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In Photos, Most Popular Cars of the Last 50 Years - Newsweek

American consumers' tastes in cars have changed over the years, but it appears generations of drivers really do value style, quality and value for money.

Below, Newsweek rounds up the top-selling vehicles for each year from 1971.

The Ford F Series has been omitted from the list due to the brand's total dominance, which for almost 40 years has been the best-selling overall vehicle in the U.S.

While the U.S.'s car market is second only to China in scale, it is number one in terms of XL motors, such as Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and trucks.

CarGurus' Director of Industry Analytics Kevin Roberts believes shifts in car models' popularity reflects wider changes in demands.

He told Newsweek: "A review of the top selling cars of yesteryear provides a catalog of celebrated, as well as forgotten nameplates; while also highlighting the decline the segment has faced over the last decade as American consumers have shifted their demand from cars to crossovers."

Take a look through the list...

1971: Chrysler New Yorker

Chrysler introduced ventless front-door windows and a hardtop roof to this the model of the four-door sedan, the New Yorker. It proved popular and in 1971 went on to sell more than a million units—the last car to sell that many in a single year.

1971 New Yorker 4 Door Hardtop Left
A 1971 Chrysler New Yorker 4-Door Hardtop Chrysler

1972: VW Beetle

Despite facing tough sales completion from the all-new Chevrolet Vega, the VW Beetle still managed to shift more than half a million units in the U.S. in 1972.

VW Beetle
A 1303 Volkswagen Beetle at the British International Motor Show in Earl's Court, London, UK, October 1972. Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

1973: Chevrolet Monte Carlo

The 1973 Monte Carlo was crowned Motor Trend's "Car of the Year" thanks to its high-quality handling and introduction of several innovations.

Chevrolet Monte Carlo
The Chevrolet Monte Carlo Chevrolet

1974: Ford Pinto

Launched four years earlier to counter the success of small imported models, the Ford Pinto is the best-selling American model in 1974.

Ford Pinto
View of the new American built Ford Pinto two door saloon car parked on a residential street in England on November 16, 1970 Getty Images/Reg Burkett/Daily Express/Hulton Archive

1975 - 1976: Oldsmobile Cutlass

Sales of the Cutlass reportedly grew by 20 percent from the previous year and heralded a new era of success for the Oldsmobile Cutlass.

The Cutlass line soon became Oldsmobile's biggest seller, accounting for 43 percent of the division's total volume by the mid-1970s.

1975_Oldsmobile_Cutlass_four-door_sedan
A1975 Oldsmobile Cutlass four-door sedan Mr.choppers @ Wikimedia Commons

1977: Chevrolet Impala/Caprice

The 1977 full-size Chevy coupe was initially available as a Caprice Classic or as an Impala and they proved staggeringly popular among the public.

Chevrolet Impala/Caprice
Auctioneers gesture as they work to auction off a 1963 Chevrolet Impala Z11 at the Mecum collector car auction May 27, 2006 in Belvidere, Illinois Scott Olson/Getty Images

1978 - 1981: Oldsmobile Cutlass

Oldsmobile Cutlass started out as a unibody compact car, but the model saw its greatest success as a body-on-frame intermediate.

The Cutlass was the best-selling car in the U.S. for the second consecutive year, cementing the model's position as a mainstay of the U.S. middle class in the late '70s

At the dawn of a new decade, the Cutlass' 260 diesel engine was dropped, as it was considerably slower yet no more economic than the 5.7-litre diesel.

The model's impressive run as a best seller for four consecutive years eventually came to an end in 1981.

1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass
1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass CarGurus

1982: Ford Escort

While this car was known for its sharp styling and a performance to match, this era's popular design was only available for three years.

1983: Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme

Although its bounce back to the top spot is impressive, this marks the Oldsmobile brand's final appearance at number one in the sales chart.

1983 oldsmobile cutlass supreme
A 1983 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme CarGurus

1984 - 1985: Chevrolet Cavalier

Chevy achieved excellent sales this year and the next, in part by offering consumers a range of five different body types.

Options for America's most popular car in the mid-1980s included a coupe, sedan, hatchback, wagon and a convertible version of the Cavalier.

The Chevrolet Cavalier sold more than 420,000 in 1985 alone.

1984 chevrolet cavalier
A 1984 Chevrolet Cavalier CarGurus

1986: Chevrolet Celebrity

The Celebrity is the larger version to the sedan-sized Cavalier, but its arguably more dated design saw the model quickly slump in popularity.

1986 Chevrolet Celebrity sedan with the 2.5FI
The 1986 Chevrolet Celebrity sedan with the 2.5FI four-cylinder engine Mr.choppers @ Wikimedia Commons

1987 - 1988: Ford Escort

By the late 1980s, Ford's small sedan was given an updated look, adopting a rectangular design, helping the model become the car company's best-seller for a second time.

This was a hot streak for the U.S. car company, as the Escort pipped the Ford Taurus to the top spot.

81-85 Ford Escort
A 1981-1985 Ford Escort Brady Holt

1989 - 1991: Honda Accord

The imported Honda's Accord was the model responsible for knocked off the domestic small leaders with the model's third generation.

Honda's flagship vehicle sold an impressive 1.2 million units in these three years alone. In 1990, 100,000 more Accords were sold (417,000) than the second-place Ford Taurus.

Honda Accord
Honda’s flagship vehicle sold an impressive 1.2 million Accords between 1989 and 1991 Frederic Pitchal/Sygma/Sygma/Getty Images

1992 - 1996: Ford Taurus

However, the Taurus would grow in popularity, replacing the Accord as the nation's favorite.

The 1992 Ford Taurus Wagon was a sensible car that was also championed for its sporty performance and spacious interior. It has been credited for boasting an influential design introducing several new features and innovations to the automobile industry.

A redesigned Ford Taurus arrived on forecourts in 1996, extending Ford's tenure as the best-selling car in the U.S. lasted another year.

It sold more than 1.5 million units during these glory years, according to data compiled by Car and Driver magazine.

Ford Taurus
Ford introduced its 2000 Taurus at The New York Auto Show Getty Images

1997 - 2000: Toyota Camry

This ever-reliable Toyota Camry still retains its value and is still considered one of the most reliable cars of all time. While few consider the 1998 Toyota Camry to be a stylish car or one with great performance, the model is highly dependable.

Other benefits include Toyota's superb pickup and the Camry's smooth ride, while it is spacious and comfortable. It topped the best-selling charts for the last time on this run in 2000 after a minor refresh for the 2000 model year.

2002 – 2006 Toyota Camry SE
The 2002 – 2006 Toyota Camry SE Toyota

2001: Honda Accord

Excellent build quality, large interiors and powerful yet clean engines all assisted Honda Accord again snatching the top honours.

A 1999 Honda Accord Type R.
A 1999 Honda Accord Type R. National Motor Museum/Heritage Images/Getty Images

2002 - 2020: Toyota Camry

For the 2002 model year, the Camry was released as a larger sedan, taking styling tips from Toyota's other popular models and triggering an 18 consecutive-year run as America's top-selling car.

The Camry's sales figure begin to slowly improve even further and Toyota introduced a fuel-efficient hybrid model in 2006.

Although the redesigned 2012 Toyota Camry remains the most conservative-looking option among mid-size sedans, the model is still popular among new car buyers.

New car sales continue declining in the U.S. in 2017, the year Toyota releases its eighth-generation Camry.

Toyota Camry
A hybrid version of the Toyota Camry was introduced on January 9, 2006, during the press days at the North American International Auto Show in Cobo Hall in Detroit, Michigan STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images

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