This weekend, I’ll be focusing on quirky versions of once-everyday cars, ones that were represented in promotional material in glorious, eye-catching yellow. It’s obviously worked well for a long time: take an otherwise boring, appliance-like car, add some interesting trim, spray it in exciting yellow and the brochure practically writes itself.
The first one to step into the limelight is the Spanish-built Opel Corsa A from 1983, in GT trim. It’s one of the most likeable Opels I’ve discovered in a good while.



The Corsa’s job was clear-cut: fight the Ford Fiesta and the Volkswagen Polo, while keeping the Japanese equivalents at bay. The Fiat Uno would turn out to be better packaged, the Seat Ibiza was another option if you wanted your ’80s supermini to be assembled in Spain, but the Corsa found its buyers. And, of course, if you resided in Great Britain, you would buy yours as the Vauxhall Nova.


The GT version seemed to be nicely appointed. We’re looking at a car with the newer, more rounded dashboard, which would place this yellow example in the later end of the manufacturing period. The 70-horsepower, 5-speed GT was succeeded by the 100-horse GSi in 1988.
But look at those dials! The three-spoke wheel! The bucket seats! The way the tailgate and bumper seem to be completely misaligned!

I’m also a big fan of the three-spoke 13-inch wheels and the flared arches. Most likely, the supercharged, 113-horsepower Polo G40 was a far faster choice, but it probably cost a dear bit more.