The history of the British motor industry doesn’t make for particularly pleasant reading. MG, Rover, TVR, British Leyland – the names of fallen greats are reminders of what was once a powerhouse of engineering.
Despite this, we have built some truly memorable cars. What’s more, the effect they have had on the motoring industry as a whole has been profound. Picking the 10 most important is akin to being asked which sibling is you favourite child. But I’ve done just that (the cars, not the child!).
10. Morgan Plus 8
Finding a car design more unique than that of the Plus 8 is tricky, if not impossible. Add to that the prevalence of wood in the construction and we have a motor which redefined how cars should look and be constructed.
9. Austin-Healey Sprite
Affordable fun cars are ten a penny these days, but Austin-Healey’s Sprite was arguably the first car in that mould. It remains one of the most popular British cars for both road and track use, despite having ceased production way back in 1969.
8. Land Rover Defender
Want to drive absolutely anywhere? Over any terrain, up any hill, or through any valley? Grab the keys to a Land Rover. The absolute king of the mountains and fields only recently ended production and to something of a teary outcry from fans. No nonsense, no frills, just bulletproof – the perfect off roader.
7. Lotus Elise
The late Colin Chapman’s affordably-priced British sports car first appeared in 1996 and has enjoyed something of a cult following ever since. Not only offering an exhilarating drive for a very reasonable price, the Elise is thought by many to have been the saviour of Lotus.
6. Bentley Continental GT
If you want premium luxury, maximum comfort and earth shattering speed, there really is no better British example than the Continental GT. A fraction of the cost of many supercars, it offers the same punch with typically-British, drama-free aplomb.
5. Aston Martin DB5
One thing comes to mind when someone mentions the DB5: ‘James Bond’. Just like our beloved British super spy, Aston Martin’s beauty offered incredible pace for it’s era: 282bhp and a 0-60 mph time of just 8.1 seconds.
4. Jaguar E-Type
If Enzo Ferrari describes a car as ‘the most beautiful car ever made’, you know you’re onto a good thing. The E-type is indeed absolutely, stunningly beautiful and remains one of the most desirable cars on the planet.
3. Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud
Between 1959 and 1962, the Silver Cloud was the car to be seen in and offered a typically British air of quiet, fuss-free driving. It was also the first British car to make ‘adequate’ use of a V8 in order to retain ride quality and comfortable handling.
2. MG TC
On its own, the MG TC wasn’t anything spectacular. What propelled it to superstardom and what makes it one of the most important British cars ever made is the impact it had across the Atlantic in the US. American GIs loved it. Word spread and MG TC quickly became the first British car to make a serious statement abroad.
1. Austin Mini
It had to be, didn’t it? Everyone loves a Mini, and there’s one very good reason for that; it is quintessentially British and the most iconic car to be designed and built on these shores. The new variant dwarfs its ancestor, but few can argue the legendary status occupied by the original Mini. It is without doubt the most important car we’ve ever built.
Conclusion
The list above may be scoffed at, adjusted and replaced by car enthusiasts, but that in itself is an indication of just how broad and eclectic a car history Britain has. Boy have we made some good cars.
Image Credit – https://pixabay.com/en/sports-car-morgan-morgan-8-auto-432372/