Norway 1972-1973: Volvo 140, Beetle and Ford Taunus on podium

Volvo 144

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

The Norwegian car market “consolidates” over the period: down 8% in 1972 to 74,680 and back up 19% in 1973 to 88,989 units. The Volvo 140 Series confirms its newly acquired leadership by reaching what would remain its highest ever year-end share in the country in ’72 at 10.7% thanks to 7,973 sales and maintains itself at a solid 9% in ’73 at 7,990 units.

Ford Taunus

The Top 4 stays unchanged over the period with the VW Beetle at #2 and 7.4% share in ’72, 7.1% in ’73 and the Ford Taunus at #3 and 5.3% in ’72 and 6.4% in ’73. The Opel Rekord/Caravan is #4 both years at 4.6% and 4.3% share. We welcome the Opel Ascona is the Top 10 at #6 both years.

Mazda 616

Japan passes a new benchmark in Norway 1973: for the first time in the history of the country a Japanese model manages to rank within the overall Top 5 at year-end and it’s the Mazda 616/1600/1800 ranking 5th with 3,164 sales and 3.6% share, up 34% on 1972. By this time it is the only Japenese model left in the Top 10 whereas there were 3 in 1970, 71 and 72.

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Full Year 1972 and 1973 Top 10 Ranking Tables below.