Best Selling Cars – Matt's blog

Vauxhall Cavalier

* See the Top 20 best-selling models by clicking on ‘Read more’ at end of post! *

The Ford Escort continues to dominate the English car market in 1984 and 85 with around 157,000 sales both years while the Top 5 best selling cars stay unchanged: the Vauxhall Cavalier is up to a best-ever 2nd place with 127,509 then 134,335 sales, and the Ford Fiesta back up to #3 with about 125,000 sales each year.

MG Metro

The Austin/MG Metro stabilises in 4th position and the Ford Sierra drops to 5th. The Austin/MG Maestro spends one more year at #6 before the arrival of the Montego at #7 in 1985. The Ford Orion, a 4 door version of the Escort, breaks into the Top 10 at #9 in 1984 and ranks 8th in 1985.

1984 and 1985 Top 20 Ranking Tables: see ‘Read more’ below the MG Maestro pic.

MG Maestro

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Ford F-Series

* See the Top 50 best-selling models and Top 35 All-brands by clicking on the title! Thanks Austin *

In 1985, 10,968,515 new vehicles found a buyer in the USA, up 7% year-on-year. The brands ranking is fascinating: 11 American carmakers in the Top 15, 4 of them have disappeared since: Oldsmobile at #3 with 1,087,641 sales, Pontiac at #8 with 782,617, Mercury at #9 with 561,387 and Plymouth at #11 with 481,216. Toyota is the best-selling foreign brand at #5 with 905,405 units, followed by Nissan at #7 and 798,891 and Honda at #10 and 528,095. Notice also AMC-Renault at #20 with 145,733 sales and Peugeot at #30 and 18,101 units – both French manufacturers having given up on the US market shortly after that time.

Chevrolet Cavalier (1982 model)

The Ford F-Series is the best-selling vehicle in the country with 537,653 sales but the only pick-up truck in the Top 5, a clear change from nowadays’ ranking. The Chevrolet Cavalier is #2 and best-selling Passenger Car at 422,927 units, ahead of the Ford Escort at 410,978, Chevrolet Celebrity at 360,167 and Oldmsobile Ciera at 315,569.

AMC-Renault Encore

The Toyota Hilux ranks at a brilliant 7th place thanks to 277,491 sales, while Oldsmobile places the Supreme at #10 and the 88 at #12. The Chevrolet Camaro is #13, the Nissan Sentra is the most popular imported Passenger Car at #16 and 184,706 units, with the Toyota Corolla following at #20 and 166,5698 sales. Notice also the US-made Honda Accord at #25, the Mercury Cougar XR7 at #32, the Renault Alliance selling 75,295 units and the Renault Encore at 46,524 sales.

Previous post: USA 1982-1984: Ford F-Series takes command

Next post: USA 1986: Chevrolet Celebrity leads passenger cars

Full Year 1985 Top 50 models and Top 35 All-brands Ranking Tables below.

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Peugeot 205

* See the Top 172 best-selling models by clicking on the title *

Stable market in France in 1985 at 1,766,328 registrations. The Peugeot 205 has what will remain its best year, peaking at a record 15.4% share in February and hitting 12.9% of the market at year-end thanks to 226.974 sales. French consumers can’t get enough of the GTI version, fast becoming an icon of the eighties…

Renault Supercinq

After a wobbly transition during 1984, the Renault Supercinq, the successor to the 5 launched in August last year, establishes itself in 2nd place in December ’84 and stays there until September ’85 when it ranks #1 for the first time. 1985 is indeed the start of the most tightly fought rivarly for the title of best-selling car in France, a rivalry that still extends to today with the 207 vs. Clio… The Supercinq finishes its first full year of sales at 184,218 units and 10.5%.

Citroen BX

The Citroen BX climbs onto the podium and reaches its best year-end share at 7% thanks to 123,164 sales. The Renault 11′s success was short-lived: it is down 19% this year to #4 and 6.6%. The Renault 25 delivers its best year at #5 with 82,696 sales and 4.7%, an exceptional score in France for a car that large and expensive.

Renault 25

The Ford Fiesta is the best-selling foreign model in France this year, reaching an excellent 7th place thanks to 46,359 units sold. It is followed by the VW Golf (#10), Ford Escort (#12), Fiat Uno (#15), Ford Sierra (#16), VW Polo (#18) and Opel Kadett (#19). Notice also the Peugeot 309 landing directly at #21 and the Seat Ibiza up 98 spots to #35 for its first full year. The Mazda 323 is the best-selling Japanese model at #44.

Previous year: see the 1984 France Top 20 best-selling models here.

Full Year 1985 Top 172 and Monthly Top 10 Ranking Tables below.

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Renault 11

* See the Top 60 best-selling models by clicking on the title! Many thanks to Rutger *

In 1985 the Spanish new car market is up a very healthy 11% year-on-year to 539,868 registrations. The Renault 11 is by far the best-selling model with 74,583 sales and nearly 14% market share! The Opel Corsa ranks #2 at 44,457 units and 8.2% while the Peugeot 205 rounds up the podium with 41,292 sales and 7.6% ahead of the Renault Supercinq at 33,418 units and 6.2%.

Seat Malaga

The Ford Fiesta and Renault 9 follow, with the Ford Escort and VW Polo completing the list of models selling over 20,000 units this year in Spain. Seat places 4 models in the Top 20: the Panda at #9 with 18,982 sales, the Malaga at #12 and 17,588 units, the Ibiza at #14 with 16,403 sales and the Ronda at #17 and 10,397.

Previous post: see the Spanish 1980 Top 20 best-selling models here.

Next post: see the Spanish 1989 Top 60 best-selling models here.

Full Year 1985 Top 60 Ranking Table below.

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Fiat Uno

* See the Top 15 best-selling models by clicking on the title! Many thanks to Andrea *

New car sales in Italy are up 7% this year to 1,745,898 registrations. The Fiat Uno is the best-selling car in the country for the third consecutive year with sales up 15% to 382,100 units and an outstanding 21.9% market share. It even reaches 25.3% share in December thanks to 26,600 sales!

Renault 5

The Fiat Panda comes 2nd again but see its figure go down 6% to 119,650 units and 6.9% share. For its first full year of sales as the new ‘Supercinq’ the Renault 5 impresses and breaks into the podium at a fantastic 3rd place with 98,150 sales and 5.6%, up 6 spots and 129% year-on-year. This is the first time ever a foreign model ranks within the podium at year-end in Italy and perhaps the best volume and market share for any foreign model – if you know this for sure please confirm!

Lancia Prisma

The VW Golf is also very robust, up 2 spots and 61% to reach a best-ever 4th position with 96,150 sales and 5.5% share. The Fiat Regata (-17%) and Ritmo (-27%) follow. The Lancia Prisma reaches what will remain its best-ever scores in 7th place with 57,150 sales and 3.3%. The Peugeot 205 breaks into the Top 10 for the first time at #9.

Previous year: Italy 1984: Fiat Uno and Regata shine

Next year: Italy 1986: Fiat Uno at its highest – 433,700 sales and 23.8% share

Full Year and December 1985 Top 15 Ranking Tables below.

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Hyundai Pony

Thanks to Pedro I can share with you that the Hyundai Pony sold 50,799 units in Canada in 1985, which positions it as the best-selling passenger car in the country, and potentially the most popular vehicle outright. Am exceptional performance for the South Korean car manufacturer…