10 most influential vehicles of the last 50 years - Big Big Forums

Jolie Rouge · 04-17-2003, 12:39 AM

Thousands of car models have made the transition from the drawing board to the dealership in the last five decades. Every now and then, a new model sets in motion a trend or movement that has a ripple effect throughout the auto industry, changing how we think about or relate to our cars. This selection of the 10 most influential vehicles (listed alphabetically by make) was the result of heated debate among CR’s auto experts.

1969 BMW 2002

The BMW 2002, introduced in 1968, laid the groundwork for the modern sports sedan. It offered nimble, sports-car-like handling and strong performance in a conventional two-door sedan. When CR first tested the 2002, in July 1970, we said "the BMW’s quick acceleration and nimble handling make it a car that’s fun to drive--well worth considering." The successful 2002 is the grandfather of the current BMW 3-Series, a car that other automakers have been trying to emulate for years with competitors such as the Audi A4, Lexus IS300, Jaguar X-Type, and Infiniti G35.

1953 Chevrolet Corvette

Notable for its styling, performance and longevity, the Corvette, introduced in 1953, set the tone for future American sports cars. With its familiar formula of a long hood, swept-back rear, and powerful engines, the Vette’s influence can be seen in a variety of models--from the 1955 Ford Thunderbird to today’s Dodge Viper. Ironically, it was the need to compete against the T-Bird that convinced Chevrolet to continue building the Corvette after low initial sales. This year also is the Corvette’s 50th anniversary, which attests to its long-standing appeal and reinforces its reputation among enthusiasts as "America’s sports car."

1984 Dodge Caravan

Although some might say that Volkswagen’s microbus (a favorite of the flower-power generation) was the inspiration for today’s minivan, it was Chrysler’s 1984 models, the Caravan and Voyager, that gave the concept its modern shape, styling, and configuration. Those minivans provided a flexible, easy-to-drive alternative to the large vans and station wagons of the day. In the late ’80s and early ’90s, GM, Ford, and Toyota tried to put their stamp on the category with models such as the Chevrolet Lumina APV, Ford Aerostar, and Toyota Previa. However, those models were eventually replaced with versions that more closely resemble Chrysler’s minivans, cementing Chrysler’s influence in the category.

1973 Ford F-100

It’s hard to argue against the F-Series as the most influential truck of the past 50 years. In 1982, it was one of the first trucks to outsell any passenger car in the U.S., and it has been the highest-selling vehicle ever since, as well as the best-selling truck for the last 26 years. It’s true that in some years the combined sales of the Chevrolet and GMC C/K twins exceeded sales of the F-Series. It’s also true that the Datsun/Nissan truck line introduced to the U.S. the concepts of a compact pickup, an extended cab, and a personal-use crew cab. But the Ford F-Series has been the dominant single model line, setting the pace for other domestic truckmakers as well as for Toyota and Nissan, the first two import brands to produce full-sized pickups.

1986 Ford Taurus

The 1986 Taurus was a groundbreaking design for a mainstream family sedan. With its rounded, aerodynamic styling, it made most other sedans look dated almost overnight and introduced a look that other automakers quickly followed. The Taurus wasn’t the first car to use rounded styling. CR likened it to the Audi 5000 when we tested it, calling the Taurus "Audi-like in its rounded body style," and "the Ford in Ford Motor Co.’s future." But the Taurus popularized the design and initiated an era of aerodynamic styling that is prevalent today.

1965 Ford Mustang

The original 1964 1/2 Mustang was a sleek, inexpensive sports coupe that gave birth to the "pony car" segment, which included the recently deceased Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird. With the original Mustang, Ford also popularized the concept of offering a large number of options to help buyers personalize the car. "At one extreme," we said in a July 1964 report, it is "a personal car," and at the other, a "‘competition’ machine." Later Mustangs with more powerful V8s helped fuel the muscle-car category of the late ’60s and early ’70s. The upcoming 2005 Mustang is being redesigned with cues from the ’60s versions.

1984 Jeep Cherokee

The 1984 four-door Cherokee was one of the catalysts in the transformation of the sport-utility vehicle from a niche 4x4 truck to an everyday family vehicle. At a time when most American SUVs had only two doors, the compact Cherokee blended the utility of a station wagon with a 4x4’s ability to handle off-road and adverse-weather conditions and a cabin that was more carlike than most trucks. For our July 1988 test, CR said the Cherokee was designed to function as a "family-sized passenger car" as well as a "go-anywhere four-wheel-drive" vehicle.

1996 Toyota RAV4

As the first car-based sport-utility vehicle, the small Toyota initiated a new movement in SUV design that has since become the fastest-growing segment in the auto market. Instead of using a conventional truck platform with body-on-frame construction and live rear axle, the RAV4 used a carlike unibody and fully independent suspension. The RAV4 was quickly followed by the Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester, BMW X5, and Lexus RX300. Car-based SUVs provide much of the utility of a conventional SUV, along with better ride comfort, handling, access, and fuel economy. All of CR’s top-ranked SUVs are now car-based models.

1976 Volkswagen Rabbit

The Rabbit popularized the small front-wheel-drive hatchback design, which became prevalent in the ’70s and has been revived in the last couple of years. The GTI version also initiated the "hot-hatch" niche of small, sporty cars, a segment that has influenced the current sport-import segment and its related industry of aftermarket performance parts and tuner shops. In addition, the Rabbit was the first vehicle from an import manufacturer to be built in the U.S., a practice now common with many foreign-based automakers.

1959 Volkswagen Beetle

The introduction of the Beetle to the U.S. in the 1950’s was the humble beginning of the import invasion that changed the face of America’s auto market. VW’s original "Bug" was a small, economical, easy-to-maintain car that offered buyers a distinct alternative to the large American cars of the era. In CR’s November 1957 test, the editors noted that "with General Motors’ decision to market its English Vauxhall and German Opel in this country, it begins to look as though the small imported car has come to stay." CR rated the Beetle as "an unquestionable Best Buy in the foreign small-car class." The success of the small European models eventually led Japanese automakers to export similar cars to the U.S. and forced the Big Three to introduce smaller models in their lineups.