Best Selling Cars – Matt's blog

1975 Toyota Corolla

After becoming the world’s best-seller for the first time in 1974, the Toyota Corolla keeps this title for 4 consecutive years up until 1978, while the VW Beetle continues to drop and the VW Golf, launched in 1974, climbs up the ladder. Thanks to Rene for confirming this information, if you have detailed sales figures for the period please do get in touch by commenting on this article!

Originally launched in 1966, the Toyota Corolla nameplate is already at its third generation by 1975, and is encountering exceptional success both in Japan and in export markets, notably in the USA. By 1979, Australian advertising officially promotes the Corolla as “the best-selling car in the world”.

Previous post: World 1974: Toyota Corolla takes command

Next post: World 1979: VW Golf passes Toyota Corolla to claim top spot

Chevrolet Caprice

* Click on the title for the Top 10 best-selling models – Thanks to Adam for the data! *

Second year of reign for the Chevrolet Impala/Caprice, still at a very high level with 621,140 sales, down just 5%. The Oldsmobile Cutlass drops by 23% and keeps the 2nd place, but just: at 406,993 units, it is only 1,200 sales above the Ford Fairmont, the best newcomer by far in the Top 10, directly to #3 with 405,780 sales. The Fairmont even earns the title of ‘best-selling new car ever introduced’ thanks to this first year sales figure.

The Chevrolet Malibu is up 5 spots and 26% to #4 at 374,124 units, while the Chevrolet Monte Carlo is down 3% to #5 and the Ford LTD down 13% to #6. The other two newbies in the Top 10 are the Oldsmobile 88 at #9 with 273,384 sales and the Chevrolet Camaro at #10 and 260,201 units.

Previous post: USA 1977 Chevrolet Impala/Caprice takes the lead, Ford F-Series now best-selling truck

Next post: USA 1979 Chevrolet places Impala/Caprice and Chevette on podium

Full 1978 Top 10 Ranking Table below.

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Renault 5

No change atop the French models ranking: the Renault 5 confirms its domination: it holds 10.1% of the market in 1977 and 10% in 1978. I don’t have any detailed sales ranking for these years in France so if you do please make sure to get in touch by commenting on this post.

Peugeot 104

Other successful models over the period include the Peugeot 104 at 6.3% in 1977 and 5.9% in 1978, the Citroen 2CV at 5.2% then 4.1% and the Renault 4 at 4.7% and 4.1%.

1977 and 1978 sales figures below.

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Opel Kadett

* Many thanks to Rene for making this post possible! *

* See the Top 20 best-selling models by clicking on this article’s title or ‘Read more’! *

Throughout the period the Opel Kadett is top of the class, reaching 28,393 sales for a 5.9% market share in 1975 and totalling 22,285 units over the first 6 months of 1978. The Kadett is the only element of stability in a ranking that changed drastically between 1975 and 1978.

Simca 1100

In 1975 the Simca 1100 takes the 2nd spot with 23,561 sales and 4.9%, followed by the VW Golf at 19,576 units and 4.1%, the Toyota Corolla with 17,934 sales and 3.7% and the Citroen 2CV/Dyane at 15,738 units and 3.3%. Notice also the Datsun Cherry at #11, the Mini at #12, the Datsun 120Y at #15 and the local DAF 44/46 at #16 with 8,251 sales and 1.7%.

Peugeot 504

In 1978 the Ford Taunus ranks 2nd with 18,799 sales, ahead of the Opel Ascona at 14,586 units, the VW Golf at 12,654 sales and the Peugeot 504 at 11,019 units. The Citroen GS lodges a brilliant 6th place with 9,859 sales while the Mazda 323 is the best-selling Japanese model at #7 and 9,693 units.

Full Year 1975 Top 20 and 6 months 1978 Top 10 Ranking Tables below.

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Fiat 127

* See the Top 10 best-selling models by clicking on the title! Thanks to Andrea and Miguel *

After two years spent in the shadow of the Fiat 128, the Fiat 127 becomes the best-selling model in Italy in 1974 and would stay at that position for 9 consecutive years, which is one year longer than the Fiat 600 and Fiat 500… The only official data I have over the 1974-1978 period in Italy is the 1977 year-end Top 10 and it shows the Fiat 128 still up to a valiant 2nd place then.

Fiat 131 Mirafiori

The Fiat 131 Mirafiori shines and manages to climb onto the podium that year, followed by the Fiat 126. The Alfa Romeo Alfasud is a success and jumps up to #5 in 1977 ahead of the Alfa Romeo Alfetta and Fiat 132. The Ford Fiesta is the best-selling foreign model at #9.

Thanks to the UNRAE team, I can now share with you the yearly Top 20 most produced models in Italy and Top 20 best-selling brands: see ‘Read more’. Notice Renault reaching 8% market share in 1976 to become the 2nd best-selling brand in the country, peaking at 97,004 sales – the highest volume ever for any foreign brand in Italy.

Previous post: Italy 1973: Fiat 128 and 127 fight it out, Fiat 126 on podium

Next post: Italy 1979: Fiat 127 and 126 dominate

Full Year 1977 Top 10 best-selling models and 1974-1978 Top 20 most produced below.

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Volvo 244

* See the Top 10 best-selling models by clicking on the title! Many thanks to Rene *

Only two years after passing the 100,000 annual registrations milestone, Norwegian car sales reach 145,247 units in 1977, 14% better than in 1976. However 1978 sees the worst sales setback since World War II: down 46% to 77,821 units, bringing the market back to 1970 levels. In this context the Volvo 240 is undisturbed and continues to dominate the models ranking with 10,226 sales and 7% share in ’77 then 6,927 and 8.9% in ’78.

Ford Granada

There is a newcomer on the podium over the period: the Ford Granada establishes itself as a solid competitor for the Volvo 240, selling 8,853 units for a 6.1% market share in ’77 then 6,096 and 7.8% in ’78. The Ford Taunus holds a strong third position both years, reaching 5.7% share in ’77 and 5.4% in ’78.

Mazda 323

The Saab 99 ranks at a brilliant 4th place in 1977, the highest position ever reached by a Saab model in Norway, while the Toyota Corolla weakens over the period: down to #5 in ’77 and outside the Top 10 in ’78. It is replaced at the helm of Japanese models by the Mazda 323, breaking into the Norwegian Top 10 for the first time in 1978 at #8 with 2,165 sales and 2.8%.

Notice the VW Polo leading the brand’s sales at #10 in ’77 but outside the Top 10 the following year, making 1978 the first year since the creation of the Volkswagen brand ever that no model ranks within the Norwegian Top 10.

Previous post: Norway 1975-1976: Volvo 240 #1, Toyota Corolla on podium!

Next post: Norway 1980-1989: VW Golf and Ford Sierra dominate

Full Year 1977 and 1978 Top 10 Ranking Tables below.

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Volvo 245

* See ‘Read more’ for the Top 20 best-selling models!  Many thanks to Torbjörn for the data *

In 1978 just over 200,000 new cars were purchased in Sweden (200,874 exactly). The Volvo 240 leads the models ranking by a large margin with 37,564 sales for a massive 18.7% market share. The Saab 99 is in 2nd place at 18,613 units and 9.3%, followed by the Volvo 340 with 9,873 sales and 4.9%.

Saab 99

The VW Golf is the best-selling foreign model at #4 and 4.2%, ahead of the Ford Granada (3.8%) and Opel Rekord (3.4%). The Saab 95/96 ranks 9th with 2.8% of the Swedish market. Notice the arrival of the Saab 900 at #16 with 3,264 sales.

Full Year 1978 Top 20 Ranking Table below.

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