Depending on the country of origin, a single generation of a vehicle runs for about five to ten years. The Japanese usually redesign cars every five years, while the Europeans stretch it to about seven. For pickups and SUVs, it takes about a decade, and it’s the same some sports cars.
And then there are notable exceptions. For instance, the Nissan GT-R, which just wrapped up production, lasted from 2007 to 2025. The flatnose Toyota Hiace is another good example with the first units rolling out in 2004 and it’s still being made to this day.
But those are rookie numbers compared to the cars we’ll be listing down in a bit. The cars you’re about to see have been in continuous production since the previous century and are still being made to this day. We’re talking about cars that still look the same way they came out decades ago and still rides on the same basic chassis.
OTHER STORIES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED:
Mini PH rolls out five of its hottest John Cooper Works models
Love Bus operations officially begin in Davao, and yes, it’s free to ride
Just how old are the cars in the list? The ‘youngest’ model here is creeping up on 30 years old. Before you say L300, it’s not even close.
5.) Chevrolet Express (1996)
We kick off the list with the ‘youngest’ vehicle here, the Chevrolet Express. Released in 1996, it continues to be sold in the North American Market and can even be ordered via General Motors’ fleet services. It’s available in various body styles from passenger configurations to bare cab and chassis models.
The base engine is a 4.3-liter V6, but for those who need to haul more, there’s also a 6.6-liter V8. Given that it’s a commercial vehicle, it’s unlikely that Chevrolet will be axing this model in the near future.
4.) Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series (1984)
For as long as there are off-roaders, humanitarian efforts, and heavy hauling needs, we highly doubt that the Land Cruiser 70 Series will go away. It was initially supposed to be the ‘Light Duty’ version of the standard Land Cruiser, but it eventually evolved into its own thing later on. The 70 Series also paved the way to the model we now know as the Prado.
In the span of 40 years, there have been several design tweaks inside and out, as well as new engine options. Initial engine choices included a pair of four-cylinder engines, a 4.0-liter gas-fed inline-six, and a diesel-powered 4.0-liter inline-six. These days, there’s a 4.0-liter V6 gas, 2.8-liter diesel, 4.2-liter diesel, and 4.5-liter V8 diesel.
3.) Mitsubishi L300 (1979)
Yes folks, the L300 isn’t even the oldest model in this list. The fact that it sits in the middle shows how deep of a rabbit hole we’ve fallen in the search of single-generation models that are still sold today. The L300, also known as the second-generation Delica, wasn’t sold in the Philippines until the ‘80s, but its lineage dates back to the late ‘70s.
In most countries, the L300/second-gen Delica ran from 1979 to 1986, but continued production in most parts of Southeast Asia. The Philippines and Indonesia have been churning these utility vehicles for about 40 years already. While production was paused in the Philippines to accommodate the new 2.2-liter engine, it never stopped in Indonesia.
2.) Lada Niva (1977)
A single-generation model that’s even older than the L300? You better believe it. Launched in 1977, the Lada Niva could be labeled as one of the pioneers of the SUV. One might think it’s a car that Lada forgot to stop making, but it’s become a bit of a cult icon in Eastern Europe.
By all means, it’s the oldest single-generation SUV in the world, predating the term SUV itself. While the engines have been updated over the decades, it still uses the same mechanical bits from nearly 50 years ago. Think of this then as the Land Cruiser 70 of the Eastern Bloc, but even older.
1.) UAZ-452 (1965)
But of all the cars in the list, nothing comes close to our winner. It’s the only car here that has continuously been produced since the ’60s with not much in the way of massive changes. Meet the UAZ-452, and it’s literally a remnant of the early days of the Cold War. It looks like it, too.
It was made primarily for military and government purposes, but eventually opened up for public consumption – at least for those who could afford a personal vehicle in the Soviet Union at the time. It’s also used the same basic engine design for 60 years, merely adapting to the times by adding modern emissions control systems.
And whereas all the cars in this list have received interior and exterior updates and facelifts, the biggest design change made to the UAZ-452 is barely noticeable. It got a new set of side mirrors in the 2000s and, well, that’s it.
Even the interior is a time capsule of the ‘60s. Only the plastic steering wheel and LCD screen on the speedometer brings it to the new millennium. Modern ergonomics and creature comforts? Forget about it. At least there’s air-conditioning.
Nonetheless, it’s an interesting relic from 60 years ago. And for those who are curious about motoring in the Soviet Union over half a century ago, this is the only way to go.
Honorable mentions
This list wasn’t supposed to include the Chevrolet Express. What could’ve bumped it off was the Zamyad Z24 as it was introduced in 1970. The Z24 was a Nissan Junior pickup produced in Iran that remained largely unchanged since the day it was launched. However, has been discontinued, capping off 55 years of production.
A long single-generation production story isn’t complete without mentioning the Volkswagen Type 1, better known as the Beetle. It was built from 1938 to 2003 with relatively minimal changes, spanning a total of 65 years. That said, the UAZ-452 is just a few years away from matching that record.
Then we get to the Chevrolet Suburban. Yes, we know, several generations of it have been made, but the fact that the name has been around since 1935 is an impressive feat. It was first called the Suburban Carryall, but the formula has remained the same for 80 years. If we’re talking nameplates alone, Chevrolet’s largest SUV might be impossible to beat.
