The long-loved cars coming back from the dead

Which cars from years yonder have come back from the dead?

In this new age of electric manufacturing, beloved cars are emerging from retirement as brand-new shiny EVs.

We're saying RIP to combustion engines, as our old faithful petrol and diesel cars drop from production lines like the proverbial fly. But Taylor Swift really did say it best in Marjorie: what dies, doesn't always stay dead.

While we're not expecting a sudden new lease of life for the classic combustion engine (thanks to the 2030 ban), we may yet see some familiar favourites return to our roads. The proof is in the pudding – just look at the Ford Capri.

And people do love a comeback.

The future is electric, but it needn't be full of total unknowns. From Vauxhall, to Renault, to Ford: these are the carmakers bringing long-lost models back from the dead – with a brand-new electric twist for the modern day.

Which one will you choose for your next electric car lease?

In production

Ford Capri

If you’ve got your ear pressed to the automotive news cycle, you’ll know this one has been a wee bit controversial.

This fastback coupe-SUV of decades past has lingered in the mind as one of the world’s most beloved lost sports cars. And if you were around for the original run, you’re probably not the only one who’s longed for Ford to revive the Capri.

Especially now that they’ve taken the Focus and Fiesta out of production.

Well, wish granted: the Capri is back.

But it’s definitely not the Capri we knew and loved.

When you think about it, this isn’t a huge surprise: demand for sporty little numbers like the Capri was falling as early as the 90’s.

And in the 2020’s, we’re still solidly in the age of the SUV.

More importantly, we’re in the age of going electric. The Capri name has been revived from the past, but with a greener future in mind.

And whether you approve or not, there’s no denying the Capri is back and it’s bold. It’s a new EV with SUV heft and a nod to the original design in its sloping fastback roof and retro headlights.

These coupe-SUVs are having a moment. They give you all the space and height of an SUV, wrapped up in the swoopier, sportier lines of a coupe.

Just look at the hugely popular Polestar 4.

But does this new Capri resemble the original?

As much as an SUV can possibly resemble a coupe. But Ford argue this is how the Capri would’ve evolved through various generations if it hadn’t been retired instead.

We can’t really argue with that – or with the price.

In a world that needs more affordable EVs, the return of the Capri is definitely welcome.

Renault 5

True, we live in an age of supersized SUVs. But for some of us, our hearts still beat for the small hatchback.

That’s why the original Mini remains such a stalwart icon to this day.

But if we had the Mini here in the UK, then France pretty much single-handedly championed the Renault 5.

It was the best-selling car across the Channel between 1972 and 1986, with over 5.5 million of them being produced just in that 14-year period.

That’s a long reign at the top of the game.

But what made the Renault 5 so popular?

Price probably had a fair bit to do with it: the 5 was intended for the cost-conscious customer. It was literally designed to be affordable.

And we do love a bargain.

But it also hit the streets at a time when the small car reigned supreme. As a direct rival to the Leyland Mini, the Hillman Imp and the Fiat 127, the 5 was all about small-car power.

And it did it so well.

It would’ve been easy to follow Ford’s example with the new Capri and bring the Renault 5 back as an SUV. But Renault clued into what actually made the original 5 such a smash hit.

Its diminutive size.

They brought it back as the Renault 5 E-Tech; electric, but with some of the strongest cues from the original design that we’ve ever seen.

It’s still a small car.

And it’s still reasonably priced, going from around £22,995 new (that's full retail price, not the OTR).

And with a driving range of up to 250 miles (WLTP Comb), it’s more than a bargain. It could be the go-to car for anyone who wants to go green, without trading in their small car for a tank.

Surprised? We’re not.

The Renault 5 E-Tech is in production and has already won car of the year.

We’d say that’s pretty much a standing ovation in the car world. So, on your feet: all hail the return of the supermini.

Vauxhall Frontera

This is a car by many names.

So many names, in fact, that listing them all here would probably require its own bibliography.

Known abroad as the Chevrolet Frontera in Egypt, the Isuzu Rodeo in the USA and the Isuzu Wizard in Japan, here in the UK we simply knew it as the Vauxhall Frontera.

It was an internationally shared design. But a very British car – the Frontera was built right here on British soil, at the former Bedford factory in Luton.

See, in the 90s we were starting to move away from the small and sporty cars of the 70s and 80s.

And instead, moving onto the bigger imports like Daihatsu, Nissan, Mitsubishi, and of course, Toyota.

The Frontera was Vauxhall’s answer to that growing demand. And despite stiff competition in the form of the Toyota RAV4 and even British Land Rover models, the Frontera smashed expectations by selling well across Europe.

We think Vauxhall are hoping to repeat history with it. 

In today’s overcrowded SUV market, they’ve brought the Frontera back as a subcompact crossover SUV – electric credentials optional.

It’s bigger than the more expensive Vauxhall Mokka, doesn’t skimp on tech, and looks to be a really practical option with an appealing price tag (only slightly more expensive than the Renault 5 E-Tech).

But it bears more resemblance to the rest of the current line up than it does the original 90s Frontera. Vauxhall have missed a trick by using the same ‘Vizor’ headlights and grille arrangement as seen on the Astra and Mokka.

Or, possibly, they’ve just stuck an old name on a brand-new design to cash in on this new wave of nostalgia for the cars of our past.

Cynical cash-grab, or uninspired homage? You decide.

Speculated releases 

Vauxhall Manta

We've been hearing whispers about this one for a while, but pinpointing a date for the returning Vauxhall Manta is like looking for a missing wheel nut in the dark.

There was a lot of buzz a few years ago and it was highly anticipated for a 2025 release. But here we are in 2025 – and it looks like we're still waiting.

The original Manta was a staple sports car of the 70s and 80s and intended as a direct competitor of the Ford Capri. Two generations were released in its time: the A, which took its name and a few styling cues from the Manta Ray concept car. And the B, which launched in August 1975 with sportier styling.

Reports promised its return: the Manta, reimagined for the electric age. 

We were hoping to see it come back with a design similar to the Opel Manta GSe concept – a coupe with vintage-approved styling and vibrant paintwork.

But here's the thing: slowing EV demand has put the brakes on the Manta's comeback. Vauxhall's parent company has confirmed the Manta isn't currently in development, focusing instead on the updated Astra and new Corsa.

If the Manta does eventually get the green light, we're now looking at 2028 at the earliest – coinciding with when Vauxhall aims to go fully electric. And when it does arrive, rumour has it the production version might be a sporty SUV rather than the coupe we're all dreaming of.

So, keep your eyes and ears peeled, but don't hold your breath. The Manta's return remains tantalisingly out of reach – for now.

Toyota Celica

Toyota loyalists, raise your hands. The ghost of the Celica is stirring in its 20-year-old grave.

Admittedly, this one has been winding its way around the rumour mill for years. But here's the thing – there's definitely truth in it now.

When Toyota's Executive Vice President publicly announces, "We're doing the Celica!", you know things are getting serious. And as someone who both loves the Toyota brand and appreciates a classic 70s car, no one could be happier about it.

The Celica was Toyota's response to the much-adored Ford Mustang. One size up from the still-existing Corolla, it shared a platform with the Corona and Carina models.

Originally only available as a hardtop notchback coupe, the first-gen Celica had that distinctive coke-bottle styling that is still so beloved around the world. Think the Ford Cortina, Plymouth Barracuda and the much-mourned Triumph GT6 and you'll get the vibe.

And although the styling and design changed considerably over the seven generations of the Celica, it's the earlier generations we'd like to see echoed in a new model.

Here's where things get interesting: the new Celica is shaping up to be something special. We're talking a mid-engine layout with a gutsy 400-hp 2.0-litre turbo, all-wheel drive, and – controversially for 2025 – no electrification whatsoever. Just pure internal combustion paired with a 6-speed manual.

Toyota's going against the grain here, and we're here for it.

Development prototypes are already hitting the roads, and dealers have been given sneak peeks behind closed doors.

The bad news? With an expected price tag nudging £55,000, this won't be the affordable sports car some were hoping for.

We're looking at a late 2026 or 2027 launch, which means the wait continues. 

But with Toyota's current sports car lineup already including the GR86, GR Supra, GR Yaris, and GR Corolla, the Celica will need to carve out its own niche – and that mid-engine, AWD setup might just do the trick.

The return of these beloved favourites is proof you don’t need to be getting married to enjoy something old and something new.

And with so many cars at rest in the metaphorical scrapyard of history, there are so many forgotten favourites manufacturers could bring back.

Which one would you be keen to see again?