Are any cars actually extinct?
Discussion
Ignoring limited runs or one off's, are there any mass produced classic (or newer) cars that are actually known to be extinct? Just curious from discussions of the 'How Many Left' that appear on some of the threads here.
I know the AC Invacar's were all supposed to be crushed, but there are one or two in museums and in fact one sitting in a field near me. I'm guessing if anything is close to extinct, it's probably a BL incarnation of some sort?!
I know the AC Invacar's were all supposed to be crushed, but there are one or two in museums and in fact one sitting in a field near me. I'm guessing if anything is close to extinct, it's probably a BL incarnation of some sort?!
I doubt you could say for certain that there are definitely absolutely none of anything left, unless we're talking small enough volume that you can account for every single chassis number.
The best you could say is that none are _known_ to still exist in the UK, maybe plus other countries if you liaised with clubs etc there.
The best you could say is that none are _known_ to still exist in the UK, maybe plus other countries if you liaised with clubs etc there.
Couldn't be further from "mass produced", didn't actually make production. At the same time as the Griffith launch, TVR also displayed the Speed Eight, a 2+2 convertible based on the Tasmin. Of course, the Griffith stole the show and went on to be a huge success for TVR. Apparently Peter Wheeler had the Speed Eight bodys cut up with a chainsaw to ensure none survived 
How Many Left? Is an interesting site.
I'm shocked by how few ordinary, mundane cars from the 1980s are left.
For example, there are no Austin Metro 1.3s currently licenced and only 3 shown as SORN. Likewise, there are no Austin Montego 2.0s licenced and only 4 SORNed.
And it appears there are only 5 Skoda Estelles (all models) left on the road.
When you consider how many of these cars were on the roads in the 1980s it's amazing how few have survived. I expect the scrappage scheme has a lot to do with it.
I'm shocked by how few ordinary, mundane cars from the 1980s are left.
For example, there are no Austin Metro 1.3s currently licenced and only 3 shown as SORN. Likewise, there are no Austin Montego 2.0s licenced and only 4 SORNed.
And it appears there are only 5 Skoda Estelles (all models) left on the road.
When you consider how many of these cars were on the roads in the 1980s it's amazing how few have survived. I expect the scrappage scheme has a lot to do with it.
rallycross said:
How any left is very much out of sync with the real numbers ie there are far more out there
there's a degree of GIGO with the DVLA records - where poorly completed or mis-typed entries by dealers / LVLO/swansea create ghosrt vehicles that don;t show up in the common recordsR_U_LOCAL said:
And it appears there are only 5 Skoda Estelles (all models) left on the road.
This is a great example of how HML can be confusing.There might only be 5 "Skoda Estelle", but they weren't all badged "Estelle". There's also 11 120L, 3 120LS, 6 120LSE, 1 120LX, 3 120LXE, 1 120 5 Spd, 3 Rapid 120G, 4 130GL, 4 130GLE, 11 130 Rapid and 18 136 Rapid. All different variants of the last of the rear-engined Skoda, what people think of as all being "Estelle". So that's another 65 cars - taxed, not even including SORN - not bad, if you believe the stories of VAG trying their hardest to buy 'em all up and crush 'em to try to remove the brand legacy...
As for Metros, are you just searching for "Austin" Metros? There's four pages come up for "Metro", including Rover and MG, before you include all the Rover 100, 111, 114... 2.0 Montegos? Plenty! Just search for "Montego", rather than "Austin Montego 2.0"
3xpendable said:
Ignoring limited runs or one off's, are there any mass produced classic (or newer) cars that are actually known to be extinct? Just curious from discussions of the 'How Many Left' that appear on some of the threads here.
I know the AC Invacar's were all supposed to be crushed, but there are one or two in museums and in fact one sitting in a field near me. I'm guessing if anything is close to extinct, it's probably a BL incarnation of some sort?!
That's a really interesting thought. Plenty of tales of mythical cars missing but never crossed my mind before whether there are any mass produced cars for which there are no remaining examples. I know the AC Invacar's were all supposed to be crushed, but there are one or two in museums and in fact one sitting in a field near me. I'm guessing if anything is close to extinct, it's probably a BL incarnation of some sort?!
Vanin said:
Vauxhall Royale is teetering on the brink. 0 licenced and 2 sorn. Probably no manual gearbox versions left.
Didn't we have one of those as SOTW once, back in the mists of time?ETA - yup, thought so - http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... Not that long ago either. I'd be surprised if HML was accurate on that one.
Edited by mrtwisty on Thursday 21st May 08:18
Vanin said:
Vauxhall Royale is teetering on the brink. 0 licenced and 2 sorn. Probably no manual gearbox versions left.
Vauxhall Royale - 0 taxed, 2 SORNed (one was taxed over the summer)Vauxhall Royale Auto - 3 taxed, 40 SORNed (8 taxed over the summer)
Vauxhall Royale Inj - looks like last died in 2009
Vauxhall Royale Inj Auto - 1 taxed, 5 SORNed.
So looks like there's 51 Royales still alive.
MPG955W, the SOTW Royale in 2011, was probably scrapped in 2012 - the Mar 2011 MOT he did all that work to get? That was the last one it had. The tax was cashed in in late Oct '12, and it was never SORNed.
Edited by TooMany2cvs on Thursday 21st May 08:55
MGgeordie said:
FSO Polonez?
2 taxed, 9 SORN.MGgeordie said:
Renault 20 & 30?
30-odd 20s and 10 30s taxed. I CBA to go through and add the SORNed up.MGgeordie said:
Yugo Sana?
1 taxed, 4 SORN.If only www.howmanyleft.co.uk would put a nice easy search on their website...
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