Unicorns: The small-selling cars, now vanishing fast

We all know about the successful cars that pepper the bestseller lists.

But what about the ones that sold less welI? In this story, we take a close look at them, and also dig out the specific derivatives of a model that are very rare (when did you last see a V8-powered Volvo S80 like this one?), and in some cases it was the model as a whole that wasn’t a success. And tell you how many survive on UK roads today. Climb aboard:

Alfa Romeo Six (1979)

You can count the number of successful Italian executive/luxury saloons on one hand, but the Alfa Romeo Six took the term ‘dismal failure’ to extremes. Built between 1979 and 1986, the Six introduced Alfa’s glorious V6 engine in 2.5-litre form. Despite a seven-year production run just 12,070 Sixes were made, not many were sold in the UK and data suggests that only two survive on British roads today, with another five registered as SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification).

How to get one: Very rare obviously, Italian-market imports are probably your best bet and they cost from around £10,000.

Talbot Tagora (1981)

When it comes to spectacular failures, few motoring misjudgments can match the Talbot Tagora. Intended to take PSA upmarket, the Tagora proved hopelessly incompetent and after just two years the production line was stopped with under 20,000 made for the whole of Europe, just a few hundred of which were sold in the UK. Data suggests just one- in GL trim — survives on the road today, with another eight registered as on a SORN.

How to get one: Almost impossible to get a UK-market example, but you can pick one up in the Tagora's native France from around £1600.

Alfa Romeo 90 (1984)

Despite the Six’s lack of sales success, Alfa Romeo replaced it with the 90 in 1984 (two years before Six production ceased). This time production lasted just three years and while more than 56,000 examples were made, numbers are dwindling. Data suggests there are two left on the road in the UK today, though eightare on a SORN.

How to get one: Almost impossible to do in the UK, but there are a fair few in Italy for sale, from £3400.

Hyundai Stellar (1984)

One of Hyundai’s earliest models in