Top 10: Car of the Year winners
The European Car of the Year award is open to cars available new in at least five European Union states, and which sell a minimum of 5000 per year. The event has grown significantly since the award was first run in 1964, but the spirit of the event remains the same. We've chosen 10 of the best award winners. It’s subjective, of course, so let us know what you think…
1981 Ford Escort Mk3
The 1981 CoTY was one of the more exciting ones for us Brits, because it saw what would become two of the best-selling cars of the 1980s (in the UK at least) go head-to-head – the Ford Escort and Austin Metro. As it was, Uncle Henry’s hugely significant mid-liner beat the Metro.
But the crisply-styled Escort wasn’t without faults. At launch is was saddled with suspension settings that would rattle-out your teeth on rough roads – and the hot version, the XR3, was gorgeous to look at, but wheezed along with a carburetted CVH and 96bhp.
Pete E on 17 October 2016
Looks like my first comment was lost. I bought my Fiat 128 while serving in the forces in Germany, 1970 model. Brought back to the UK and after 93,000 miles decided to upgrade. Dinitrol treated from new, just one small hole in valance when part x'd. It certainly was a grea little car. As I have said, I still have an original hubcap on my wall.David Walls on 17 October 2016
Whilst serving in the MN we took the first Austin 1800 to NZ, arriving in Jan 1964. Needless to say, the wharfies, using our derricks, dropped it from about 30 feet and it never turned a wheel. Signs of things to come.Mv Napier Star Cadet!
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