The US has made its mark on several pages of history. From the Vietnam War to the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans have experienced a lot, and their cars reflect that. Keep reading to find out what Americans were driving during major historic moments.
1965 Ford Mustang
In 1965, the US intensified its involvement in the Vietnam War, but it was also a huge time for American cars. The Ford Mustang, the most iconic American car of all time, quickly became the most successful and fast-selling vehicle launched since 1927.
1964 Chevrolet Impala
The Chevrolet Impala was an attractive and versatile car that only became more popular the year after its release. While the US was becoming increasingly more divided due to the war, the Impala was solidifying its status as a pop culture icon.
1965 Pontiac GTO
The Pontiac GTO was another car that shot to fame in 1965. It was loud and impossible to ignore, and for some people, it became a symbol of rebellion. Lots of young men who’d been directly involved in the Vietnam War became invested in the Pontiac GTO.
1966 Volkswagen Beetle
The Volkswagen Beetle is one of the most distinctive American cars ever built, and it also has close ties to the Vietnam War. Anti-war protesters used Beetles to create blockades, declaring them symbols of peace. They’ve remained beloved ever since.
1969 Chevrolet Camaro
1969 was one of the most important years in American history. Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon, and car manufacturers were releasing iconic muscle cars on Earth. The Chevrolet Camaro was one of the most famous.
1969 Ford Galaxie 500
The Ford Galaxie 500 may have been manufactured a year before the Apollo 11 mission, but its name seems to have foreshadowed that amazing galaxial event! It was a beautiful car that drove like a dream, which explains its popularity.
1969 Plymouth Road Runner
In 1969, the Plymouth Road Runner hit the market and was named Motor Trend Car of the Year. It was a fast, powerful, and high-performance muscle car. Ten years later, Neil Armstrong would appear in a commercial for the Plymouth Dodge.
1969 AMC Javelin
After the excitement of the moon landing, the US economy experienced some difficulties in the ‘70s, which led to the AMC Javelin being removed from production. But in 1969, it was still a roaring success, with a stand-out muscular design and stunning trim.
1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass
1972 marked an uneasy time for American people, but if there was one thing they could rely on, it was their cars! The Oldsmobile Cutlass was a supremely dependable vehicle that solidly outsold most of its top competitors throughout the decade.
1973 Chevrolet Caprice
The Watergate Scandal revealed a series of illegal activities in the White House, and the 1973 Chevrolet Caprice inadvertently reflected such tensions. It was an icon of “donk” car culture, which involved modifying powerful cars to make them even more aggressive and formidable.
1973 Dodge Dart
In 1974, President Nixon resigned, and American society went through a period of upheaval in all areas. The patriotic American muscle cars were being phased out in favor of more compact vehicles, and the 1973 Dodge Dart is a symbol of that transition.
1974 Ford LTD
After Nixon resigned, Gerald Ford became President. That same year, another Ford became national news. The Ford LTD was a limited but very popular car, and it was a step in a better direction for the American car industry. Many still rave about it today.
1979 Ford Thunderbird
During the Iran hostage crisis, 52 Americans were detained for 444 days in Tehran. This was a terrifying time for the country, so it seems right that an unabashedly American car was a bestseller. The Ford Thunderbird was proud and powerful.
1980 Chevrolet Malibu
In 1980, the American hostages were still in captivity, and tensions were high. But people still had to live their lives, and they needed cars that they could rely on. That’s likely why so many were driving Chevrolet Malibus, which were dependable family cars.
1981 Chrysler LeBaron
In English, “le baron” means “the boss”, making this Chrysler model an apt vehicle for 1981, when the US finally negotiated for the release of the hostages. The American public absolutely loved its easy handling, classic design, and excellent efficiency.
1979 Pontiac Bonneville
The Pontiac Bonneville was another car that marked the evolution of American automobiles from the ‘60s to the ‘70s and ‘80s. Though it wasn’t a complete muscle car, it had a V8 engine, cementing its status as an American icon of its time.
1985 Ford Escort
The Challenger space shuttle exploded in January 1986, and the American people had no idea such a disaster was coming. A year prior, they were having a good time, which included riding around in speedy, agile Ford Escorts, oblivious to this future tragedy.
1986 Chevrolet Celebrity
In 1986, the Challenger shuttle became an unfortunate celebrity, but it wasn’t the only famous vehicle of that year. The Chevrolet Celebrity was enjoying some of its best sales, thanks to its stylish ‘80s design and great suitability for families.
1986 Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a long-running popular car, and one of its biggest rivals has always been the Dodge Challenger, which shares its name with the 1986 shuttle. But the Accord was beating its Earth-bound Challenger, with American drivers loving its practical nature.
1986 Buick Regal
Buick released a limited-edition version of its iconic Regal in 1986, but the main model continued to reign supreme. It was an all-American vehicle that promised luxury and performance. With so much else going on, it was good that people had something to rely on.
1989 Ford Taurus
The US watched from afar as Germans tore down the Berlin Wall, but it was still a meaningful historical moment. For three years, the Ford Taurus had been setting milestones, and its continued success in 1989 aptly reflected such a monumental international event.
1989 Toyota Camry
In 1989, the Toyota Camry was still achieving record sales in the US. The Japanese word “Camry” means “crown”, and it was all about power. It’s a lucky coincidence that it was so successful at a time when people were taking power back.
1989 Chevrolet Cavalier
The Chevrolet Cavalier sold over 370,000 models in the US in 1989, so it was definitely ruling the roads. It was reliable, adaptable, and able to meet various performance needs. In those trying times, people wanted something certain, and Chevrolet delivered.
1989 Jeep Cherokee
The fall of the Berlin Wall symbolized an end to separation, and people came together all over the world. American people were similarly united by their love for the Jeep Cherokee, which was the most popular and dependable SUV in 1989.
1990 Ford Explorer
The Gulf War took many Americans to a place they’d never been, so it’s apt that a car named “Explorer” was so popular back in the US. In the ‘90s, people wanted reliable cars, so the Ford Explorer was perfect.
1991 Toyota Corolla
By 1991, the Toyota Corolla was already in its sixth generation, and American drivers still loved it. This union between Japan and the US was more important than ever, given that both were supporting Kuwait during the Gulf War; America with troops and Japan financially.
1991 Chevrolet Lumina
The Chevrolet Lumina first launched in 1990, and by 1991, it was a US bestseller. It was a family car that put practicality above all else. With the US involved in another international crisis, people needed this sort of reliability.
1990 Honda Civic
The Honda Civic has made it onto this list twice, so you know it was popular with Americans throughout the years. In 1990, it was so well-regarded because it was so dependable. It was economical, efficient, and versatile, all without neglecting style.
2001 Ford F-150
The 9/11 terrorist attacks are one of the greatest American tragedies. Before September 11, Americans were driving around, completely unaware of what was going to happen. The Ford F-150 was one of the cars they were driving, and it was a 2001 bestseller.
2001 Honda Accord
Before the 9/11 tragedy, 2001 was a good year for the US. Society was content, and the economy looked promising. The reliable and affordable Honda Accord played a huge role in getting people around at the time.
2001 Toyota Camry
Car enthusiasts regularly cite 2001 as one of the best years for the Camry. It was one of the best-selling cars to ever grace American soil, with excellent speed, handling, and sophistication. It’s unfortunate that it was popular at such a devastating time.
2001 Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado has a very special link to the 9/11 attacks. Firefighter Craig Monahan used a Silverado to transport firefighters to the site after their truck was destroyed during the World Trade Center collapse. It remains a cherished American icon.
2008 Toyota Prius
The financial crisis in the US peaked in 2008 after the housing market collapsed, so cars were too expensive for many people. That’s why affordable rides like the Toyota Prius became so popular. They were economical, efficient, and easy to drive.
2008 Ford Focus
The Focus is one of Ford’s more affordable models, and it’s very scaled-down compared to Ford’s past muscle cars. 2008 marked ten years of the Focus, and people continued buying it because it was dependable and didn’t create big expenses.
2008 Honda CR-V
Even with funds limited in 2008, some people still needed bigger cars. Luckily, the Honda CR-V was able to fulfil those needs without breaking the bank. As well as its size, it was also efficient and great at driving on various types of terrain.
2008 Chevrolet Malibu
This is the second time we’ve seen the Chevrolet Malibu on this list, and it’s for a good reason. Just like in the ‘80s, the 2008 Malibu was reliable and affordable, and that was exactly what the average American needed.
2020 Toyota RAV4
In March 2020, the world was thrown into chaos by the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. The innovative and practical Toyota RAV4’s success slightly precedes the pandemic, given that it had sold over 10 million units globally by February 2020 (since 1994).
2020 Ford F-Series
2020 was a year like no other, but one thing that Americans could always count on was the long-running Ford F-Series. Since 1948, these dependable pick-ups have been American staples, and they were just as popular during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020 Honda Civic
30 years after it reached peak popularity in 1990, the Honda Civic was back at the top. 2020 may have been a terrible year for the rest of the country, but Honda was enjoying amazing sales, with millions of Civics on the road.
2020 Tesla Model 3
Many people saved lots of money staying inside during the COVID-19 lockdowns, so they splurged! The Tesla Model 3, which was a very pricey luxury car, made monumental sales and quickly became the best-selling plug-in electric car in the world.
