In Part I, I showed you the most common vehicles of this century in Mexico and promised Part II would feature the most ubiquitous pre-2000 vehicles. If you were expecting a litany of Volkswagen Beetle and Bus photos from my two weeks in Mexico, you will be disappointed. The old Bus and Bug aren’t extinct, but the Beetle – affectionately known by Mexicans as the Vocho – was dealt a blow by government regulations and exists in far smaller numbers. There are a few reasons why that’s not such a bad thing.
A VW in stunning San Miguel de Allende. Most of the colorful photos in this piece were photographed here.
Production of the Volkswagen Sédan ceased in Volkswagen’s Puebla factory in 2003 after years of declining sales. However, many remained on Mexican streets as taxis – particularly in Mexico City – until the Mexican government worked to improve its lax air pollution standards.
Much of my time in Mexico was spent in Mexico City, with brief trips into the states of Querétaro and Guanajuato. And despite the work that has been done to quell air pollution in the nation’s capital since the United Nations declared Mexico City the most polluted city in the world in 1992, one may occasionally find themselves shorter of breath than in another metropolis. So, it’s sensible to support regulations that would reduce air pollution and the number of deaths resulting from that scourge. If that means fewer Vochos on the streets, so be it. Something else to consider is the government’s decision to ban two-door taxis. This was in the interests of safety more so than practicality, as the back seat of a Beetle is harder to escape from when your ‘taxi driver’ turns out to be a criminal who wishes to rob you (or worse).
In Santiago de Querétaro
The laws implemented to effectively remove Beetles from Mexico had various other complications best left for a more in-depth article. Ultimately, though, the air is cleaner, taxis are more comfortable and the Beetles that remain appear to be cherished by loving owners. The car that has most successfully replaced the Vocho is the Nissan Tsuru, a 1991 Nissan Sentra manufactured in Mexico and that has upheld the old Volkswagen tradition of minimal updates and maximum production length.
A rare 2-dr Tsuru
While outsiders may struggle to see how a Tsuru possesses character, at least compared to the cheery little Volkswagen, the Nissan’s sheer ubiquity means almost every – if not every – Mexican resident has had seat time in a Tsuru. And it’s not inconceivable to imagine that some Mexicans may lovingly care for their used Tsurus 10-20 years down the line, much like some Mexicans are currently doing so for Beetles. With the end of Tsuru production being recently announced by Nissan, though, it will come up short against the Beetle in terms of total production length.
My time in Mexico yielded some wonderful classic car finds, but the aim of this article is to show you what older (pre-2000) cars are most common in Mexico. In fact, the Tsuru and the other cars featured in this article are so very common, I felt somewhat bored and defeated in my search for classics by Day 14. If I was walking around and spotted an older car in the distance, 9 times out of 10 it would be one of these vehicles. Blame Mexico’s past status as a very closed market for the lack of variety; the government previously imposed high local content requirements.
Let’s start with the oldest metal first. This is a Datsun A10, known in North America as the 510. These were manufactured in Mexico from 1978 to 1984 and show how early Nissan became serious about the Mexican market – Honda didn’t arrive until the late 1990s and Toyota only entered the market in 2002.
While the current Tsuru has been sold for 25 years, the first two generations had much shorter lifespans, equivalent to their Sentra-badged contemporaries in North America. Here is a first-generation Tsuru.
The second-generation Tsuru was actually exported to Canada as a price-leader following the axing of the Micra subcompact.
In Mexico, snowfall occurs predominantly amongst the high mountain peaks and infrequently in the northern states. Consequently, the country has a climate conducive for classic car ownership—no road salt here! This explains the ubiquity of the Ford Fairmont. I observed two- and four-door sedans and wagons in equal numbers although no Futura coupes.
Volkswagen has been enormously successful in Mexico even outside of the beloved Vocho. Caribe – Spanish for “Caribbean” – was the name applied to the first-generation Golf, manufactured and sold from 1977 to 1987 before being replaced by the Golf Mk2. Like in North America, the alternative model name was dropped and second generation was renamed Golf.
Of course, the Mexican people’s love of sedans means old Jettas are even more common than the Caribe.
The Dart nameplate was retired much later in Mexico, and for several years the name was used on a version of Chrysler’s E-Body sedans (Chrysler E-Class, Dodge 600, Plymouth Caravelle). It is this application of the Dart nameplate that is most common on Mexican streets.
It’s not uncommon to find old Mopars in Mexico that don’t exactly resemble their North American counterparts, as Chrysler created a number of special Mexican market models with different engines and sheetmetal.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Chrysler retired the Dodge name from their passenger cars in Mexico before restoring it in the 2000s. Consequently, the Dodge Spirit was sold as the Chrysler Spirit, although Chrysler showrooms often sold vehicles from both marque. The Spirit R/T was offered in Mexico, although I sadly spotted only one and have no photos to show for it.
Even more common than the Spirit is the Chrysler Shadow. Again, this is a car that you can find on every second block in Mexico City. How many places in the US or Canada can you say that about?
Its contemporary from General Motors was the Chevrolet Cavalier, particularly ubiquitous in Mexico. Interestingly, for some time the Cavalier was sold with Pontiac Sunbird taillights.
Three of the four GM A-Body vehicles can be found on Mexican streets, although it is the Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera that appears to be the most common. The Cutlass Ciera, Buick Century and Chevrolet Celebrity were all sold through Chevrolet showrooms.
In Part I, I touched on how popular minivans were in Mexico. The GM U-Body minivans survive in large numbers and I was able to spot every variant of each generation, excluding the Saturn Relay and Buick Terraza.
Although the Ford Windstar has a reputation for being rather flaky, particularly in terms of transmission reliability, there are still plenty on the roads. I’d be curious to see sales figures from the 1990s as the Windstar, GM U-Body and Chrysler minivans all exist in equal numbers, whereas Chrysler’s minivans considerably outsold their domestic rivals in the US.
The Ford Aerostar is another minivan that survives in large numbers in Mexico, as do the first- and second-generation minivans from Chrysler. Much less common than the Blue Oval and Pentastar vans is the Chevrolet Astro. This Aerostar is a particularly clapped-out example which is rather unusual considering how well-kept many older minivans are in Mexico.
If you love domestic compacts from the 1990s, Mexico is an absolute treat. I’ve been critical of the Ford Tempo in the past but many Mexicans seem to value the car’s simplicity. That, or it was a combination of low price, trusted brand and a serious lack of competition.
The Tempo was badged as the Ford Topaz in Mexico, while the Mercury Topaz was sold as the Ford Ghia. Clearly Ford was playing the same confusing games with its Mercury brand as Chrysler was with Dodge.
The popularity of the Ford Topaz extended to its successors, the Ford Contour and Mystique…
…while the Chrysler Spirit’s successor, the Stratus, also enjoyed success.
By far the most common full-size American in Mexico is the Mercury Grand Marquis. For every Ford Crown Victoria I saw, there were approximately ten Mercury Grand Marquis. You’ll note in this photo that the car is wearing both Mercury and Ford badges.
Exploring the Mexican carscape felt much like playing Grand Theft Auto—there’s a wide variety of cars still, but not as many as one is used to, and you will continue to see the same cars over and over again. Still, amongst the hordes of Shadows and Tempos, I spotted some very interesting vehicles. On a non-automotive note, I must heartily recommend San Miguel de Allende. Perhaps my recommendation comes too late as, when I visited there, it was full of Americans already. It’s easy to see why—it’s a stunning town with beautiful old architecture. Santiago de Querétaro also has a gorgeous historic center, while Mexico City is a bustling metropolis that felt to me like a Latino New York. A Latino New York full of Ford Tempos.
Related Reading:
Curbside Classic: Plymouth Sundance/Dodge Shadow – Something For Everyone, Everything For No One
Curbside Classic: 1995 Ford Aerostar – How Hard Can It Be to Make a Minivan?
COAL: 2003 Ford Windstar SEL – A Hint Of Luxury; More Than A Hint Of Issues
Curbside Classic: 1989-95 Dodge Spirit – Worthy Of Some Acclaim
Mexico having been the recipient of such a great wealth transfer since Nafta is becoming a nice home for older cars. Being in the loving hands of careful owners rather than soldiering on through lack of replacement as in Cuba.
Mexico often had markets for Euro brands like Renault and Rover that otherwise did not make it to North America. Perhaps a part three?
What a great look at the cars of Mexico and their history.
Kudos to William Stopford and Curbside Classics………..
On my first trip to the Grand Canyon in 1993, I noted no small number of vehicles with Canadian license plates. Just one car had Mexican plates, and I think I noticed it first because it was a “Chrysler Spirit.” Interesting to see so many cars in Mexico as parts bin remixes.
One thing I haven’t seen in your tour is obvious testimony to the idea that a large number of US used cars are exported to Mexico. It seems like most of the cars you found were Mexican market. Perhaps we don’t export used cars to Mexico as much as I thought.
Not just old cars are sought after; from what I can tell, many Mexican nationals are inveterate foragers of discarded American appliances & stuff from garage sales for a 2nd life down south. I often see Sonoran pickups filled over the brim. Since I’m all for reducing waste, this is a Good Thing.
Mexico did well by settling on the Sunny/Tsuru as a replacement “commodity car.” I’ve seen a few Tsurus in Tucson.
Definitely see some Tsurus and Tiidas around Tucson. This time of year, heading into the holiday season, three places you can see many Mexican market vehicles are, the Foothills Mall on L a Cholla, The Tucson Mall, and the Toys R Us on Oracle Rd. It’s’a treasure trove of interesting vehicles!
Dave, was your visit to the GC during the winter? That might explain the number of Canadians you saw; many “Snow Birds” (also from the Upper Midwest) migrate to the US Southwest during this season. US Nat’l Parks are also popular with Germans.
Very informative stuff and great pics. Feels like being there! Muchas gracias, Don William.
+1.
+2
As bizarre as it may be, I’d love to be able to score a new Tsuru for daily use. That generation of the Sentra was a great package, and nearly indestructible. I doubt there’s a new car on the market that could rival it for trouble-free longevity.
There is a 2-door Celebrity in the background of the Grand Marquis photo. To see any of the early FWD A-body 2-doors with the boxy roofline is a rarity here; are they more common there seeing as how it didn’t merit its own photo?
It took me a moment to recognize that 510 as I only seem to remember them as hatchbacks here. If we got the 2-door sedan version it’s been too long since I’ve seen one.
I was confused by the 510 as well. I initially thought it may be the concurrent 210. But William was correct, a 510 in a non USA 2 door sedan body style. Great carspotting.
Very nice .
I used to travel Mexico a lot and always found it a friendly place with good weather and great food .
In the 1960’s through the late 1980’s there were always scads of ex U.S.A. vehicles, I am told that’s no longer permitted so they’re mostly long gone now .
-Nate
Hey, I’m in Mexico this morning! 12 degrees, so much for warm Mexico.
Anyway, yes I’ve seen all of these this week, but just fleeting glimpses from the back of the car. I’m amazed that the Windstar seems to survive in reasonable numbers, I can see this climate would help with the rust problems, but it is easier on the transmission too?
Or are Mexicans more likely to repair the transmission and keep the vehicle on the road?
“Or are Mexicans more likely to repair the transmission and keep the vehicle on the road?”
Bingo. Patch, patch, patch until it dies. Then patch again
Very interesting and informative series. A company I used to work for has a Latin American operation headquartered in Mexico City. Back in the early oughts I made several trips down there on business and what I remember most, besides how friendly and courteous the vast majority of the Mexican people are, was the air pollution and the number of VW Beetles on the street. From your article it appears that this has changed, and overall, I’m sure this is for the better. I find it fascinating to see the automotive landscape in other countries, especially the vehicles that don’t make it to the U.S. Thank you for your efforts here.
Those old nissans are probably the perfect car leaving impression about how unsafe Japanese cars were. It’s not true anymore, but when those cars stay on the street, the old reputation doesn’t wear off. IIHS picked it too. What a difference?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=85OysZ_4lp0
Some Japanese cars were terrible particularly those on their domestic market where many safety features like side intrusion beam were simply left out these cars were only ever intended for the mostly low speed local environment, then used exports started NZ was littered with this lethal junk most of it is dead now and part of a Chinese refrigerator and import regulations were recently tightened to keep the rubbish out, this was the reason Australia refused to have ex JDM cars in any great numbers the couldnt meet local safety standards.
Relaxed safety standards on Nissan Skylines might reduce the population of hooners by Natural Selection.☺
When those Japanese cars are bad, they are really bad. Body shell is almost tin toy like, and I just cannot believe those are intended for real passengers. Every GM deadly sin cars seem to be so refined and luxurious with much better engineerings, fit and finish also interiors, and if I were the author knowing those cars, I would never have appetite to blame GM. Too pity Paul Nidermeyer fortunately didn’t have close experience on those cars, especially Kei trucks for daily use. EPA, Feds and US market carefully filtered those cars and minimized their presence.
Of course, those vehicles like Suzuki carry are pretty nice as an upgrade to Polaris ATVs ( the most leaky Kei truck still has better seal than ATV with plastic roof ) , and people like to use for snow plowing in garden here.
That gold Sentra/Tsuru reminds me of the Citi Golf, which was a MK1 Rabbit sold in South America well into the 21st century. Mostly because both of them had little styling refreshes to keep them current (as much as is possible with a super old design). I’d love to see a compilation of other cars that kept soldiering on around the globe, including their updates through the years. Maybe a CC feature idea?
I agree that this piece makes you feel like you’re there. Very thorough. Nice photos too.
Cool! That’s got my favorite traits of the MKI and MKII rolled into one!
Excellent research and observations William. Not many people outside of Mexico or with ties to Mexico know the terms “Chilango” and “Vocho”!
Makes me want to go back again!
Two weeks ago at the local Cars and Coffee, a gentleman showed up with a 1999 Volkswagen Beetle, Mexican of course, and titled in Virginia as a 1974. It was fascinating to go thru with its factory air conditioning and vents built into the dash, which wasn’t all that different from the last American models other than going lower to make room for the AC vents. Fuel injected, of course, and the AC compressor was very jarring to someone who’s looked at lots of the old air cooled fours.
The real surprise, though, was that the sunroof was canvas like the 50’s VW’s. And about the same size.
Speaking of Mexico specific Mopar stuff, did you see any of the unique 1990s Ramchargers built on the 94-2000 pickup.
Keep your eye out for a limited-run series, starting soon…
I could flip through those pics all day. It’s like a relaxing meditation for me.
Great escapism and great pictures, thanks!!
No Vehiculos Automores Mexicanos? Those Mexican AMCs were even wackier than their American cousins. Even the logo was slightly weirder. I guess they’d be getting pretty thin on the ground since it’s been nearly 30 years since the last one rolled off the line. Not sure they were very popular to begin with.
A Mexican, in Méjico (where else) told me the story on how the Vocho finally lost the crown, sales wise. He told me the Corsa B/Chevy gave it a huge hit and then the Tsuru killed it for good.
Will never forget the image of arriving to the DF airport and seeing that most of the fleet was composed of Dodge Rams 1500
I have been travelling through South America for the past three months, and it never occurs to me that I ought take photos of cars wherever I travel. It was so interesting to see the same vehicles with different names, cosmetic appearance, and such in each country I visited.
Sometimes the different part of country has completely different range of vehicles, especially Chile. You see many Japanese and Korean cars in Santiago but many more Toyota Hilux four-door cab trucks in Isla de Pascua.
Bolivia is more of a dump site for the Japanese cars and vans after their four-year stint in Japan. Most of them were converted to left-hand-drive while leaving the wipers and headlamp lenses alone. Unfoertunately, many of them have been long past their usefulness and their stay of execution extended many times with questionable repair or replacement from other donor cars. However, Bolivians seem to love older Japanese cars, especially from the 1970s and 1980s like the photo below taken in La Paz.
Like Mexico, Nissan Tsuru is extensively used as taxicab in Santiago de Chile.
yep, I too find a lot of joy in sites like this.Only other country I have been is Canada. Car spotting there was more interesting in the1960’s and 70’s when we went there a lot on vacation. There cars looked those in USA, with trim differences, and names. Meteors for Mercury, Acadians and Beaumonts, Pontiac/Chevy cross breeds. Fargo on tailgates of Dodge trucks. “Plodge’s”Dodge on one end Plymouth on the other Asunas With an umlate over the U (80’s perhaps?). Ladas from Russia, with the NEVA looking great and wondering why it wasn’t sold in USA, oh.. right “cold war”. Not much diff now I think. Probably not any Canada specific cars anymore