4x4 SUV Guide ›› Cars that Turned 50 this Year
50 Year Old Cars in 2025
If you bought one of the new car models released in 1975 they are now fifty (50) years old and officially classed as "antique cars".
Our research team thought it would be a fun exercise to compile a list of popular models from that era that have retained their historical significance and classic styling.
Old Cars Celebrating their 50th This Year!
In truth, 1975 was a challenge for most of the car manufacturers. This was especially true for auto makers that produced big powerful "gas guzzlers" (e.g. vehicles with poor fuel economy - value below 22.5 MPG).
Why?
Essentially, the mid 1970s was an era still recovering from the oil embargo imposed on the UK, US, and Japan.
As a consequence, a rise of 300% in oil prices meant there was very little appetite for buying thirsty automobiles built and put on sale exactly half a century ago.
Nonetheless, it's still an intriguing bloggable subject to travel back in time and celebrate the half-century hero car models that first became available in 1975.
Austin Morris 18-22 Series
No matter whether you bought it as the Morris 1800 and 2200, or the Wolseley Six, the Austin 18-22 became the "chosen one" to replace the outdated "Super Landcrab" models back in 1975.
Despite not having hatchback rear styling at that time, a notable feature of the 18-22 Series was its ultra modern shape and looks.
Moreover, the spacious interior offers plenty of options as a people carrier and for luggage.
Here's the thing:
British automotive engineers first introduced the Hydragas suspension system in the 1973 Austin Allegro.
But, it became a groundbreaking feature that also helped to improve the overall ride comfort of the Austin Morris 18-22 series.
In fact, Morris and Wolseley were popular cars in 1975, and the badge and grille designs were the only features that actually differentiated them.
The Wolseley had the 2.2-litre, six-cylinder engine. Whereas, the Austin and Morris models also had an option for the 1.8-litre, 4-cylinder motor.
Pro Tip: Austin (including Morris and Wolseley) made more than 19,000 versions before renaming the popular 4-door 5-seater saloon car to the Austin Princess in 1976.
BMW 3 Series
Despite the attribution to cars 50 years ago, it's fair to say BMW's 3 Series dynasty is alive and well - even in today's fiercely competitive markets.
You might also agree that the first 3 Series was a big hit for the German brand and part of the heritage of BMW 4x4 models.
That being said, some afficionados will point out that four-cylinder models were "less than zippy" (excluding six-cylinder 323i).
Chrysler Alpine
UK buyers who liked the Simca 1307 had to settle for its counterpart, the Chrysler Alpine. It also made its debut as the Dodge Alpine in South American markets.
It developed a reputation for being among the mould of modernity at the time. In fact, most family cars built in the mid-1970s had somewhat "angular" styling and a hatchback at the rear.
Nonetheless, Chrysler Alpines were quite dependable and produced a safe and supple ride. For some owners, the front-wheel-drive hatchbacks were worthy alternatives to the Morris Marina and the Ford Cortina.
Fun Fact: We also created a list of cars named after places with brief anecdotes about the relationship between the locality and the car named after it.
Ferrari 308 GTB
The 1973 GT4 model actually saw the first "308" designation. Even so, the strict two-seater open-top GTB joined the Ferrari lineup in 1975.
The entry point of this new compact model was considered by many as a genuine successor to the 246 GT.
The 308 GTB has a transversely mounted, 2.9-litre, V8 engine. Plus, it has twin cams for each bank of cylinders.
In the beginning, it produced 252bhp with carburettors. Yet, the US imposed emissions kits that reduced it to 237bhp.
Further upgrades in 1982 (e.g. 4 valves per cylinder) saw an improvement to 237bhp in the Ferrari Quattrovalvole.
The body construction of the early 308s was glassfibre. In fact, the Ferrari 308 GTB was the first production model from the Italian luxury sports car manufacturers to use this method.
Still, once Ferrari returned to using steel and aluminium for cars in the US market (in 1976), a year later saw the European versions follow suit.
Fun Fact: Check out our blog page that lists the greatest barn finds of all time with realistic estimates about the current valuations.
Ford Escort Mk2
The original version went through several upgrades before Ford released the Mk2 Escort in 1975. For instance, the curvy "Coke-bottle" shape of the Ford Escort Mk1 disappeared in favour of somewhat squarer lines.
This new mellow styling proved to be a winner when the Ford Motor Company shifted over two million Escort Mk2 cars between its release in the mid-seventies and 1980.
Keep in mind...
The Mk2 had a much wider selection of models and it came with a choice of engines, either 1.1 litre or the 1.3.
You could also go for the standard 1.6-litre or several sportier models (including the RS2000 equipped with a 2-litre engine).
In a nutshell, Ford found a way to appease frugal buyers after reviving the "Popular" name tag. It was cheap and popular for drivers looking for a two or four-door saloon, estate, or van.
Pro Tip: Even though the Ford van range keeps expanding, almost all of them still display the famous Transit badge (excluding the Fiesta Van).
Jaguar XJC
Jaguar used a shortened XJ saloon platform to create the XJ series as well as the XJ5.3C coupé. Despite a delay, these elegant, two-door models finally reached production and rightly belong to any blog about 50 year old cars.
The XJC offered a unique experience to that of the new XJ-S and the model that preceded it - the E-type. Despite the main focus being luxury, the XJC range is also quicker (and lighter) than the saloon counterparts.
Test Drive: There's no denying that the Jaguar F Pace 2016 review and road test was a lot of fun to drive and easily impressed the pilot at the wheel.
Jaguar XJ-S
It was always going to be a challenge to find a suitable replacement for the E-type. In the end, Jaguar chose to circumvent the task by launching a grand tourer and they named it the XJ-S (shortened to XJS from 1991).
Back then, this was another version based on a shortened XJ saloon platform.
Furthermore, there was only one choice of engine - the 5.3-litre V12. Quite clearly, jet-setters were the focus for sales of the Jaguar XJ-S in the late seventies.
And the outcome...
Effortless cruising with a top speed of 155 mph (249 kph) - great if you don't worry about fuel economy comparison.
Despite some initial apprehension about its evocative looks, by the early 1980's the new coupé from Jaguar had found stardom and started to blossom with enthusiastic buyers.
In the end, the XJS became Jaguar's longest-running model and survived through to 1996. According to Jaguar Land Rover (two companies that merged together in January 2013), more than 115,000 variants came off the production line.
Lancia Montecarlo
In 1975, Lancia introduced the mid-engined Montecarlo - a 50 year old car that was originally meant to rival the Fiat X1/9.
Cars were sold with a 1.8-litre engine for the US market. Yet, Lancia released a perky 2-litre motor for the rest of the world to enjoy.
Pro Tip: Lancia removed the Montecarlo from production in 1978. They needed to correct some issues with the front wheels locking under braking. They reintroduced it in 1980 and it went on to achieve more than 7000 total car sales.
Lotus Éclat
With one eye on a lucrative market in North America, Lotus revised the Elite coupé and launched it as the Éclat in 1975. It's fair to call it a traditional fastback that bears some resemblance to the Elite at the front.
What's more, the chassis and engine also remain unchanged. As a consequence, you get a 2-litre, twin-cam, four-cylinder motor with 161bhp.
Put another way:
The Lotus Éclat low-slung coupé goes from zero to 60 mph in 7.8 seconds and can attain a top speed of 124 mph - all with the inclusion of four passengers.
Mercedes-Benz 123-series
The mid 1970s saw the 123-generation Mercedes-Benz saloon take the spotlight away from the ever endearing W114/W115 range.
Buyers were given a choice of four-door saloons and estate models, combined with either a four or six cylinder engine.
There were additional options for diesel-powered 123-series, though sales proved to be slow-moving outside of Germany.
Opel Manta
Sales of the first-generation Manta models achieved almost half a million cars. So, there's no reason to complain about the manufacturer's decision to keep a Manta coupé in Opel's lineup.
When the second generation arrived in 1975, it was almost a clone of the Vauxhall Cavalier coupé (excluding badges).
Despite using the Ascona/Cavalier saloon floor pan, the range of engines included:
- 1.2-litre
- 2-litre (with 109bhp)
The Manta 400 homologation model was the ultimate version - generating 144bhp in base form (275bhp with full rally spec).
Pro Tip: Find out what to expect from track days and driving experiences organised by one of the specialist and reputable companies around the United Kingdom.
Renault 20 and 30
The French car maker launched the R30 ahead of the R20. The 30 had a smaller engine and turned out to be the biggest seller.
It had a smooth-running 2.7-litre, V6 engine and Renault provided a choice of manual or automatic gearbox, and disc brakes all round. A top speed of 110 mph joins forces with a smooth suspension system.
The 2-litre R20 car arrived later towards the end of 1975. It appealed most to buyers who considered the R30 too expensive.
The bottom line is this...
No matter which, the 20 and 30 both have front-wheel-drive, generous space in the cabin, and a plentiful supply of luggage room in the hatchback rear.
Pro Tip: Head over to our car blog to reminisce about the history of the Renault 16 (R16) family hatchback, and the "confusing" body style that somehow combines a saloon car with an estate.
Rolls-Royce Camargue
Even if you agree with the conspiracy theory that Rolls-Royce experimented with the Camargue and its high price tag, the buyers turned out inforce.
In fact, it sold in steady numbers from 1975 through to 1985 following the final replacement of the Silver Shadow.
Pininfarina styled the Rolls-Royce Camargue and Mulliner Park Ward built it - renowned for inclining the grille of the Camargue forward by seven (7) degrees.
Triumph TR7
The launch was a bit of a disaster for some, and drew very little praise from the masses. Most of the issues in the early days gathered around the four-speed manual gearbox and the "questionable" styling.
Nevertheless, even though the Triumph TR6 preceded it with distinction, the Triumph TR7 sports car went on to become one of the most popular cars in 1975.
Vauxhall Chevette
The Vauxhall Chevette is a compact - albeit boxy - rear-wheel-drive hatchback that also made its debut in 1975.
Vauxhall, the British automaker, wanted to produce a practical and affordable small car - something to compete with the Austin Metro and the Ford Fiesta.
Powered by a 1.3-liter inline-four engine, the Chevette produces close to 57 horsepower, paired with a 4-speed manual transmission and rear-wheel-drive layout. Along with several major updates, Vauxhall Motors continued the production until 1984.
Volkswagen Golf GTI
It's been the subject of a longstanding debate, but the 50-year-old Volkswagen Golf GTI is - for many - the first hot hatch that made its debut back in 1975. Not to mention the trademark golf-ball gear knob!
They planned to sell 5000 units after unveiling the car at the Frankfurt motor show. Yet, when VW replaced the Mk1 model in 1983, they had already sold 456,690 GTI models.
The VW Golf GTI has a 1.6-litre, fuel-injected engine, and it is capable of reaching 60 mph from a standstill in 10 seconds, with a top speed of 113 mph.
Volkswagen Polo
For the most part, 1975 turned out to be an important year for the future of Volkswagen cars. After launching the Golf GTI, the German automaker went on to compete with the Renault 5 and Ford Fiesta by introducing the Polo supermini.
It followed several key releases by Volkswagen, including the 1973 Passat (B1) and the 1974 (C-segment) Golf hatchback.
Pro Tip: The German automakers initially called it the Audi 50 (Typ 86), but the small supermini ended up as the Volkswagen Polo.
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Editor's Bio: We enjoy writing fun and interesting car blogs - especially here in the United Kingdom. We also have a list of popular 50 year old cars from 1974 that have retained their historical significance and classic styling.