Lotus Elan (M100)

The story

With General Motors' money behind it, Lotus built a small roadster that drove its front wheels, which shocked the purists. It gripped and steered so well that the doubters were soon won over. It cost too much to make, though, and never earned its keep.

Inside

A wide, modern cabin with a deep dash and proper heating and wipers that worked. The headlamps pop up.

In period colours

Tap a colour to respray the drawing.

Meanwhile, in 1989

The Berlin Wall came down, and satellite television arrived in Britain.

Best-selling single of 1989: Ride On Time by Black Box

Before you buy a 1980s car

• Check for rust in the usual places, though many cars from this decade were better protected.
• Electrical and fuel system faults are common, so test everything.
• Parts for mass-market cars are usually easy to find.

General notes, not specific to this model. Check the model's own history before buying.

Rivals of its day

Picked automatically: cars on sale at the same time with similar size, speed and price.

See the real thing

These open in a new tab: the car on Wikimedia Commons, the interior and the badge as Google image searches.