We just love hatchbacks.
During the first 6 months of 1977, LeCar had amassed a total of 57 firsts, second and third place finishes in 52 SCCA races.
The 1978 Renault LeCar got 41 mpg. It was front wheel drive, had rack and pinion steering, four-wheel independent suspension and Michelin steel-belted radials.
1978 Renault LeCar.
The 1985 Peugeot 205 Van hatchback’s conversion from a car to a van traded its rear seats for more functional purposes giving you 42.4 cubic feet and 415 kg maximum payload weight. Standard features included adjustable seats with head restraints, ergonomically inspired controls, remotely controlled door mirror, heated rear window plus great all round visibility. You could get a 1124 cc petrol or 1769 cc diesel engine.
Available in the Standard and the GL specification (with extras such as a five speed gear box, push button radio and rear wash/wipe).
1985 Peugeot 205 Van hatchback
1985 Peugeot 205 Van hatchback
The 1983 Vauxhall Nova’s 1.0 and 1.2 liter LET engines delivered an impressive 57.6 mpg (60.1 mpg with the optional 5-speed gearbox). Every model had power brakes, a laminated windscreen, an intermittent rear wash/wipe wiper and halogen headlamps. The L models included a push button radio and a driver’s door mirror that adjusts from inside the car. It started at £3,494 to £4,273. The Corsa A was rebadged as the Vauxhall Nova between 1983 and 1993, primarily for the British market. The basic model was called just the Corsa, which was followed by the Corsa Luxus, Corsa Berlina and the sporty Corsa SR, seen below as a 1985 model.
1983 Vauxhall Nova
1985 Vauxhall Nova 1.3 SR
Vauxhall Nova logo
The 1983 Mitsubishi Colt Mirage Turbo 1400 hatchback with it’s alloy wheels, flared wheel arches, aerodynamic front and rear spoliers and stereo radio/cassette sold for £6,500 and got 43.1 MPG. There were six models to choose from, starting with the 1250 EL at only £3,900. Two 1400 models with a choice of 3 or 5 doors. All requiring major service at 12,000 miles.
Standard features on all Mirage Hatchbacks are such luxuries as a laminated windscreen, all-round independent suspension, heated rear window, warning lights from everything from “Door Open” to “Low Fuel”, an aluminized exhaust system and metallic paint finish at no extra cost. Most model also included a push-button radio, tinted glass and rear window wash/wipe. It had a 3-year warranty.
1983 Mitsubishi Colt Mirage Turbo
The 1975 Reliant Scimitar GTE hatchback was called a high performance estate… “bred like a racehorse” with 0-60 in 8.6 seconds. It has up to 36 cubic feet of storage with the seats folded down and got 28 mpg. (image source: Trigger’s Retro Road Tests!)
1975 Reliant Scimitar GTE
The 1977 Datsun Cherry FII Hatchback was part of a lineup that included a coupe, an estate, a two door or four door saloon and two hatchbacks. Both hatchbacks had a fold down seat. There were front wheel drive with a transverse 1171cc engine (988cc for the other models). They came with power-assisted dual circuit brakes. This car helped make Datsun one of Britain’s leading car importer for three years.
1977 Datsun Cherry FII Hatchback
The Fiat 127 was produced by the Italian automaker Fiat between 1971 and 1983. It was introduced in 1971 as the replacement for the Fiat 850. Production of the 3-door hatchback 127 was launched in 1972 in Italy and ended in 1983 following the introduction of its replacement, the Fiat Uno. (Image source: John Lloyd)
1976 Fiat 127
Trabant is a famous automobile brand formerly produced by East German auto maker Sachsenring. The most popular vehicle in former socialist countries, Trabant cars had a bad reputation but were quite reliable. These little vehicles seem quite quaint but are probably unsafe to drive by today’s standards. (image source: John Lloyd)
Trabant 601 Universal
Trabant 601 Universal
Trabant logo
Seat is a huge brand from Spain and part of the Volkswagen Group but not very known in the US. It presented the IBE Concept at the 2010 Paris Motor Show and is a stunning of what a great looking, electric hatchback can look like. I hope they build it. They need to. For the brand and for the future. It proves that cars like this don’t have to be as ugly as the Nissan Leaf. To read more, visit Cartype.
2010 Seat IBe
2010 Seat IBe
Can you think of a car that was more ridiculed (and deserved it) than the Zastava Yugo? According to John Matras, 3,895 Yugos were sold in the United States in 1985, but this soared to 35,959 the next year and hit 48,812 the year after, selling more than Saab.
I think it’s kind of cool, but good luck finding a good one. Even new.
1985 Zastava Yugo GV Hatchback.
1985 Zastava Yugo GV Hatchback ad
I can’t think of a brand that has been thru so many ups and downs as MG. This new Zero concept doesn’t have much “MG-ness” to it. It looks like a Volkswagen. Read more on Cartype.
2010 MG Zero
I, like many today, am a huge fan of the Audi brand and even owned one when it was not so “fashionable” and certainly reliable. Add to that, my love of hatchbacks and you get this very rare find from eBay of a 1977 Audi 50 GLS hatchback from Prescott, Arizona.
1977 Audi 50 GLS
What a lovely little thing this is. It is a one owner car, and frankly, I can’t imagine how he will be able to part with it. This one only has 69,690 miles and can be seen on eBay.
According to the seller, there are only 5 registered in Germany. The GLS is very rare and not to be mistaken for the regular Audi 50 or Volkswagen Polo which can be found much easier and less expensive.
1977 Audi 50 GLS
1977 Audi 50 GLS
The new Chevrolet Sonic made its debut at the North American International Auto Show in both sedan and hatchback version. Guess which one we like better. To see the whole post, visit Cartype.
2012 Chevrolet Sonic Hatchback.
If the Mini Cooper is too big for you, and the Mini Countryman feels monstrous, check out the Mini Paceman concept, which is suspected to be the next Mini Coupe. See more on Cartype.
2011 Mini Paceman concept.
Volvo introduced the 360 in 1982 with its 4-cylinder 2-litre engine. Nothing like the Volvos of today. More on Cartype.
1982 Volvo 360 GLB 3-door hatchback.