As has become something of an Automotive Anorak tradition in recent years, it is good to kick-off the New Year with a summary of the cars that first saw the light of day fifty years ago, with a quick review of some of the more significant new vehicles that were launched half-a-century back in 1972.
Beyond a quartet of truly important and ground-breaking new models debuting fifty years ago, 1972 brought a wealth of other new cars, some commercially more significant than others. To save you valuable reading time and energy, rather than pick through these major new players individually, as has traditionally been the case, I am highlighting these 1972 debutants by grouping them into the main countries of their development and production. Enjoy.