Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

The Californian-designed Murano arrived on these shores in 2005 BQ. That’s 2005, ‘before Qashqai”. The crossover wasn’t really a thing, although the lifestyle SUV was growing in popularity.

PetrolBlog finds a Fiat Uno Turbo in the classified and urges someone to buy it. The rescue job is on!

The Peugeot 307 CC was an unlikely rally car. Drop-tops aren’t designed to go rallying; they’re less seat-of-your-pants racing and more wind-in-your-hair cruising. Cars for fans of big sunglasses, small dogs, long lunches and tanning salons. Sending a convertible into the WRC would be akin to building a wall using blancmange and custard, albeit with a messier outcome.

The big book of motoring history is filled with examples of cars and special editions named after exotic, fashionable and historic locations. SEAT’s back catalogue reads like a list of destinations visited by Judith Chalmers; wish you were in Ibiza, Marbella, Toledo, Málaga or Córdoba?

The return of Yesterday's Specials on PetrolBlog, featuring the quite brilliant and super cool Fiat Panda Alessi. We've even found one for sale. Go on, you know you want to.

There's a 1985 Renault 25 V6 Limousine for sale at the Artcurial sale in September. Give PetrolBlog a shout if you have some Ferrero Rocher to deliver.

The Nissan Prairie doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. Talk of pioneering people carriers inevitably focuses on the Chrysler minivans in the US and the Renault Espace in Europe, but the little house called the Prairie beat the pair of them to market. More than four decades later, it’s time the Prairie was elevated to a higher plane.

Toyota Avensis. You might not remember the car, but you’ll almost certainly recall the television advert. A well-dressed chap emerges from a building, climbs into the back of a Lucerne Silver Avensis to enjoy a ride home in a driverless car.

When did we hit peak Honda? It’s a question you may have pondered over Christmas lunch; in fact, I'm surprised King Charles failed to mention it in his festive message. If the royal formerly known as the Prince of Wales knows his sage and onions, he’ll say it could be December 1999. His Majesty may have a point.

Short of donning a Union Jack mini dress and giving itself a ‘Rachel’ ’do, the Suzuki X-90 couldn’t be more nineties if it tried. It’s a raspberry and sunset flannel shirt on wheels. Forget a T-top, the X-90 is a crop top with teal compact trousers. There should be a tummy button bar and not a Suzuki badge in the centre of the grille.