Graph of the Week: Google Search Traffic for 1980s Vehicles

It isn’t surprising that American models make up nearly 60% of the searches for 1980s vehicles on Google and that Japanese models comprise 34%. After all, the two nations probably captured a similar market share that decade. The specific models that are being searched, however, show how the cars from that decade are split in the public’s mind. After all, cars from the 1980s include models old enough to strike a nostalgic chord among younger collectors while also being new enough to encompass many amenities and sensible options for folks seeking affordable transportation and daily drivers.

Among the 30 most popular searches among 1980s vehicles, Toyota pickups from 1984-89 take the top six spots, while other Japanese vehicles include rugged, reliable and easy-to-fix daily drivers such as Toyota Corollas, Honda Civics and Honda Accords. Searches for American cars, meanwhile, center on usable, affordable classics and include Fox body Mustangs, Jeep Cherokees and Buick Regals.

Judging only by the search traffic, people prefer 1980s Japanese models for utility and American cars (the Mustang, more specifically) for recreation.