1972 Dodge Colt Brochure, Shortest Cars
1972 Dodge Colt

We’ve looked at length at the longest cars of the Seventies, now let’s check in on the shortest. Predictably, the pint-size rides built at the end of Richard Nixon’s first term are of an economical bent–all but two of them (the Mercury Capri and Opel 1900) are the least-expensive vehicles in their respective lineups. 

Our collection of 10 cars is as tested by Consumer Guide and reported in Auto Test ’72–thus, there are no sports cars or low-volume import models represented here.

Note that the shortest car on our list is the Datsun 1200. For comparison purposes, we present here the specs for the shortest car in Nissan’s current lineup:

2015 Nissan Versa Note
2015 Nissan Versa Note

 

 Overall Length: 163.7 inches

 Wheelbase: 102.4 inches

 Curb Weight: 2460 pounds

 

 

If you remember spending time with any of these tiny rides, please tell us about it.

Hard to Park: The 5 Longest Cars of 1973

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Shortest Cars of 1972

 Datsun 1200: 150.8 Inches 

1972 Datsun 1200
1972 Datsun 1200

Wheelbase: 90.6 inches

Curb Weight: 1624 pounds

 

Dodge Colt: 159.8 Inches

1972 Dodge Colt
1972 Dodge Colt

Wheelbase: 90.6 Inches

Curb Weight: 1918 pounds

 

Fiat 124: 159.8 Inches

Fiat 124 Special
1972 Fiat 124

Wheelbase: 95.3 inches

Curb Weight: 2120 pounds

 

Volkswagen Super Beetle: 160.6 Inches

1972 Super Beetle
1972 Volkswagen Super Beetle

Wheelbase: 95.3 inches

Curb Weight: 1998 pounds

 

AMC Gremlin: 161.3 Inches

1972 AMC Gremlin
1972 AMC Gremlin

Wheelbase: 96.0 inches

Curb Weight: 2650 pounds

 

Opel 1900: 162.4 Inches

1972 Opel 1900
1972 Opel 1900

Wheelbase: 95.7 inches

Curb Weight: 2197 pounds

 

 Ford Pinto: 160.0 Inches

1972 Ford Pinto hatch
1972 Ford Pinto

Wheelbase: 94.0 inches

Curb Weight: 2074 pounds

 

Toyota Corona: 164.0 Inches

1972 toyota Corona
1972 Toyota Corona

Wheelbase: 95.0 inches

Curb Weight: 2195 pounds

 

Mercury Capri: 167.8 Inches

1972 Ford Capri
1972 Mercury Capri

Wheelbase: 95.0 inches

Curb Weight: 2195 pounds

 

Chevrolet Vega: 169.7 Inches

1972 Chevrolet Vega
1972 Chevrolet Vega

Wheelbase: 97.0 inches

Curb Weight: 2213 pounds

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