Great British Cars
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As a country with an amazing motoring heritage, the UK has produced some of the most iconic and legendary cars in history. Whether it’s the classic Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II or the sleek and modern Jaguar F1, British cars are renowned for their perfected designs, impressive features and incredible performance.
Many of these models are incredibly rare and can be quite expensive, but they all have one thing in common: a certain charm that’s hard to find anywhere else. Driving in England is also a real treat, especially for American drivers, as it’s the only place in the world where everyone drives on the left side of the road!
While many of these iconic British cars were manufactured by larger car companies, there are also a number of smaller independent manufacturers that produce some of the most exciting and sought-after vehicles in the world. For example, the Noble M600 is a jaw-dropping supercar that’s as beautiful as it is fast, with 650 horsepower and a top speed of 225 mph.
Another great example is the Land Rover Defender, which was in production until 2016, making it the longest-running model ever made. This go-anywhere 4×4 was a favourite with the Queen and Winston Churchill, and is still used by the emergency services, explorers and military around the globe.
Other great British models include the Morgan Plus 8, which first rolled off the production line in 1968 and is regarded as a classic car due to its old-fashioned elegance and style with effective handling and performance. Also from the UK is Vauxhall’s Corsa and Astra range, which are a good choice for people looking for practicality without having to sacrifice style.
The 1960s saw a strong demand for large family cars, with the Ford Anglia, Vauxhall Viva and Hillman Minx all enjoying success in this sector of the market. This was also the decade when General Motors began to make a comeback in Britain with the front-wheel drive MK2 Cavalier (rebadged as Opel Manta in mainland Europe) and the more premium MG Z3.
In 1979, BL struck a deal with Honda to work together on a new mid-sized car which came out in 1981 as the Triumph Acclaim/Honda Ballade. This was followed by the Metro, Maestro and Montego, which incorporated Honda engine and transmission technology into a BL chassis.
In recent years, a number of British manufacturers have struggled as demand for sporty models waned. However, Nissan’s Sunderland factory has continued to grow and in 2012 they were the fourth-largest carmaker in Britain by volume, producing over half a million cars. They’ve also created some of the most popular British cars, including the Juke and Qashqui, as well as the all-electric Leaf.