Which generation had the longest model-year run?

"Jagvar" (Jagvar) 05/30/2014 at 11:11 • Filed to: None

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15

OK, let me clarify that question a bit. I'm not referring to minor vehicle refreshes; I'm referring to redesigns . In other words, a whole new model code. And for the sake of comparison, let's use model years, not production years.

These are the top five that I could come up with, but I'm betting you can do better.

I'm not including commercial/industrial vehicles (vans/trucks), anything Lada, or the original VW Beetle, since those are just too easy.

5. Chevrolet Caprice (third generation) - 13 years; 1977-1990 model years

4. Saab 900 (first generation) - 14 years; 1979-1993 model years

3. Mercedes-Benz SL-Class (R107) - 17 years; 1972-1989 model years

2. Volvo 200 Series - 19 years; 1975-1994 model years

1. Mercedes-Benz G-Class (463) - 23 years so far; 1991 model year-present

thebigbossyboss > Jagvar 05/30/2014 at 11:13

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Hindustan Ambassador is probably first.

Nissan Tsuru can into 2nd place on your list. 1992-2014.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Jagvar 05/30/2014 at 11:14

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I was going to do a Friday Evening Question reboot this evening with this question haha. Those are what my mind immediately goes to, but I'll add two.

fhrblig > Jagvar 05/30/2014 at 11:16

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After the original Mk I Golf went out of production everywhere else in 1984, it continued to be produced in South Africa until 2009, mostly unchanged. Does that count?

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Jagvar 05/30/2014 at 11:16

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The Astro/Safari was sold from '85 to '05 with a facelift in '95.

I'm not sure if they received a new model code, but I don't think they did.

Jagvar > fhrblig 05/30/2014 at 11:19

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Yeah, that seems to be a common thing with Volkswagen models. The original Beetle, the Type II, the original Golf, and the original Passat all continued on for decades in various parts of the world.

Aloha Milkyway > Jagvar 05/30/2014 at 11:22

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Does this count? The Land Cruiser 70 has been around since 1984 although it now has an LC200 face

davedave1111 > Jagvar 05/30/2014 at 11:22

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Tatra 613 - 1974-1996

The T700 was built for a further two years, and wasn't really more than a restyle even though they changed the name.

Cizeta V16-T - allegedly you can still have one built (and not by Supercar Replicas). It launched in 1991.

davedave1111 > davedave1111 05/30/2014 at 11:23

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Oh, and not forgetting the Jag XJS, essentially unchanged from 1975-96.

McMike > Jagvar 05/30/2014 at 11:25

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No Beetle? Then how about Mini?

Interesting article about how much changed from 1959-2000

http://www.minimag.co.uk/2010/12/10/fir…

I'm willing to bet less changed between these two in 41 years than what changed between the 1st and 2nd New Mini generations.

fhrblig > Jagvar 05/30/2014 at 11:28

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It seems to happen a lot in South Africa, with other manufacturers too. The fifth generation Mazda Familia/323 was built and sold there until 2003. A version of the E90 Corolla (called Tazz) was sold from 1996-2006.

deekster_caddy > Jagvar 05/30/2014 at 11:40

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1973 -1996 (23 years) chevy Van:

1973:

1996:

Hell you might be able to swap hoods...

Jagvar > deekster_caddy 05/30/2014 at 11:41

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I thought of this too, but as I said, I wasn't including commercial vans or trucks, since they typically go decades without changing.

deekster_caddy > Jagvar 05/30/2014 at 11:45

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I'd go with that, but in our family we had an '84, '86 and '96 all passenger vans, so I don't consider them commercial. Of course there was the contractor/panel version, but there were a lot of family/passenger models sold.

edit - shame on me for not reading all the way through the italics on your initial post. My bad.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Jagvar 05/30/2014 at 14:06

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The Series Jaguar XJ started in '68 and they finally phased out the S3 V12 in '92 which is 24 years.

Next longest I can think of is the MGB which was '62-'80 (18 years). Would have been longer if the sale to Aston Martin had actually gone through: Th

The Biturbo was '81 to '94 so 13 years. They renamed it a lot, but it was still the same basic car.

The LR Defender was first produced in '83 and that's still going, so 31 years and counting.

Lastly the Alfa Spider came out in '66 and that lasted through to '93. 27 years is not bad at all :)

jbm0866 > Jagvar 06/05/2014 at 23:45

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Porsche 911-

ALL THE YEARS

According to Jeremy Clarkson at least..