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All of them even rarer than your average Bentley S3 Continental -

ALFA ROMEO 90

Today the 90 is almost as forgotten as the works of Doctor & The Medics. On its launch in 1984, it suffered from a significant challenge – its appearance. In essence, the latest Alfa Romeo combined the Alfetta Berlina with the 2.5-litre engine from the Six and looks that harked back to The Protectors. Autocar thought ‘there was a good car looking to get out’, but the 90 would ‘mainly interest the dedicated Alfa Romeo enthusiast’. Surviving examples of the Gold Cloverleaf version now amount to one car - https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/vehicle/alfa_romeo_alfa_90_gold_cloverleaf

FIAT 133

Or, in reality, a SEAT, which debuted in 1974 as the heir to the 600 and the 850. In the following year, British market versions wore Fiat badges, but its appeal was apparently restricted to rear-engine enthusiasts who needed more space than a 126 could offer. It also helped if owners regarded a 75 mph top speed as thrilling. Car preferred the 133 to the Hillman Imp and the Mazda 1000, but too many drivers opted for the 127.  Today, four examples of the 133 remain in the road in the UK - https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=fIAT+133

TALBOT SOLARA

There is now a mere nine roadworthy Solaras - https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=talbot+solara. Perhaps if it had made its bow in 1976 alongside the original Chrysler Alpine, the saloon version might have stood more of a chance with the nation’s fleet buyers. As it was, the ageing Hunter remained in production until as late as 1979 with the now Talbot-badged Solara as its belated replacement in early 1980.

HONDA QUINTET

Some cars had a presence in the British car market – the Quintet had absence. This is not to suggest that it was a bad machine, for in 1980 the idea of the second-generation Civic formula writ large seemed highly promising. Autocar thought the Quintet had ‘a lot going for it’, but they never seemed to find favour with British motorists, and it comes as a genuine surprise to learn that 24 remain on the road - https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/vehicle/honda_5g_quintet_dx

RENAULT 14

When Renault introduced the 14 in 1976, their sales and marketing team clearly thought they were promoting a competitor to the VW Golf.  Alas, the five-door body may have been all-new, but too many potential customers regarded it as ungainly. Corrosion issues did not help matters, and in France, the 14 came to be known as the ‘rotten pear’. Any British enthusiast who craves an example will need to look hard as only seven are on the road - https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/?page=1&q=renault+14

AUSTIN ALLEGRO EQUIPE

This was no mere combination of the S2 body with the 1,748cc engine and a five-speed gearbox. This was an Allegro where tasteful orange and red stripes decorated the metallic silver paintwork, where your neighbours would (hopefully) wow to the front fog lamps, the matt black spoiler and alloy wheels. Not to mention seats upholstered in the finest black and brown dogtooth check upholstery available to humanity. Alas, just two Equipes are now roadworthy - https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=Austin+Allegro

VAUXHALL VX 4/90 FE FIVE-SPEED

The VX of 1976 was a clever revision of the FE, with Vauxhall introducing a new VX 4/90 version in March 1977. The front spoiler featured twin fog lamps, the seat trim was a somewhat vibrant tartan, and the standard equipment included five-speed transmission. It was an undeniably attractive machine, especially when finished in Silver Starfire Metallic, but try to find one now...

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