Counter to what some analysts believed during and immediately after the Cash for Clunkers program — that vehicle sales would slump through the remainder of 2009 — December sales for several carmakers jumped well above same-month sales in 2008.

Both Ford and Subaru posted sales leaps of 33% for December 2009 over the same period in 2008. And Hyundai beat those carmakers with a 34% gain.

Only recently have some analysts begun to reevaluate their SAAR projections for 2009.

Also posting solid December sales were Honda at 24%, Nissan at 18% and Volkswagen at 16%.

Even as Ford moves to sell off Volvo (which contributed to Ford’s sales leap) to China’s Geely, Volvo Cars of North America reported its U.S. sales jumped nearly 14% in December 2009 over December 2008, while its Canadian sales leapt 133%.

The definite rise wasn’t enough, though, to offset 2009’s overall 14.6% decrease in North American sales compared to 2008.

GM’s and Chrysler’s December numbers were down 6% and 4% respectively. Isuzu posted the worst sales, down 100% compared to 2008.

Industry wide, December 2009 showed a respectable 11% increase over 2008. But the year-end totals were down 22% over 2008.