West Germany 1975: VW Golf takes the lead

VW Golf

* See ‘Read more’ for the Top 100 best-selling models! – thanks to DC & Florian for the data *

The German car market is booming in 1975 at +27% and 2,106,048 registrations. 1975 is the start of a very long reign: that of the VW Golf. For its first full year of sales the Golf is already the best-selling model in the country at 166,869 units and 7.9% share, just above the Mercedes ‘Strich 8’ at 159,530 sales and 7.6%.

Mercedes Strich 8

The Opel Kadett rounds up the podium at 131,618 units and 6.2%, followed by the VW Passat down 2 spots and 10% to 119,668 sales and the Opel Rekord back in shape at +26% and 111,246 units. Then we see 4 models in massive progression over 1974: the Opel Ascona at +59%, the Ford Taunus at +43%, the Ford Escort at +220% and the Ford Granada at +719%! There’s also the Audi 50 at #11 and +486% and the BMW 5 Series at #13 and +58%…

Opel Rekord

1975 is also the year the VW Polo was launched and it lands directly at #16 with 42,338 sales and 2% share, while the VW Beetle is down 64% to #15 and 43,405 units. The BMW 3 Series was also born this year at #28. The Renault 4 is the best-selling foreign model again but drops to #17 with 38,207 sales, ahead of the Fiat 127 at #19, the Renault 5 at #20, the Peugeot 504 at #22 and the Fiat 131 at #24.

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Full Year 1975 Top 100 Ranking Table below.