The Ford Granada was the ninth best-selling car of the 1970s, with 237,937 registered, according to startrescue.co.uk. Launched in 1972, it was produced until 1994 and as well as being popular with the general public, it was used widely as both a taxi and a police car.The Ford Granada was the ninth best-selling car of the 1970s, with 237,937 registered, according to startrescue.co.uk. Launched in 1972, it was produced until 1994 and as well as being popular with the general public, it was used widely as both a taxi and a police car.
The Ford Granada was the ninth best-selling car of the 1970s, with 237,937 registered, according to startrescue.co.uk. Launched in 1972, it was produced until 1994 and as well as being popular with the general public, it was used widely as both a taxi and a police car. | National World

The most popular cars of the 1970s in photos, including 'pony' car owned by young Noel Edmonds

Robert Cumber
By Robert Cumber

Property and retro writer

Published 31st Mar 2025, 12:33 BST

This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.

These are the cars we drove back in the 1970s, when the UK’s streets were brimming with sleek and stylish motors.

This retro photo gallery is sure to bring back many happy memories for drivers who owned these vehicles during the 70s - and perhaps a few less pleasant ones for owners of a certain ‘lemon’ which had an unfavourable reputation despite selling in the hundreds of thousands.

The Morris Marina, Mini and Vauxhall Viva are among the models pictured, some of which remain popular with classic car lovers today.

Some of the vehicles are shown with the stars of the day driving or posing beside them, including a young Noel Edmonds leaning against his Ford Capri, footballer Jimmy Greaves with his Ford Escort, and the actress Hildegarde Neil on the bonnet of an Austin Allegro.

Two of these cars were million-plus sellers during the 1970s, according to figures compiled by the breakdown provider Start Rescue based on vehicle registrations between 1970 and 1979. For more details on the breakdown cover, visit startrescue.co.uk.

Pictured below are the nine best-selling cars of the 1970s in the UK, in reverse order.

Did you drive any of these cars and if so what did you think of them? Let us know in the comments section below.

The Vauxhall Viva was the fifth best-selling car of the 1970s, with 547,717 registered, according to startrescue.co.uk. It was celebrated for its light controls, making it an easy car to drive. Pictured in October 1970 is a Vauxhall Viva HC SL four-door saloon car.

5. Vauxhall Viva

The Vauxhall Viva was the fifth best-selling car of the 1970s, with 547,717 registered, according to startrescue.co.uk. It was celebrated for its light controls, making it an easy car to drive. Pictured in October 1970 is a Vauxhall Viva HC SL four-door saloon car. | Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Photo: Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The Mini was the fourth best-selling car of the 1970s, with 611,695 registered, according to startrescue.co.uk. The British style icon was popular not just for its looks but for being cheap, efficient and fun to drive. An AA Relay recovery vehicle is pictured coming to the aid of a stricken Mini driver in 1973.

6. Mini

The Mini was the fourth best-selling car of the 1970s, with 611,695 registered, according to startrescue.co.uk. The British style icon was popular not just for its looks but for being cheap, efficient and fun to drive. An AA Relay recovery vehicle is pictured coming to the aid of a stricken Mini driver in 1973. | Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Photo: Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The Morris Marina was the third best-selling car in the UK during the 1970s, with 703,686 registered, according to startrescue.co.uk. It wasn't the most exciting car, or the most high performance, but its simple design and affordability made it popular with families and businesspeople alike. George Turnbull, managing director of the Austin-Morris division of British Leyland, is pictured here with the new Morris Marina in April 1971.

7. Morris Marina

The Morris Marina was the third best-selling car in the UK during the 1970s, with 703,686 registered, according to startrescue.co.uk. It wasn't the most exciting car, or the most high performance, but its simple design and affordability made it popular with families and businesspeople alike. George Turnbull, managing director of the Austin-Morris division of British Leyland, is pictured here with the new Morris Marina in April 1971. | Len Trievnor/Daily Express/Getty Images Photo: Len Trievnor/Daily Express/Getty Images

The Ford Escort was the second best-selling car of the 1970s, with 1,119.004 registered, according to startrescue.co.uk. The Mark II version of the popular family car was launched in 1974. The Ford Escort's appeal wasn't just limited to the 70s, of course. Between 1968 and 2000, more than 4.1 million of the cars were shifted. The England footballer Jimmy Greaves is pictured here beside his Ford Escort at the race track in Monza during the 16,000 mile Daily Mirror World Cup Rally from London to Mexico in April 1970.

8. Ford Escort

The Ford Escort was the second best-selling car of the 1970s, with 1,119.004 registered, according to startrescue.co.uk. The Mark II version of the popular family car was launched in 1974. The Ford Escort's appeal wasn't just limited to the 70s, of course. Between 1968 and 2000, more than 4.1 million of the cars were shifted. The England footballer Jimmy Greaves is pictured here beside his Ford Escort at the race track in Monza during the 16,000 mile Daily Mirror World Cup Rally from London to Mexico in April 1970. | Keystone/Getty Images Photo: Keystone/Getty Images

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