This month’s column isn’t about how old your personal car is, but rather how long it’s been in production.
There are only a handful of vehicles that have been in production for decades. Is your ride on the list?
Number one is the Chevrolet Suburban, introduced in 1935 as a work truck. Currently in its 12th generation, the Suburban has remained a popular choice for those who appreciate its ability to be both a work horse and a luxury ride for 90 years.
Next is the Ford F-Series pickup truck. For 48 years it’s been the best-selling truck in the world, but Ford has been making the F-Series for close to 80 years.
F-Series is an invaluable vehicle for millions of Americans and has evolved from a basic work truck to a luxury and performance vehicle, while still pulling heavy-duty responsibilities.
Another Ford vehicle has been called the ultimate pony car. We’re talking about the Mustang, which officially debuted at the New York World’s Fair in 1964. The Mustang is the only pony car that’s been in continuous production the U.S. since then.
It’s original low price, great styling, and peppy performance made it an instant winner. It would be years before Chevrolet created the Camaro to put up a fight against Mustang’s popularity.
What Chevrolet does have is the Corvette, with the first-generation C1 appearing as a 1953 model. While you may think the Corvette has been in continuous production, there was a glitch that ruined the run: there is no 1983 model.
Okay there is one, but it’s a pre-production model. Chevrolet skipped over the 1983 model as they were making major changes to the platform, going from the C3 to the C4 generation, and with all the changes and too many delays, Chevrolet decided to just call it a 1984 Corvette.
Other models on this short yet impressive list include the Porsche 911, BMW 3-Series, Honda Accord, Toyota Corolla, Volkswagen Golf, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and the Nissan Z. So you may be driving a piece of automotive history!
