10 totally forgotten cars owned by British drivers – from ultra-rare 50s Volvo to discontinued Lambo
SOME cars have it, and some simply don’t.
Creating a motor that resonates with the buying public can be a tricky business.
On the one hand, we can look at models like the Ford Fiesta or the Volkswagen Golf and completely understand why they quickly became popular.
On the other hand, why was the Ford Scorpio, sold between 1994 and 1998, such a sales flop? Was it really because of its unconventional looks?
It’s not just the Scorpio either; some cars simply fall into obscurity, forgotten by the vast majority of petrolheads, save for a handful of enthusiasts.
Recently, Autocar listed their picks for cars that are now totally forgotten, and we’ve selected 10 that really stood out.
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Volvo P1900
Just 68 examples of the P1900 were made between 1956 and 1957, drawing inspiration from the Chevrolet Corvette’s success in the US.
Featuring a glassfibre-bodied open top, the sportscar was considered to be of lower quality compared to Volvo’s usual standards.
Indeed, the story goes that Volvo president Gunnar Engellau took one for a drive during a holiday weekend in 1956 and immediately cancelled the remaining production upon his return to the office, claiming: "I thought it would fall apart.”
Fiat Dino
Synonymous with Ferrari, the Dino nameplate was once attached to the Italian sports carmaker’s label-mate Fiat, even using the same 2.0 or 2.4-litre V6 engines.
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Designed by Pininfarina and Bertone, depending on whether you picked up the roadster or coupe respectively, the Fiat Dino is considered a collectible today.
Indeed, Wheeler Dealers’ host Mike Brewer managed to pick up a gorgeous example for the show some 12 years ago, forking out just £12,500 before selling it for a small profit.
Today, they sell for around £72,000, with an example on Cars & Classic recently available for nearly £77,000.
Lamborghini Jarama
Few cars match the cool factor of a 1970s Lambo, but the little-known Jarama didn’t quite reach the same level as the Espada, Miura, or Countach.
In fact, Autocar describes the Jarama as essentially a cut-down edition of the beautiful Espada, even featuring the same V12 motor.
Only 328 units were built between 1970 and 1976, with its slow sales apparently due to it simply being overshadowed by other models.
Lonsdale Saloon
No, not the sports-wear brand.
In the 1980s, Mitsubishi set up a factory in Australia to build rebadged Sigmas for the UK, under the brand Lonsdale.
Based on the Galant, the Lonsdale YD41 model came with a choice of 1.5, 2.0 or 2.6-litre engines, but few were sold in the UK.
De Tomaso Longchamps
Luxury Italian car brand De Tomaso was eyeing Jaguar with the release of the Longchamp in 1972, which featured a powerful 5.8-litre V8 engine.
However, only 302 were produced, and despite its Ford-built motor, the cars had inconsistent build quality, which today is seen as susceptible to rust.
Citroen LN
Released in 1976, the Citroen LN was simply a rebadged Peugeot 104 (hence the image we used) with a 2CV engine.
Only sold in France, UK consumers were able to buy the LN's successor - the four-cylinder LNA - but it sold very poorly.
Dacia Denem
Dacia is one of the UK’s best-loved brands in 2024, known for its low-cost but surprisingly well-built range of vehicles, including the Spring and the rugged Duster.
But the Romanian car maker put out a Renault 12-rivalling Denem hatchback in the early 1980s which sold poorly and was quickly forgotten.
Alfa Romeo 90
The executive Alfa Romeo 90 was a great car in theory, but ultimately suffered from poor build quality and ergonomics.
While Alfa Romeo is known for its sporty motors and iconic, eye-pleasing design, the 90 is simply considered a nice, bland, but crisp car.
Ford GT70
Being the sequel to one of the world’s most iconic sports cars can never be an easy feat.
That was certainly the case for the Ford GT40's successor, the seldom-heard-of GT70.
The V6 mid-engined motor was built by Ford of Britain for rallying, but it suffered numerous problems, including a cockpit that was far too cramped for its occupants.
Just six were made, and rule changes in the World Rally Championship, along with the development of the Escort, meant Ford engineers opted to abandon the platform.
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Asia Rocsta
Distributed by Kia in the 1990s, the widely unheard of Asia Rocsta was sold in the UK between 1994 and 1998.
Considered poorly built, drivers could buy either a 1.8-litre petrol or 2.2-litre diesel-engined example, as either a jeep or a pick-up.