Think of a classic car and the chances are you’ll imagine something like a Ferrari 250 or an old Jag E-Type, rather than something like a Rover 75 or a Lada Niva.
Cars like that were the runts of the vast automotive litter, jokes from showroom to scrapyard. Yet hindsight’s a wonderful thing, and some of these vehicles which were ridiculed in their heyday are now actually gaining popularity as cult classics.
It’s a strange thing to think about. Could your nan’s old hatchback one day be a cherished classic? Will the Fiat Multipla one day end up in an art gallery, lauded for its forward-thinking design? Here’s a quick list of some one-time no-hopers that have gotten better with age.
Austin Princess
Then:
Back in the 70s, the fad for wedge-shaped cars saw the introduction of some of the most iconic designs in automotive history, from the Aston Martin Lagonda to the Lancia Stratos. And then there was the Austin Princess.
While other wedge cars looked sleek and futuristic, the Princess was a hunched and gaudy-looking thing that looked uncomfortable in its own metal. It also featured horrible hydroelastic suspension that made it feel like sledding on marmalade.
Now:
With the benefit of hindsight, the Austin’s unconventional looks make it stand out. A classic example of British eccentricity as its best, key to its rising popularity is the fact that it’s still cheap to buy for a car of its age.
Skoda Estelle
Then:
Back in the 1980s when the Estelle came out, Skoda was seen as something of a running joke in the UK, a curious Eastern European import akin to something like a Lada. Cold War suspicion had gotten the better of British buyers, and anything with a Skoda badge was to be ignored.
Now:
Thankfully, after Volkswagen scooped the brand up we’ve finally seen the error of our ways. Cars like the Estelle might have looked a bit basic, but they were an absolute blast to drive with rear-mounted engines and rear-wheel drive. The fact the Estelle-based Rapid Coupe is referred to as “the poor man’s 911” should say it all.
Rover 75
Then:
God loves a trier, but despite the fact that the 75 tried so hard to be a classic it seems as though the rest of us just didn’t love it. The fact that it was a Rover was almost something to mock in itself, and let’s be honest, it was a bit useless as a car.
Now:
Like dumping a significant other prematurely, it takes a while for you to realise how much you miss them. After all, in its own weird way the 75 definitely had a unique charm to it, and its long list of luxury kit like heated electric seats, a powered sunroof and piped leather seats did make it a bit of a bargain.
Lada Niva
Then:
What's the difference between a Lada and a golf ball? You can drive a golf ball 200 metres. Jokes like that are all most needed to know about Lada, a manufacturer that’s practically royalty in the world of automotive mockery.
The Niva, a Russian copy of a 1960s Fiat that featured technology from the 1950s, the handling of a horse-drawn plough and all the comfort of a gulag, typified everything that was great and terrible about Russian-made cars.
Now:
A little bit like Skoda, with the passage of time we’ve come to warm to Lada. Unlike Skodas, we still view them as distinctly Soviet oddities, but all the same cars like the Niva have earned both our curiosity and our respect. Moreover, they even seem to be going up in value…
