Adrian Hearn looks at the most momentous modifications in motoring.

Earlier this week, Britain feasted its eyes on the first four-door, diesel-powered Jeep Wrangler. Since its release 20 years ago, the iconic motor has remained virtually untouched.

But most cars over their lifespan are the subject of some drastic design changes.

Old Mini / New Mini
Forty eight years ago, Alex Issigonis designed one of THE great British motors. So when the announcement came the little car was to be remade by BMW, many questioned whether the German company could maintain the Mini’s character. After five years of production, more than one million new Minis have been made, with the Oxfordshire plant expanding to meet demand.

Old Beetle / New Beetle (above)
Launched in 1936, over 300,000 Germans paid instalments to get their hands on Ferdinand Porsche’s unusual design. But after the breakout of war, only a handful ever received their ‘people’s car’.  VW was handed over to the German government in 1949 with the millionth Beetle rolling off the line five years later. The Beetle was re-launched in 1999 as a bigger, curvier model.

Willys Jeep / Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
The Willys Jeep was the choice of transport for GIs during WWII. In 1987 Jeep released the Wrangler, a 4x4 based on the battle vehicle. The Wrangler remained virtually untouched until this week when Jeep unveiled the Unlimited to the British market – a long wheel-based Wrangler with four doors, a diesel engine and traction control as standard.

Mk1 Golf / Mk5 Golf
The original Golf was a small, square motor which started the hot hatch era with the awesome GTi. Add 35 years and 25 million sales and the Golf is twice the size and twice the weight. 

VW Campervan / VW California
The campervan is a favourite with surfers and hedonists with its funky front and road trip practicality. The California is a different beast, a more conservative-looking model, which offers superior performance and reliability.

Original Honda Civic / Modern Civic
One of the most original designs to hit the forecourt in years, the space-age looking Civic is light years ahead of the first model, which was released in 1972. But the 1.2-litre Japanese car managed an impressive 40mpg. Today’s much bigger model is laden with technology and has a 2.2-litre diesel which does a combined 55.4mpg.

Old Aston Martin DBS / New DBS
New Bond, new car. Daniel Craig’s ice cool debut as the world’s most famous spy was made all that more cool with his car, the DBS. But the original – made between 1967 and 1972 – was brutish in comparison to the current 500bhp Gaydon beauty.

Jaguar XK120 / Jaguar XKR
The latest Jag is modelled on the achingly beautiful Aston Martin DB9. The XK120 is just as good looking beast and was made between 1949 and 1954. It was the world’s fastest production car at the time with a top speed of 120mph, while today’s XKR has a limited top speed of 155mph.

Porsche 911 (1963) / Porsche 911 (2007)
One of the world’s most popular sports cars, the 911 has been in production for over 40 years. Unveiled at the 1963 Frankfurt Motor Show, the first 911 rolled off the production line in 1964. As the years have progressed the Porsche 911’s engine has gone from a 2-litre block producing 130bhp to the current 3.6-litre Turbo, which produces 473bhp and has a top speed of 193mph.

And one that’s hardly changed – the Morgan 4/4

The Morgan 4/4 has been in production for 70 years – a feat recognised in the Guinness World Records.

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