Cars not sold in the UK

[B Huey]

In the past car manufacturers made versions of cars that were never sold in the UK.

Stuff like the Pug 405 Turbo, 309 Gti 16 Valve, Renault Safrane 4x4 Turbo, 2dr Volvo 240 Turbo. There must be plenty more. I remember BMW selling diesels on the continent years before they did here.

Are there any cars you wish had been sold here and does it still happen?

[jbi]

RWD

Available with V6 or turbo 4




RWD

Available with 5.0 V8



RWD

Available with 6.2 Litre V8



RWD

Available with 6.4 litre v8



RWD

Availible with 6.4 litre V8

Edited by jbi on Thursday 6th January 18:53

[anonymous-user]

4wd BMW 3 and 5 series (i.e. x designated cars), I'd have bough one if they sold them here in RHD, some people want 4wd without having a cumbersome SUV.

[B Huey]

Very nice examples.

Why can't we buy them?

Edited by B Huey on Thursday 6th January 18:54

[anonymous-user]

Alpina B7 Biturbo All-Wheel-Drive

[iva cosworth]

Ferrari 208 ,made for home [Italian obv ] as 2.0 insurance bracket much cheaper

[TRUENOSAM]

Dacia Sandero.......... somebody had to say it

[B Huey]

A lex said:

iva cosworth said:

Ferrari 208 ,made for home [Italian obv ] as 2.0 insurance bracket much cheaper

Reminds me....

Alfa GTV/Spider (90's vintage) 2.0V6 Turbo. Built to avoid tax regs in Italy.

Sleeved version of the 3L Busso engine with a turbo whacked on. Gave roughly the same power as the 3L (230ish) but with a turbo power delivery and much less road tax.

A few made it to the UK.

Didn't they put that engine in the 155 too?

[Fox-]

Here is a good one - the E60 535i with the N54 twin turbo six.

We get it now in the F10, and we've always had it in the 335i and the 135i, but the E60 version was never offered here, only the Americans got it.

I've never been able to work out why.

[Daston]

Didnt TVR do something simular with the S sold it as a 2ltr super charged for the europe market (hence the bonnet scoop)

[Alfa numeric]

RHD AND Mustang V8. If we can have the HSV Commodore (ie VXR8), why can't we have this?

[Gizmo!]

When I was in Turkey last summer there were millions of these things tootling about: Clio saloons.



We used to get the saloony versions of small cars (remember the Nova saloon) but they don't seem to come here any more.

[LeightonBuzzard]

Does this count?

[B Huey]

Gizmo! said:

When I was in Turkey last summer there were millions of these things tootling about: Clio saloons.



We used to get the saloony versions of small cars (remember the Nova saloon) but they don't seem to come here any more.

Much like this booted 5.

[wildcat45]

South African market BMW 333i. The MK 2 £ series - don't know the E number sorry.

Basicaly a 3 series with a 3.3 litre engine, M Tech body kit and I think Alpina wheels. I guess the suspension was M Tech or Alpina based too.

Then there was one of those cars you should hate, but I secretly love.

The Volvo 780. Italian built by Bertone, boxy square coupe version of the Volvo 760.

Finally from me, the Mazda CX 9. A big different looking SIV. I'd have one like a shot but found importing one would have been very very expensive.

[Puddenchucker]

iva cosworth said:

Ferrari 208 ,made for home [Italian obv ] as 2.0 insurance bracket much cheaper

It was for tax reasons, not insurance.
Cars with engines over 2000cc were (still are?) taxed at a much higher rate.

[pistolpedro]

[0-100-0]

Wasn't there a 745i turbo from the early 1980's that we didn't get? I think we got a 728i or possibly a 735i as a range topper.

[0-100-0]

yellowbentines said:

Alpina B7 Biturbo All-Wheel-Drive

Very nice. What AWD system does that use?

Edited to sort quotes - now I know how it works!

Edited by 0-100-0 on Thursday 6th January 20:01

[AnotherClarkey]

Any Lancia. I wish they sold they Ypsilon here - nice city car with a great interior, much better than a 500 for not being a retro pastiche. I think the new one will be coming here badged as a Chrysler.

Also various 4x4 Alfa estates, there was even a type if 156 'allroad' IIRC.

Edited by AnotherClarkey on Thursday 6th January 19:45