Popular cars are a victim of their own success. With the supply of used examples outstripping demand, values plummet faster than an elephant on a bungee cord. The scrapyard is an inevitable destination once the car is deemed uneconomical to repair.
Using DVLA data correct at the end of Q3 2020, we’ve pulled together a list of 25 once common cars that are becoming increasingly rare. The data isn’t 100 percent accurate, so we’ve rounded the figures up or down where appropriate. In all cases, the number is based on cars taxed and tested, rather than those laid up in garages.
Ford Cortina – 4,200
Your dad probably owned a Ford Cortina. The chances are you were driven to school in Ford’s blue-collar hero. In truth, numbers are holding up pretty well considering the last Cortina left a Ford showroom in 1982. It helps that nearly 2.6 million Cortinas found a home in Britain.
Ford Capri – 3,300
The Capri was based on the Ford Cortina platform, but was designed to spice up your dad’s life. It sold in big numbers, making regular appearances in the top 10 sales chart, but Capri production stopped in 1986. Numbers are holding steady, thanks to strong values on the classic car market.
Ford Sierra and Sierra Sapphire – 2,300
Nearly 3.5 million Ford Sierras were built in the 1980s and early ‘90s, but it took a while for the nation to embrace the Cortina’s successor. The styling was too much of a leap for motorists who had grown up with four-door saloons, but the Sierra soon found its feet. It’s now a rarer sight than the car it replaced.
Vauxhall Cavalier – 1,500
For a while, the Cavalier took advantage of the Sierra’s slow start, with conservative buyers flocking to the sanctuary of the Vauxhall. Some 1.8 million Cavaliers were built, but the majority of the survivors are the third-generation models. Numbers are still in decline.
Ford Granada – 1,150
When an executive broke through middle management and found a place in the boardroom, there was only one car on the shortlist. The Ford Granada had presence in spades and, in the right trim level, a level of luxury to rival the premium players. A Kuga Vignale doesn’t hold quite the same appeal.
Vauxhall Nova – 900
Two decades ago, there were more than 440,000 Vauxhall Nova roaming the streets of Britain. The Nova had universal appeal, whether it was taking Doris to the bingo or helping Jason get his end away with Zoe in the retail car park. Today, fewer than a thousand remain. Jason and Zoe are no longer a couple.
Renault 5 – 900
Nearly 5.5 million Renault 5s were built during a production run that spanned a quarter of a century. Plenty of second-generation Supercinqs survive, but earlier cars are harder to come by than a statesmanlike politician.
Peugeot 405 – 600
In 1994, there were 250,000 Peugeot 405s in active service in the UK. The stylish Pininfarina-designed saloon and estate could rival the BMW 3 Series for driving dynamics, but all except the sporting versions face a fight for survival.
Citroen AX – 500
Citroen ploughed a huge amount of time and money into the development of the AX, and while its appearance might suggest otherwise, it was a surprisingly clever car. The use of lightweight materials made it very efficient, while the GT and GTI versions were thrilling to drive. Around 500 survive, with rust threatening the hangers-on.
Austin/MG/Rover Maestro – 400
The Maestro always faced an uphill struggle in the UK, with the sales chart dominated by the Ford Escort and Vauxhall Astra. MG versions were genuinely fast, especially the turbocharged versions, but enthusiasts are the only people keeping the Maestro alive.
Austin/MG Metro – 400
The Austin Metro was designed as a successor to the Mini, but British Leyland panicked at the last minute when feedback suggested it might fail to replicate the success of the iconic city car. BL made it bigger than planned and created a ‘supermini’. It was a huge success, but only around 400 remain. This figure excludes the Rover versions.
Ford Orion – 350
There was a time when the saloon version of the Ford Escort was known as the Ford Orion. Sadly, although its star shone brightly for a while, most notably in Ghia Injection form, the Orion was forced to suffer the indignity of losing its identity. It later became the Ford Escort saloon.
Morris Marina – 375
The butt of a thousand jokes – and victim of too many piano-based pranks – the Morris Marina was a familiar sight on Britain’s roads. It simply wasn’t good enough to take on increasing competition from Europe and Japan. Around 375 survive in the year of its 50th anniversary.
Datsun/Nissan Bluebird – 350
The Bluebird helped to put Nissan on the map, especially in Washington, where it was the first car the company built in the UK. Exciting it was not, but as a practical and utterly reliable car, it won a legion of admirers. Today, around 350 are enjoying active service.
Opel Manta – 275
The Opel Manta was the Ford Capri’s chief rival. In the UK, the Opel name sounded far more exotic than Vauxhall and, whisper this, in many ways it was superior to the Capri. But no country loves the Capri more than the UK, so Ford won the battle. Just 275 Mantas survive.
Citroen BX – 250
The BX catapulted Citroen into the mainstream, most notably when the diesel version cemented itself as a favourite within fleet circles. As recently as the late 1990s, the Citroen BX was a familiar sight. Today, the Gandini-designed Citroen is a rarity in the UK.
Vauxhall Chevette – 250
Not all of the cars listed here are in freefall. Take the Vauxhall Chevette, which has been holding steady on 250 for a while, which suggests the surviving cars are in the hands of enthusiasts.
Vauxhall Carlton – 225
Thankfully, the Vauxhall Carlton’s rate of decline has slowed, but there will come a time when only the high-performance versions – such as the GSi 3000 and Lotus – will actually survive.
Renault 19 – 200
The Renault 19 has been all but forgotten in the UK. Even the desirable 16v and Cabriolet versions are rarer than a genuine bargain on Black Friday.
Fiat Uno – 200
Believe it or not, the Fiat Uno is one of Europe’s most successful cars, with 8.8 million units produced. Rust has seen off most of them, but 200 are taxed and tested in the UK.
Austin Allegro – 200
It has come to symbolise everything that went wrong with the British car industry. In many ways, this is helping to keep the Austin Allegro alive, because it’s never far from classic car headlines. Indeed, there are now more on the road than there were a couple of years ago.
Lada – 160
The hot take from this entry is that we’re not talking about a single model. There are just 160 Ladas on the road in the UK. This is a far cry from the days when the Russian company dominated the budget end of the market.
Austin Maxi – 160
The Austin Maxi has always been overshadowed by its more illustrious sibling, the Mini, which is a shame, as the Maxi was way ahead of its time. It was let down by poor marketing and bad management.
Austin/Rover Montego – 115
Once upon a time, the Austin Montego was the choice of the patriotic sales rep. Based on the Maestro, the Montego was available as a saloon and a practical estate. A mere 115 survive.
Vauxhall Belmont – 40
The Vauxhall Belmont was, at one time, the most stolen car in Britain. Was it half-inched for its performance, luxury and style? No, it was simply easy to break into. The Belmont concludes our tour of once-common cars that are spiralling into the abyss.
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