Britain has produced its fair share of cars over the years, some good and some not so good. Vehicle-SMART has rounded up the 6 best British cars from recent times, these are cars that either made an impact on the public or just show what Britain can do.
Ford Escort
The mk1 and mk2 Ford escorts are fetching a small fortune now and for good reason. The escort was introduced as a small family car but for many, it is a car filled with memories, good times and for the hotter versions like the Mexico, rs1800 or rs2000 it was a dream car. The car was built in Halewood, England so, despite its American badge, it is looked at fondly as a pseudo-British car.
Jaguar E-Type
Enzo Ferrari, the founder of Ferrari, once said “Jaguar’s E-Type is the most beautiful car in the world”. It was a car owned by the stars, The Beatles star George Harrison had one, so did actor Steve McQueen. The E-type is an icon of the motoring world capable of 150mph and 0-60 in sub 7 seconds but all at a fraction of the cost of its rivals in its day. Some would say it’s the car that made jaguar the brand it is today.
McLaren P1
The P1 is often thought of as the car that popularised the term Hypercar, between this and its rivals the Ferrari LaFerrai and Porsche 918 regular supercars were made to look like your everyday Ford Fiesta. The P1 was the Mclaren F1’s successor carrying on the historic legacy. The P1 had 903 hp between its v8 and hybrid motors and could get to 60 in sub 3 seconds.
Mini Cooper
The Mini Cooper is a British Icon. When the Mini was introduced in 1959 it made motoring not only affordable but achievable for people across the nation. By the time it was replaced over 5 million had been made with all kinds of convertibles, estates, vans and more. Even now at classic car shows you’re bound to find a classic mini or two and no doubt you’re bound to find a smile too.
Rolls-Royce Phantom
The Rolls-Royce Phantom is the absolute pinnacle of luxury vehicles. The car outshines everything else on the road offering possibly the smoothest ride of any car and uncompromised luxury. That has always been Rolls-Royce vision and they haven’t deferred from it throughout their history. A phantom will set you back nigh on £400,000 before options so you can see why it’s so exclusive, even for the wealthy this car is pricey.
Land Rover
The Land Rover is possibly Britain’s greatest motoring legacy, initially made to be utility vehicles for farmers and the likes it has evolved into a worldwide brand known for its capabilities offroad while also offering luxury with its subsidiary range rover. The Land Rover Series 1 was initially used as a farm vehicle but also saw use as ambulances, military vehicles and more. Now standard Land Rover’s make the Series 1 look like a shed on wheels while still offering unparalleled offroad capabilities.
This list could be much much longer Britain has created some incredible cars over the years and continues to today. What do you think though, what is the car that best represents Britain?