KE55 Series II Corolla

A small round of trim changes, new seats, revised suspension settings and squared-off grille, headlights and tail-lights heralded the arrival of the five-speed manual option from July ’80.

But these were not enough for the ageing Corolla to stave off the all-new Ford Laser, which blitzed the market in early ’81.

It also had to contend with the other new-age front-wheel drive brigade led by the Mitsubishi Colt, Mazda 323 and Nissan Pulsar.