Finland 1971: Fiat 600 and Toyota Corolla on top, Moskvitsh Elite #5

Fiat 600

* See the Top 55 All-brands and Top 50 models by clicking on the title *

Finnish new car sales drop a steep 18.2% year-on-year in 1971 to 74.907 units and the brands ranking is completely reshuffled, now truly displaying Italian, Japanese and Russian influences. Fiat (+26%) ignores the surrounding gloom to hit a superb 17% market share, snapping the lead off Ford, crumbling down 44% to #3 and also overtaken by Toyota (-2%) up to a fantastic 2nd place with 12.1% share. Datsun (-3%) gains two spots to #4, passing Opel (-10%) and Volkswagen (-43%). Saab (+19%) breaks into the Top 10 at #7 while Moskvitsh remains in 8th place despite sales down 27%. Mazda (+94%), Citroen (+80%) and Peugeot (+36%) also shine in the Top 20 while Lada makes its entrance on the Finnish market at #19 with 1.1% share.

Moskvitsh Elite

Fiat also takes control of the models ranking with the 600 surging 21% and two spots on 1970 to the pole position with 10.1% share. The Toyota Corolla (-8%) brilliantly takes the 2nd spot only a few years after starting to be exported outside of Japan, showing that Finnish consumers were early adopters of Japanese models. It distances the Opel Kadett (-22%) and VW Beetle (-45%) while the Mosvitsh Elite (-27%) breaks into the Top 5. Toyota also places the Corona at #6 while Datsun has the 1200 at #7, the 1600 at #17 and the 1000 at #18. Mazda for its part has the 1300 at #22 and the Capella at #38.

Previous year: Finland 1970: Ford Cortina best-seller above VW Beetle and Fiat 600

Full Year 1971 Top 55 All-brands and Top 50 models below.