From the moment we stepped out of the airport, Malta made it clear that its streets had as much character as its architecture. Within minutes, we’d spotted a Škoda station wagon, a military-style Land Rover, and a purple Mitsubishi Pajero Junior—an unlikely trio that perfectly set the tone for the days ahead. Malta turned out to be an automotive melting pot, where European staples, Japanese kei cars, British classics, and the occasional oddball import shared its narrow, sunbaked streets. For a car spotter, it was one of the most unexpectedly entertaining parts of our trip through Europe.
This Land Rover Defender in army specification was one of the first vehicles we saw as we exited the airport.
It was followed by a nineties Skoda Felicia station wagon. As I later discovered, Skodas were quite popular in Malta.
A second-gen Mitsubishi Pajero Junior mini SUV zipped by as well. Quite the selection already—and we had not even gone anywhere yet.
We were staying in the historic town of Valletta, Malta’s capital city. The entire city has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is not a conventional travel blog, so I will keep it short and simply say that Malta is an amazing place to visit, thanks to its varied architecture and friendly locals. Located south of Italy, Malta has been influenced by many cultures over the years, including the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, and Romans in antiquity; the Arabs, Normans, and Aragonese during the Middle Ages; and the Knights Hospitaller, French, and British in more modern times. So, it is a cultural melting pot as well as an automotive one.
This 1980s Subaru Sambar had quite a few modifications, including quad headlights, a bull bar, aftermarket wheels, and an eye-popping outline-style paint job.
Around the rear we can see more modifications as well as the graveyard/Halloween mini mural.
Here is a later but more standard Subaru Sambar van. These little vans and trucks were quite popular in Malta.
There were also Suzuki trucks and vans, including this Carry box truck with a RAM logo on the front.
Still old, but a slightly later van variant with square headlights.
Here is a more modern Suzuki with large, aftermarket bumpers.
There were plenty of modern kei-class vans around as well, like this 10th-generation Daihatsu Hijet. With its facelift styling, it could be anywhere from a 2007 to 2021 model.
Coming around the back, there is a lot to take in on this street scene. Easily visible are Malta’s trademark ornate enclosed wooden balconies, called gallarija. We can also spot a first-generation Daihatsu Move across the street.
These first-generation Moves were designed by I.DE.A of Italy and sold from 1995 to 1998.
A rather basic-looking 1990-1992 Subaru Rex.
Here is a fifth generation Toyota Starlet from the late nineties.
Likely not very interesting to European and Australian readers, but I have always found these bug-eye E110 Toyota Corollas interesting to see.
Also interesting to me is this Toyota Corsa three-door hatchback. It looks a little odd to my eyes, which are used to only the production-related two-and four-door Tercels from this era.
This 1980s Mitsubishi L300 had a wild paint job.
This rather narrow looking 1999-2003 Hyundai Atos is representing Korea.
This is a model that I do not believe has ever been featured on the site before, at least not under this name: the Kia Avella. Depending on the market, it was also known as the Ford Aspire or Ford Festiva. These were sold as the Avella in Malta and Russia. This one is a GLXi model. I also spotted a less fancy white two-door model.
An air cooled Volkswagen Beetle joined by a Mitsubishi Lancer and Mazda Demio (Mazda2 in other markets).
A look at the front of the brown 1987-1992 Mitsubishi Lancer. The bumpers look a little tidier than what we got in North America.
A more modern Volkswagen Polo IV in a cheerful yellow.
We caught this Volkswagen Golf MKII on the move in our taxi.
There were a number of older Skoda models including this blue Favorit.
This lovely street parked Skoda Forman GLX station wagon in red caught my eye a few times over the three days we had in Malta.
The rear view ,which shows the lovely condition it is in.
A more modern turn of the century Skoda Felicia station wagon with a 2010s Alfa Romeo Giuletta.
A 2003-2009 Citroen C2 in a lovely green color.
A distinctively styled 1995-1999 Fiat Brava.
The British had a major influence on Malta, and there used to be many British cars from a certain era here. I only spotted a few, but they still exist. Sadly, this was the best shot I got of this Morris Marina 1500.
Easier to spot is this street parked third-generation Ford Escort. A Fiat Panda is sneaking into the frame.
Perhaps you prefer your Escorts with rear-wheel drive? This “dog bone grille” first-generation Ford Escort two-door station wagon was obviously well loved.
There were several of this more modern style Land Rover Defender.
This first-generation Ford Transit is still hard at work as a food truck.
A 1970s Bedford CF based Dormobile motorhome.
Like many other places, Chinese cars are starting to appear, including this Leapmotor T03 electric city car, which was a new marque to me.
We will wrap up with this classic Fiat spotted at the side of the road—one of the many unexpected automotive finds Malta had to offer. The sheer variety of vehicles on the street is likely unmatched almost anywhere else. It is definitely a destination I would love to revisit.
Thanks for this article. If I ever travel internationally, Malta would be at the top of my list. I’ve always been fascinated by Malta – the history, the mix of cultural influences, etc. Interestingly, about 30% of Malta’s population emigrated in the 1950s & ’60s when the economy was terrible. In North America, there were pretty significant Maltese populations that settled in Detroit and Toronto… not really similar climates to Malta.
Anyway, I find the mix of vehicles interesting. I can definitely see the appeal of kei cars there, since the entire country is about the size of a large North American city. The popularity of older Skodas is a bit of a surprise – those well-kempt Skodas are among my favorites of your finds here, as is that VW Golf.
Thanks for all of these pictures!
That Transit is a diesel judging by the grille.
I drove one of those when I was a tyre fitter for a spell in the early ’70s – it was so slow , 50mph flat out downhill.
The same front was also used on those fitted with the 3 litre V6, but that was largely ambulances. Ice cream vans only need slow really.
Except in Australia, where the bullnose meant there was a ford straight six in there.
I’m no expert, but the Beetle appears to be a very late model from the period after production had stopped in Germany.
It appears that as a former British colony, the Maltese drive on the left. As a group of small islands, presumably with few high-speed motorways, it’s likely the perfect place to own a kei car or truck.
Yes, the Beetle definitely appeared to be a later one. Produced in Mexico likely. These later ones seem to have sold in Japan when new and there was definitely a good number of imports of used cars from Japan.
Malta was definitely influenced by the British. A believe a majority of their tourists, even today, come from the UK. It is likely an ideal place for a Kei car or truck. There were places to rent Suzuki Jimnys and similar. If we had longer I definitely would have.
Does Malta still have customized busses? I remember Road & Track article from the 80s about them, including the supersized 59 Chevy taillights.
As a bit of trivia there is at least one Citroen GS station wagon, since the TV mystery Madame Blanc is filmed in Malta, although ostensibly set in the south of France.
We had a post here way back about one of those amazing customized Maltese bread vans:
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/the-amazing-maltese-bread-van/
Sadly I did not see any of the buses. We may not have been in the right place them perhaps.
I seem to remember a certain black and red bread van that was famous in Malta
What drew you to “Malta”?
We were in Europe for my brother in-law’s wedding so we decided to make a bit more of a trip of it. My wife wanted to see all the traditional tourist spots; Paris, Rome, etc and I wanted to try some less obvious spots. We ended up picking a list then going with the countries that we could make cheap flights work for. I did a little research on Malta and it was high on my list due to the history, architecture and good car spotting opportunities. I definitely recommend it.
If that Marina is really a 1500 and not a typo, then I wonder if it uses the OHC E-series like our Aussie Marinas? Or maybe the old 1489cc version of the B-series? The Brits only made a 1.3 and a 1.8. Be curious to know how Malta got these.
I don’t think they sold a Marina Typo.
Possibly a 1500 Diesel? https://www.aronline.co.uk/cars/morris/marina/diesel/
“…there used to be many British cars from a certain era here. I only spotted a few, but they still exist. Sadly, this was the best shot I got of this Morris Marina..”
I think, surely, there is a typo between these two sentences? Should be: “….but they still exist, sadly. This was…” (
(I couldn’t resist! It IS Marina after all, and yes, I used to my drive my sister’s one and yes, it was awful).
That “Fiat” in the last pic doesn’t have a Fiat badge: is it Puch, Abarth? Can’t make it out, but I know it’s been on these pages before.
I too would love to see Malta. One of my best mates and my first teacher were Maltese, doubtless because Melbourne is home to Australia’s largest Maltese community, about 80,0000 born or descended. Doubtless they were suitably “white” enough – and from the Empire – to be accepted post-WW2, despite our White Australia Policy (abolished fully only in 1974, and incredibly sadly, and shamefully, we have a fast-rising right-wing party here now suggesting that that abolishment was a bad thing).
The green Citroen C2 stands out, because I drove its local twin once. It had a single-clutch robotised manual/auto, and it sticks in the mind as the most hilariously inept transmission I’ve ever encountered.
Rather sheepishly, I did not know Malta was RHD.
8.28.2026
Late to the party as usual .
Malta looks wonderful .
I especially like the balconies but in some pictures they have floor level ABS pipes coming out, is this where they put the ‘loo’ in older buildings ? .
Wishing I could have traveled there too .
-Nate
Finished a tour of several Greek islands (Syros, Mykonos, & Santorini) and Athens this late April. Noted plenty of kei service vans, and the balance were European brands for small cars and Mercedes Benz for passenger vans.
However, most the vehicles were covered with a fine dust. A guide stated that the dust originated from Africa via a wind across the Mediterranean. Did you notice the same on Malta?
If I’m not mistaken, that’s the wind known as the “Scirocco.”
I cannot say that I did notice that. Perhaps it is more prevalent at certain times of year?