Home > UK > UK 1977-1979: Ford Cortina back on top, Morris Marina #3

UK 1977-1979: Ford Cortina back on top, Morris Marina #3

January 29th, 1980 Leave a comment Go to comments

Ford Cortina

* See the 60 best-selling models by clicking on the title *

New car sales in the UK are back on the up over the period, at +3% in 1977 to 1,323,524 registrations, +20% in 1978 to 1,591,941 and +8% in 1979 to a record 1,716,275 units. In the meantime the imports market share goes from 45.4% in ’77 to 56.3% in ’79, the first time ever imports sell more than local brands in the UK…In fact, a Japanese model ranks within the year-end UK Top 10 for the first time in 1977: the Datsun Sunny at #10 with 35,357 sales and 2.7% share.

Datsun Sunny

After one year of interruption in 1976, the Ford Cortina, helped by the 4th generation just launched, resumes its domination of the English car market by finishing #1 in 1977, 78 and 79 when it peaks at 193,784 sales which would remain its best ever year. The Ford Escort ranks #2 each year while the Morris Marina rounds up the podium in 77 and 78, passed by the ever-valiant Austin Mini in 1979.

Morris Marina

The Ford Fiesta, Ford’s new supermini launched in 1976, ranks #9 in 77, #5 in 78 and #6 in 79. The Austin Allegro is #5 in 77 and 79 and #6 in 78. Notice also theVauxhall Cavalier (#7 in 78) and Ford Granada (#7 in 79) appearing in the Top 10 over the period and the Rover SD1 up to #13 in 78.

Full Year 1977/78 Top 10 and 1979 Top 60 Ranking Tables below.

UK Full Year 1977:

Pos Model 1977 % /76 1976 % Pos
1 Ford Cortina 120,601 9.1% -4% 126,238 9.8% 2
2 Ford Escort 103,389 7.8% -23% 133,959 10.4% 1
3 Morris Marina 66,083 5.0% -7% 71,288 5.5% 4
4 BMC Mini 60,337 4.6% -26% 81,107 6.3% 3
5 Austin Allegro 56,175 4.2% 2% 55,218 4.3% 5
6 Vauxhall Chevette 51,763 3.9% 18% 43,827 3.4% 6
7 Ford Capri 42,816 3.2% 19% 36,098 2.8% 7
8 Vauxhall Cavalier 41,128 3.1% 38% 29,762 2.3% 13
9 Ford Fiesta 40,934 3.1% new 0 0.0%  -
10 Datsun Sunny 35,257 2.7% n/a n/a n/a n/a
Ford Granada 32,257 2.4% 15% 28,016 2.2% 14
Leyland Princess 29,819 2.3% -6% 31,702 2.5% 10
Austin Maxi 26,339 2.0% -21% 33,476 2.6% 9
Triumph Dolomite 24,764 1.9% -18% 30,197 2.3% 12
Renault 5 14,562 1.1% -7% 15,698 1.2%
Triumph Sports cars 13,080 1.0% 92% 6,804 0.5%
Renault 12 13,019 1.0% -14% 15,190 1.2%
Rover SD1 12,374 0.9% 82% 6,816 0.5%
VW Polo 11,891 0.9% 59% 7,473 0.6%
Toyota Corolla 11,850 0.9% 23% 9,657 0.8%
MGB/Midget 9,327 0.7% 26% 7,431 0.6%
Renault 16 6,924 0.5% -29% 9,818 0.8%
Triumph 2000/2500 6,307 0.5% -37% 10,083 0.8%
Renault 20 5,964 0.5% 298% 1,499 0.1%
Renault 14 5,577 0.4% new 0 0.0%
Rover P6 4,813 0.4% 19% 4,035 0.3%
Toyota 1000 4,387 0.3% -18% 5,330 0.4%
BMW 3 Series 4,100 0.3% 8% 3,788 0.3%
Renault 4 3,957 0.3% -29% 5,554 0.4%
Toyota Celica 2,985 0.2% -13% 3,423 0.3%
Renault 6 2,505 0.2% -46% 4,678 0.4%
BMW 5 Series 2,489 0.2% -16% 2,963 0.2%
Renault 30 1,843 0.1% -25% 2,455 0.2%
BMW 2500-3.3/6 Series 1,833 0.1% 59% 1,153 0.1%
Triumph Stag 1,644 0.1% -20% 2,055 0.2%
Toyota Corona 1,618 0.1% 12% 1,439 0.1%
Toyota Carina 1,533 0.1% -6% 1,631 0.1%
Renault 15/17 1,511 0.1% -23% 1,958 0.2%
Range Rover 1,482 0.1% -21% 1,881 0.1%
Toyota Cressida 1,293 0.1% new 0 0.0%
Toyota Hilux 574 0.0% 301% 143 0.0%
Toyota Crown 449 0.0% -2% 458 0.0%
Toyota Land Cruiser 40 0.0% -74% 156 0.0%
Hillman Imp 25 0.0% -99% 4,223 0.3%
VW Derby 15 0.0% new 0 0.0%
Wartburg Knight 7 0.0% -98% 338 0.0%

UK Full Year 1978:

Pos Model 1978 % /77 1977 % Pos
1 Ford Cortina 139,204 8.7% 15% 120,601 9.1% 1
2 Ford Escort 114,415 7.2% 11% 103,389 7.8% 2
3 Morris Marina 82,638 5.2% 25% 66,083 5.0% 3
4 Austin Mini 72,617 4.6% 20% 60,337 4.6% 4
5 Ford Fiesta 68,723 4.3% 68% 40,934 3.1% 9
6 Austin Allegro 61,535 3.9% 10% 56,175 4.2% 5
7 Vauxhall Cavalier 55,373 3.5% 35% 41,128 3.1% 8
8 Vauxhall Chevette 52,327 3.3% 1% 51,763 3.9% 6
9 Ford Granada 38,099 2.4% 18% 32,257 2.4% 11
10 Datsun Sunny 37,923 2.4% 8% 35,257 2.7% 10
11 Leyland Princess 36,813 2.3% 23% 29,819 2.3% n/a
12 Austin Maxi 31,960 2.0% 21% 26,339 2.0% n/a
13 Rover SD1 31,669 2.0% 156% 12,374 0.9% n/a
14 Ford Capri 31,642 2.0% -26% 42,816 3.2% 7
Triumph Dolomite 22,529 1.4% -9% 24,764 1.9%
Renault 5 19,373 1.2% 33% 14,562 1.1%
Renault 14 15,072 0.9% 170% 5,577 0.4%
VW Polo 15,023 0.9% 26% 11,891 0.9%
MGB/Midget 12,432 0.8% 33% 9,327 0.7%
Renault 12 11,339 0.7% -13% 13,019 1.0%
Toyota Corolla 10,315 0.6% -13% 11,850 0.9%
Renault 20 9,855 0.6% 65% 5,964 0.5%
VW Derby 7,111 0.4% new 15 0.0%
Citroen CX 7,058 0.4% new 0 0.0%
Renault 16 6,307 0.4% -9% 6,924 0.5%
Triumph Sports cars 5,457 0.3% -58% 13,080 1.0%
Toyota Celica 5,131 0.3% 72% 2,985 0.2%
BMW 3 Series 4,768 0.3% 16% 4,100 0.3%
Toyota Carina 4,298 0.3% 180% 1,533 0.1%
Toyota Cressida 3,897 0.2% 201% 1,293 0.1%
Renault 4 3,042 0.2% -23% 3,957 0.3%
BMW 5 Series 3,004 0.2% 21% 2,489 0.2%
BMW 6/7 Series 2,725 0.2% 49% 1,833 0.1%
Toyota Starlet 2,511 0.2% new 0 0.0%
Renault 6 1,681 0.1% -33% 2,505 0.2%
Renault 30 1,640 0.1% -11% 1,843 0.1%
Toyota 1000 1,626 0.1% -63% 4,387 0.3%
Renault 15/17 1,221 0.1% -19% 1,511 0.1%
Toyota Hilux 772 0.0% 34% 574 0.0%
Triumph Stag 678 0.0% -59% 1,644 0.1%
Toyota Crown 490 0.0% 9% 449 0.0%
Triumph 2000/2500 468 0.0% -93% 6,307 0.5%
Renault 18 92 0.0% new 0 0.0%
Toyota Corona 50 0.0% -97% 1,618 0.1%
Wartburg Knight 2 0.0% -71% 7 0.0%

UK Full Year 1979:

Pos Model 1979 % /78 1978 % Pos
1 Ford Cortina 193,784 11.3% 39% 139,204 8.7% 1
2 Ford Escort 131,667 7.7% 15% 114,415 7.2% 2
3 Austin Mini 82,938 4.8% 14% 72,617 4.6% 4
4 Morris Marina 62,410 3.6% -24% 82,638 5.2% 3
5 Austin Allegro 59,985 3.5% -3% 61,535 3.9% 6
6 Ford Fiesta 58,681 3.4% -15% 68,723 4.3% 5
7 Ford Granada 52,091 3.0% 37% 38,099 2.4% 9
8 Ford Capri 49,147 2.9% 55% 31,642 2.0% 14
9 Vauxhall Cavalier 46,517 2.7% -16% 55,373 3.5% 7
10 Vauxhall Chevette 44,197 2.6% -16% 52,327 3.3% 8
11 Datsun Sunny 31,665 1.8% -17% 37,923 2.4% 10
12 Leyland Princess 31,253 1.8% -15% 36,813 2.3% 11
13 Austin Maxi 30,169 1.8% -6% 31,960 2.0% 12
14 Chrysler Alpine 29,936 1.7%
15 Rover SD1 29,576 1.7% -7% 31,669 2.0% 13
16 Datsun Cherry 29,371 1.7%
17 Chrysler Horizon 29,014 1.7%
18 Renault 18 28,724 1.7% new 92 0.0%
19 Chrysler Sunbeam 27,759 1.6%
20 Chrysler Avenger 27,219 1.6%
21 Renault 5 22,859 1.3% 18% 19,373 1.2%
22 Lada 21,806 1.3%
23 Volvo 240 21,043 1.2%
24 VW Golf 19,903 1.2%
25 VW Polo 18,036 1.1% 20% 15,023 0.9%
26 Renault 14 17,818 1.0% 18% 15,072 0.9%
27 Citroen GS 17,738 1.0%
28 Triumph Dolomite 17,236 1.0% -23% 22,529 1.4%
29 Fiat 127 17,186 1.0%
30 Datsun Bluebird 16,610 1.0%
31 Datsun Violet 15,594 0.9%
32 Fiat Strada 15,578 0.9%
33 Fiat 131 Mirafiori 14,801 0.9%
34 Mazda 323 12,068 0.7%
35 Peugeot 504 12,023 0.7%
36 Honda Accord 11,471 0.7%
37 Volvo 340 10,874 0.6%
38 Peugeot 305 10,429 0.6%
39 Peugeot 104 10,004 0.6%
40 Vauxhall Viva 9,858 0.6%
41 Fiat 126 9,627 0.6%
42 Renault 20 9,321 0.5% -5% 9,855 0.6%
43 Skoda Estelle 9,286 0.5%
44 Alfa Romeo Alfasud 9,209 0.5%
45 Toyota Corolla 9,116 0.5% -12% 10,315 0.6%
46 Opel Kadett 8,803 0.5%
47 VW Derby 8,655 0.5% 22% 7,111 0.4%
48 Opel Ascona 8,604 0.5%
49 MGB/Midget 8,307 0.5% -33% 12,432 0.8%
50 Vauxhall Carlton 8,029 0.5%
51 Lancia Beta 7,993 0.5%
52 Toyota Starlet 7,906 0.5%
53 Audi 100 7,167 0.4%
54 Citroen CX 6,960 0.4% -1% 7,058 0.4%
55 VW Passat 6,958 0.4%
56 Jaguar XJ 6,746 0.4%
57 Fiat 128 6,593 0.4%
58 VW Scirocco 6,491 0.4%
59 BMW 3 Series 6,485 0.4% 36% 4,768 0.3%
60 Audi 80 6,331 0.4%
Renault 12 5,710 0.3%
Toyota Celica 5,294 0.3% 3% 5,131 0.3%
Toyota Carina 5,271 0.3% 23% 4,298 0.3%
Triumph Sports cars 4,438 0.3% -19% 5,457 0.3%
Toyota Cressida 3,315 0.2% -15% 3,897 0.2%
Toyota Hilux 1,378 0.1% 78% 772 0.0%
Toyota Corona 805 0.0% 1510% 50 0.0%
Toyota Crown 502 0.0% 2% 490 0.0%
Toyota 1000 4 0.0% -100% 1626 0.1%

Source: SMMT, Wikipedia, Autocar and manufacturers. Many thanks to Ryan P, Florian and Chris for all the data!

Categories: UK
  1. Miguel Figueira
    September 9th, 2011 at 18:19 | #1
    Reply | Quote

    The Cortina was a smashing hit in the U.K! The Lancia Beta sold quite well, even beter than in Italy.

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