While Car names often seem eternal, it’s rare for a car to remain unchanged for more than a decade. Here are 12 cars that we received in South Africa that stood the test of time.

Photography by: VOLKSWAGEN AG
Jay Leno driving a 1938 VW Beetle

VW Beetle (66 model years) 1938 – 2003.

Its legacy was unexpected; the Volkswagen simply needed to put Germany on wheels in the late 30s, however the Second World War halted its launch. After the war It almost became British or American but none of the UK's carmakers wanted it, and neither did Ford. But it prospered nonetheless as Europe got back onto its feet and was in desperate need for cars. While 1979 was the last model year for Beetle production, it was still produced in Mexico until 2003. Its popularity extends well beyond the realm of classic cars. It’s a genuine icon everywhere in the world.

Over 21 million examples of the Beetle were built in no less than 15 countries.

Production ended in Mexico in 2003 with a retro-inspired limited-edition model named Última Edición.

**Original Beetle lasted until 2003 in Mexico. This is the farewell Ultima Edicion.**

Morgan Plus 4/8 (62 model years) 1951 – 2012.

The Morgan’s basic design originated in a 4-cylinder “Plus 4” form in 1951. An 8-cylinder “Plus 8” model was added in 1968. Both models have been produced on and off over the years, with fenders of varying widths to accommodate more modern wheels. The British roadster didn’t have a boot or bumpers but boasted an exceptional engine and easy controls as the rudimentary design. It was not the fasted or most powerful roadster, but it was one of the most beautiful as Morgan realized you don't mess with perfection. The British marque boldly bucked every trend in the industry. While it often made minor changes over time to improve drivability and usability, the throwback design looks like its frozen in the 1950s.

Citroen 2CV (43 model years) 1948-1990.

The look that didn’t change one bit, the 2VC was an air-cooled front-engine, front-wheel-drive economy car manufactured in France between 1948 and 1988, then finally in Portugal until 1990. As with many older European cars, unchanged designs were kept in production for less developed regions around the world. Ultimately, almost 4 million 2CVs were produced during its lifespan. The secret of its longevity was sheer simplicity. Every part of the 2CV embodied function-over-form design., the flip-up front windows and the speedometer-driven windscreen wipers in early cars. It was one of the rare unpretentious cars with nothing to prove. Citroën built 5.1 million examples of the 2CV, including 1.2 million vans.

Mercedes G- Wagon (40 model years) 1979 – 2018.

The “G-Wagon” was introduced as a go-anywhere military vehicle in 1979. Its shape and design have remained unchanged. It has evolved from a rudimentary off-road vehicle to one of the most expensive members of the Mercedes Benz model range and is synonymous with luxury, performance, and unabashed decadence.

Lotus Esprit (39 model years) 1976-2004.

When a design comes from the legendary Giorgetto Giugiaro , it's best not to mess with it. Lotus took that to heart with the Esprit. While there would be slight modifications over the decades, the car retained the sharp wedge design Giugiaro crafted, which aided its performance. It was so striking that it was used in the James Bond Movie “The Spy Who Loved Me”.

Peugeot 504(36 model years) 1969-2006.

After winning the coveted European Car of the Year award in 1969, the Peugeot 504 followed its predecessor’s path by providing durable transportation to motorists. The 504 was sold was sold across the globe between 1969 and 1983, including the United States. After Peugeot phased the design out in most areas in favour of more modern designs, the original 504 was kept in production due to its popularity in rough-terrain countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Australia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon, Benin, Kenya and Nigeria. Ultimately, the 1969 design lasted until 2006 in Nigeria. Former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad auctioned off his personal 1977 504 in 2010. It sold for US$2.5 million, making it one of the most expensive Peugeots.

VW Golf (35 model years) 1975 – 2009.

Mark 1 VW GOLF / RABBIT The first-generation VW Golf was one of the company’s earliest front-wheel-drive vehicles after the bought Audi in the late 1960s. This “Mark 1” was initially offered as a 3-door hatch, 5-door hatch, and convertible spanning from 1975 to 1984 in most markets around the world, the convertible Cabriolet model using the platform until 1993. However, some countries still saw variations of the original Rabbit produced long past 1984. In Brazil, for example, the 2-door Mark 1 pickup was marketed as the “Caddy” through 1994, and the 5-door hatchback had a long run as the “Citi Golf” through the 2009 model year. Volkswagen’s South African division decided to continue building the first-generation Golf as a cheaper, smaller alternative to the then-new second-generation model. It built the two hatchbacks under the same roof.

The company’s marketing department renamed the first-generation model Citi Golf to differentiate it from its newest sibling. Volkswagen of South Africa only offered the five-door model, and early cars were exclusively available in bright red, bright yellow, or bright blue. Stylists updated the Citi Golf several times, though the basic shape stayed the same until the end of production.

Mini (32 model years) 1959 – 2000.

Once sold as the “Austin Mini ” and “Morris Mini”, original Minis changed almost imperceptibly over 30+ years until going out of production in 2000.

The original Mini went without a facelift for its first 40 years. It’s true that the little car was a revolution in terms of design, packaging, and technology and that to this day, it is still the blueprint for building a city car. But if BMW hadn't bought the marque, it would have been discontinued. Fitting four passengers in a tiny car was no small feat, but its most innovative design feature was under the bonnet. The British Motor Corporation (BMC) dropped a transversally mounted, water-cooled four-cylinder engine right over a four-speed manual gearbox, a design solution which significantly reduced the drivetrain’s footprint.

The Mini influenced city cars and supercars alike. When Lamborghini couldn’t fit a 4.0-litre V12 behind the Miura’s passenger compartment, an engineer stepped out to the parking lot and glanced under the bonnet of a Mini for inspiration.

Alfa Spider (29 model years) 1966 – 1994.

While the Spider went out of production during 1993, final models were badged as 1994s for the U.S. While the Spider survived many minor spoiler, bumper and wheel revisions over its lifespan, its basic shape was the same. The first Spider Series 1 showed excellent styling with the sharp front end with a rounded tail. This is the Spider that most think of, capturing the beautiful 1960s style with a lovely Italian flavor. The Series 2 was the longest-lasting, a more angular front with a square back, a different grille, raised windscreen, and improved interior. The '80s update was minor with the biggest feature been the rubber mounted bumpers. The Series 4 was only built for three years due to demand of the Spider in Italy, when it was launched the British market were in a huge uproar as there were no right models available. Finally, Alfa obliged due to the outcry and built a limited amount in right hand drive. The Spider remains a classic look.

Jaguar XJ (22 model years) 1975 – 1996.

Jaguar replaced its popular XKE model with the XJ this design which lasted over two decades. A convertible model was added in 1986. XJ sedans were powered by 6 or 12-cylinder engines. While 1987 was the last year this design was sold in the U.S., it remained in production through 1991 as a “Daimler Double Six” model in Canada.

Karmann Ghia (20 model years) 1955 – 1974.

Built off the Beetle platform, Karmann Ghia’s saw only minor changes. A terrific melding of German and Italian engineering, the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia was crafted by Carrozzeria and saw fantastic success. It lasted with only minor alterations to the taillights over its twenty-year span while the rest of the car retained its unique shape. It offered fair performance and came to an end as the old design couldn't handle seatbelts. But for two decades, this was an underrated tourer for those looking for a unique ride. The Karmann Ghia was replaced by the 1975 front-wheel-drive Scirocco.

Car Designs that Survived 20 Years.

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