In 1979 Aston Martin made a bid for MG, and to show it meant business, it created this re-engineered 'B as a showcase on how the evergreen sports car could be kept alive for years to come

The Ford Sierra was a radical departure from the Cortina - and to soften potential customers before a year before its launch, Ford decided to preview its 'jellymould' in the Ford Probe III in 1981.

The Audi Quattro Spyder was a rolling test-bed of ideas for a future mid-engined sports car, built specifically with production in mind. Which might explain why when it was first show at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1991, it had buyers reaching for their chequebooks.