AN INCREDIBLE collection of Britain’s rarest cars were recently put on display – including a Citroen dubbed “too weird” for the road.
Petrolheads gathered at the Classic & Retro Car Revival motor show at Tatton Park, Knutsford, back in August to gaze upon over 1,000 cars – including a host of seldom seen machines considered critically endangered.
The iconic Colt Sapporo is considered a collectible among car enthusiasts[/caption]
The Peugeot 604 is a classic car that’s rarely seen in 2024[/caption]
Among the many motors parked up at the stately home in Cheshire were 16 cars from the Telegraph’s famous series of the nation’s rarest machines.
An impressive Austin Ambassador was among them, produced in 1983 as an updated version of the Princess.
Only sold in the UK, today only 14 Ambassadors remain on the roads in Britain out of 43,500 built.
A few years before that, Austin, a subsidiary of British Leyland, also produced the largely forgotten Wolseley “Wedge” – a motor that was only offered by Leyland for seven months in 1975 before introducing the Princess badge.
Today, only seven of the last-ever Wolseley are believed to remain on the road.
A more familiar-looking Ford Sierra 1.6-litre also made the list, alongside the Peugeot 604 and the little-known Toyota Crown.
The state-of-the-art Crown even boasts a fridge underneath the parcel shelf, and the model was known for being expensive when new and equally as pricey to maintain.
Audi is adored by executives and the like in 2024 for their stylish, performance saloons – and it was very much the same case in the 1970s with the C1-series Audi 100 GL.
According to the Telegraph, many enthusiasts chose to restore the Coupe S version of the 100, which consequently meant the four-door version is now much rarer.
Car fanatics were also treated to the Colt Sapporo with its bizarre aircraft-style console, sat alongside the Colt Galant 2000 Turbo – capable of 127 mph.
While the Austin Allegro remains a cult favourite among Brits, the Special LE iteration – with its Sundym tinted glass, passenger door mirror, and lockable fuel cap – was considered exclusive and luxurious in the 1970s.
Further on, there’s the seven-seater Saab 95 from 1963 with its three-cylinder, two-stroke engine, alongside the curiously four-wheel-drive Toyota Tercel.
The Fiat 127 may seem familiar to road users around in the 1970s, but today they’re seldom seen on UK roads, as is the Citroen BX – a car dubbed “too weird” for most.
Top 10 most expensive cars ever sold at auction
By Jacob Jaffa, Motors Reporter
- Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé (1955) – £114.4 million
- Ferrari 250 GTO (1962) – £52.3 million
- Ferrari 250 GTO Tipo (1963) £41.4 million
- Ferrari 250 GTO (1962) – £30.7 million
- Ferrari 335 Sport Scaglietti (1957) – £28.8 million
- Mercedes-Benz W196 (1954) – £23.8 million
- Ferrari 290M (1956) – £22.6 million
- Ferrari 275 GTB/4 S NART Spider (1967) – £27.5 million
- Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale (1964) – £21.2 million
- Aston Martin DBR 1 (1956) – £17.7 million
This comes as a talented carpenter built his son a mini Rolls-Royce using planks of wood – that can even be driven.
The incredible build, which resembles the look of modern day Rolls-Royce cars such as the Phantom and the Ghost, took the creator just 120 days to complete.
Fans of rare motors will also love this limited edition James Bond-inspired Aston Martin – complete with diamond wheels, gold-plated interior, and a V8 engine.
However, fans of the iconic spy movie will have to fork out a staggering £300,000 to own this Goldfinger edition of the DB12.
Elsewhere, many popular car models could soon disappear from UK roads forever and become extinct – according to experts.
These vehicles could face a swift decline “as the automotive industry shifts towards electric vehicles, and includes the cult favourite Hyundai Coupe and the very popular Renault Megane.”
Top 10 car models likely to soon be extinct
HERE are the top 10 car models that are likely to soon be extinct and when they are expected to disappear, according to Ovoko.
- Hyundai Coupe – August 28, 2026
- Renault Megane – July 7, 2029
- Ford Mondeo – May 24, 2033
- Renault Scenic – January 13, 2034
- Ford Ka – February 18, 2035
- Toyota Avensis – August 19, 2037
- Audi A2 – February 28, 2046
- Kia Carens – January 10, 2049
- Mazda 6 – April 18, 2049
- Jeep Cherokee – June 3, 2050
The Citroen BX was once considered too weird for the roads thanks to unusual design[/caption]
The Austin Allegro was once of the most common cars on UK roads, but the Special LE iteration was a rare sight and seldom seen today[/caption]
