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Will it see 50? Cult classic predicted to wave goodbye to British roads

The countdown is on, as one of the best-selling UK cars of all-time and cultural icon, the Metro, is predicted to go extinct from British roads by 2030 – 50 years since it was first launched by BL Cars Ltd in 1980.  

Analysis of the latest Department for Transport model licensing statistics by Adrian Flux, specialist car insurance broker, found that based on the historic rate of declining registrations, the Metro will wave goodbye to our roads for good, vanishing within the next five to six years. 

Having adorned the badges of iconic British automotive brands Austin, Rover and MG over its 18-year lifespan from 1980-1998, the Metro still has a strong fan base largely encouraged by family nostalgia to cement its cult status in British automotive history.  

The legendary model’s popularity is emphasised online with multiple Facebook fan groups, where admirers gather to show off and praise their most-loved cars with other like-minded individuals, as well as share knowledge and parts for upkeep and maintenance amongst owners. Two well-known Facebook groups feature members upwards of 7,900 and 6,000 members and continue to grow each year. 

The Metro was rebranded R100 in 1994, with the final car to come off the production line in 1998 exhibited at the British Motor Museum, Warwickshire, adorned with the names of the Rover workforce at that time.  

Gerry Bucke, General Manager at Adrian Flux, comments: “Trends, societal needs and technology will always evolve, and car models will inevitably become obsolete. However, it’s heart-warming to know that British classics like the Metro continue to be celebrated decades after their peak, and perhaps even after their extinction.”  

“Car enthusiasts and their positive spirit play an important role in ensuring that our automotive and engineering history continues to be passed on, and younger generations understand the influence of the British automotive industry.”  

The next five to six years will also mark the end of several other British cars including a collection of British-manufactured Rover family models, such as the Rover 75, Rover 400, Rover 200, Rover Maestro and Rover Montego. Couple this with the expected disappearance of the Vauxhall Cavalier by 2032, and both Jaguar X (2027) and S Types (2028), and the marquee British family car might be consigned to nostalgia within the next decade.  

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