Then and Now: A Look Back at What 10 Popular Cars Looked Like 50 Years Ago

AutoTrader is celebrating its 50th birthday this year, and it’s incredible to look back at how much has changed since our inception. Cars come and go, but some models and nameplates have existed since our founding half a century ago.

The automotive industry underwent a complete revolution over the past 50 years in almost all areas, including design, technology, and performance. In 1975, manufacturers struggled to make their vehicles comply with emission regulations due to the fallout from the energy crisis. Meanwhile, imported cars were gaining prominence in North America, as they offered a more economical or sportier option than their domestic competitors. Although these car models all existed 50 years ago, it’s astonishing to see how much some have changed and become utterly unrecognizable from their modern counterparts.  

Ford Mustang

The Ford Mustang was only entering its second (and arguably worst) generation 50 years ago. While the original Ford Mustang has become iconic, the Mustang II has gone down in history as a massive disappointment. Based on the compact Ford Pinto, the Mustang II suffered from strict emission regulations that destroyed its performance capability. While the first-gen Mustang was easily capable of producing upwards of 300 hp, the most powerful second-generation Mustang only managed a whimsical 139 hp from a 4.9L V8. Luckily, the second-generation Mustang only lasted four short years. Today, the Ford Mustang continues to be a sales success and has more than enough power to match its name, with the recently announced Mustang GTD set to have an impressive 815 hp. Today, Ford also uses the Mustang name on its Mach-E electric crossover, which likely wasn’t on anyone’s Bingo card 50 years ago.

Chevrolet Corvette

Back in the mid-1970s, the Corvette was in its third generation (called the C3), and in 1975, it was unfortunately advertised as the “economic Corvette.” The base small-block V8 made only 165 hp, while the most powerful version produced 205 hp. This performance made the Corvette one of the fastest cars in America at the time, a title it still holds today in its eighth generation (C8). The layout of the modern-day Corvette has notably changed, with the C8 being the first ever mid-engined Corvette, a concept that was conceived as far back as the 1960s. The C3, however, was still a classic muscle car with a V8 engine up front, manual transmission, rear-wheel drive, and pop-up headlights, a staple of the ‘70s.

Dodge Charger

The Charger name is associated with performance, and it’s been that way since its introduction in the 1960s as one of the original muscle cars. The Charger name has meant different things throughout its history, and today’s Charger is a very different car than it was 50 years ago. 

Back in the ‘70s, the Charger was massive, with an overall length of 5.5 metres. Back then, a wide range of engines was offered, with performance ranging from 101 hp in the 3.7L inline-six to 243 hp in the 6.6L V8. While this was good performance for the 1970s, it paled in comparison to the power output achieved in years prior.

In 1975, the Charger entered its fourth generation as a large luxury coupe, which had some questionable design details like a vinyl roof and quad-headlights. When Dodge revived the Charger name in 2008, it returned as a large sedan, but today, the Charger nameplate is used for Dodge’s first-ever electric muscle car, the Charger Daytona. While it’s electric and a gas version will become available later, the Charger has returned to being a two-door performance car, just like it was initially.

Volkswagen Golf

The Volkswagen Golf turns 50 years old the same year AutoTrader does, as it was introduced to the world in 1975. The Golf was intended to replace the iconic rear-engine Beetle as mass-market, basic transportation, despite being sold alongside the car it was meant to replace. 

In its earliest version, the Golf was a straightforward economy car with no frills or features. The Golf was a huge success because its small, frugal engines were appealing during the fuel crisis, and performance-wise, they still managed to compete with larger engines. The first-generation Golf was only 3.7 metres long and weighed less than 1,000 kg. Over the years, the VW Golf continued to be a sales success, growing in size, getting more luxurious, and becoming faster with every new generation. More than 37 million Volkswagen Golfs have been sold globally to this day, and it’s currently in its eighth generation. 

Ford Bronco

When Ford revived the Bronco a few years ago after a decades-long hiatus, it was meant to rival the Jeep Wrangler as a lifestyle off-roader, which is exactly what it was doing 50 years ago.

The original Bronco was introduced in 1966 and was made until 1977. It was a strong entry into the new emerging civilian off-roader market, also meant to rival the likes of the Jeep CJ and the International Scout. These early off-roaders were equipped with luxuries such as radios and bench seats, which made them far more usable as daily drivers. The stylish first-generation Bronco was very simple but adventure-capable. It was equipped with tow hooks and standard four-wheel drive, making it a capable off-roader. The Bronco lasted for another few generations but was discontinued in the late ‘90s. The Bronco returned to much fanfare in 2021 after a 20-year hiatus. Ford captured the ethos of the original both in its capabilities and design, with the front end being a modern rendition of the 1960s SUV, with the same round headlights and upright grille.

BMW 3 Series

It's hard to imagine a world without the BMW 3 Series, but in 1975, it was a newly introduced model. BMW wasn't yet a household name in North America, but the 3 Series demonstrated that compact luxury cars were a viable option. Its sporty ride and refinement in a small package made for an appealing alternative to the large American luxury yachts of the 1970s. 

It had a four- or six-cylinder engine, with the most powerful version offering 143 hp. This made for decent performance, especially considering the car weighed just over 1,000 kg. 

Overall, the original 3 Series demonstrated that there was a market in North America for small luxury sport sedans. The model would continue to grow in size and performance throughout its generations, and BMW always emphasized its handling and driving dynamics, improving with each new model. The 3 Series is in its seventh generation today and still sets the benchmark for compact luxury cars, just like it did 50 years ago.

Range Rover 

Range Rover has been the poster child of luxury lifestyle SUVs for decades, a market segment it basically invented. The original Range Rover went on sale in 1970 with the goal of taking SUVs to a new level of opulence. The Rover Group had a vision to tackle both on-road and off-road lifestyles; the original Range Rover SUV had the off-road capability of a classic Land Rover but a level of luxury refinement and features that had not yet been seen in an SUV. The Range Rover pioneered the luxury SUV segment and became popular with celebrities and the elite due to its versatility as a status symbol.

The first-generation Range Rover continued production until 1996, an astonishing 26 years. Despite the Land Rover brand switching ownership multiple times throughout the years, the Range Rover continued to be a staple in the brand’s lineup. Today, there are four Range Rover SUV models, ranging from plug-in hybrids to performance SUVs, and they all remain capable off the beaten path despite being so sleek and stylish.

Honda Civic 

The Honda Civic is now a household name, and the car is known for being straightforward and reliable. This image was formed when Honda launched its first Civic in 1972. This car was released in the right place at the right time, as many American automakers were rushing to downsize their lineups and make economy cars in response to the energy crisis. Economy cars were something Honda produced almost exclusively at the time. The original Civic came with a range of small four-cylinder engines and weighed between 600 and 800 kg. Regarding equipment, the original Civic was limited, with a CB radio and fold-down rear seat being the only features, and even those were optional extras. It was a simple, reliable car with impressive fuel economy figures, which was what people wanted in the 1970s if they sought a straightforward commuter car. 

A modern-day Civic might feel like a Rolls-Royce compared to the first generation, but its focus on reliability and simplicity hasn’t changed. Over the years, the Civic continued to be a massive sales success, and is currently in its 11th generation. While the Civic also became known for its driving dynamics in addition to its thrifty operation, it showed the world how good Japanese engineering could be. 

Jeep CJ 

Before the Jeep Wrangler name was used, the SUV was known simply as the CJ, which stood for Civilian Jeep. As the name states, it was a civilian version of the original military Jeep used in the Second World War. 

The CJ was as simple as possible — it didn’t even have a dashboard. It did, however, come with an optional V8 engine, four-wheel drive, and a low-range gearbox, making it a capable off-roader. Air conditioning and a radio also became optional extras in 1975. 

It was known as a simple, rugged vehicle designed to be capable straight from the factory. Today’s Wrangler is much more luxurious than it was 50 years ago, but it’s still an off-roader at heart. Today’s Wrangler maintains the original CJ’s iconic looks with large round headlights, a boxy shape, the horizontal slot grille, external door hinges, and a removable roof.

Porsche 911

The Porsche 911 is one of the longest-running sports car names in the industry, second only to the Corvette. The 911 debuted in 1964, and there are many elements that haven’t changed since then, including its iconic shape and flat-six rear-engine layout. In 1975, the iconic Turbo model debuted, forever changing the 911’s trajectory. 

The original 911 Turbo had a notorious reputation for being a scary car. Its turbocharged 3.0L flat-six produced an astonishing 260 hp. While this may not sound like much, the car weighed only 1,100 kg and had no power steering or anti-lock brakes. Turbo lag also made driving it somewhat unpredictable.

Today's Porsche 911 is a far more sophisticated and luxurious car that sets the benchmark for sports cars worldwide, with the brand fine-tuning it over generations to raise the standards for precision, agility, balance, and handling. The 911 has been so successful that it has sold 1.2 million units over its 60-plus-year run.