British Cars
While the British car industry has been struggling for decades to compete with American manufacturers, the country continues to make some impressive vehicles. During the 1980s, many foreign automakers gained a foothold in Britain, including Peugeot and Renault, and Volvo and Fiat. However, these cars were not built to be world-beaters. Many people don’t think of British cars as being that high-tech or sporty. Instead, they are comfortable enough to drive around the suburbs in British weather.
One of the most renowned British cars is the Jaguar E-Type. Introduced in 1961, the Jaguar is a two-seat coupe with a distinctively curved rear end. The Jaguar E-Type has earned the European Car of the Year award, and was the most popular luxury model in the UK in the 1960s. The Jaguar E-Type had a top speed of 145 mph and was available in roadster and coupe bodystyles. The British auto industry also made a variety of cheaper sports cars during this period, including the Ford Capri and the Triumph TR6.
The car industry also had some defunct automakers. Invicta began in 1905 but ceased production in 1914, and was acquired by Vauxhall. The company later moved its manufacturing operations to Chelsea, where it remained for 54 years. However, it was not until 2004 that it was reborn. Invicta’s demise did not end the British auto industry. During the 1980s, it was a great time for General Motors.
After the 1970s, the UK government made many changes to the way British cars were manufactured. BMC had pioneered front-wheel drive on several of its new cars. Front-wheel drive had become a standard feature on family cars. BMC also pioneered the hatchback body style with the Renault 16 in 1965. The hatchback body style soon became popular with buyers, and by the end of the decade, many of Britain’s best-selling cars featured a hatchback.
The Mini Cooper is a popular sports car from the UK. The company has eight models in continuous production, including the Mini Cooper S. Aston Martin is another British car, which has been featured in several Hollywood productions. Aston Martin’s cars are renowned for their high-end luxury. The luxury company was founded in Great Britain and is currently owned by Ford. Aston Martin is a great example of the British luxury car market.
The Delorean DMC-12 was built in a British government-funded factory in Northern Ireland. This car had a brilliant design concept, but was eventually canceled due to production problems. In fact, the original design was based on a mid-mounted four-cylinder engine developed by Lotus. It had many notable flaws, including oil leaks, and the fact that it sometimes wouldn’t start. Despite its success, it was also a failure in terms of production.
British cars don’t have to be expensive to be desirable. Land Rover’s Defender, for example, has been producing off-road vehicles for nearly seven decades. The company’s founders’ names are still on the car’s dashboard. It is a great example of British engineering. One of the first cars on the market, the Defender, was designed by Lee Noble in Leeds. The Defender, the brand’s flagship model, has a price tag of $240,000.