A look at Howmanyleft.co.uk reveals that only 43 examples of the Metro Vanden Plas are currently registered in the United Kingdom. Continue reading
1980s / 1990s / Austin / British / Endangered species
Category Archives: Endangered species
1980s / Citroen / Endangered species / French
Endangered species: Citroën Axel
Unquestionably one of Citroën’s most unloved models, the Axel is nearly extinct. Continue reading
1980s / Endangered species / French / Renault
Endangered species: Renault Fuego
The Renault Fuego’s story has already been told in these pages but a brief recap is in order. Introduced across Europe in 1980 as the successor to the 15 and the 17 coupes, the Fuego was built using a cocktail of 18 and 20/30 parts installed in a futuristic, wedge-shaped body. Its large glass hatch … Continue reading
Endangered species: Matra-Simca Rancho
There is a traditional recipe in France called “pain perdu,” a name that literally translates to “lost bread.” In the old days, it helped families cook a last-minute meal by putting together common ingredients such as sugar, eggs, milk and generally stale bread. The result is a slightly more elaborate version of toast. Continue reading
1980s / 1990s / Alfa Romeo / Endangered species / Italian
Endangered species: Alfa Romeo 164
There are two ways to look at the Pininfarina-designed Alfa Romeo 164. One, it was introduced as the latest in a long line of powerful and well-appointed range-topping Alfa sedans designed to take on the cream of the crop from big names such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Two, it was developed after Fiat’s purchase of … Continue reading
1980s / 1990s / Alfa Romeo / Endangered species / Italian
Endangered species: Alfa Romeo 33 SportWagon
Half station wagon and half shooting brake, Alfa’s three-door Alfasud Giardinetta had few direct competitors during most of its career. When the ‘Sud was replaced by the 33 in 1983, the new car market had evolved considerably and the Milan-based automaker had to make its entry-level wagon more mainstream in order to take on new … Continue reading
1980s / Datsun / Endangered species / Japanese / Nissan
Endangered species: Nissan Datsun Sunny (B11)
The Nissan Datsun Sunny (called B11 internally) hails from a time when uncertainty reigned over most Japanese automakers. After establishing a secure foothold in several markets throughout Asia, major players like Toyota, Honda and Nissan embarked on quest to get a sizable slice of the European and North American markets. With few exceptions, these automakers took … Continue reading
