Top-rated British Cars of the Ages, as Evaluated by Experts - What About Your Opinion? Do You Share Their Choices?
Revised Article:
Let's dive into the dusty annals of British motoring history and argue over which car reigns supreme among the beloved nation's automotive creations. Auto Express (and we reckon This is Money too) have weighed in on the greatest British cars ever rolled off the production line, and the results are certainly debatable. Here's a countdown of the top 10, alongside our take on whether they earned their spot or not.
Ready to relive the glory days? Keep reading to find out if your favorite made the cut and whether it's rightfully placed on the list. Agree or disagree? Drop your thoughts below!
10. Land Rover Discovery
Miles built: 385,655Price new/now: £15,750/ £1,000-£20,000
A rugged, family-friendly beast with a reasonable price tag, the Discovery is right at home traversing potholed trails and transporting the entire family in style. With a questionable reliability record that couldn't keep it out of the top 10, the Disco takes its place among the greats.
9. Ford GT40
Miles built: 105Price new/now: £5,200/£2,500,000
Originally a British design conceived in the shed of Lola boss Eric Broadly, the Ford GT40 was commissioned by Ford's American brass to take down Ferrari's dominance at the fearsome Le Mans 24-hour race. Despite shaky handling at the start, tweaks by American racer Carroll Shelby and British ace Ken Miles turned it into a formidable car, taking four consecutive wins between 1966 and 1969.
8. Caterham/Lotus Seven
Miles built: 2,477 Lotus/22,000 CaterhamPrice new/now: £1,157/£15k-£80k
The Lotus Seven is arguably the most copied car in history, apart from the AC Cobra (42nd on this list). Born in 1957 and still in production today, this motor offers an unparalleled driving experience that remains relevant and desires 70 years on.
7. Lotus Elise
Miles built: 35,124Price new/now: £8,950/£15,000-£55,000
Back in 1996, the Elise burst onto the scene as a design visionary, featuring a 725kg chassis and a Rover K-series engine that made it a bullet on four wheels. Five years later, the Series 2 replaced the Rover with a Toyota four-cylinder, but even from the Series 3 to the very end of its 2021-produced lifespan, the Elise has remained a favorite among enthusiasts.
6. Aston Martin DB5
Miles built: 1,059Price new/now: £4,248/£300,000-£1,000,000
This beauty may well be the most famous automobile in the world, thanks to its association with 007 and an elegant, sophisticated image. Aston Martin's long-lasting partnership with James Bond has cemented its icon status, as well as its spot among the greatest British cars of all time.
5. McLaren F1
Miles built: 108Price new/now: £540,000/£22m
The McLaren F1 is unquestionably Britain's greatest hypercar to date. Launched in 1992, this record-breaking speedster defied gravity with its shrieking BMW V12 powertrain, three-seat layout, and carbon-fiber construction.
4. Range Rover
Miles built: 1,000,000Price new/now: £2,000/£105,675
If you crashed into a posh neighborhood in the English countryside, chances are you'd hit a Range Rover - a status symbol and envy home improvement project for those in and outside the UK. With off-road capabilities that rival heavy-duty machinery and the style to turn heads on both the pavement and the trail, the Range Rover is undoubtedly one of Britain's finest automotive creations.
3. Land Rover Series/Defender
Miles built (UK): 2mPrice new/now: £300/£4k-£200k
After a 68-year manufacturing run, the curtain finally fell on the original Land Rover Defender, but that doesn't mean we're giving up on its legacy. The Defender mastered its crafts in both the countryside and urban jungles. Its off-road prowess paired with the versatility to perform in inhospitable and far-flung locales earned it a spot as a global icon.
2. Jaguar E-Type
Miles built: 72,528Price new/now: £1,934/£25k-£250k
Launched at the 1961 Geneva Motor Show, the E-Type Jaguar sent the world of motoring into a frenzy. It offered breathtaking aesthetics, the ability to reach speeds of 150mph for less than £2,000, and the enviable reputation of being Enzo Ferrari's favorite car - quite the achievement.
1. Mini
Miles built: 5.3 millionPrice new/now: £497 (1959)/£15,000-£30,000
Did we say there wasn't any question? The original Mini was always going to take the top spot in the Auto Express countdown, thanks to groundbreaking design, legendary rally racing success, and a cultural impact that still resonates today.
Insights:- The Mini and the Jaguar E-Type have been named the two greatest British cars of all time by Auto Express (This is Money likely ranks vehicles similarly, though specific results are not shown).- The original Mini was designed to carry four passengers in a sub-3-meter vehicle while boasting the performance of larger models.- The McLaren F1, launched at the end of the 1980s, holds the title of the fastest naturally-aspirated production car from 1993 until 2005 (eventually dethroned by the Bugatti Veyron).- The Range Rover has been in continuous production for 55 years. It's soon to expand its lineup with an electric model.- The Land Rover Defender, produced for 68 years, is commonly associated with rugged capability and has been a hit all over the world.
- The Aston Martin DB5, known for its association with James Bond, showcases the power of British automotive industry in terms of creating not just fast cars, but also iconic vehicles that transcend the realm of transportation and venture into the realm of pop culture.
- The Land Rover Series/Defender and the Range Rover, renowned for their off-road capabilities and association with the British countryside, have considerably influenced the rankings of British cars in the industry due to their impressive performance and versatility.
- Despite disputes over reliability, the Land Rover Discovery has managed to secure a place in the top 10 British cars of all time, thanks to its family-friendly practicality and reasonable cost, making it a popular choice among consumers.
- The Ford GT40's history as a British design conceived in collaboration with American and British engineers epitomizes how the automotive sector transcends borders and brings together boffins from various industries to push the boundaries of technology and performance in sports cars.
- The McLaren F1, unveiled in 1992, represents the pinnacle of British automotive engineering in the field of hypercars, boasting a record-breaking speed, innovative design, and a powerful powertrain that propelled it to fame within the automotive industry.
