SWANSONG CLASSICS
The UK’s new-car market has changed significantly since the 1990s, with a number of marques that were with us for many decades either disappearing into the history books via insolvency or retreating from these shores in order to focus on other regions. Not all of them are necessarily missed by the classic car fraternity, with brand names like Proton and Perodua being mourned by only a select few, while the final lineups from famous US brands like Chrysler, Dodge and Chevrolet left enthusiasts unenthused… aside from a handful of specialist cars bearing badges like Challenger and Corvette.
Elsewhere, however, we’ve lost (or are about to lose, in the case of Mitsubishi) marques that were still revered by many right up until the end. Even their final models were widely acknowledged as genuinely fine efforts, even if they didn’t quite match the market-changing excellence of some of their most impressive forebears. So, let’s take a look at some of the famous names that are no longer represented in the UK, as well as the models that still impressed at the time of their demise.
ROVER
FINAL CAR: ROVER 75
The British International Motor Show of 1998 was a massively important event for the Rover Group, with its new top-of-the-range 75 line-up revealed for the first time, set to go on sale early the following year to replace the old 600 and 800 ranges. The 75 was an interesting piece of design, combining retro influences and Rover-style traditionalism in a luxury package that was bang up to date.
Inside, too, the 75 was a joy, with a brilliantly designed dashboard that combined all the wood veneer
