The world of classic motoring is recognised for its sense of community, with each popular model having its own owners club where members can meet to compare models and exchange advice.
However, whilst almost all types of older car have declined in population over the years, there are a number of models that are nearly extinct, with only one remaining example on the roads.
This includes the Alfa Romeo Arna, an unsuspecting hatchback from the mid 1980s that was the result of a strange agreement between the Italian company and Nissan.
Whilst Alfa Romeo are best known for their sleek and sporty coupes, the Arna was a rebadged version of the practical, if a little plain, Nissan Cherry, made in Italy with a slightly more powerful engine.
More than 53,000 Alfa Romeo Arnas were produced between 1983 and 1987. However, poor build quality and rust protection means that only one is left in full working order in the UK, with a couple of other examples believed to be in storage awaiting restoration.
A Japanese car with some true power but the same level of rarity is the Isuzu Piazza Turbo, a sleek coupe that was built between 1980 and 1990.
A real departure from the rugged pick-up trucks they sell today, the Isuzu Piazza Turbo featured clean-cut lines from the famous Italian stylist Giorgetto Giugiaro and a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine taken out of the Ford Capri.
However, in spite of the Piazza Turbo’s 0-62mph acceleration time of just 8.4 seconds, the sleek Isuzu was never a popular choice amongst sportscar buyers in the UK, meaning just one is left in the UK, with a further four on SORN.
However, not all rare cars in the UK were flops from the beginning. One model that was a common sight across the country during the 1970s was the Moskvitch 412.
One of the first popular cars to come out of the Soviet Union, the Moskvitch featured a very low price, often being cheaper to buy than a much smaller and less powerful Mini. However, the introduction of the more modern Lada 1200 in 1974 along with safety and build quality concerns meant that the Moskvitch fell out of favour with UK drivers.
Whilst a handful budding classic car owners have since imported examples from former Soviet countries, only one Moskvitch 412 sold in the UK is currently registered with the DVLA.
Finally, even some staples of the streets that were made in the UK are approaching extinction, such as the facelifted version of the Vanden Plas 1.5.
An unusual and often derided car, the Vanden Plas 1.5 was a luxury version of the Austin Allegro saloon, featuring an interior trimmed in leather and walnut and a large chrome grille on the front end.
Whilst earlier examples of the Vanden Plas-made Allegro can be found at classic car shows, Series III examples of the personal luxury car are incredibly rare, with just one 1.5 version left.
