Top 10 UK By The Decade: 1965 - 2012

The Very Successful BMC 1100/1300

Looking back on times not that distant, you see that things are always changing, that nothing stays the same. Because the change is gradual it is not always noticed, but the list below makes you realise how different the car market was back in the 20th Century. Some points to note from the chart below:

The models are colour coded by origin.
In '65, two thirds of cars sold were in the top 10, in 2012 30%.
Vauxhall were in a trough in '75, with just one model represented.
French models came and went...
...now German brands are making their move.

	1965			1975
1	BMC 1100/1300	157,679		Ford Cortina	106,837	1
2	Ford Cortina	116,985		Ford Escort	103,817	2
3	BMC Mini	104,477		BL Mini	84,668	3
4	Ford Anglia	84,589		Morris Marina	78,632	4
5	Vauxhall Victor	60,854		Austin Allegro	63,339	5
6	Vauxhall Viva	58,884		Vauxhall Viva	54,731	6
7	BMC 1.6 Farina	52,503		Hillman Avenger	38,377	7
8	Triumph Herald/Vit	46,626		Tri Toledo/1500/Dol	30,119	8
9	Morris Minor	44,905		Austin Princess	29,067	9
10	Ford Corsair	44,463		Hillman Hunter	28,966	10
	% Of Total	67.2%		% Of Total	51.8%
	1985			1995
1	Ford Escort	157,269		Ford Escort	137,760	1
2	Vauxhall Cavalier	134,334		Ford Fiesta	129,574	2
3	Ford Fiesta	124,143		Ford Mondeo	118,040	3
4	Austin/MG Metro	118,817		Vauxhall Astra	100,709	4
5	Ford Sierra	101,642		Vauxhall Cavalier	73,978	5
6	Vauxhall Astra	76,553		Vauxhall Corsa	72,508	6
7	Austin/MG Montego	73,955		Rover 200	68,114	7
8	Ford Orion	65,363		Peugeot 306	56,112	8
9	Vauxhall Nova	61,358		Renault Clio	52,576	9
10	Austin/MG Maestro	57,527		Rover 100	52,392	10
	% Of Total	53.0%		% Of Total	44.3%
	2005			2012
1	Ford Focus	145,010		Ford Fiesta	109,265	1
2	Vauxhall Astra	108,461		Vauxhall Corsa	89,434	2
3	Vauxhall Corsa	89,463		Ford Focus	83,115	3
4	Renault Megane	87,093		VW Golf	62,021	4
5	Ford Fiesta	83,803		Vauxhall Astra	63,023	5
6	VW Golf	67,749		Nissan Qashqai	45,675	6
7	Peugeot 206	67,450		BMW 3 Series	44,521	7
8	Ford Mondeo	57,589		VW Polo	41,901	8
9	Renault Clio	56,538		Mercedes C	37,261	9
10	BMW 3 Series	44,844		BMW MINI	36,839	10
	% Of Total	33.1%		% Of Total	30.0%

The Popular Ford Anglia

Data source: SMMT

PS. Both cars pictured I had Dinky car models of.