I tend to think of the Citroën GS as being a modern car. My own car, Sally, was recently resprayed and is missing a few bits of chrome that she should have, so to my eyes she doesn't look too out of place parked in front of my c1860 home among Fiestas, Astras and 106s. When you get behind the wheel you discover a brushed aluminium effect dash with a comprehensive array of dials, and ride quality and handling that puts many modern cars to shame. She certainly rides better than last-of-the-line Escorts and as well as current 406s - the Canterbury taxi fleet, shamed by a car launched in 1970! The only thing that dates her is performance - the current market is obsessed with sportiness and wouldn't dream of putting a 1.2 litre, 60bhp engine even in a small family saloon.

Anyway. So I think she's modern. The classic press is just beginning to realise the "classic-ness" of the GS (a severe case of barn-door bolting after horse syndrome, with only a handful of them left in the country) but is as derisive about it as it always is about foreign family saloons. I was just flicking through some old Practical Classics magazines and the March 1999 issue gives the GS a "classic status" of only 2/5 in an article about the Car Of The Year Award. The GS beat the Range Rover, Mk III Cortina, Hillman Avenger, Opel Manta and Triumph Stag to that prize in 1970. Now just look at it against those other cars! Its closest rivals in the family market would have been the ‘Tina and Avenger - but it could have easily been launched fifteen years later than either in terms of style or engineering! Disc brakes all round, aerodynamic body shape, interior space to shame a Rover 2000, fantastic handling, stylish inside and out...

The performance figures mean nothing, by the way: Citroen always knew what British companies never learned - that there's no need for a big engine if all-independent oleo-pneumatic suspension means that you don't need to slow down for bends.

However, there is a problem to owning one of these fantastic machines. All of my friends think I've bought just another old banger (rather than the restored and appreciating classic that I know I have), GSs don't exist on modern (unlimited mileage) insurance company computers and worst of all, I feel like a complete prick parked between Jag XJ6s and Triumph 2000s in the post-1970 section of classic car shows - like those people who sneak Ford Orions and bog standard Austin Metros into the classified sections of classic car magaznes.

The GS falls messily between two stools. Unknown by those who crave modernity, unloved by the classic community. The consolation is the enormous enthusiasm of those who do appreciate what the model has to offer.

I'm sure many of you own models in a similar predicament. Please tell me what they are, and we'll launch a small campaign to get them recognised. In the meantime, here's a list of unloved cars that I'd love to own (and one that I already do own):

MK I VW Passat
normally aspirated Saab 99
Triumph TR7 fhc
Rover 2000SC automatic
Hillman Avenger
Citroën CX

(And getting a bit more modern but save ‘em while you can)
Citroën BX
Citroën XM
Peugeot 309 (a much better car than its MK III Escort competitor, which is beginning to be recognised as a classic)
Vauxhall Nova (they were crap, but a few original, non-rude examples deserve to be saved)
Peugeot 205 (likewise)
MK I Fiesta
MK I Astra
Peugeot 405