We just love hatchbacks.
The 1978 Datsun 510 hatchback was sporty and compact and had rare features like side-window defoggers. It was equipped with MacPherson strut front suspension for a nimble ride, a 5-speed stick for agile performance and achieved 35mpg on the highway and 25mpg in the city.
1978 Datsun 510
1978 Datsun 510 details
This 1978 Toyota Startlet looks like most of the hatchbacks of the era. With the exception of the front end. It’s very similar to cars like the Volkswagen Rabbit, to name just one. (image source: John Lloyd)
1978 Toyota Startlet
1978 Toyota Startlet bumper, hatch and stick shift
This 1973 Datsun Cherry 120A Coupe (hatchback) has got to have the best “car ass” ever. The rear vent (which I have to assume is fake) looks like the ones people now buy at the K-Mart auto parts section and stick them on their cars, often in triplicate. (image source: John Lloyd)
1973 Datsun Cherry 120A Coupe
For as attractive as I find this 1973 Datsun Cherry Estate, there is nothing “estate” about it. It’s just a very cool hatch that looks very much like the original Honda Civics. (image source: John Lloyd)
1973 Datsun Cherry Estate
Offcially, this 1976 Datsun Cherry F-II was called a coupe, but as you can clearly see, the rear opens like a hatch, which makes it a hatchback in my book. The 1977 Datsun Cherry FII Hatchback looked very different, but I like them both. (image source: John Lloyd)
1976 Datsun Cherry F-II
1976 Datsun Cherry F-II
In 1978, a three-door hatchback known as the Vauxhall Cavalier Sports 2000 Hatch was added to the range. It sold for £3473.
1978 Vauxhall Cavalier Sports 2000 Hatch
The 1974 Astre Hatchback GT from Pontiac was their Canadian built small economy car (which was a Vega with Pontiac trim) available only in Canada from 1973 to 1974, but was then brought to the US in 1975. Its lightweight aluminum engine was easy on gas. The interior included Premier plaid cloth and vinyl trim on deep full-foam seats. It came in three models, the hatchback shown here, as well as a coupe and a Safari station-wagon.
1974 Pontiac Astre Hatchback GT
The 1979 AMC Pacer DL was a package that included a more upscale edition of Pacer, and was available for the entire run of the car becoming the “base” model in 1978. This package was more “luxurious” including, originally, a “Navajo-design” seating fabric and a woodgrain instrument panel as well as a few interior features that were optional without it. The exterior received additional chrome accents, different wheelcovers, and identification badging. 1979-1980 saw a hood ornament and center chrome strip down the hood. (image source: eBay)
1979 AMC Pacer DL
1979 AMC Pacer DL
1979 AMC Pacer DL
1979 AMC Pacer DL interior
1980 was the last year for American Motors Corporation’s 3-door Pacer hatchback, which was produced by AMC since 1975. Chief stylist Richard A. Teague began work on the Pacer in 1971.
1980 AMC Pacer
The 2012 Scion iQ premium micro-subcompact will begin arriving in dealerships in October of 2011. Its only 10 feet long but seats four people. I wasn’t in love with it when I first saw it but I must admit that I think its growing on me. It starts at $15,265 and its 1.3-liter, four-cylinder that produces 94 horsepower and 89 lb.-ft of torque.
2012 Scion iQ
The GTi has long been one of my top favorite hatchbacks, and this 1984 Volkswagen GTI Mk 1 is probably as close as you’re gonna get to an original MK1. It was on display at Volkswagen of America headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan for approximately seven years. Volkswagen’s recent move to Virginia caused the car to be sold in February of 2011. The car was sold new in late 1983 and it was kept by the original owner until 2004, when it was purchased by a Volkswagen employee and put on display. (source: eBay)
1984 Volkswagen GTI Mk 1
1984 Volkswagen GTI Mk 1
1984 Volkswagen GTI Mk 1 interior
The 2012 Ferrari FF could possibly be the most beautiful hatchback put on the market in some time. It’s an odd offering from Ferrari, but also a brilliant one. The FF – an acronym for Ferrari Four (four seats and four-wheel drive). Designed by Pininfarina, The FF features the company’s first ever four-wheel drive system. The new 6,262 cc direct injection V12 engine which develops 660 CV at 8,000 rpm. More on Cartype.
2012 Ferrari FF
The 2012 Hyundai Veloster is called a three-door coupe, but it’s a hatchback as we see it. It had a world debut at the 201 North American International Auto Show. It’s all-new 1.6-liter GDI Gamma engine paired with proprietary Hyundai six-speed manual transmission and Hyundai’s first dual-clutch transmission delivers up to 40 mpg highway. It is loaded with all kinds of tech stuff, from a standard multi-function seven-inch touch-screen display, Pandora® internet radio capability, Gracenote® display technology with voice recognition, Virtual CD downloading, AVI and mpeg video playback via USB, Video game console connectivity with 115-volt power outlet, Bluetooth® hands-free phone system with voice recognition, just to name a few. Find more info on Cartype.
2012 Hyundai Veloster
1988 Dodge Colt GT Turbo had a turbocharged 16-valve, DOHC 1.6 liter powerplant, power rack and pinion steering, power 4-wheel disc brakes, taut sports suspension, performance radials, a super slippery profile and a lot of spunk. Inside the Colt GT Turbo had ample elbow room, comfortable sport buckets, a telescoping tilt steering wheel, an ergonomically advanced interior and impressive dash graphics and instrumentation.
1988 Dodge Colt GT Turbo
The 1983 front wheel drive Dodge Colt GTS offered 35MPG city and 45MPG highway and was imported for Dodge (and Plymouth). With matte black accents all around, rakish spoiler, side glass louvers, wide tires, GTS badges and racing stripes, this Colt looked the part of the fun machine that it was. Under the hood its engine had an extra air intake valve in each cylinder teamed up with Colt’s exclusive Twin-Stick power train which gave you a bit more power in every gear.
1983 Dodge Colt GTS