The adverts were ridiculed for their simplicity, but Ronseal had the last laugh. The phrase stuck in the national consciousness and became the ultimate recommendation of a product's sturdy dependability. No-frills quality, guaranteed.
Which brings me to the Sirion.
Restraints on parking space and budget have seen me purchase a couple of little Daihatsu vehicles. And they have done exactly what it said on the tin.
In fact, they were so low-priced that comparisons with budget-brand wood preservatives, rather than Ronseal, would be more appropriate. So, when it came to picking up the Sirion, I thought I knew exactly what to expect. Basic, functional, adequate.
But I was wrong.
Style
For a start, the Sirion has an element of style I've never detected in Daihatsu, either mine or anyone else's bigger models. Being ignorant, I had to have it explained to me that Sirion was the name of a river in The Lord of the Rings.
And while this car is not exactly the type of vehicle to take you on a voyage of fantasy, it can boast a few imaginative touches.
In the crowded hatchback market, the new Sirion needs to be a little special to stand out, it will have to have something that carves its identity on the memory of would-be buyers. Only time will tell if it does.
From the outside, there's a whiff of Fiat Panda, a hint of Honda Jazz and a slight suggestion of Corsa styling, but somehow it manages to look individual enough. Maybe it's the chunky wheel arches or the snubby front end. Whatever it is, the new Sirion does look a cool little package.
But it is on the inside that it really sets out its stall. It is then you realise that the new-look Sirion is wider and higher than its predecessor. Space, it seems, is the finite frontier. But the Sirion gives the driver at least as much as any other hatchback and probably more than many bigger cars.
Taking the wheel seems more like being at the helm of a middle-sized family saloon rather than a compact hatch, such is the space and general impression of airiness that is apparent once inside.
Market
Daihatsu hopes that this is the car that sees them making real inroads into the European market and if they can manage to get potential customers behind the wheel then they will be well on their way to doing that.
The interior has a few nice touches. The dashboard display that moves up and down according to how you adjust the height of the steering wheel is a clever idea, although it does make you do a double take if you are not aware of it.
The cabin looks a lot more lively than the standard black plastic and cloth that passes as adequate in many hatchbacks and it boasts more little storage spaces than you might expect.
Air conditioning, plenty of airbags, a radio-CD and all the electrics you need ensure that all the boxes marked "comfort'' are ticked.
And it does seem that this is a car that does what it says on the tin {hellip} and throws in a few extras.
For the first time, I had to go back to the paperwork to check that the car I was driving was the model that I was supposed to be reviewing. The Sirion 1.0S comes with an on-the-road price of £6,995, yet it seems like a car that should cost at least £1,500 more - even in the competitive supermini market.
Exceptional
To drive, it is good enough without being exceptional. It is pretty swift off the mark for a one-litre engine - another factor that had me checking the paperwork.
But it is not the quietest, although I was never quite sure whether that was due to the engine or the cabin insulation.
Yet that is a minor quibble. It boasts a ridiculously tight turning circle - allegedly tighter than all its rivals - and its roadholding was nothing short of impressive in all conditions. It's a quick, little car that is both economical, spacious and stylish.
Daihatsu, it seems, is now prepared to do much more than it says on the tin.
TECH SPECMODEL: Daihatsu Sirion 1.0S
TECHNICAL: 1,000cc petrol, three-cylinder engine
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph, 13.5 secs;
top speed, 99mph
FUEL: 56.5mpg (combined)
EMISSIONS: 118g/km
INSURANCE: Group 4
PRICE: £6,995
ON THE STEREO: Knock On Wood - Amii Stewart.
