With the electric vehicle market in turmoil, the public is having difficulty converting to “wattage”, existing thermal models are resisting. With a second restyling, some extend their career and remain in the catalog for a decade. This is an opportunity to take stock of the automobiles that have had the longest careers. Please note, we are not compiling dynasties here (the different generations of the same vehicle) but we are focusing on a single version.
Renault 4CV (1947-1961)
Let’s start with a Renault, which will not return to the range soon and yet in 1997, the Renault Fiftie concept car which celebrated its 50th anniversary was designed with this in mind. The Renault 4CV produced from 1947 to 1961 in more than 1.1 million units enjoyed an almost worldwide career. The “butter ball” for close friends was manufactured in the historic factories of Flins (78) and Billancourt (Seguin Island), but also in Sydney, Hino in Japan, Valladolid in Spain, Acton in the United Kingdom as well as than in Nesher in Israel.
Fiat Topolino (1936-1955)
Mother of the 500 which was in the catalog from 1957 to 1975, the Fiat Topolino opened the popular city car ball in 1936. For almost 20 years, the small front-engined Fiat was marketed in many countries. Italy of course with production in the historic Lingotto factory in Turin, in France in Nanterre under the Simca brand but also in Germany under the Fiat-NSU label as well as in Poland and Austria under the respective Fiat Polski brands. and Fiat Steyr. Now in the Italian brand’s range, the Topolino is a technical twin electric quadricycle of the Citroën AMI.
Ford T (1908-1927)
Here is the oldest in this ranking born in 1908 and produced until 1927. This pioneer of mass production and champion of assembly line work was a real commercial success, the Ford T attracted more than 16 million customers. A robust and durable vehicle, a few examples of which are still in working order today.
Citroen DS (1955-1975)
A true UFO, a revolutionary automobile, the Citroën DS, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, a tribute will be paid to it at the Rétromobile 2025 show, was undoubtedly the star of the Paris show in the fall of 1955. Never before it and nothing more never after it, no automobile will arouse such enthusiasm. In its 20-year career, it was produced in the form of a sedan, a station wagon but also a convertible and coupe in almost 1.5 million units.
Peugeot 404 (1960-1989)
The elegant Peugeot 404 embodies the modernity of the 1960s with an Italian style born under the pencil of Pininfarina while under the hood injection engines quickly took place. As the times dictated, the 404 cast a wide net with sedan, station wagon, coupe, convertible and also utility versions in the form of a van. The latter was in the catalog until 1988, leaving the Mombasa factory in Kenya.. Production of the Peugeot 404 exceeded 2.8 million units.
Renault 4 (1961-1995)
Its modern heir will be launched on the market this year in 100% electric mode. The “fourlle” or more precisely the Renault 4 was the very first vehicle with traction architecture for the diamond firm. In France, it was produced by the factories of Flins (78) and Billancourt (Ile Seguin) from 1961 to 1992 then continued the pleasure until 1994 in Spain (Valladolid) and even 1995 in Morocco (Guarda).
Volkswagen Golf 1 (1974-2009)
It celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, the Volkswagen Golf marked a turning point for the German firm, allowing it at the time to turn the page opened by its founding model, the Beetle, which we will tell you about further below.. In Europe, the first version designed by Giugiaro and which was available in 1975 under the GTI label, gave way to the Volkswagen Golf 2 in 1983, the original Golf was kept in the catalog for 35 years, until 2009 in South Africa. South where at the rate of successive restylings it adopted the cosmetic elements of the more modern models here.
This country where the Volkswagen Golf 1 remained in the catalog for… 35 years!
Peugeot 504 (1968-2005)
In 1968, the classic Peugeot 504 took over from the 404. Its look inspired by that of the Italian actress Sophia Loren and its characteristic trunk break ensure its charming assets. If in France, from 1979, the Peugeot 505 partly replaced it, the venerable Peugeot 504 held up resistance, particularly in its utility versions such as the pick-up until 2005 in Kenya. Its production was close to 4 million units. It even had a late career in China from 1989 to 1997. The Peugeot 504 was versatile, available as a sedan, station wagon, coupe, convertible and, as mentioned above, as a pick-up. It was even transformed into a 4×4 by the Dangel company.
Citroën 2CV (1949-1990)
It finished second in this ranking but its launch in 1949 was late. In fact, the beginning of the TPV (very small car) project dates back to 1937. The Citroën 2CV is an emblematic vehicle produced in more than 5 million units which made a career in Europe of course but also in Argentina, Chile, Vietnam and in Iran.
Volkswagen Beetle: 65 years of reign
The Volkswagen type 1, its official name, is obviously better known by the surname of Beetle. Produced from 1938 to 2003, it holds the record for the best-selling model in the world with 21,529,464 units. Certainly, the American Ford 7 series pick-up or the Toyota Corolla can boast of doing better with 40 and 50 million units respectively, but their records span several generations. For the Volkswagen Beetle, even if the evolution has been great, it is still the same generation.
- Renault 4CV (1947-1961) 14 years
- Fiat Topolino (1936-1955) 19 years
- Ford T (1908-1927) 19 ans
- Citroën DS (1955-1975) 20 ans
- Peugeot 404 (1960-1989) 29 years
- Renault 4 (1961-1995) 34 years
- Volkswagen Golf 1 (1974-2009) 35 ans
- Peugeot 504 (1968-2005) 37 years
- Citroën 2CV (1949-1990) 41 ans
- Volkswagen Beetle (1938-2003) 65 years
