The plight of Britain’s classic family cars has been highlighted in a recent report compiled by the Telegraph’s Honest John. Surviving numbers of cars like the Morris Ital (only 0.1% remaining) and the Vauxhall Viva (0.07%) show just how few such cars have been kept on the road.
The list was created by comparing DVLA records between 1950 and 1995 to current records. At the top of the endangered list is the Austin Allegro, of which only 0.05 per cent of the full production run still survive. In total, 291 Allegro’s are still on the road (including taxed and SORN cars). Given that 640,000 Allegros were built between 1973 and 1982, the figure is surprising – and saddening for many classic car enthusiasts.
The Austin Montego and Austin Princess are the second- and third-most endangered cars.
The Ford Cortina is also in jeopardy, with only 5,411 still on the road. It was the UK’s best-selling car between 1973 and 1980, but is now the 12th most endangered model on the list.
It has been pointed out that many of these cars have not yet passed into classic status, and numbers may dwindle to almost zero before they do. Unnecessary scrappage and artificially low prices have been blamed for hastening the disappearance of these cars from our roads.
While some may regard such cars as being unnecessary burdens on mechanics and breakdown insurers, when taken care of properly they can run well for decades.
Percentage of remaining cars
1. Austin Allegro 0.05 per cent
2. Austin Montego 0.05 per cent
3. Austin Princess 0.05 per cent
4. Hillman Avenger 0.06 per cent
5. Vauxhall Viva 0.07 per cent
6. Morris Marina 0.08 per cent
7. Austin Maxi 0.08 per cent
8. Morris Ital 0.1 per cent
9. Rover SD1 0.1 per
10. Vauxhall VX-series 0.1 per cent
11. Austin Metro 0.1 per cent
12. Ford Cortina 0.1 per cent
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