They left and did not return - 12 missing brands of cars

These car brands have ceased to exist in recent decades. Some of them are little known to the general public, but there are also known all over the world. Why did we get here and what did we lose from their closure? Or maybe it was for the best, because most of them almost disappeared? However, it must be admitted that there are exceptions, as some of these brands did produce wonderful cars.

NSU

The brand has been dead for half a century and its latest model is the NSU Ro 80, with its 1,0 liter rotary engine producing 113 hp. was not very original in design. In the 1960s, the German brand was successful in selling compact rear-wheel drive models, but then decided to hit the world with a Wankel-powered production car.

The decision proved fatal to NSU, as these engines were notoriously not very reliable, and interest in rear-wheel drive vehicles began to wane at the time. Thus, the NSU Ro 80 became the swan song of the company that came under the control of Audi. A reputable company was now associated with failure and was quickly forgotten.

Daewoo

Hardly anyone thought that the huge Korean holding would go bankrupt in 1999 and be sold piece by piece. Daewoo cars were well known all over the world and were produced in other countries outside of South Korea, but their absence is unlikely to upset anyone.

The latest model was the Daewoo Gentra, which is a copy of the Chevrolet Aveo and was produced until 2015 in Uzbekistan. Now Ravon cars are assembled instead, and in the rest of the world Daewoo has turned into Chevrolet.

SIMCA

Once upon a time, this French brand successfully competed with major manufacturers, bringing impressive cars to the world. The SIMCA 1307/1308 family also served as inspiration for the creation of the Moskvich-2141.

The brand's latest model came out in 1975, when SIMCA was owned by the financially troubled Chrysler. In the end, the Americans abandoned the brand, reviving the old British name Talbot in its place.

Talbot

Even at the beginning of the last century, powerful and prestigious cars were produced under this brand - both in the UK, where the company was founded, and in France. In 1959, the French factory was taken over by SIMCA and the brand was liquidated so as not to mislead customers.

In 1979, Chrysler dropped the SIMCA name and returned the old Talbot name, which lasted until 1994. The last cars under this brand were the big hatchback of the same name and the compact Horizont and Samba. The PSA concern, which now owns the rights to the brand, is said to be considering reviving the Talbot, turning it into a Dacia counterpart, but this has not been confirmed.

Oldsmobile

One of America's oldest and most respected brands, it has been a symbol of the local auto industry's timeless values. In the 1980s, he offered cars with impressive designs that were even ahead of their time.

However, at the beginning of this century, GM decided to focus on the Chevrolet and Cadillac brands, leaving no room for Oldsmobile. The latest model of the famous brand is Alero.

Moskvich

And if Americans regret Oldsmobile, then most Russians treat Moskvich in the same way. This brand launched the first automobile conveyor in the USSR, the first Soviet small car aimed at private customers, and the first post-war affordable mass car. However, this does not help him survive the change.

The latest mass model, the Moskvich-2141, falls victim to terrible quality and poor factory management. Attempts to revive with the models "Prince Vladimir" and "Ivan Kalita" (2142) ended in failure. Recently, there have been rumors that Renault is preparing a revival of the Soviet brand, but this is unlikely, since even the Russians themselves do not need it.

Plymouth

It was not only GM that suffered from decades of mismanagement, but also its rival Chrysler. In 2000, the group closed one of America's oldest "folk" brands (founded in 1928), which successfully competed with the affordable Ford and Chevrolet models.

Among his latest models is the avant-garde Prowler, which turned out to be a complete failure. This model was then offered by the Chrysler brand, but again it was not successful.

Volga

The loss of this brand was also quite painful for many Russians, but this is their fault. In recent years, they simply abandoned it: the sales of the already familiar GAZ-31105, as well as the slightly more modern Siber car, are steadily falling.

The Volga brand still belongs to the GAZ holding, but its products cannot compete with those of major manufacturers. And that makes it almost impossible for a brand to come back.

Tatras

If the Russians are still nostalgic for Moskvich and the Volga, and the Americans are nostalgic for Oldsmobile and Pontiac, then the Czechs definitely feel sorry for Tatra. However, it is impossible to offer only one model for 30 years - Tatra 613, even if it is quite original in design and construction.

In 1996, an attempt was made to start production of a modernized version of the Tatra 700 with a 8 hp V231 engine. Only 75 units were sold in three years, marking the end of the brand's history. Most likely forever. And it's a pity, because Tatra gave a lot to the automotive industry. Including most of the construction of the VW Beetle, for which, after the Second World War, the German concern paid them compensation.

Triumph

For fans of fast British sports cars, this brand means a lot. They appreciate not only its roadsters, but also sedans, which were among the most dynamic in their class and were able to compete even with BMW. The last original model of the brand is the Triumph TR8 sports roadster with a 3,5-liter V8, which was produced until 1981.

Until 1984, the Triumph Acclain remained, which is also the Honda Ballade. The brand is now owned by BMW, but nothing has been heard of a possible revival. Thus, Triumph became one of many once famous and respected British brands that have gone into oblivion.

SAAB

The Swedish manufacturer certainly still has many regrets. Over the years, SAAB has created original cars with impressive dynamics, aimed at intellectuals and aesthetes. Initially, the company merged with Scania, then came under the wing of GM, then it was bought by the Dutch company Spyker and finally became the property of China.

The last 197 units of the 9-3 and 9-5 models were released in 2010. At the moment, the next owner has no intention of reviving the brand, but his fans still hope that this is not true.

Mercury

Ford also suffered losses. Created in 1938, the Mercury brand was supposed to take its place between the massive Ford and the prestigious Lincoln and last until 2010.

One of his latest models is a large Mercury Grand Marquis sedan. Its Ford Crown Victoria and Lincoln Town Car counterparts managed to stay in production a little longer. Unlike Mercury, the Lincoln brand went ahead.