‘Americans Went Mad For It. People Hate It'

- Nick Larkin

You never know what you’ve got till it’s gone,’ says the old adage, and music legend Me and You in their chart smash of the same name, which reached number 31 in 1979. I have that on a vinyl 45rpm record.

So, as 2017 increases its weary grip upon us, it’s time to press the case for one more car now becoming a rare sight on our roads to at least be considered as a classic. Well, at least a bit!

The model sold around 1.3 million units, and its unique styling echoes from the Thirties, Forties and Fifties. Owners, and I can testify to this as I did have one of these cars for a short time, wave fanatically to one another as they pass. And no, dissenters, not just out of sympathy. Some have even customised their cars. There’s loads of room inside, along with a painted metal dashboard. There were many special editions and you could even get ‘woodie’ and convertible versions.