Much was made of the fact that, as of 2019, battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) outsold cars equipped with manual transmissions. And, if you’re of the save-the-manuals movement, this was distressing news, no doubt.
Here’s some more bad news for traditional car aficionados: two-door coupes appear to be on their way out as well. Once nearly as common as sedans, coupes are now exceedingly rare. It’s hard to get a handle on just how many coupes are sold annually in the U.S., as the definition of coupe varies by reporting organization. Many coupe sales figures include cars like the Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang in their counts. Near as we can tell, traditional coupes—two doors, a rear trunk—now account for less than three percent of all vehicle sales in the U.S.—and most of those now come from German brands.
Collected here are a number of print ads for traditional coupes, from a model year when 2-door cars were still quite popular. Have a look:
Coupes of 1976
Buick
Dynaflow Madness! A Gallery Of Classic Buick Ads
Opel Isuzu by Buick
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Chevrolet Chevelle
Chevrolet Malibu Standard-Equipment Showdown: 1976 vs. 2016
Chevrolet Monza
5 Cheapest American Cars of 1980, Inflation Adjusted
Datsun 710
Dodge Aspen
Malaise Muscle: 1976-1980 Dodge Aspen R/T and Plymouth Volaré Road Runner
Ford Granada
Review Flashback! 1975 Ford Granada
Ford LTD
Spring-Special Madness! 10 Classic Limited-Edition Ads
Ford Torino
Photo Feature: 1973 Ford Gran Torino Sport
Oldsmobile Delta 88
Plymouth Volaré
Forward Look Madness! A Gallery of Classic Plymouth Ads
Volvo 242 DL
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Coupes of 1976 Gallery
(Click below for enlarged images)
Coupes of 1976
