From bestsellers to little-known motors, these European cars used to be a common sight. Now, you’ll struggle to find them anywhere.
For the lucky few that are interesting, collectors save them as future Classic Cars. Sadly, most end up as recycled jumbles of steel, plastic, and wires. Separating the ones worthy of rescue is not a straightforward process. Scrapyards are full of not-so-old Mercedes, Jaguars, and BMW cars while cheaper old machinery keeps on motoring. One of the biggest culprits for this is price. The cost of maintenance can outweigh its usefulness, that’s why mass-produced cars of the ’80s are rarer. Ford’s hugely popular Escort sold in vast numbers, but you’ll rarely see one today.
European carmakers are among the best in the world. But, it’s buyers that dictate longevity, either good or bad. The DS mentioned later was a world-beater, and yet, survivors are a mere fraction of its awful Citroën 2CV sibling.
There’s little point in trying to understand the hows or whys. All old cars die sooner or later, no matter how common they are.
10 Peugeot 205GTi
King of the ’80s hot hatches, Peugeot’s 205GTi was once a popular sight on public roads. Despite the common branding, the 205 GTi sported two engine options, pushing out as much as 115 hp. Other major changes featured on the later 1.9-liter variant include rear disc brakes.
By the end of production in 1993, the hot hatch era had peaked and was on a downward trend. Peugeot moved away from hot hatches leaving a pocket-sized hole in the marketplace. Fast-forward to 2021, and things are no better. The number of cars registered has dipped low into the three-figure territory.
9 Citroën DS
If you thought the 205Gti above was a big seller, it pales in comparison with Citroën’s DS. Launched in 1955, the DS hit the top of the sales chart with 12,000 sales at its debut. That success continued throughout its production life shifting 1.4 million cars.
Futuristic by modern measures, let alone the late 1950s, the DS broke the mold for modern sedans. Even today, it still stands up well against current cars. Groundbreaking as its design was, the DS has all but vanished from public roads.
8 Escort XR3i
Aimed at budget-orientated buyers, Ford’s XR range delivered cheap performance to the masses. Little quicker than stock Escort models, the XR3 was more of a cosmetic makeover. After all, stripes, lights, and alloy wheels only came on the best-performing cars.
None of which mattered. The XR3 was everywhere from the school run, grocery trips, and of course the local car haunts. Whatever the 1.6-liter CVH engine lacked in horsepower, tuners and modders made up for with add-ons. Popular as the XR3 was, its cheapness made it almost disposable. In 2021 registered cars on the road have fallen as low as 61 cars.
7 BMW M3 E30
Five years and a low run of 5,000 E30 M3s later, the compact sports sedan was a niche in itself. Those numbers are hard to believe, throughout the ’80s, M3s “appeared” to be everywhere. If it hadn’t been for FIA homologation rules, the M3 and every hot sedan since might not have existed.
At the time, one of the most powerful production cars money could buy, the M3 boasted 197 hp. Under the hood, a unique S38/M10 hybrid displaced 2 liters delivering its peak power at 6750 RPM.
6 Lada Riva
Cheap, boxy, and if we’re honest, downright basic. In 1980 Lada believed the Riva was an affordable alternative to rival brands. In reality, the design was little changed from Fiat’s ’60s era 124 models. In Eastern Europe, it was a smash hit and sold three million cars by the end of production in 2010.
Of those millions, large numbers appeared in the west and would become a common sight. Dated it might have been, but old tech engines proved to be reliable if slow and dirty. Thankfully, the Riva has all but disappeared from public roads.
5 Maserati Biturbo
Derided as a cheap Italian coupe sure to break down regularly, the Biturbo gets a raw deal. Without the turbocharged boxy wedge coupe, Maserati most likely wouldn’t exist today. Not only did the coupe keep Maserati afloat, but it’s also the brand’s best-selling model.
Gandini’s styling and a 2.8-liter V6 turbo engine brought Italian style to the masses. Over thirteen years, it shifted an impressive 40,000 cars. Quite a feat considering its appalling build quality and expensive bills. As a sign of rarity, the numbers registered are in the low double-digit range.
4 Vauxhall/Opel Senator
Opel, Vauxhall, and even Holden have ties to the Senator. First produced in 1978, the Senator appeared in the boxy A model guise until 1987. These later cars attracted a huge following thanks to a 3.0-liter straight six cranking out 200 hp. Yet, most UK gearheads will recognize the familiar “jam sandwich” Police paint scheme.
Senators were the go-to vehicle for police patrols where space and speed played a vital role. Thankfully, the big Opel is no longer a worrisome sight in gearheads’ rearview mirrors.
3 BMC/Austin Mini
Small car nostalgia buffs will recognize the purity of the original Mini. Small on the outside and deceptively spacious on the inside. Launched in 1959, followed by various makeovers, the Mini was a smash hit shifting 5 million cars. Everyone wanted one.
For U.S. gearheads, the initial buzz fizzled out by 1977. Ever stricter emissions regulations forced Mini to give up on North America. Despite the huge successes, Minis are fast becoming a rare sight where bigger is better. You still see them, just not as often.
2 Porsche 914
In various guises, Porsche churned out a fraction under 119,000 cars with half ending up on U.S. shores. Much maligned for its confusing VW link, the 914 was popular with buyers craving a premium badge.
Without question, the 914 wasn’t Porsche’s best effort. In the lowest trim level that translated to a dismal 79 hp taking 13.3-seconds to reach 60 mph. Yet show one a twisty back road, and the 914 makes more sense. Oddly in an upturn of fortunes, the unloved Porsche is in high demand with few cars remaining to go around.
1 Jaguar S-Type
Jaguars mistimed retro-styled S-Type was more successful than many realized. Sure, it was an ugly mish-mash of old meets new, but looks alone don’t make a car great. Jag fans in the know recognized the S-Type’s potential with a peerless chassis and engine set-up. At the top end, Jaguar’s supercharged 400 hp V8 was on par with a BMW M5.
By far the biggest surprise was a diesel engine option boasting 320 ft-lbs of torque at 1900 RPM. If only the S-Type had been a little less retro inspired, it might be a more common sight today
