10,474 -12% 11,879 22
26 Fiat 127 10,413 -9% 11,389 24
27 Datsun Bluebird 10,178 21% 8,420 30
28 Mazda 10,150 34% 7,589 33
29 Hillman Imp 10,009 -37% 15,797 19
30 Honda 9,686 227% 2,961 56
31 Citroen GS 9,004 27% 7,104 35
32 Skoda 8,909 57% 5,662 43
33 MGB/Midget 8,855 -7% 9,531 28
34 Simca 1100 8,324 -12% 9,511 29
35 Fiat 128 8,271 -16% 9,874 26
36 Alfa Romeo 8,056 118% 3,696 48
37 Toyota Corolla 8,017 22% 6,558 38
38 Audi 100 7,407 0% 7,388 34
39 Peugeot 504 6,854 14% 5,987 41
40 Citroen Ami/2CV 6,843 138% 2,873 58
41 Audi 80 6,244 7% 5,822 42
42 DAF 6,206 -23% 8,056 31
43 Renault 4 6,080 -7% 6,532 39
44 Fiat 126 5,938 -39% 9,778 27
45 Renault 6 5,685 -14% 6,602 37
46 Datsun Violet 5,579 -17% 6,706 36
47 VW Beetle 5,410 -63% 14,627 21
48 Opel Kadett 5,403 54% 3,503 50
49 Lada 5,376 165% 2,025 65
50 VW Passat 5,362 -18% 6,514 40
51 Saab 99 4,956 19% 4,170 47
52 Toyota 1000 4,517 1172% 355 85
53 Fiat 131 4,405 new 0  -
54 Simca 1000 4,082 -7% 4,367 46
55 Mercedes “Small” Class 3,724 64% 2,271 63
56 Peugeot 304 3,390 4% 3,257 52
57 Simca 1301/1501 3,347 -39% 5,459 44
58 Citroen Dyane 3,330 11% 2,987 55
59 Toyota Carina/Corona 3,160 -8% 3,421 51
60 Fiat 132 3,098 1% 3,073 54
61 Toyota Celica 2,921 11% 2,629 60
62 Triumph TR6/Spitfire 2,740 -42% 4,737 45
63 Renault 15/17 2,191 -4% 2,275 62
64 Range Rover 2,125 3% 2,068 64
65 Saab 95/96 1,909 -31% 2,748 59
66 Polski Fiat 1,881 new 0  -
67 Datsun Custom/Skyline 1,863 142% 769 78
68 Peugeot 204 1,816 12% 1,616 68
69 Peugeot 104 1,813 50% 1,207 73
70 Opel Manta 1,800 6% 1,691 66
71 Triumph Stag 1,668 -43% 2,948 57
72 Mitsubishi Lancer 1,631 new 0  -
73 Simca 180/2L 1,604 -55% 3,530 49
74 Wartburg 1,604 -48% 3,084 53
75 VW Scirocco 1,595 1064% 137 88
76 Lotus Reliant 1,341 -18% 1,636 67
77 Volvo 264 1,285 new 2  -
78 Mitsubishi Galant 1,239 new 0  -
79 Moskwitsch 1,227 -48% 2,358 61
80 Mercedes S Class 1,168 -14% 1,359 69

Source: Auto Katalog, SMMT. Many thanks to DC and Chris for sharing the data!

Categories: UK
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