Azernews.Az

By Alimat Aliyeva

A list has been compiled featuring car models that have been produced for the longest time without significant design changes. Topping this “centenarian” ranking is the iconic Volkswagen Beetle, which was in production for an impressive 65 years, Azernews reports.

The classic Russian Niva, now sold as the Lada Niva Legend, also made it into the top five. This rugged SUV first rolled off the assembly line in 1977, during the Soviet era. Known for its simplicity and off-road capability, the Niva was actively exported, including to various European countries, gaining a loyal international following.

Another Lada on the list is the VAZ-2105, which held the 20th spot in the ranking with a production run of 32 years. This model was an evolution of the original VAZ sedan, the VAZ-2101, and was also exported to markets such as the UK and Canada. Interestingly, if we combine the total production numbers of the “classic” Lada series and its predecessor based on the Fiat 124 platform, the combined output reaches roughly 20 million vehicles — making it the second highest production volume in the history of the global automotive industry.

Alongside the Beetle, the other models rounding out the top three are the Volkswagen Type 2 (also known as the VW Bus), with a production span of 64 years, and the timeless Morgan 4/4, also produced for 64 years.

This list highlights how certain car designs become timeless classics, continuing to capture the hearts of drivers across generations thanks to their reliability, simplicity, and cultural impact. It’s fascinating to see how some models manage to stay relevant for decades without major redesigns in an industry often driven by rapid innovation.