A nearly-forgotten small coupé of the 1990s, the Toyota Paseo was sold across two generations, and was closely linked to the contemporary Tercel. The second iteration is shown in this 1998 Swiss brochure, which also featured a cabriolet version. They had modest 1.5-litre 89bhp engines. #weirdcarbs

The flagship of Saab's 99 range, the luxurious GLE saloon, was described in this 1977 brochure as 'offering a level of comfort which is superb by any standards'. It added that 'owing to its sophisticated design, the GLE is the most exclusive of all Saab cars'. #weirdcarbs

Perhaps the ultimate version of the traditional Moskvich saloon, the 2140 Lux is shown as a winter sports companion in this 1983 English-language brochure from the USSR's state-owned Avtoexport agency. The text hailed its 'elegant outline' and 'fashionable trimmings'. #weirdcarbs

With the Greens in the news today, here's a look at the Peugeot 106 Green edition, seen in this 1994 French brochure. Its name referenced neither politics nor ecology, however: it was actually golf-themed. Featuring an 1124cc engine, it had a few extras, including special upholstery. #weirdcarbs

After over two decades of success, the latest Ford Escort appeared in Europe in 1990 to a decidedly lukewarm reception, and had been facelifted twice by the time of this 1996 brochure, here featuring the entry-level Encore version in 3-door form. It was one of six trim levels for the UK. #weirdcarbs

The first Japanese car to be officially sold on the British car market was the Daihatsu Compagno, which was imported briefly, starting in 1965. The attractive little 2-door saloon found few takers, however, and Daihatsu abandoned the attempt, not returning to the UK until 1977. #weirdcarbs

The series 3 version of the Lancia Beta Berlina fastback arrived in 1979, with modernised styling, although it is perhaps best remembered as the notchback Trevi version, which stayed in production for longer. This brochure hailed the new look's 'extra élan'. #weirdcarbs

The third-generation Volkswagen Passat (B3) saloon, shown in GT trim, ushered in a new, blocky-but-aerodynamic style which mostly notably did without a traditional grille. It was particularly roomy inside, being described as a 'space miracle'. #weirdcarbs

The last of the uniquely Peugeot vans, the J9 had a new name for the 1980s, but in reality it was just a facelifted version of the earlier J7, first seen in 1965. The J9 used engines shared with the 404 and 504 cars, and had a variety of bodies, including minibus versions. This is a Dutch brochure.

Like other Eastern Bloc products, Škoda relied on ultra-low prices to tempt buyers. This British brochure concentrated on the virtues of the base-model S100 saloon for 1973, which claimed to be 'astonishingly well-appointed', costing £724.15, including purchase tax. #weirdcarbs

The second generation Mazda 929, with unusual stacked quad headlamps, was not as widely seen in Europe as its mid-'70s predecessor. In France, where sales of Japanese cars were limited by a strict quota, buyers curiously got both the saloon and a very similar 4-door hardtop version. #weirdcarbs

Vauxhall celebrated its unusually distinguished history in this 1974 brochure, featuring its latest big saloons alongside cars from its heritage collection. Here the legendary 30/98 Sports - 'the most famous Vauxhall of all' - poses with the new FE VX4/90 at the Brooklands circuit. #weirdcarbs

Fiat Brazil began producing the Uno hatchback in the early '80s, though under the skin the South American model used a platform derived from the 127-based 147 already made there. Externally the visible difference from the Italian car was its unique clamshell bonnet. #weirdcarbs

At its launch, the Mercedes-Benz 190 had no particular sporting ambitions, but that changed with the arrival of the sharply-dressed 190E 2.3-16 version, offering 185 bhp. This 1986 brochure called it 'the brightest, sharpest, most agile Mercedes ever made'. #carbluesky

In the American market a 'personal luxury car' was usually a rwd hardtop coupé. Chevrolet's Monte Carlo entered this sector of the market in 1970. Its 3rd-generation model shown in this 1980 brochure was described as 'a trim, aerodynamically-designed modern, manageable mid-size car'. #weirdcarbs

This 1977 Citroën brochure from Italy had an unusual front cover which had plenty of slightly quirky things to say about the 602cc Dyane 6. Effectively a modernised, rebodied 2CV, it sold alongside its older sister at a modestly higher price. #weirdcarbs

Suzuki's first 4-door notchback saloon joined the existing Swift mk2 (Cultus) hatchbacks and helped to edge the company's range further upmarket: the UK received it as this rather obscure four-wheel-drive 1.6 GLX saloon, shown with bodykit in this 1990 brochure. #weirdcarbs

The arrival of the new Aston Martin Virage to replace the company's venerable V8 coupé marked a major milestone. In its 1990 brochure a message from the firm's Chief Executive, Victor Gauntlett, hailed it as a signal of 'the renaissance of the marque as a world car'. #weirdcarbs

Alfa Romeo joined forces with Italian fashion designer Valentino for a special 'haute couture' version of its Alfasud saloon in 1980. This French leaflet shows it in 1.3-litre form with metallic brown paintwork, black roof, coloured wheels and unique pinstripes with a Valentino logo. #weirdcarbs

The neat little BMW 700, launched in 1959, played a big part in saving its maker from ruin, helping move away from the bubble-car era. This brochure on the LS Luxus saloon has delightful images including 'the neighbour's view' with some quaint period language. #weirdcarbs

Many years before it became the name of a new Renault executive car, Safrane was used on an early limited edition version of the ill-starred Renault 14. It had special stripes and graphics, fancy wheels and even an aluminium plate for the owner's initials. #weirdcarbs

A remarkably long-running Toyota, the luxurious Century was 23 years old at the time of this 1990 Japanese brochure, and still had another seven years life left in it. Made in small numbers, the model's role was as a limousine for the uppermost echelon of society in Japan. #weirdcarbs

Chrysler's executive models for Europe, the 180 and 2-Litre, are featured in this 1974 UK brochure, using the city of Bath as a backdrop. The top-of-the-range 2-Litre was portrayed as a continental grand tourer. Early cars were built in France before production was centralised in Spain. #weirdcarbs

The 850 heralded a new '90s direction for conservative Volvo, with styling which evoked heritage with a new sportier edge, while introducing 5-cylinder engines, plus bringing front-wheel-drive to the company's bigger models. It succeded in appealing to both traditional and new customers. #weirdcarbs

The late addition of a hatchback to the rear-engined Fiat 126 created the Bis model seen in this 1989 Belgian brochure. It was surprising move, particularly when Fiat already had a properly modern small-engined budget hatch, the fwd Panda 750L. #weirdcarbs

Many Asia-Pacific markets didn't get the new European Ford Sierra, settling instead for the similarly-sized Ford Telstar. It was the front-wheel-drive Mazda 626/Capella with some Ford styling changes. This 1986 Australian brochure features the TX5 hatch model. #weirdcarbs

ERAD was at one time a leading builder of the peculiar micro vehicles common in France, many of which could be driven without a licence. One of its most ambitious products was the monobox Spacia model. This brochure from 1994 incudes the luxury Séduction and Élégance versions. #weirdcarbs

The new W126 Mercedes S-Class was every bit as influential as its predecessor, adopting imposing looks which epitomised the marque in the '80s. This brochure for the UK is specifically on the six-cylinder 280SE (although the 280S and SEL get mentioned too). #carbluesky

Reliant's Scimitar GTE occupied a niche of its own on the British market. To help spread the word, the company - better known for its three wheelers - came up with a 'book of answers' in the shape of this 1973 brochure, aiming to prove the car's superiority over executive car rivals. #weirdcarbs

The growing popularity of diesel engines, combined with improved technology, saw them spread to performance marques by the early '80s. The Alfa Romeo Giulietta got a 2.0-litre 82bhp VM diesel in 1983: it's shown here in an Italian brochure featuring the car's series 3 facelift. #weirdcarbs

Lada's French importer opted to give a more distinct identity to the saloon version of the existing front-wheel-drive Samara hatchback. Seen in this 1993 brochure, it was called the Lada Sagona in France. This brochure showed it in high-spec 1500GLX trim with a locally-fitted bodykit. #weirdcarbs

Originally launched to mark Honda's 50th anniversary in 1999, the S2000 roadster was a long-lived car which received plenty of critical acclaim but failed to sell as well as hoped. This UK brochure is a late one from 2009, the car's last year of production. #weirdcarbs

The Renault 9 had a rather sober design, reflecting the brand's determination to become more 'international' in the '80s. It became Europe's Car of the Year in 1982, but many Renault fans missed the traditional quirkiness. Its most interesting variant, the Turbo, is shown here. #carbluesky

Little Japan. #weirdcarbs

After a low-key debut as a hatchback version of the C2 Audi 100, the Avant bodystyle really came into its own in the ultra-aerodynamic C3 series, combining estate car practicality with a degree of fastback sportiness. This is a 1988 UK brochure. #weirdcarbs

Vauxhall was turning heads in 1973 with its dramatically quick and aerodynamic 'droopsnoot' version of the Vauxhall Firenza, presented as a European grand tourer in this UK brochure, which juxtaposed it with Reims cathedral to suggest both were magnificent in their own way. #weirdcarbs

The most ambitious model sold by Tata Motors during its fairly brief time on the British market, the seven-seater Safari was pitched as a good value family vehicle with off-road capabilities. UK sales soon dried up but the design, in gradually evolving form, lived on in India until 2019. #weirdcarbs

An easy way to give a boost to new car sales was to come up with a special edition. In this 1983 brochure, Fiat's Dutch importer presented Prima versions of the 903cc Panda and 1050cc 127. The Panda had a remarkable array of extra front lights, while smart alloy wheels lifted the 127. #weirdcarbs

'The shape of cars to come is here' was Subaru's 1984 boast about its 4WD 1800 GLF estate, enhanced with new frontal styling and a raised rear roof-line to widen the car's appeal and versatility. The company was the undisputed king of this sector of the market back then. #weirdcarbs

This 1960 Citroën brochure is particularly interesting, covering the ID and DS models assembled at the UK factory in Slough. There were many changes to increase local content, including Lucas lights/electrics and a very British wooden dashboard for the ID. #weirdcarbs

As part of its recovery from a near-death experience, Chrysler surprised US buyers with the launch of a new small fwd car-derived pick-up, the Dodge Rampage (with a Plymouth Scamp version also briefly offered). This 1983 Canadian brochure called it 'the distinctively different Dodge'. #weirdcarbs

The second half of the '90s saw the arrival of a renewed Ford Fiesta, though still clearly based on its 1989 predecessor (which remained in production as the Fiesta Classic). New nose and tail, engines and interior were among the changes for what was then the UK's best-seller. #carbluesky

Amanti was the name of Kia's first luxury car in North America, offered initially with a 3.5-litre V6. This Canadian brochure for 2004 - the model's first year - called it 'distinctive by design', with the model adopting an odd mixture of styling cues. #weirdcarbs

A product of the dying days of Saab, the 9-3X was a sensible enough idea, a rugged all-wheel drive (XWD in the company's own terminology) 'lifestyle' edition of the existing 9-3 Sportwagon, with 2.0T power. It features in this Belgian brochure from 2010. #weirdcarbs

The short-lived X-90 proved to be one of Suzuki's most controversial models, with many commentators at the time pouring scorn on its unusual combination of two seats, three-box profile and t-bar convertible roof. This Dutch brochure features the 4X4 version. #weirdcarbs

Lancia revived its HPE (High Performance Estate) name in 1995 for a three-door version of the second-generation Lancia Delta. Despite its name the styling was very different from the shooting brake style of its Beta HPE predecessor. Top of the Delta HPE range was the 136mph HF 2.0-litre turbo.

Peugeot's US importer pitched the 1964 1.5-litre 403 sedan as far superior to its domestic rivals, quoting a Road & Track magazine endorsement which named Peugeot as one of 'the seven best, highest quality cars in the world' (the other makers are listed in the brochure text). #weirdcarbs

Far too late in the day, East Germany's Wartburg marque gained a four-stroke engine - VW's 1272cc unit, built at the Barkas plant in Karl-Marx-Stadt. The Wartburg 1.3 was finally launched in late 1988, in the dying days of the DDR, with the fall of the Berlin Wall only a year away. #weirdcarbs

Triumph (with its arch-rival Rover) invented the modern executive car in Britain in the '60s with its 2000, and was innovating again in 1968 with the launch of 'the graceful whirlwind' - the 2.5PI - billed as the first British saloon with petrol injection. #weirdcarbs

After Fiat's acrimonious split with SEAT in the early 80s, it's ironic that the latter's first Ibiza model ended up having a second life in China...built by the Yuejin-Fiat joint venture . The Nanya NJ6400 on this 1999 leaflet still used the once-hyped 'System Porsche' engine. #weirdcarbs