Compact Cars of 1969

Sadly, our official home-office archive of Consumer Guide new-car-test magazines is pretty thin before 1970. We do have a digest-size magazine from 1967, but it’s most prices and such—no photos, no specs, and no test-drive evaluations.

Consumer Guide "1969 Automobile Annual." — Consumer Guide *1969 Automobile Annual*

The content excerpted below—save for the photography—comes from our 1969 Automobile Annual, a copy of which can be seen to the right. In those days, we broke down the market into the following categories:

Compact Cars
Small Sporty Cars
Standard Intermediates
Standard Low-Cost Models
Standard Medium-Price Models
Standard Luxury Models
Prestige Models
Sporty Specialty Cars

We also dedicated part of the book to station wagons, and, impressively, several pages to a very eclectic collection of import vehicles.

Here, we share the entire compact-car class as listed by the Consumer Guide 1969 Automobile Annual, and we’ve also included a few additional bits of information on each entrant—such as the prices for the optional automatic transmission and AM radio (yes, both were extra-cost items back in the day). Any questions? Drop us a line. The place to leave comments is down below.

Compact Cars of 1969

AMC Rambler

Base Price: $1988

Automatic: $180 (3-speed)

AM Radio: $65

Base Engine: 164-cubic-inch 95-horsepower six

Wheelbase/Overall Length (inches): 106/181

For 1969, the Rambler was offered in base and 400 trim, and in 2-door- and 4-door-sedan body styles. A station wagon was also offered.

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Chevrolet Corvair

Base Price: $2242

Automatic: $140 (2-speed)

AM Radio: $54

Base Engine: 164-cubic-inch 95-horsepower six

Wheelbase/Overall Length (inches): 108/183

For 1969, the Corvair was offered in 500 and Monza trim. Only 2-door hardtop and 2-door convertible body styles were available.

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Chevrolet Nova

Base Price: $2221

Automatic: $140 (2-speed)

AM Radio: $58

Base Engine: 153-cubic-inch 90-horsepower four

Wheelbase/Overall Length (inches): 111/189

For 1969, Nova was offered only in a single trim level, and only in 2- and 4-door body styles. Though an expensive upgrade at $266, the performance-oriented SS was technically an option group.

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Dodge Dart

Base Price: $2383

Automatic: $176 (3-speed)

AM Radio: $62

Base Engine: 170-cubic-inch 115-horsepower six

Wheelbase/Overall Length (inches): 111/195

For 1969, the Dart was offered in a number of different configurations. Trim levels included Custom, Swinger, and GT. Body styles included 2- and 4-door sedans, a 2-door hardtop, and a convertible.

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Ford Falcon

Base Price: $2266

Automatic: $175

AM Radio: $62

Base Engine: 170-cubic-inch 100-horsepower six

Wheelbase/Overall Length (inches): 111/184

For 1969, Falcon was offered in base and Futura trim levels. Body styles included a 2-door “club” coupe, 2- and 4-door sedans, a hardtop sport coupe, and a station wagon.

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Plymouth Valiant

Base Price: $2290

Automatic: $176 (3-speed)

AM Radio: $62

Base Engine: 170-cubic-inch 115-horsepower six

Wheelbase/Overall Length (inches): 108/188

For 1969, Valiant was offered in 100 and Signet trim levels. A $45 “200” trim and decor group is often considered a midline trim level. Both 2- and 4-door sedans were available.

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