You only realize how old you are when you see that the Alfa Romeo 156 is already 25 years (!) old. The beautiful Italian business sedan is one of the cars that is celebrating a special anniversary this year. We list six more.
Alfa Romeo 156 (25 years)
Perhaps the Alfa 156 is the best Alfa Romeo ever built. The design is still magnificent after 25 years and the build quality is also more than decent. The 156 is a masterpiece by designer Walter de’Silva, the door handle that is concealed in the rear side window is still widely imitated today. In one fell swoop, Alfa Romeo dealt with the criticism that it had lost its own character since the takeover by Fiat in 1986. The handling characteristics made Alfisti even happier than those of predecessor 155 and (as it turned out) the obese successor 159.
BMW 1500 ‘New Class’ (60 years)
The ailing BMW had a remarkable model range in 1962: either very small (Isetta, 600, 700), or very large (501/502 ‘Barockengel’). And then in 1962 the first of five models came on the market under the name ‘Neue Klasse’. This BMW 1500, a predecessor of the 5-series, laid the foundation for the sporty image of the brand, both with its appearance and its driving characteristics. The Hofmeister kink in the C-pillars became a typical design feature of BMW in the decades that followed. But the main merit of the Neue Klasse is that it has ensured that BMW survived its post-war crisis.
Daihatsu Copen (20 years)
If you’re taller than 1.90 meters, you should hope you never get caught in a downpour. The Copen is so small and low that your head sticks out above the windshield. At first it was only available in Japan, later also in Europe, but with the steering wheel on the right. Daihatsu quickly rectified this and when the small 0.6-litre engine was also replaced by a 1.3 with 87 hp, the Copen became one of the best driving cars. in the world. Although we also remember a precarious moment in the morning rush hour, between two trucks. We have never felt so small.
Mercedes S class W116 (50 years)
In 1972, the new top model from Mercedes was officially presented as an S-class (Sonderklasse) for the first time. Before that, the S was a type designation for fast models, such as the Mercedes 250 S and the 300 SEL 6.3. The W116 was to become the safest and most comfortable car in the world. It was the first Mercedes with horizontally placed headlights and grille, a style feature that still stands proudly in many new models after 50 years. The buttons were placed deeper in the dashboard to prevent injuries in the event of a collision. You could also come home in 1972 with a Cw value of 0.41.
Opel Kadett A (60 years)
General Motors headquarters in Detroit commissioned Opel in the late 1950s to build ‘the perfect anti-Beetle’. Then of course the engine had to be in the front and you turned up your Rüsselsheimer nose for air cooling. The technicians did their job very well. The Opel Kadett was faster and more economical than the Volkswagen Beetle with its brand-new 40 hp 1.0-litre inline engine – placed in the front and water-cooled. An additional advantage: the water cooling provided the Opel Kadett with good heating …
Renault 5 (50 years)
Anyone who turned on his black-and-white TV in 1972 saw on the advertisement how the latest Renault model was announced: “Bonjour, I’m the Renault 5, I’m also called Supercar!” With front-wheel drive, plastic bumpers and a large tailgate, the R5 was truly a revolutionary supercar in miniature. Other brands copied its technology and its design, which remains the standard for compact cars to this day. The Renault 5 was drawn by Michel Boué … in his spare time. The management of Renault was so impressed by the sketches that plans were immediately made to take the car into production. An electric retro model from Renault will probably come on the market in 2024, which is very reminiscent of the old R5.
Xedos 6 (30 years)
In the early 1990s, there was a trend among well-known Japanese manufacturers. They released their most chic models under a new brand name. Expensive Toyotas went through life as Lexus, Hondas with haircuts were called Acura. Mazda also participated and introduced the Xedos 6 and 9. The Xedos 6 was packed to the brim with luxury items for which the German competitors made you pay a lot extra. His two-litre six-cylinder was a jewel, comfort was excellent and he was reliable. But hey, that status… You make more of an impression when you casually throw a BMW key on the table.