Jeff Paterson, senior...

Jeff Paterson, senior cars editor at trade bible Glass"s Guide, said: "The Roadster is innovative, and will be quite sought after and collectable now. Generally, prices fall when a model is withdrawn, but as there are so few Roadsters around, this is unlikely. In fact, the lack of supply could mean they even go up in price."

He thinks there are two vital ingredients for any would-be classic. "Style comes into it, but it also has to drive well," Paterson continued. "The Smart Roadster could creep up on classic status, because it has been withdrawn so early in its life."

Al Young, chairman of the Smart Club, which has more than 22,000 members in the UK alone, said: "I honestly believe it will become a classic. It is technically advanced, yet affordable and great to drive. It"s really quite an achievement for such a new brand to have this number of enthusiasts."