1978.(50th Anniversary countdown)

Import sales rise 37 percent from the previous year's figures, with more than 2.1 million sold in the United States, up from 1.5 million.

Domestics tally more than 9.1 million sales. Also climbing are trucks, up 16 percent to a record 3.7 million sales. In total, car and truck sales reach an all-time high of 14.9 million, an 11 percent increase.

In testing, editors call the Lancia Beta HPE wagon an enigma. Among others put through their paces: Plymouth Sapporo; Chevrolet El Camino Super Sport, Corvette L82 and Camaro Z28; Saab Turbo; Mercedes-Benz 200CD, 280CE, 300SD and 450SEL; Pontiac Trans Am Firebird; Jeep Cherokee; Porsche 928; BMW 733i; Volvo 262C; Datsun 810; Mazda RX-7; Peugeot 604; Honda Civic five-speed; Triumph Spitfire; Ford LTD; Jaguar XJ6L.

An English specialty company, Panther Westwinds, aims to build its P6, a six-wheeled "supercar'' with 620 hp that will reach speeds of 219 mph. Thank goodness dreamers exist.

Speaking of which, Chrysler's retired director of research, George Huebner, predicts that production gas-turbine-powered cars are 10 years from reality.

Could this be the understatement of the year, or even the decade? An AutoWeek headline declares: "CB Sales Aren't What They Used to Be.''

Or maybe this is it: "Finances Trouble DeLorean.''