A Guide to British Cars

Britain is home to some of the world’s best cars. From the ‘Blower’ Bentley of the 1920s to the diminutive MGs of the 1930s, British cars have shaped the automotive landscape. The British auto industry also gave the world iconic cars like the Jaguar E-type, the Mini, and the Lotus. In more recent years, British cars have produced the likes of the McLaren and Lotus.

The MG was once renowned for making sports cars, but today it produces affordable family cars. Aside from the MG, other popular British cars include the Renault 5 and Volkswagen Polo. Despite the popularity of these cars, it’s hard to find one that costs millions of pounds. However, you can still find a great value car from the UK by keeping your options open.

The Escort Mk1 was a small car with four-cylinder engines that ranged from 0.9 to 2.0 liters. The top-of-the-range version, the RS1600, produced 115 horsepower. A rival car to the Escort was the Hillman Minx, which was sold in the UK for six years before being replaced by the Escort in 1967. Other British competitors include the Hillman Hunter, Vauxhall Viva, and Ford Cortina.

The British car industry has a long history that dates back to the 19th century. In the 1950s, the UK was the second-largest car producer in the world and one of its biggest exporters. However, in recent years, the UK auto industry has experienced lower growth rates compared to other countries. As a result, the UK was only the 12th largest producer of cars in 2008, according to volume. Many British car marques have been purchased by foreign companies. Other foreign companies have the rights to produce their cars in the UK.

Another British car manufacturer that has been around for a long time is Rolls-Royce. This company has been around since 1904 and was a part of the British government until it was sold to the German carmaker BMW in 1998. The company has two symbols that represent the company’s heritage. One is the twinned letters “RR,” which represent the surnames of the founders. The other is the iconic image of a woman in a billowing dress, dubbed “The Spirit of Rapture.”

In the late 1970s, the British motor industry underwent a transition. The British Motor Corporation (BMC) produced the Mini, one of the earliest cars in history, which remained one of the best-selling cars for over twenty years. Later, British Leyland started production of a modern alternative to the Mini. The Austin Metro was launched in 1980 and featured modern styling and a hatchback body style. Meanwhile, Chrysler Europe ceased production of the Hillman Imp in 1976 and replaced it with the Chrysler Sunbeam, a hatchback. After this period, Ford and General Motors introduced their own versions of the Mini, including the Fiesta and the Vauxhall Chevette.

One of the most famous British cars is the Range Rover, built in Coventry. This iconic vehicle was a big hit in the UK, becoming an icon of classless luxury cars. It cost PS1,998 at launch but costs as much as PS84,000 in the latest generation.