Finland 1974: Lada 1200 new best-seller

The Lada 1200 is the best-selling vehicle in Finland in 1974.

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

The new car market in Finland is down a steep 18.5% in 1974 to return to five-digit figures at 96.097 units. Fiat reclaims the title of most popular carmaker it held in 1971 and 1972 off Toyota despite a 22% drop to 12.4% share. Ford (-25%) also suffers but gains one spot to #2 while Saab soars 15% to land on the Finnish podium for the first time with a record 10.8% share. Leader in 1973, Toyota tumbles down 40% and three spots to #4 this year, and is now threatened for Nippon supremacy by age-old archenemy Datsun up 16% and three ranks to #5. Lada drops 6% but gains one spot to #6 but Volkswagen (-26%) and Opel (-45%) both fall faster tham the market. But the big news are in the models ranking: for the first time since models data is available in Finland (1970), a Russian nameplate takes control: the Lada 1200 (the brand’s only nameplate) is up to 8% share thanks to sales down just 6%, overtaking the Toyota Corolla (-32%) with the Datsun 1000 (+102%) and Fiat 127 (+42%) in tow. The Saab 96 (-0.1%) is up two spots to #5 while the Saab 99 (+37%) is up five to #6. Finally, notice the arrival of the VW Golf at #22 while the Beetle implodes down 51% to #9.

Previous year: Finland 1973: Toyota and Corolla triumph

Full Year 1974 Top 50 All-brands and Top 50 models below.