What Car Topped the Charts When You Graduated?
Many high school graduates dream about their first car. And who can blame them? We've all been there! But that's got us thinking — what was the best-selling motor in America when you were handed your diploma? Well, let's find out. We'll be taking a closer look at the sales figures from a select period, between 1978 and 2002. So are you ready? Okay then...
1978: Oldsmobile Cutlass
1978 was a very interesting year for the Cutlass model. In case you didn't know, Oldsmobile downsized the car quite significantly. Now, that could've easily backfired. But it didn't! This smaller version of the Cutlass enjoyed a fantastic 12 months in America. Approximately 520,279 units were shifted during that period. Woah. No other vehicle could touch it.
1979: Oldsmobile Cutlass
Following up a huge success isn't always easy. Yet having said that, Oldsmobile did a dang good job of it in 1979! After the Cutlass dominated the American market the previous year, it managed to do it again. This time, the sales figures hit 518,160. A little lower, but still impressive, right? What did 1980 hold, though?
1980: Oldsmobile Cutlass
We're getting a sense of deja-vu here, folks! Yep, the Oldsmobile Cutlass topped the charts for the third year in a row in 1980. But the numbers tell an interesting story. Even though it was America's most popular car, the sales figures were down significantly from 12 months before. The figure came to 469,573.
1981: Oldsmobile Cutlass
Four years in a row? You're kidding! That's an incredible run. No one could usurp the Oldsmobile Cutlass during that period. Mind you, the sales figures continued to dip despite its success in America. In 1981, 454,188 units were shifted. We wonder how many graduates picked one up? But here's the bigger question. Did the Cutlass celebrate a fifth year on top in 1982?
1982: Ford Escort
Your eyes aren't deceiving you, folks — the streak is broken! After four years of dominance, the Oldsmobile Cutlass was finally toppled in 1982. The victor? The one and only Ford Escort. At a time when America was in the tight grip of a recession, this small car racked up sales figures of 337,667.
1983: Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
Well — that didn't last long, did it! After taking the best-selling crown the year before, the Ford Escort was knocked off its perch in 1983. Oldsmobile found itself back on top with the Cutlass Supreme. But sales were down again from 12 months previous. In this instance, the luxury car shifted 331,179 units.
1984: Chevrolet Cavalier
Could Oldsmobile retain its position at the top for a second year running in 1984? Nope! During that spell, another model threw its hat in the ring to compete for America's attention. And it worked. Yep, the Chevrolet Cavalier emerged as a favorite, racking up some impressive sales figures in the process. The final number? 383,752. Did you own one back then?
1985: Chevrolet Cavalier
Following on from the success of 1984, the Chevrolet Cavalier dominated the American market again in 1985. And boy, were the sales figures eye-catching. After the lull of previous years, the number shot up to 422,927. Nice! The Cavalier's various trims certainly helped to cement its position. They ranged from hatchbacks to convertibles. But can we expect a three-peat here?
1986: Chevrolet Celebrity
After two years on top, the Cavalier was dethroned in 1986. But Chevrolet had no need to worry, folks — one of its other models picked up the crown! Yep, the Celebrity became America's car of choice, selling 408,946 units. Not bad for a vehicle that only made its debut in 1982, right?
1987: Ford Escort
Unfortunately for Chevrolet, its three years on top came to an end in 1987. Ford stormed ahead of its automobile rival in the charts with the Escort. A second win in five years for the popular model? Lovely! It racked up 392,360 sales in America. Could the Escort hold its crown for longer than 12 months this time, though? Let's find out...
1988: Ford Escort
Despite fierce competition, the Ford Escort secured another impressive sales victory in 1988. By shifting 381,330 units, it retained its title as America's favorite vehicle. But a rival Ford model wasn't far behind it — the Taurus came second that year. We'll be seeing plenty more of that car a little later, folks...
1989: Honda Accord
So who closed out the decade at the top of the mountain? Did the Ford Escort make it three victories on the spin? Nah! It was toppled by the Honda Accord in 1989. American drivers couldn't get enough of it, as sales figures reached 362,707. The car had three different body options — a coupe, a hatchback, and a sedan.
1990: Honda Accord
1990 was an exciting year for the Honda Accord. The car entered its fourth generation then — and folks absolutely loved it. It was a massive success across those 12 months, securing 417,179 sales. Talk about retaining your title in style! This was pretty telling, too. The Accord's closest competition, the Ford Taurus, sold roughly 100,000 units less. The gap was huge.
1991: Honda Accord
All eyes were on the Honda Accord in 1991. Could it replicate the storming success of the previous year? You bet! Although the numbers dipped slightly, it was still America's vehicle of choice with 399,297 sales. And remarkably, it came ahead of the Ford Taurus by 100,000 units again. Who saw that coming?
1992: Ford Taurus
Sooner or later, it had to happen, right? After spending so many years trailing the eventual sales winners, the Ford Taurus finally came out on top in 1992. And what a victory it was! 409,751 units were sold in America across those 12 months. Did you grab one to celebrate your high school graduation?
1993: Ford Taurus
After securing top spot in 1992, could the Ford Taurus do it again 12 months later? Certainly! With 360,448 sales under its belt, it was America's best-selling car in 1993. Quite the drop from the previous year, though, right? The Honda Accord wasn't too far behind in second place.
1994: Ford Taurus
A three-peat for the Ford Taurus? What a great achievement! Yep, the car dominated the American market once more in 1994. Its sales figures reached 397,037 — a big improvement from 12 months earlier. The Honda Accord was its closest challenger again, but the Taurus stood strong.
1995: Ford Taurus
Could anyone dethrone the Ford Taurus? It didn't seem so! 1995 was another very successful year for the motor, as it sold 366,266 units across America. Even though the numbers were down from 1994, no other vehicle managed to capitalize on the dip. Would it be the same story in 1996?
1996: Ford Taurus
This is amazing, right? Five years on top! How did the Ford Taurus manage it? Well, the car's eye-catching redesign might've helped. Ford opted for more of an egg shape. Folks lapped it up in 1996, as 401,049 units were sold in America. Did the Taurus' dominance continue 12 months later?
1997: Toyota Camry
1997 marked a big change at the top of America's car market. Yes, a new name managed to wrestle the crown away from the Ford Taurus — the Toyota Camry. It secured 397,156 sales that year, seeing off both the previous winner and the Honda Accord. Was the Camry your vehicle of choice when you graduated?
1998: Toyota Camry
Did the Toyota Camry retain its position at the top of the vehicular food chain in 1998? Indeed! In fact, sales jumped up quite significantly from the previous year. The final figure came to 429,575. Neither the Honda Accord nor the Ford Taurus could match it.
1999: Toyota Camry
It's fair to say that the Toyota Camry ended the decade with a bang. To seal its third year on top in America, the car secured 448,162 sales in 1999. Woah. The Honda Accord and the Ford Taurus were once again its closest challengers, but they couldn't touch that number.
2000: Toyota Camry
So, did the start of a new decade herald a change in America's car market? Apparently not! The Toyota Camry continued to dominate in 2000. It shifted 422,961 units that year, outshining its rivals once again. But it was a very different story 12 months later...
2001: Honda Accord
After its previous success in 1991, fans of the Honda Accord must've wondered if it'd ever be America's best-seller again. Which brings us to 2001. Yep, it finally won its crown back from the Toyota Camry. The Accord's sales figures reached 414,718.
2002: Toyota Camry
How did the Toyota Camry respond to its defeat from 12 months earlier? Simple — it reached the sales summit again! The car enjoyed a fantastic 2002, as 434,135 units were sold across America. Did you mark your high school graduation by buying one?
Through: Greg Gjerdingen / Wikimedia Commons