A CLASSIC motor believed to be Britain’s rarest car is up for sale.
A long-forgotten Japanese saloon that was meant to rival the Ford Cortina in the 1970s is now seldom seen – with just two left on UK roads.
A long-forgotten Japanese saloon that was meant to rival the Ford Cortina in the 1970s is now extremely rare[/caption]
In fact, the little-known classic is said to be Britain’s rarest car[/caption]
The Colt Sigma, which was first sold in Britain in 1976, was produced as a medium-sized family car that was meant to take on the popular Cortina, as well as the Vauxhall Viva and Nissan Datsun.
However, the Sigma failed to become a big seller and was quickly forgotten about against Cortina – the best selling car in the UK in the 1970s.
Today, just two Sigma’s roads are registered in the UK including one that has recently been put up for sale – with the auctioneers claiming this makes it the rarest car on British roads.
This example, which, naturally, is MoT exempt due to its age, has been serviced and is in good working condition, and is expected to sell for £1,000s.
Auctioneer Jonathan Humbert of Humbert & Ellis Auctioneers said: “It will definitely turn heads because hardly anyone will know what it is if it drove past them.
“This is one of 11 that exist in the UK and one of just two that are road registered. We think it is the rarest care in the UK.
“It has only had two owners in its 47 years and has only done 28,000 miles.
“It had been well looked after. It is rust free and it starts and run and is ready to hit the road.”
Finished in silver, the retro motor, which boasts a 2.0-litre engine, will go under the hammer on October 28.
Humbert added: “The Colt Sigma came about because the Japanese were trying to muscle in on the UK car market at the time.
“The problem was that too many people were buying Ford Cortinas and Ford Escorts and back then car ownership was much less than today, with only one per household.”
This comes as a legendary Mercedes sports car that was left to gather dust for half a century is now going on auction for a whopping £4.5m.
The 1956 Mercedes-Benz Alloy Gullwing, which was originally finished in black over red leather, is an extremely sought-after classic.
Shockingly, the beauty was hidden away in a junkyard until the RM Sotheby’s Monterey auction in Phoenix, Arizona.
Elsewhere, a YouTube duo uncovered a ‘haunted’ car graveyard brimming with abandoned race cars worth £1,000s – but they insist they will never dare return.
YouTuber Sam Lucas took viewers on a chilling tour of a an abandoned race-car graveyard.
The Colt Sigma was produced to take on the Ford Cortina as well as other mid-size family cars of the 1970s[/caption]
This example has just 28,000 miles on the clock[/caption]
Auctioneers believe the car, which is one of just two registered for UK roads, could sell for £1,000s[/caption]
In its 47 years, the Japanese motor had just two owners[/caption]
