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.
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.
5 Most-Expensive American Sedans of 1975
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.
The 5 Most-Expensive American Wagons of 1969
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.
Model-Year Madness! 10 Classic Ads From 1969
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.
Car Spotter: 1969 Mercury Cougar Eliminator
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.
Pony-Car Madness! A Gallery of AMC Javelin Ads
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.
Listen to the very entertaining Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast
Compact Cars of 1969 Gallery
(Click below for enlarged images)
Compact Cars of 1969
Compact Cars of 1969
