The Most Popular Cars From Every Decade

In the last 120-plus years, we have made an awful lot of cars. The vast majority of them have been rusted, recycled, and crushed to oblivion, but still many remain. Some are aging hulks lost under piles of detritus in country barns, while others sit gleaming under the lights of museums across the globe. However much we might like to preserve antique and classic cars, not all of them were popular in their day. Some of the most loved cars of the past were sales failures. Anyone sporting a classic Edsel can tell you about that.

To take a look back through the decades to determine what car was the most popular is not necessarily a straightforward endeavor. Leaders of sales charts is a good metric, but that leaves out the cultural impact a particular model may have had. Looking for the car most often featured on posters displayed in teenagers' bedrooms may signify a cultural impact, but that is too limited if nobody was able to buy them. Therefore, this is a list of cars from each decade since 1900, taking into account the top-selling cars, along with some of their cultural and societal values that had an impact in a meaningful way. Furthermore, to tip the hat to those aspirational models from low-volume manufacturers that become hero-like cars to so many, honorable mentions shall also be made. So, here is a look back over the most popular cars from the last 12 decades.

It is hard to understate the impact of the Ford Model T on industry, culture, and society around the world. Introduced in 1908, the Model T was one of the first mass-production vehicles (via Ford). Henry Ford brought an idea he had seen in slaughterhouses and implemented it in auto production (via ThoughCo.). To make his factory work, he also had to integrate standardized parts. Previously, most cars and their parts were built by hand, and parts were custom fit to each car (via PBS). With the Model T, the parts were mass-produced to the same specifications so that all the parts would fit on all the cars the same.

The Model T was a sales success. Henry Ford, however, still wanted to do better. He wanted his car to be available to everyone, and sold at a price that the regular man could afford. By continually tweaking the process, Ford managed to get the price of a new Model T down to just $260, according to Ford. Furthermore, he did this while paying workers a wage of $5 per day, an unprecedented amount in 1914.

Ford debuted the new flathead V8 in 1932, and it became an instant success (via Popular Mechanics). At the time, V8 engines were reserved for higher-end cars like Cadillacs and Oldsmobiles, and that made Ford's decision to produce a low-cost V8 advantageous. Despite the dismal economic conditions of the time, the new Ford sales went gangbusters. These new Fords were popular for their relatively high performance, making them popular choices for gangsters of the day such as John Dillinger and Bonnie and Clyde. Since then, the 1932 Ford has become a favorite of the hotrod scene. "Deuce Coupes" are common on the car show scene, and made famous as the automotive mascot for the Texas band ZZ Top (via Fuel Curve).

Honorable Mention: Cadillac V16

Cadillacs from the beginning were known for being luxury cars. By the '30s, the company's reputation was without question, but management wanted to increase power to stay ahead of the competition. The natural thought was to add cylinders and, thus, the V16 was born. Cadillac cars had grown to the size of a modern Suburban, and needed the power to move them. The V16 offered 165 horsepower with 300 pound-feet of torque but, more importantly, was smooth as silk (via MotorTrend). While not many of these Depression-era monsters were built, they are notable for being the only American car to ever have a V16 (via TopSpeed).

The 1950s are a commonly idealized period in American history. It is a period of great technological and societal advancement. One of the most iconic images of the era is that of a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air. It may not have dominated sales of the time, but it has since dominated memories. MotorTrend first named the Bel Air "Car of the Year" in 1955, praising its good handling and available V8 engine. Further praise for the styling is lavished on what they call the Tri-Five: the '55, '56, and '57 Bel Air models. These three years represent the best of styling from the atomic age, and the lines have aged remarkably gracefully. Today, the Tri-Five are among the most coveted classic American cars. Restored and modified Bel Airs are a staple of classic car shows, and they show up often in popular culture, such as the 1955 model in the George Lucas movie, "American Grafitti."

Honorable Mention: Chevrolet Corvette

Seeing an opening in the marketplace for an American roadster to compete with the influx of European offerings at the time, Chevrolet released the fiberglass-bodied Corvette in 1953, starting what would become an American institution unto itself (via CNET). The impact of the Corvette was dramatic, and Chevrolet has dominated its place in the market ever since, with now eight generations of cars defining the American sports car.

The '70s were a time of change for the auto industry. A growing roster of safety and emissions laws, coupled with a fuel shortage, changed the manufacture of cars as well as the buying habits of consumers. Regardless, through it all, the Oldsmobile Cutlass dominated the sales floor. Although it had been around since 1961 as the F-85 Cutlass, it was the '70s when it took off (via Hemmings). Production levels of the Cutlass rose steadily throughout the decade, with the later downsized models surpassing 630,000 units in 1977. It was the best-selling car from 1976 through 1983, according to Jalopnik. Anyone living during this time can attest to how ubiquitous these cars were, and likely knew somebody who owned one, if not themself. In so many ways, the Cutlass is the '70s.

Honorable Mention: Lamborghini Countach

The Lamborghini Countach is clearly not a car that most people could own. It was impractical, uncomfortable, and expensive. But it had the looks that inspired a generation of kids to give up all pursuits except to own a Countach. It was in 1971 that Lamborghini presented to the world the idea that a car could be loud, brash, garish, and utterly desirable (via MotorTrend). It redefined the supercar.

In 1985, Ford Motor Company stunned automotive journalists when presenting their all-new mid-size family sedan, the Taurus. This new car took a break from the traditional styling of the American auto of the time in favor of sleek European curves, and a lack of chrome. The Taurus lacked a traditional grill, and its bumpers were molded and integrated into the contours of the body. The bold choices continued on the inside as the Taurus debuted modern switchgear and understated interior styling. The new car ended up being named MotorTrend's "Car of the Year," and placed on Car and Driver's "10 Best Cars" list for 1986. Sales through the '90s topped the charts from 1992 through 1996, with production finally ending in 2019 (via Chicago Sun Times).

Honorable Mention: McLaren F1

What was once a very expensive car has now become a nearly unattainably priceless car, and also held the world speed record for a production vehicle for a number of years. Racing team McLaren put the F1 into production, using a BMW V12 engine, copious amounts of carbon fiber, and the most unique seating position in the world, the middle (via Autozine). There still is no car like the F1 and, although there are now some that are faster, the F1 will always have a place in the automotive history books.

The Toyota Camry is often derided as a boring car, yet it manages to outsell all the competition as it has done for nearly every year since 1997 (via Car and Driver). The sheer volume of Camrys sold makes them the most common sight on any road. But the Camry is not a bad car. Camrys get you where you need comfortably, with good fuel economy, and bulletproof reliability. For all that is said to be wrong with the Camry, more could be said about what is right.

Honorable Mention: Tesla Model S

It is nigh impossible to talk about cars of the 2010s without a mention of Tesla. As a disruptor to the industry, the Model S has some impressive accomplishments to boast about, such as autopilot, falcon doors, and intuitive, touch-free functions (via Business Insider). At a time when nearly nobody thought an electric car could be a viable, mass-produced vehicle, the Model S shined. With an impressive list of built-in features, and some brand new ways to think about what a car is, the Tesla Model S has blazed a trail that all the major automakers are now following.