Greece 1962-1979: Ford and Opel pass the relay to Fiat and Japs

Toyota was the best-selling brand in Greece in 1974, 75 and 79 if pick-up trucks are included.

* See the #1 brands for the period by clicking on the title! Many thanks to Bill *

The Greek market undergoes impressive growth over the period: from 7,572 registrations in 1962 to a record 119,814 in 1978, the first time more than 100,000 vehicles are sold in a single year in the country. Thanks to Bill I can share with you the total sales figures and the best-selling brand for each year between 1962 and 1979.

Launched in 1966, Datsun was the #5 brand in Greece in 1970, #1 with pick-ups

All through the sixties Ford, Volkswagen and Opel dominate the roads but in the early seventies Fiat debuts a decade-long domination, while the Japanese start to really make their mark. Datsun is the 5th best-selling passenger car brand in the country as early as 1970 and goes up to #1 in the passenger car+trucks rankings in 1971 thanks to very strong sales of pick-ups. Toyota does the same in 1974, 1975 and again in 1979 thanks to its pick-up trucks. It is #5 in the passenger car rankings at that time.

The Fiat 127 was among the best-selling models in Greece in the seventies

Fiat is the favourite passenger car brand in Greece in 1967 and from 1970 to 1979 with only one year of interruption by Lada in 1974, all this mainly due to the success of the Fiat 127, 128 and 131. Notice also the progression of Seat, #3 in 1974 and #2 in 1975… 1973-1974 were odd years when Eastern European brands were extremely successful: Lada #1 in 1974, Skoda #4, Dacia #5 and Zastava #7 all in 1973.

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1962-1979 Total sales and #1 brand, plus Top 5 brands for some years below.