Any car that creates its own separate class is a force to be reckoned with. Of the 1960s ‘pony cars’, the Ford Mustang is the only model to remain in continuous production. Now in its sixth generation, Ford are rolling with the times and have re-developed the modern classic as an all-electric SUV, set to be released in 2021. Through all of its facelifts, its iconic horse logo has stood centre stage.

The ‘crown’ jewel of the Japanese automotive industry, the Toyota Camry has made a name for itself as a multi-purpose vehicle used for company cars and taxis all around the world. In 1980, (before its launch in 1983) Toyota and Ford tried to come to an agreement to manufacture the Camry at the Ford factory and sell it through both brands channels, but Ford felt the Camry was in direct competition with a model they were developing - we guess Ford missed out!

When it was launched in 1993, the Mercedes C-Class was regularly referred to as the “Baby Benz”, lovingly called so as it was once the entry-level Merc model. The compact, executive saloon was introduced as a replacement for the 1982 190 (W201) range which was the first mid-size saloon produced by the German manufacturer. In its fourth generation, the C-Class comes in four body styles; Sedan (W205), Wagon (S205), Coupe (C205), and Cabriolet (A205).

As the name suggests, the Mazda Familia was born to meet the needs of small families, which it did very convincingly throughout its 40 year life. The first Mazda Familia was initially only available as a commercial two-door wagon called the Familia van but it soon morphed into the popular small family car. In 2003, the Familia was replaced by the popular Mazda 3.

Originally known as the “Opel Kaddett”, the Vauxhall Astra has become one of Britain’s most popular family cars behind the Ford Escort. The Kaddett’s roots date back to 1936 when it was developed to rival the Volkswagen Beetle. In the UK, the Vauxhall Astra replaced the beloved Vauxhall Viva. The Mk1 Astra was a strong seller in the UK and has held on to a top spot into the present day.

You have to dig deep into the archives to find some background on the Oldsmobile Cutlass! Born out of the Oldsmobile division of General Motors in 1961, the Cutlass started off as the smallest unibody compact car, but saw its greatest success as a body-on-frame-intermediate. Cutlass sales reached a peak in 1977 - the Lansing Car Assembly in Michigan was a busy ol’ place! It eventually fell out of public favour so was phased out in 1999 and replaced by the Oldsmobile Alero.

We guarantee that the BMW 3 Series will climb the world’s best-selling ladder in years to come. Designed by Paul Bacq, the original version was only available as a 2-door saloon. The “Touring” variation was added to the series in 1987 and became the first ever BMW station wagon. Now in its 7th generation, the BMW 3 Series is available as a sedan, coupe, wagon, and even a convertible.

Built like a tank, the Volkswagen Polo has stood the test of time and is highly regarded as one of the best hatchbacks of all time. It’s so reliable that it’s been used as a platform for models including the SEAT Ibiza, Skoda Fabia, and the Audi A1. Launched in 1975, the Polo was a response to the 1970s oil crisis where a sudden demand for economical runabouts was at an all-time high. The nimble little Polo was a mere 800kg, making it an ideal size to create performance versions too.

Renault pride themselves on being the most popular car manufacturer in France, and they have the Renault Clio to thank for most of it. Launched in 1990, the supermini hatchback was an instant hit after replacing the Renault 5. The Clio’s budget-friendly pricing and economical engines proved to be hugely popular and by 1994 it accounted for 49% of Renault’s total sales in the UK.

Launched in 1984, the Chrysler Minivans were produced in a single four-door van body style that runs strong today. They have been marketed under a variety of nameplates over the years including the Plymouth, Dodge, and Ram brands. The Chrysler minivan is the highest-selling model in the MPV segment and is a firm favourite amongst Uber drivers and larger families around North America.

The Ford Model T is thought to be the car that democratised automobiles. It became the first car that Ford built all the component parts for themselves, and using Ford’s innovative assembly line, it became one of the first mass-produced cars in the world, accessible to the masses. It was available as a 5-seat touring car, a 2-seat runaround, and a 7-seat town car, but it was only available in one colour - black. The Model T paved the way for a new world of automotive mass production.

Ford continues its impressive tally on this list with the renowned Ford Focus. The Focus was almost a next generation Ford Escort but the manufacturer decided to keep the Escort in rotation. By the launch of the second generation in 2004, the US and European versions of the car went their separate ways. The Ford Focus has been used in rally sports, and also comes in a couple of hot hatch versions including the ST and the RS.

The discontinuation of the Chevrolet Impala is still pretty raw, with GM announcing that the flagship passenger car would come off the assembly line at the end of February 2020. This isn’t the first time the car’s been eliminated. Between 1985 and 1994, the Impala took a well-earned rest before the 7th generation was introduced. The Chevrolet Impala was originally released as a top trim level of the Chevrolet Bel Air. The Impala was also the last ever car to offer the bench seat, before it became a discontinued feature after 2013.

Since the launch of the first-gen three-door hatchback back in 1976, the Honda Accord has blossomed into one of the world’s most popular executive saloons. Despite being a Japanese car, most of the Accord’s success has been in the United States - in 1989, it was the highest-selling car across the states. Now in its 10th generation, the Honda Accord is produced at five different plants across the world.

The trendy Ford Escort made its introduction in 1968, replacing the successful long-running Ford Anglia. Despite its discontinuation, the Ford Escort is one of the best-selling cars in the UK of all time. In 1974, 6 years into production, Ford had already made the 2 millionth Escort, a feat which had not been matched by any Ford model outside the US until that point.

Originally, Vauxhall were reluctant to name the Corsa “Corsa” as they felt it sounded too close to “coarser”, implying that the car was rough and poor quality. They came around though and the name is now recognised in households across the globe. The first-generation model was designed by Richard Shaw. Despite being unavailable in the USA and Canada, it’s still grabbed a top spot on this list.

Here’s a blast from the past - the Lada Riva, also referred to as the VAZ 2101. Introduced in the Soviet Union, the Lada Riva had a decent spell exporting across Europe, but their popularity didn’t grip the West as much as the East. By 1997, the Lada Riva was removed from most western markets which played a damning role in the fall of sales. Between 1994 and 2005, the number of licensed Lada’s fell from 134,000 to 3,000. Although, there’s still a few chugging around, many believe that it’s now a "classic car" that should be left in the past.

The Toyota Hilux is better known to Americans as the Toyota Pick Up. It started out life as the Hino Briska - Toyota suggested improvements to Hino, and it was then rebadged as the Toyota Briska before undergoing a name change again to Hilux. In its eighth generation, the Hilux has transformed into a Dakar Rally stalwart as well as a mainstay for middle-eastern military groups. The 1980s Toyota War between Libya and Chad was so named because of the heavy, very successful use of Hilux trucks as technicals.

The Fiesta is proudly regarded as the UK’s current best-selling car. So many Fiestas have been sold, in fact, that if you were to line them up nose-to-tail, they would stretch around the coast of mainland Britain - twice. Production of the Fiesta began in a new factory in Valencia, Spain in 1976 and the Fiesta name was chosen personally by Henry Ford II in celebration of Ford’s new connection with Spain.

The Volkswagen Beetle has one of the more famous introductions. Austrian automotive engineer Ferdinand Porsche received a contract from Adolf Hitler to build the prototype for the “People’s Car”. Originally, it was named the “KdF-Wagen”, which didn’t exactly catch on with German citizens, so “People’s Car” it was. The Beetle was the first ever car to sell over 20 million units. Surprisngly, over seven decades, there were only 3 generations, with the first gen car running from 1938 to 2003. Beetle production ended in 2019 as consumers moved towards SUVs.

The Honda Civic was first released in Japan, 1972 and subsequently sailed over the Atlantic, reaching the USA the following year. The Civic was actually Honda’s first proper car (having focused predominantly on motorbikes before) and is currently it’s longest continuously produced model. In it’s 10th generation, the Honda Civic has solidified its place as one of the world’s top-selling cars.

Launched in 1973, the Volkswagen Passat was originally based on the Audi 80 and it replaced the Volkswagen K70. Available in front-engine, front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, the Passat’s versatility, performance, and luxurious interior are just some of the reasons why it has become one of the world’s best-selling family cars.

Leading the charge for German manufacturers is the fan-favourite Volkswagen Golf. The name “Golf” is either in line with other sporty VW model names (Polo and Derby) or in line with those named after winds (Passat), as Golf in German means “Gulf”. The VW Golf shares a platform with a number of other cars including the Audi TT, Audi A3, VW Beetle and SEAT Toledo. The VW Golf is also the first car in the world to offer electric, hybrid, diesel, petrol and LP gas powertrains as well as front and all wheel drive.

In its 14th generation, The Ford F-Series continues to win over the hearts of North American motorists. The F-Series is a series of trucks also referred to as "Ford Bonus-Built trucks". These were the first to be built on a dedicated truck platform unlike previous versions which were built from car chassis during the war. The most popular member of the F-Series family is the "F-150". The 2018 Ford F-150 weighs 700 pounds less than the previous model because of a space age aluminium alloy in the body panels and other components.

Designed to be a "people's car", the Toyota Corolla certainly achieved their goal - and fast. The Corolla became Japan’s top-selling car in the space of 3 years thanks to its lavish equipment (at the time), including a floor-mounted gear lever, individual front bucket seats with generous padding, and a spacious rear bench likened to a family sofa. The Corolla has been the world’s best selling car for the last 22 years.