Magnificent Motors

Motoring

Magnificent Motors

Join us to celebrate some of the most iconic cars of the last five decades. While motor manufacturing in the UK will perhaps never again rival the colossal quantities of cars being rolled out by the Germans, the Americans or the Japanese, our appreciation of the four-wheeled vehicle is one that few other nations can better. That dedication to cars has led us to champion and cherish some iconic vehicles over the years. With that in mind, here’s a car from each of the past five decades that deserves to be celebrated all over again.

THE SEVENTIES Ford Escort Mk II

The Escort was essentially an off-road rally car in disguise, with the Mk II something of a known risk for Ford as they knew they had knocked it out of the park with the Mk I. Could they repeat the trick? Absolutely they could. Over two million of the Mk I were sold and in 1974 came its sister and successor. Despite a tight budget meaning they’d have to use the same core structure from before, designers managed to configure a newer, more modern body shape. The result was a manufacturing masterstroke. Another two million were sold, and even now, over four decades on from when the last one rolled off the production line in 1980, you can still purchase new unibody shells and Mk II components, effectively allowing you to recreate your own from the ground up.

THE EIGHTIES Volkswagen Golf GTi Mk2

There was a myriad of new models to choose from in the Eighties, but 1984 saw a true petrolhead’s car roll off production lines. The Volkswagen Golf GTi Mk2 was a classy and well-rounded vehicle – if expensive. There were millions who craved the Golf GTi (either the Mk1 or Mk2). It tapped into the sporty suave market, with a brutish engine and instantly recognisable look. Backed by an immaculate marketing campaign, this yuppie wagon epitomised an era where efficiency could also equal fun.

THE NINETIES Ford Mondeo

Ford have always loved producing hatchbacks, estates and big family saloon cars; and in 1993 they trumped everything done previously, with the Mondeo. There was barely a UK street that didn’t showcase this gamechanger’s combination of practicality and

style, in what was deemed the ultimate saloon. It was smart, sensible and affordable, complementing luxury interiors with Ford reliability. It also set the mark for the raft of copycat family cars that were to follow. Looking back, it’s perhaps no coincidence that Mondeo literally translates from Esperanto as ‘world’. For many owners, it was their world.

THE NOUGHTIES Nissan Qashqai

The turn of the new Millennium saw the dawn of the SUVs, or Sports Utility Vehicle. The Germans were at the forefront, with BMW, Audi and Mercedes pushing premium practicality as only they can; yet one car that more than held up to the competition in a fierce market was the Nissan Qashqai. The Japanese compact crossover vehicle made its first appearance towards the end of the decade in 2007, and its impact was huge. Nissan had previously dipped their toe into the SUV market with the X-Trail, but the Qashqai – seen as its baby brother – turned into a rather hefty sibling, setting the tone for the mid-sized family 4x4. Over three million have now been sold, with that milestone being hit at the firm’s Sunderland plant.

THE TENS Tesla Model S

With the invention of the electric car, Tesla came into the market as a pure disruptor, yet the brand has gone on to stand for so much more. The five-door sedan remains the flagship model for company owner Elon Musk. Introduced tentatively to the general public in June 2012, Tesla now have the capability of producing a million cars per year. Only their own rate of production seems to stand between them and the aim of becoming the world’s most successful car manufacturer.