The Cars That Influenced Society At The Time

There are cars that have marked an era. For example, in the early days of automotive engineering, the Mercedes-Benz 260D and the Volkswagen Beetle set industry standards. These were cars that influenced society and they weren’t the only ones.

The years passed and they continued to manufacture very significant automobiles for their own times. Some are the symbol of their years and decades, marking the adolescent, political and aesthetic identity at times. And it is these models that later became great classics.

Artistic, expressive and social, the following are cars that influenced society. Many of them we will remember, even if we do not live in their heyday. Let’s see the following list by decade.

1950s: Mercedes Benz and Volkswagen are not everything

In 1945 the VW Beetle defined the universal standards of what a car should be, with four seats , accessible cost and easy driving. But it was in the 50s when the industry took a 360 degree turn in terms of aesthetics, functionality and technology.

New brands also appeared that were anchored in the consumer’s consciousness. From 1949 to 1953, the 62 Series Cadillac defined space and youthful escapades by moonlight. It was the vehicle of enjoyment after World War II.

Mercedes Benz had been dominating much of the market for some time and began a race for innovation. It was when the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL came to light, nicknamed ‘gull wings’  for the shape of its doors. It came out in 1954 and was ahead of the more bizarre sports cars of the late 1980s.

But not everything was greatness and majesty. It was at the end of the decade that the Mini, originally from England, came onto the market. British Motor Corporation is asked to create a model that is both economical and familiar, and that was perhaps one of the first modern utility SUVs in history.

1960s: From the Beatles to the change in the automotive industry

The hippie movement erupts just in 1960 and the collective lifestyle, freedom and marijuana, need a car. For this, the youth took as their flag the Volkswagen Combi, from the year 1950. This is the typical long and narrow van, painted like rainbow, that we all remember.

But the most pop youth also had a car that defined their identity. This was the Jaguar Type E, in which football players wore their girlfriends in long skirts. At that time the Beatles were playing and the nights were for dancing the Twist.

Other cars of great acceptance were the Seat 1500 and the Renault 4, the latter hailing from France. These types of vehicles were made to respond to the need for low-cost cars, for families and emerging professionals.

As a curious fact, at this time the final evolution of the Volkswagen Coccinelle, better known as the beetle, took place.

70s: Renault dominates the world and the square prevails

The impact of the Renault 4 was felt in the design of the other manufacturers. In the 1970s, the Renault 12 (R12) and the Seat 124 raced in the United States in the city. Later, the Seat 127 represented a bridge between the boxy design of the 1970s and the sleek, moderate curvilines of the 1980s.

The Citroën GS also entered into dispute in the market, introducing the four disc brakes; it was the time of evolution of the French brand.

This was a decade of competition in innovation. For example, the Honda Civic CVCC hit the US market in 1975, being the first environmentalist automotive proposition.

But without a doubt, the model that broke the parameters of the time was the 1970 Ford Mustang. This hefty sports car challenged the rectangular design, betting on voluptuous curvatures and a powerful engine. This car represents a milestone for tuning enthusiasts.

Cars that influenced society : from 1980 to 2000 and the massification

Everything changed in 1980; the sports car became fashionable thanks to the luxurious Ferrari F40. Rockers of the time gloated riding on them and the Italian brand rose as a symbol of Formula 1.

It was in these two decades where manufacturers multiplied and the offer in the market was widely diversified. These were times of expansion and diversification of the supply of vehicles.

From here, listening to the luxurious brands Mustang, Lamborghini, BMW or Porsche were seen on the roads more and more. Asian brands also entered the market between the 1990s and the new millennium.