We’ve compiled a list of the all-time longest production runs for American car models. For the purposes of this analysis we looked at manufacturer-produced cars only (no build-at-home “kit” cars). In addition, vehicles must have had regular annual production, and we required the vehicles be accessible, street-legal cars. The vehicles also had to maintain the same official model or chassis name (or overall designation) during their run(s).
Cars in Production the Longest
Our counting stopped when the production runs ended in the United States; production runs that began overseas first are included only if the model was also sold in the U.S. Unlike some other lists, we do include defunct nameplates and allow for gaps in production. As long as the vehicle was produced in the United States – it counts toward the longest production car runs.
Each name in the list will take you to the car’s Wikipedia page for more information. This list was last updated in September 2016. Interesting to note: Six of the top ten cars in production the longest are still in production.
American Cars with the Longest Production Runs:
- Chevrolet Suburban [81 years]: 1935–present.
- Ford F-Series [68 years]: 1948–present.
- Chevrolet Corvette [63 years]: 1953–present.
- Chrysler New Yorker [57 years]: 1939–1996.
- Cadillac de Ville [56 years]: 1949–2005.
- Oldsmobile 98 [56 years]: 1940–1996.
- Ford E-Series/Econoline Van [54 years]: 1961–2015.
- Lincoln Continental [53 years]: 1939–1948, 1958–1980, 1981–2002, 2016–present.
- Ford Mustang [52 years]: 1964–present.
- Ford Transit [51 years]: 1965–present (Europe), 2015–present (U.S.)
- Cadillac Eldorado [50 years]: 1952–2002.
- Oldsmobile 88 [50 years]: 1949–1999.
- Chevrolet Impala [47 years]: 1957–1985, 1994–1996, 1999–present.
- Pontiac Bonneville [47 years]: 1958–2005.
- Buick LeSabre [46 years]: 1959–2005.
- Cadillac Sixty Special [46 years]: 1937–1976, 1986–1993.
- Chrysler LeBaron [46 years]: 1931–1941, 1957–1975, 1977–1995.
- Ford Thunderbird [46 years]: 1955–1997, 2002–2005.
- Pontiac Grand Prix [46 years]: 1962–2008.
- Buick Century [43 years]: 1936–1942, 1954–1958, 1973–2005.
- Chevrolet Camaro [42 years]: 1966–2002, 2010–present.
- Jeep CJ [42 years]: 1944–1986.
- Ford Country Squire [41 years]: 1950–1991.
- Cadillac Series 70 [40 years]: 1936–1976, 1984–1987.
- Ford Fiesta [40 years]: 1976–present (Europe), 2010–present (U.S.).
- Chevrolet/GMC C/K [38 years]: 1960–1998.
- Chevrolet Malibu [38 years]: 1964–1983, 1997–present.
- Oldsmobile Cutlass [38 years]: 1961–1999.
- Chevrolet Caprice [37 years]: 1965–1996, 2011–2017.
- Buick Regal [36 years]: 1973–2004, 2011–present.
- Buick Skylark [36 years]: 1953–1953, 1961–1972, 1975–1998.
- Chevrolet K5/S-10 Blazer [36 years]: 1969–2005.
- Pontiac Safari [36 years]: 1955–1991.
- Buick Riviera [35 years]: 1963–1993, 1995–1999.
- Ford Escort [35 years]: 1968–2004 (Europe), 1980–2003 (U.S.)
- Pontiac Firebird [35 years]: 1967–2002.
- Ram 1500 [35 years]: 1981–present.
- Lincoln Mark Series [34 years]: 1956–1960, 1969–1998.
- Dodge Caravan [33 years]: 1983–present.
- Buick Electra [32 years]: 1959–1990.
- Chevrolet/GMC Van [32 years]: 1964–1996.
- Chrysler Imperial [32 years]: 1926–1954, 1990–1993.
- Dodge B-Series/Ram Van [32 years]: 1971–2003.
- Chevrolet Bel Air [31 years]: 1949–1980.
- Ford Taurus [31 years]: 1985–present.
- Pontiac Catalina [31 years]: 1950–1981.
- Studebaker Commander [31 years]: 1927–1935, 1937–1958, 1964–1966.
- Chevrolet Monte Carlo [30 years]: 1970–1988, 1995–2007.
- Ford Bronco [30 years]: 1966–1996.
- Jeep Cherokee [30 years]: 1974–2001, 2014–present.
- Jeep Wrangler [30 years]: 1986–present.
- Lincoln Town Car [30 years]: 1981–2011.
- Cadillac Seville [29 years]: 1975–2004.
- Ford Ranger [29 years]: 1982–2011.
- Jeep Wagoneer [29 years]: 1962–1991.
- Pontiac Grand Am [29 years]: 1972–1975, 1977–1980, 1984–2005.
- Zimmer [29 years] 1978–1988, 1997–present.
- Buick Roadmaster [28 years]: 1936–1958, 1991–1996.
- Chevrolet Silverado [28 years]: 1988–present.
- Pontiac Parisienne [28 years]: 1959–1987.
- Dodge Charger [27 years]: 1966–1978, 1983–1987, 2006–2016.
- Ford LTD [27 years]: 1964–1991.
- Oldsmobile Toronado [27 years]: 1965–1992.
- Studebaker Avanti [27 years]: 1962–1985, 1987–1991.
- Dodge Challenger [26 years]: 1958–1959, 1969–1974, 1978–1983, 2008–present.
- Ford Explorer [26 years]: 1990–present.
- Jeep Gladiator [26 years]: 1988–1962.
- Chevrolet El Camino [25 years]: 1959–1960, 1964–1987.
- Dodge Dakota [25 years]: 2011–1986.
- Cadillac Series 62 [24 years]: 1940–1964.
- Chevrolet Cavalier [24 years]: 1981–2005.
- Chevrolet/GMC Tahoe/Yukon [24 years]: 1992–present.
- Dodge Viper [24 years]: 1992–2010, 2012–2017.
- Jeep Grand Cherokee [24 years]: 1992–present.
- Pontiac LeMans [24 years]: 1962–1982, 1988–1993.
- Dodge/Plymouth Colt [23 years]: 1971–1994.
- Plymouth Fury [23 years]: 1955–1978.
- Ford Ranchero [22 years]: 1957–1979.
- Dodge Coronet [21 years]: 1949–1959, 1965–1976.
- Dodge Dart [21 years]: 1959–1976, 2013–present.
- Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser [21 years]: 1992–1971.
- Ford Expedition [20 years]: 1996–present.
- Studebaker Land Cruiser [20 years]: 1934 – 1954
- Buick Super [19 years]: 1939–1958.
- Dodge Durango [19 years]: 1997–present.
- Dodge Ramcharger [19 years]: 1974–1993.
- International Harvester Scout [19 years]: 1961–1980.
- Nash/AMC Rambler [19 years]: 1950 – 1969.
- Pontiac Sunbird [19 years]: 1975–1994.
- Studebaker Champion [19 years]: 1939–1958.
- Studebaker President [19 years]: 1926–1942, 1955–1958.
- Excalibur [18 years]: 1965–1970, 1972–1990.
- Ford Focus [18 years]: 1998–present.
- Lincoln Navigator [18 years]: 1998–present.
- Cadillac Escalade [17 years]: 1999–present.
- Ford Escape [16 years]: 2000–present.
- Ford Galaxie [16 years]: 1958–1974.
- Plymouth Valiant [16 years]: 1960–1976.
- Chevrolet Chevelle [15 years]: 1963–1978.
- Chrysler Sebring [15 years]: 1995–2010.
- Ford Fairlane [15 years]: 1955–1970.
- Hummer H1 [14 years]: 1992–2006.
Did we miss something on this list of cars with the longest production runs? Let us know!
Good list, I spent 10 minutes trying to think of a qualifying model that wasn’t on this list but couldn’t think of one.
I don’t think you guys missed any. Gold star.
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I didn’t make it all the way through the list, I just skipped to the end.
But 102 cars? I thought it was top 100?
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