IT never ceases to amaze me how some comparatively recent cars are gradually disappearing before our eyes.

One such is the Vauxhall Nova which just a few years ago was so common on the roads that it never drew a second glance.

But out of 446,579 built between 1983 and 1993 only around 2,100 are still on the road.

It brought it home when I spotted one on my local by-pass and realised how long it was since I had seen a Nova.

The Government's scrappage scheme accelerated the natural ageing factor went to make this car a modern rarity.

For those whose recollection is hazy on this model, the Nova was Vauxhall's first serious attempt at a supermini.

The Chevette was the first but it was far from a supermini, being a remnant of that old market area dominated by the Vauxhall Viva and Ford Escort.

The Nova was always fighting a ding-dong sales battle with the Ford Fiesta and of course the Ford was mainly in the lead.

The Nova was always a bit unloved in this respect and was never going to be an iconic car. But it was a little car with a big heart because it was tough and reliable and paved the way for the much more successful Corsa.

In two and four-door forms it was an everyday workhorse for the families of Britain and when it was coming to the end of its shelf life it became the darling of the boy racer.

The Nova came in 1.0, 1.2 and 1.3-litre forms in its early day and the power increased throughout it production run.

Pick of the bunch was the 1.6 GTE, a real hot-hatch which could easily outperform a Ford Fiesta XR2.

And in its performance versions it found a potent niche on the autosport circuit and some drivers still speak of it in awe.

It was miles better than the BMC Metro in its everyday guise and is surely ripe for more dedicated preservation in addition to the existing faithful Nova fans who keep their cars in tip top condition.