The Best Selling Cars Of All TIme
The human fascination and need for cars has seen many popular models over the years – and plenty of stinkers, too. Volkswagen is currently the most popular car brand in the world, snatching the record from Japanese rivals Toyota. With this in mind, we thought we would take a look at ten of the most successful cars of all time. Let’s get started right away.
Toyota Corolla
Two things mark out the reasons why a car becomes popular with the mainstream: reliability and value. The Toyota Corolla has had each of those and some to spare. The first model was born in 1966, and it has been a popular choice ever since. The Japanese manufacturer Toyota has been regarded for a long time as the world’s best manufacturer. And, the Corolla is typical of the company’s approach. The current models are stylish without being flashy and have great reliability stats all round. They also have a high resale value. Head over to www.cardealwarehouse.co.uk to see a few examples. In recent years, Toyota has announced it has sold more 40 million Corollas since its debut.
Ford F-Series
1948 saw the launch of the very first Ford F-Series – under its original name of the Bonus Built. It’s a pickup truck that is perfect for the vast expanses of land in the USA, where they first became popular. With more 35 million units sold, demand is still on the rise. It’s no surprise. The pickups are tough, durable, and last many years with a little bit of TLC. They also look great in the more difficult terrains and much loved by farmers who like to zip around their land.
VW Golf
The Golf is a signature vehicle for Volkswagen, who have recently become the world’s most popular car brand. Why? Well, there are a few reasons. Firstly, the Golf’s accessible price points are hard to ignore. The broad selection of Golfs on the market means they are an attractive proposition for any budget. They have been around since 1974 and had sold an astonishing 27.5 million units by the beginning of 2015.
VW Beetle
The VW Beetle is another victory for Volkswagen and has a great story behind it. The Beetle really took off in the USA in the post-war period, thanks only to some clever advertising. A tiny German car would have no place in a country that loved its big vehicles and had just lost many lives to the Nazis. But incredibly, an advertising agency managed to pull it off. They differentiated themselves with the ‘Think Small’ campaign, and the rest is history. Since then, VW have sold almost 24 million Beetles.
Ford Escort
The Escort’s popularity has dwindled over recent years, especially in the Western world. And, in fact, there are no current plans for a new model targeted for the European market. However, it’s success and ubiquity is nothing short of jaw-dropping. Bearing in mind that the Escort was only launched in 1981, the fact it has managed to sell more than 18 million units since then is astonishing. At one point in the 1990s, it would be hard to look at a road without seeing an Escort in one form or another.
Honda Civic
The Honda Civic was probably the first car to bring an executive style into the mainstream. But it very nearly didn’t exist. In fact, Honda were discussing whether or not to stay in the car business at all, when, in 1972, they launched the Civic. Its success since then has enabled the Japanese manufacturer to enjoy a much happier existence. And, if they had decided to pull the plug, they would have missed out on nearly 19 million sold units.
Honda Accord
Were it not for the Civic, Honda would never have enjoyed the success of the Accord, either. And it has most definitely been a success, with over 17.5 million units sold. The Accord is often seen as the perfect family drive. It is reliable, has a good safety rating, and has plenty of space. It’s not bad on the fuel economy stats, either, going 24 miles per gallon in the city – which is where its popularity seems to be based.
Ford Model T
This was the car that changed the rules. It was the first mass-produced car that the world had ever seen when it launched in 1908. The fact that it is on this list at all shows how astonishing its sales were – 16.5 million units sold in 20 years. No other vehicle has – or is likely to – bettered that. You just can’t underestimate the impact that Ford have had on everybody’s life. It meant that people could work further away from their communities, and opened up a new world for the average person.
VW Passat
It might surprise you that the Passat has made this list. Unless you have owned one before, they are somewhat anonymous on the road on the outside. But on the inside, it’s a different story. They offer a good chunk of luxury for an excellent price, and many Passat owners will be quick to inform you of their great value. And that’s a big reason VW have sold over 15.5 million units since the Passat was launched in 1973.
Chevrolet Impala
While it might surprise some Americans that this is the only Chevy on the list, the truth is the company’s impact hasn’t been as great outside of the US. But that’s not to say that the Impala has been ignored completely. In fact, since it first came into the public domain in 1953, Chevrolet have sold 14 million Impalas. Interestingly, the Impala was revamped after a few years of struggling and is set to become another success in the not too distant future. Keep your eyes peeled on these blog pages for more news on that.
So, there you have it. There’s an excellent chance that you have owned or driven at least one of these cars. Let us know about your experiences – especially if it’s with a Model T!
