The 10 Most Reliable and Durable Cars of Model Year 1975 

This page lists the top ten cars of model year 1975 by reliability-and-durability grade point average (Reliability-Durability GPA).

1975's Top 10 Classic Cars 

These 10 car classics are listed below in descending order.

• The Toyota Corona, with a Reliability-Durability GPA of 3.82

The Toyota Corona came in either a 2-door-sedan, 4-door-sedan, 2-door-hardtop, or 4-door-wagon edition and with an inline 4-cylinder, 134-cubic-inch (2.2-Liter), 96-horsepower engine, a 3-speed automatic (except the 2-door sedan) or 4-speed manual transmission, and a fuel capacity of 14.5 gallons. The 4-door sedan has an overall length of 172 inches and an overall width of 64 inches.

• The Mercedes-Benz 240D, with a R-D GPA of 3.78

The diesel-powered Mercedes-Benz 240D came with an inline 4-cylinder, 147-cubic-inch (2.4-Liter), 62-horsepower engine, a 3-speed automatic or 4-speed manual transmission, an overall length of 196 inches, an overall width of 70 inches, and a fuel capacity of 17.2 gallons.

• The Toyota Corolla, with a R-D GPA of 3.78

The Toyota Corolla came in either a 2-door-sedan, 4-door-sedan, 2-door-hardtop, or 4-door-wagon edition and with an inline 4-cylinder, 97-cubic-inch (1.6-Liter), 75-horsepower engine, a 3-speed automatic (except the 2-door sedan) or 4-speed manual transmission, and a fuel capacity of 13.2 gallons. The 4-door sedan has an overall length of 166 inches and an overall width of 62 inches.

• The Mercedes-Benz 300D Inline 5, with a R-D GPA of 3.66

The diesel-powered inline-5 Mercedes-Benz 300D came with an 5-cylinder, 183-cubic-inch (3.0-Liter).

• The Toyota Pickup Truck, with a R-D GPA of 3.58
• The Mercedes-Benz Inline 6, with a R-D GPA of 3.53
• The Ford Custom, LTD, LTD Landau, with a R-D GPA of 3.30

The Ford Custom, LTD, and LTD Landau came with an 8-cylinder engine in the V8 configuration.

• The Toyota Celica, with a R-D GPA of 3.27
• The Oldsmobile Cutlass (except coupe) V8, with a R-D GPA of 2.90

The V8 Oldsmobile Cutlass sedan came with an 8-cylinder, 260-cubic-inch (4.3-Liter), 110-horsepower engine, a 3-speed automatic or 3-speed manual transmission, an overall length of 216 inches, an overall width of 77 inches, and a fuel capacity of 22 gallons.

• The Chevrolet Chevelle, Malibu V8, with a R-D GPA of 2.88

The V8 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu came with an 8-cylinder, 350-cubic-inch (5.7-Liter), 145-horsepower engine, a 3-speed automatic or 3-speed manual transmission, an overall length of 210 inches, an overall width of 77 inches, and a fuel capacity of 22 gallons.

Manufacturers of the Top 10

Already in 1975, Toyota Motor Corporation accounted for 4 of the Top 10 by reliability and durability, and Daimler-Benz AG accounted for another 3. However, General Motors Corporation also had 2 classic cars (the V8 Oldsmobile Cutlass and V8 Chevrolet Chevelle) among the 10 best, which accounted for 2 of the 3 cars with a V8 engine. All three of the V8-equipped cars were from Detroit.

The following chart gives each car manufacturer's percent share of the Top 10.

Computations

To compute the reliability-durability grade point average of the MY 1975 cars, Consumer Reports' reliability ratings for the age ranges 4-to-5 years and 5-to-6 years are used.

CR's ratings are converted to numerical values following the standard academic pattern: a grade point of 4.0 (an A) is accorded a rating of Much Better Than Average, a 3.0 (a B) is accorded a rating of Better Than Average, a 2.0 (a C) is accorded a rating of Average, a 1.0 (a D) is accorded a rating of Below Average, and a 0 (an F) is accorded a rating of Much Below Average.

Then, for each age range, the grade point of  CR's overall reliability rating is weighted 2/3 and the average of the grade points of the category ratings is weighted 1/3.

Finally, the average for the two age ranges is taken.

Best and Worst Vehicles of Each Model Year

The Best Cars of Each Model Year by Reliability-Durability GPA: 1975  1976  1977  1978  1979  1980  1981  1982  1983  1984  1985  1986  ...  2004  2005

The Worst Cars of Each Model Year by Reliability-Durability GPA: 1980  1981  1982  1983  1984  1985  1986  ...  2004  2005 

Additional Resources

The Best Car Brands of Each Model Year by Reliability-Durability GPA: 1985  1986 ...  2004  2005

The Worst Car Brands of Each Model Year by Reliability-Durability GPA: 1985  1986 ...  2004  2005

The Best Car Manufacturers of Each Model Year by Reliability-Durability GPA: 1985  1986 ...  2004  2005

The Worst Car Manufacturers of Each Model Year by Reliability-Durability GPA: 1985  1986 ...  2004  2005

Best Car Brands by CR's List of Used Cars to Avoid:  1985  1986  1987  1988  1989  1990  1991  1992  1993  1994  1995  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 

Worst Car Brands by CR's List of Used Cars to Avoid:  1985  1986  1987  1988  1989  1990  1991  1992  1993  1994  1995  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006

Best Car Makers by CR's List of Used Cars to Avoid: 1985  1986  1987  1988  1989  1990  1991  1992  1993  1994  1995  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006

Worst Car Makers by CR's List of Used Cars to Avoid:  1985  1986  1987  1988  1989  1990  1991  1992  1993  1994  1995  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006

For additional car quality information, visit www.AutoOnInfo.net and CarsOnInfo.net.

In particular, for additional durability information, see:

http://www.AutoOnInfo.net/SharesOfHighMileageVehicles.aspx 
http://CarsOnInfo.net/ToyotaAgeEquivalents.aspx 
http://CarsOnInfo.net/ToyotaMileageEquivalents.aspx 
http://CarsOnInfo.net/Top25OfAutoonInfosHighMileageRoster.aspx

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