Car Anniversaries in 2025

When new, it is impossible to understand what effect a model will have on the wider world. Whether it’s the start of a whole new type of car, or a badge that gives its manufacturer something worthy of promoting, it is only looking back that its impact can truly be gauged. 

Here, we’ve picked some of those interesting cars that are celebrating milestone anniversaries in 2025; and don’t worry if you think we’re missing some out, there are plenty more that we shall look at in greater depth. 

Fiat Barchetta – 1995 

The youngest entry in this list, Fiat used the name ‘little boat’ for its new-to-1995 roadster – yet another indication that everything sounds better in Italian. And for those that disagree, we put forward the Maserati Quattroporte (four-door in English) to the case.  

Never a huge seller, the Barchetta has, nonetheless, gained a bit of a cult following in the UK. The reason for not reaching mainstream notoriety in the same way as the Mazda MX-5 did is likely that the car was officially imported, but only in left-hand drive form. 

Based on the running gear of the first-generation Punto, the Barchetta was a stylish, fun-to-drive convertible, that repaid anyone placing enough faith in driving it with the steering wheel on the ‘wrong’ side. 

Renault Clio – 1990 

Renault’s original Clio was one of those superminis that just got things right. A sweet-spot for the era in terms of styling, size, performance, and even marketing… the ‘Nicole & Papa’ adverts are still remembered today. 

Whether it was the bargain basement editions still found in use the length and breadth of France, or the ultra-sought after models co-created with Williams, the Clio was a stylish yet practical small car that drivers loved to buy.  

With few around in the UK any more, carefully looked after ones, even fairly ‘vanilla’ versions, are going for serious money these days, and few are surprised. 

Lancia Delta S4 – 1985 

While the Clio was available to everyone, this Lancia was far rarer when new. But the fact it exists at all is thanks to the FIA’s homlogation regulations, which said that at least 200 road-going models of the Group B rallying monsters should be built… even if the rear-world predicted figure is closer to half that. 

Rather than the conventional lay-out of the Delta hatchback, the S4 – commonly known as the ‘Stradale’ for the non-racing version – used a mid-engine set-up which it shared with the rallying machines. It also used a 1.8-litre four-cylinder twincharged (turbo and supercharged) engine, producing more than 250hp, and using a four-wheel drive system. All in all, it was one of the fastest cars point to point of the era, but came with a price tag to match. 

Bentley Mulsanne – 1980 

The first version of Bentley’s Mulsanne saloon arrived in 1980, named after the famous straight at Le Mans. Built at a time when Bentley and Rolls-Royce shared just about every component on their cars, the Mulsanne used Rolls’ 6.75-litre V8, though within a few years a turbo model had arrived too. 

Pitched as the sportier, more rakish alternative to the Silver Shadow from Rolls-Royce, Bentley’s Mulsanne replaced the T-Series model, and is credited with laying the foundations for Bentley’s rebirth from a shadow brand to a serious concern in its own right. 

Jaguar XJS – 1975 

It’s a tough task being the sequel to one of the most famous and popular cars of all time, but Jaguar’s E-Type successor is, as time goes on, finding its feet as a creditable classic in its own right.  

The flying buttresses on the coupe are a stamp of individuality all of their own, and the glorious Jag V12 under the bonnet – pre- or post-H.E. – give the XJS a distinctive character. Both the coupe and convertible suffered in the E-Type’s shadow a little when new, and certainly once knocking on in years, but now have truly stepped out of that shadow and are a popular grand tourer for many. 

Alfa Romeo Montreal – 1970 

Alfa Romeo has rarely had a poorly styled car, but the Montreal, penned by Marcelo Gandini, is one of the very best. The 2+2 coupe is based on the Giulia, and uses Alfa Romeo’s 2.6-litre V6 from the period for a sound as good as its style. 

Somewhat confusingly considering its name, the Montreal was never officially sent to Montreal… or Canada… or the US even. Instead, it was a European-focused machine, but suffered from high prices compared to the likes of rivals from Jaguar and Porsche, as well as world economic events in the early-70s. As such, good examples are rare, but find one, and you have a genuine piece of Italian exotica on your hands.