With Britain’s fine history of car manufacturing and designing there are many unforgettable classic cars that have been part of the country’s rich motoring heritage.
Below we list out 10 favourites of all time.
10.Land Rover Series 1
Inspired by the Jeep used by the USA in World War Two, the Land Rover Series I was built to be a workhorse utility vehicle. Land Rover had just come off working on military contracts and had materials remaining, so they decided to put the rationed steel and the experience gained over the war years to create a robust vehicle. The design of the Land Rover was crude and rough around the edges but when put into its historical and social-cultural context, the Land Rover stands out as an icon of the British resilience and innovation.
For enthusiasts who like restoring classics, the Series I is a popular choice.
9.Morris Minor
Designed by the legendary British-Greek designer Alec Issigonis, the Minor was one of the first mass-produced British cars, released in 1948 it soon became one of the post popular and sought-after cars of its time. Its no-nonsense design was slightly more polished than its biggest rival at the time – the Volkswagen Beetle. The Morris Minor came in a variety of different shapes and sizes.
8.Rolls-Royce Phantom
Rolls-Royce is one of the oldest car makers in Britain, its name conjuring up images of class and prestige. The Phantom’s shape is still in that original automobile style. Its interior follows the tradition of the classic coachwork style, with curved, leather seats. This is a car designed before aerodynamics, crumple zones and fuel efficiency were a concern. Under 3,500 of the original Phantom were produced, so they are truly a rarity. There were a further seven versions of the Phantom built in the near 100 years since it first appeared on the market.
7.McLaren F1
The McLaren F1 is the definition of an ultimate supercar. With an extremely light body and a ferocious 6.1-litre BMW V12 engine, this South African inspired Gordon Murray masterpiece is the fastest naturally aspirated production car ever built. A record that’s yet to be beaten in over 22 years! It’s hard to believe that a car this fast wasn’t built for the racetrack. Despite not having been built with the track in mind, the McLaren F1 still found success, including winning the 24 Hour of Le Mans, competing against purpose-built prototype race cars. The ultimate British Super Car ever to be built with only 102 manufactured. A truly astonishing feat of British engineering.
6.Range Rover MK1
Introduced to the public in June 1970, the new "Range Rover" was launched as "A Car for All Reasons”. The original Spen King-designed Range Rover was one of the British Motor Industry's proudest success stories. According to King, “The idea was to combine the comfort and on-road ability of a Rover saloon with the off-road ability of a Land Rover. Nobody was doing it.” “It is the only vehicle that is equally at home in Park Lane, the Sahara, the Darien Gap, a cart track or a ploughed field.” Clearly the choice of upmarket families rather than farmers. When it went out of production at the end of 1995, it still looked as fresh and forward thinking as it did back in 1970 when one was exhibited in the Louvre as an example of modern sculpture.
5.Ford Escort MK1
When the Ford Escort was first introduced in the late 60s it won British car lovers over with its modern look, inspired by the classic American cars of the time. With a four-cylinder petrol engine at the front and rear-wheel-drive, this classic Ford was a practical car with an affordable price tag, which quickly turned it into a bestseller driven by millions. Not to mention, that it turned out to be one of the best rally cars in motorsport history.
4.Aston Martin DB5
No list of the best classic British cars can go without mentioning the DB5. Did James Bond Make the DB5 cool, or did the DB5 make James Bond cool? The story could have been very different if Aston Martin had got their way. When production started on the third film in the Bond franchise, Goldfinger, the producers were seeking a British car to be fitted out with the gadgets that would become a staple of the franchise. The Aston Martin DB5 was an obvious choice, especially as Bond had driven one in the novels. But Aston Martin were reluctant to have their brand associated with the films. Finally convinced to do a product placement deal, the car featured in one of the most iconic Bond moments in the series’ history. Demand for the car rose significantly after the film’s premiere. Only 1,059 were made over the two-year production period.
3.The Original Mini
With a unique design that has been around for over four decades, the Mini is the epitome of a British classic. Designed by Alec Issigonis, (aka Morris Minor fame) the car wasn’t built with ambitions of longevity or celebrity status. The compact design of the Mini – a family car that shocked motor lovers across the world back in 1959.It however, found the recognition it deserved when racing legend John Cooper saw the racing potential of the Mini, which led to the production of the 1961 Mini Cooper S. After the Mini Cooper S was crowned the winner of the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally, the popularity of the Mini skyrocketed. Practical and affordable, the Mini has had a 41-year-long production history, which ended in 2000. Despite millions of cars having been made over the years, the originals from the early 60s remain cherished collectables for classic car lovers.
2.Ford GT40
Henry Ford bet on British engineering to design a sports car that could steal the Le Mans dominance from the Italian powerhouse Ferrari. Featuring a mighty 4.7-litre V8 paired with precisely designed aerodynamics. The GT40 broke Ferrari’s streak and went onto to win the next four of the famous races with the American Carroll Shelby who rescued the failing project to create an icon of racing.
1.Jaguar E-Type
Once dubbed “the most beautiful car ever made” by Enzo Ferrari himself, the Jaguar E-Type is undoubtedly amongst the best classic British cars ever made. The designer, Malcolm Sayer, came from an aeronautics background, which really shows in the striking, almost aggressive appearance. Its combination of beauty, high performance, dynamic curves, and long curved bonnet that takes up half of the car’s body, it revolutionised the car design world the instant it appeared on the market. The E-type proved that cars could be fashionable. The E-type is just one of six cars to hold residence in the New York Museum of Modern Art. It really is a work of art and a worthy number one on our top ten British classic cars list.
