If you are into exciting, interesting cars and follow the mainstream media you’d be forgiven for thinking we’re at the end of days. The internal combustion engine is in its twilight years, and most new cars appear to be SUVs. It might seem like we’re all being forced into boring automotive washing machines.

You and I, of course, know different. It’s just that the very best, most exciting, most captivating cars have already been built. Few new cars offer the visceral thrills the cars of the 80s, 90s and 00s have in abundance. Those 30 years contain some of the greatest cars ever to roll out of the factory gates, breeding a passion that knows no bounds, no borders and, increasingly, no set defined age limit when it comes to the petrolhead passion. This was truly the era that cars came of age – innovative design, ever-improving dynamics and a tangible connection to the road, felt through the steering wheel, pedals, gearbox and engine. Modern cars may well be faster, quieter and more efficient, but few really make you feel part of the action.