The Vauxhall Nova was the 10th best selling car in the UK during the 1980s, according to startrescue.co.uk, with half a million shifted. Among its fans is the radio presenter Stephanie Hirst, pictured with her Vauxhall Nova. It was her dad's company car when he worked for the electrical retailer Wigfalls and became her first car when she turned 17. She says it is still her favourite car, so much so that she spent £22,000 restoring it and still drives it regularly.placeholder image
The Vauxhall Nova was the 10th best selling car in the UK during the 1980s, according to startrescue.co.uk, with half a million shifted. Among its fans is the radio presenter Stephanie Hirst, pictured with her Vauxhall Nova. It was her dad's company car when he worked for the electrical retailer Wigfalls and became her first car when she turned 17. She says it is still her favourite car, so much so that she spent £22,000 restoring it and still drives it regularly. | Jake Smith

The most popular cars of the 1980s in photos, including two driven by Princess of Wales

Robert Cumber
By Robert Cumber

Property and retro writer

Published 5th May 2025, 13:00 GMT

This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.

These were the cars we drove in our droves during the 1980s.

This retro photo gallery shows the most popular cars of the 80s in the UK, including one driven by an Olympic champion, another adored by a radio presenter and two owned by Diana, Princess of Wales.

The top-selling vehicles of the decade included one which was unflatteringly dubbed the ‘jellymould’ and was a popular choice among travelling salespeople, another which featured in lyrics by Elton John, the Clash and the Arctic Monkeys, and a third which racked up 22 million sales during its remarkable 47-year lifespan.

We’ve used figures from startrescue.co.uk, the breakdown recovery company, for our list of the top cars of the 1980s.

Did you drive any of the vehicles pictured and if so what did you think of that car? What do you think was the best car made during the 1980s?

You can see our photo gallery of the most popular cars of the 1980s, including one driven by a young Noel Edmonds, here.

Do you have retro pictures or nostalgic memories to share with us? Send them online via YourWorld at www.yourworld.net/submit. It's free to use and, once checked, your story or picture will appear on our website and, space allowing, in our newspapers.

Perhaps the Austin/MG Metro's most famous fan was Lady Diana Spencer, who was often seen driving her beloved red Mini Metro before she became the Princess of Wales. Launched in 1980 as the 'British car to beat the world', nearly 2.1 million Metros had been sold by the time production ceased in 1998, according to startrescue.co.uk.

7. Austin/MG Metro - 4th

Perhaps the Austin/MG Metro's most famous fan was Lady Diana Spencer, who was often seen driving her beloved red Mini Metro before she became the Princess of Wales. Launched in 1980 as the 'British car to beat the world', nearly 2.1 million Metros had been sold by the time production ceased in 1998, according to startrescue.co.uk. | Tom Stoddart/Getty Images and submitted Photo: Tom Stoddart/Getty Images and submitted

Photo Sales
The humble Ford Fiesta was launched in 1976 and notched up nearly half a century before the final car rolled off the production line in July 2023. More than 22 million Ford Fiestas were produced over the model's lifespan and even in 2022- the last year before production ceased - it remained the 10th most popular new car, with more than 25,000 registered.

8. Ford Fiesta - 3rd

The humble Ford Fiesta was launched in 1976 and notched up nearly half a century before the final car rolled off the production line in July 2023. More than 22 million Ford Fiestas were produced over the model's lifespan and even in 2022- the last year before production ceased - it remained the 10th most popular new car, with more than 25,000 registered. | Ford Motor Company Photo: Ford Motor Company

Photo Sales
This large family car was launched in 1975 but really took off after the second generation Mk2 was released six years later, and became one of the most popular cars of the 80s. Between 1981 and 1988, according to startrescue.co.uk, 807,624 Vauxhall Cavaliers were sold. By the time it was replaced by the Vectra in 1995, more than 1.8 million had been sold - making it the fifth most popular car in UK history.

9. Vauxhall Cavalier - 2nd

This large family car was launched in 1975 but really took off after the second generation Mk2 was released six years later, and became one of the most popular cars of the 80s. Between 1981 and 1988, according to startrescue.co.uk, 807,624 Vauxhall Cavaliers were sold. By the time it was replaced by the Vectra in 1995, more than 1.8 million had been sold - making it the fifth most popular car in UK history. | Contributed Photo: Contributed

Photo Sales
The Ford Escort reigned supreme during the 1980s and was another car driven by Diana, Princess of Wales, whose 1985 Ford Escort RS Turbo S1 is seen here before it went up for auction. The Ford Escort was launched in 1968 and remained in production for 36 years before finally bowing out in 2004. More than 4,105,961 were sold over the course of its life, according to startrescue.co.uk, which was a UK record until it was beaten by the Ford Fiesta in 2014.

10. Ford Escort - 1st

The Ford Escort reigned supreme during the 1980s and was another car driven by Diana, Princess of Wales, whose 1985 Ford Escort RS Turbo S1 is seen here before it went up for auction. The Ford Escort was launched in 1968 and remained in production for 36 years before finally bowing out in 2004. More than 4,105,961 were sold over the course of its life, according to startrescue.co.uk, which was a UK record until it was beaten by the Ford Fiesta in 2014. | Nicky J Sims/Getty Images Photo: Nicky J Sims/Getty Images

Photo Sales
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