Chrysler Europe's new start under Peugeot ownership as Talbot was not going well by late 1982. An ageing product line, lack of recognition of the new name and a recession all had an effect. Talbot UK's response was extra-value special editions, such as the Alpine Stereo and Solara Vogue. #weirdcarbs

Launched in 1969 as the 240Z, later upgraded to a 260Z, the Datsun Z (Fairlady) had by 1976 become the 280Z for North America. Its 2753cc injected engine ensured the company's performance car could cope with the increased burden of Federal regulations on emissions. #carbluesky

This late 1975 UK-market brochure showcases the simplicity of the very first Volkswagen Polo hatchback, offered with an 895cc engine (capable of 82mph) in N or L trim. There were seven colours available including two shades of red and two of yellow. #carbluesky

'The key to a different world' was the slogan for Ford of Britain's specialist imported car range. All right-hand-drive and with 4.9-litre V8s, the 1978 line-up consisted of the Fairmont sedan and estate from Australia plus the Mustang II and Mercury Monarch Ghia from the USA. #weirdcarbs

Fresh-air Landie. #weirdcarbs

A refreshingly simple model, the 1.6-litre Suzuki APV (All Purpose Vehicle) in this 2006 Australian brochure was presented as a tough, no-nonsense small load carrier. Designed in Japan for manufacture in Indonesia, the model has been exported to dozens of countries globally. #weirdcarbs

With its all-new Giugiaro-styled Sana model, the future looked bright for Yugo Cars (formerly Zastava) in 1990, but with war clouds gathering in Yugoslavia the optimism was not to last for long. This UK brochure introduced a new, locally-devised 1.4GL featuring extra goodies. #weirdcarbs

France's oldest carmaker, Panhard, was running out of steam by the time this estate car version of its air-cooled 850cc PL17 arrived in 1963, doing little to lift sales The brochure's theme portrayed the Break as the ideal vehicle, seven days a week. #weirdcarbs

Hedge fund. #weirdcarbs

The Saab 96 ended its life in Finland, where production of the evergreen model at the Valmet plant was finally terminated in early 1980. This Finnish brochure from the preceding year shows the final 96 GL Super model, showcasing some late minor changes to trim and lights.

In the first half of the 1970s, Ford built special sporting versions of the Escort at its AVO (Advanced Vehicle Operations) factory in Essex. The last new model introduced there was this RS2000, which arrived in 1973 and was described as 'an economical, long-striding motorway car'. #weirdcarbs

The Toyota Condor in this 2003 South African brochure is an example of one of the company's utility vehicles, made globally across several generations, starting with the 1977 Kijang in Indonesia. They were popular across Africa and Asia under various names. #weirdcarbs

American Motors' revolutionary new Pacer would in due course go on sale in the UK, complete with a rudimentary right-hand-drive conversion, carried out locally. Sadly, British buyers didn't get a local brochure, but a special sticker was made for the cover of the US-market publication. #weirdcarbs

Fiat turned the clock back briefly to the days of the company's much-loved spiders with the stylish Barchetta, originally launched in 1995. It is shown in more luxuriously-trimmed Riviera special edition form in this German brochure dating from 2000, mid-way through the car's lifespan. #weirdcarbs

Citroën's reputation for avant-garde technology dimmed after Peugeot's takeover, but sparks remained. One example was the Xantia Activa shown in this 1995 brochure. Active anti-roll bars transformed the roadholding, making the model a true Q-car, with incredible performance around bends. #weirdcarbs

Hyundai UK took a well-trodden route when creating special editions of the facelifted version of its sporty 1.5-litre Scoupe model, adding the obligatory alloy wheels, stripes and bodykit to come up with the Injection SE and Turbo SE featured in this 1994 brochure. #weirdcarbs

The recently-unified Vauxhall-Opel marketing organisation in the UK initially retained the Opel marque for sports and luxury models. This 1984 brochure took the revised Opel Senator to a slate quarry for its photo-spreads, featuring the flagship 3.0CD. #carbluesky

The smaller end of the Volvo range took a big step forward in 1980 with the addition of the 345, a five-door version of the existing 343. It was pictured outside that staple of British aspirational car advertising at the time, the antique shop. #carbluesky

Triumph of styling. #weirdcarbs

The Lada 1200 transformed the prospects of Soviet car sales in Britain, offering affordable motoring with the familiar looks of the Fiat 124 (which had only been withdrawn in 1974). By the time of this 1976 brochure, ES versions, with extras including vinyl roof and radio, were on offer. #weirdcarbs

'The return of one of the most famous names in motoring' was how Rover described the launch of the 4-cylinder 2000 as the entry model of its facelifted SD1 range for 1982. It sat under the existing 2300 and 2600, which had new, more impressive interiors as well as external changes. #weirdcarbs

In its heyday, Chrysler was a quite a strong competitor for Holden and Ford in Australia with its locally-designed and built Valiant series. This 1976 brochure features the revised Chrysler Charger coupé. The 770 model was available with engines up to a 5.9-litre V8. #weirdcarbs

The Renault 12 had that rare distinction of being a European import to the United States which arguably looked better thanks to its federal quad headlamps. The 1975 models in this brochure also featured a substantial bonnet bulge. #weirdcarbs

Audi's second-generation (C2) 100 adopted the fashionable aero-look lines which would soon become the norm in Europe. This UK brochure from 1977 curiously included the locally-unavailable 2-door saloon bodystyle, primarily sold on the German domestic market. #weirdcarbs

Seven years into its life, the Alfa Romeo 33 received an extensive facelift to equip it for the challenge of maintaining sales into the 1990s. An angular new nose and tail treatment was intended to give a family resemblance to the company's well-regarded Alfa 164 flagship. #carbluesky

The growing popularity of the Suzuki SJ/Samurai was a boon for British kit car maker Rickman, which offered similar looks at far less cost in the shape of its Ranger, a GRP self-build kit launched in 1986. It required an old Ford Escort mk2 donor car for the interior and mechanicals. #weirdcarbs

Datsun described the styling of its quite radical front-wheel-drive 100A saloon (alternatively known as the Cherry) as 'breaking away from the basic box'. The upwardly curving rear side windows and rear creases were certainly very distinctive features. This is a 1972 brochure. #weirdcarbs

Peugeot had a tradition of offering coupé and cabriolet versions of its mainstream models, and the 304 got this treatment, with the models featuring a shortened chassis. By the date of this 1975 Dutch brochure they used the uprated 1288cc 80bhp engine, shared with the S saloon. #weirdcarbs

What a Pajero. #weirdcarbs

Faced with introducing the unfamiliar Daewoo car brand in Australia in the mid-'90s, the company's importer enlisted a cattle dog called Cane to star in TV and print adverts. He is featured on this postcard with the immortal greeting G'Daewoo, and in a leaflet on the Load Runner van. #weirdcarbs

BMW's exotic mid-engined M1 sports car put in a guest appearance alongside the E23 735i in this 1981 brochure, intended to underline the pedigree of the latter's 218 bhp engine. The 7 series exuded the understatedly elegant road presence which was then the hallmark of BMW styling. #carbluesky

There's an interesting line-up on the cover of this 1979 US Chevrolet brochure, with three car-based wagons shown alongside the ancestors of what would become known as MPVs and SUVs. On the car side were the Caprice/Impala and Malibu plus the little Monza (formerly a Vega). #weirdcarbs

An old-school British luxury car, the Alvis series IV (TF21) featured stacked quad headlamps and a 2-door grand tourer body. Sadly the last gasp of the marque, the model was introduced in 1966, with added power from its 3.0-litre six, but died only a year later when car building stopped. #weirdcarbs

Fiat's Regata was a front-wheel-drive derivative of the Ritmo/Strada, concocted to replace the ageing 131 Mirafiori. Rather bland in looks, the model was arguably most interesting in its Weekend estate car derivative. A special edition Riviera model is shown in this 1987 UK brochure. #carbluesky

The first generation of the Renault Laguna proved a successful replacement for the 21. This 2000 UK brochure shows the staple hatchback towards the end of its lifespan. It reached further upmarket than its predecessor, with 3.0-litre 194bhp V6 versions of the RTi and Monaco featured. #carbluesky

Martorelli, the enterprising Italian importer of vehicles from the Soviet Union, offered local buyers some interesting models not seen elsewhere in Europe. One example was this '80s Volga 2477 station wagon, which had acquired 4WD capability. #weirdcarbs

UMM (União Metalo-Mecânica) was arguably the best-known Portuguese auto marque, though the design for its Alter 4X4 had originated in France (where it was originally known as the Cournil). Widely exported for a while, this is a 1989 brochure in English. #weirdcarbs

Launched in 1976, the Japanese-market Suzuki Cervo 550 had a characterful coupé body, originally designed by Giugiaro as part of the Fronte series. It featured a glass liftback over the rear-mounted engine, and was particularly marketed towards female buyers in Japan. #weirdcarbs

Vauxhall continued to sell cars in some continental markets throughout the '70s, despite adopting Opel-based models. This Belgian brochure shows the Cavalier L4 saloon, which combined the Opel Ascona body with a Manta-like nose. There was also a 2-door L2. #weirdcarbs

Volkswagen's pioneering first-generation Golf was particularly well-received in Britain, where it soon acquired a reputation as a cut above its rivals. The later arrival of a panel van version was unexpected, but this 1979 brochure presented it as the classy business choice. #weirdcarbs

A car with an ephemeral existence, the 9-4X arrived in the dying days of Saab. Launched at the 2010 Los Angeles Motor Show, it had 3.0 V6 or 2.8 Turbo V6 engines, based on a GM all-wheel-drive platform. It's thought only around 800 were built (in Mexico) before Saab's 2011 bankruptcy. #weirdcarbs

Beautiful artwork is the hallmark of this 1952 brochure on the 2nd series Lancia Aurelia saloon. Its 2.3-litre V6 engine was described as 'a fount of continual and pleasant surprises'. Just over 18,000 Aurelias, including coupé and spider versions, were made over a nine-year lifespan. #carbluesky

'The thoroughbred is born' trumpeted this 1987 British brochure introducing the Citroën BX GTi 16 Valve. The new model's performance figures were impressive for the time, with a 135mph top speed and 0-60mph in under 8 seconds. #weirdcarbs

The Dacia Duster name first appeared in the early '80s in a low-key way in the UK, after a poor reception locally for Romania's other auto brand, the 4X4 specialist ARO. It was decided to regroup under the Dacia banner and find a new, alliterative name for the ARO 10. #weirdcarbs

Opel attempted to add a sporting flavour to the rather sober Rekord E with the special edition 1982 SR/E, seen in this West German brochure. The model featured spoilers, alloy wheels, Recaro seats and a black-painted lower body. Its 2.0E engine developed 110bhp. #weirdcarbs

The well-styled and nicely appointed Triumph Herald proved popular in the UK and many export markets. This Danish brochure features the uprated 1200 version, introduced in 1962. All four bodystyles (including the relatively rare coupé, discontinued early on) are pictured here. #carbluesky

Charles M. Schulz's 'Peanuts' cartoon strip proved a huge hit in Japan, where its characters remain popular even today. A Snoopy-themed version of Mitsubishi's existing 660cc kei-class Pajero Mini, seen in this 2000 brochure, was eagerly snapped-up. #weirdcarbs

Stranger in a strange land. #weirdcarbs

Designed by SEAT in Spain, the rear-engined 133 was built and sold as a Fiat in Argentina, joining an eclectic mix of mostly elderly designs still made there. The Argentinian 133 used Fiat's 903cc engine rather than the smaller 843cc unit in the Spanish model. #weirdcarbs

The final Mazda Cosmo, launched in 1990, was the company's rotary-engined flagship. Sold under the Eunos marque, it was only offered in Japan. A luxury coupé, its two power units included a mighty triple-rotor twin turbo engine, unique to the model. #weirdcarbs