Erome - Whether using leather chairs and wooden panels as in private clubs for upper-class gentlemen or simply locomotives in the form of plain mechanisms, they seem to echo the ambitions of engineers who made their dreams come true, however strange or eccentric.
It is rare for a British car to be produced with a concept for the mass market and that trend has long-lasting consequences as all the vehicles produced in large numbers in the UK today are foreign brands.
However, the uniqueness of British cars means that the world has a treasure trove of British cars, which demands respect.
Here are 10 British cars worthy of praise, arranged alphabetically.
Aston Martin DB5 (1965)
The DB5 is a gran Turismo or fast luxury car: muscular yet sophisticated, sensual yet faceted. James Bond drives this car which is equipped with a reversible number plate and ejection seat. The civilian version uses a handmade six-cylinder engine with 280 horsepower. The powerful engine is combined with a graceful car body made of light aluminum. Some 47 years after its first production run, the DB5 appeared briefly in the final Bond installment, Skyfall , and regained hero status. (Martyn Goddard)
Austin Healey 3000 MKIII (1965)
Bentley Continental GT Speed (2013)
WO Bentley - the founder who likes automotive with an authoritative and rough impression - will support the Bentley Continental GT Speed. Under the hood that looks like it's stalking prey, there's a six-liter, 12-cylinder engine that produces 616 horsepower and 590 pound-feet to all four wheels, with an eight-gear automatic. This luxury car with racing car capabilities can accelerate from 0 to 96km/hour in four seconds with a maximum speed of 329km/hour. GT Speed definitely has the elements to cruise at triple-digit speeds through Beverly Hills. (Bentley Motors)
BMC Mini (1959)
Born out of the need for fuel efficiency and a mass market car in the late 1950s, the BMC Mini used the boxy design of Sir Alec Issigonis, which at the time was considered radical. This car uses rubber cone suspension at each corner of its small wheels. Inside there is a 3x1.2 meter space with a four-gear engine and front wheel pull. England, and the rest of the world, welcomed this hilarious newcomer who would go on to become the epitome of the Swinging 1960s. In 1999, a global group of motoring writers voted the Mini as the second most influential car of the 20th Century, behind only the Ford Model T. The new Mini - developed with its parent company, BMW - continues the spirit of the original, with its factory in place of the original car formerly manufactured at Cowley, Oxford. (BMW Group)
Jaguar E-Type 3.8 (1960s)
Sir William Lyons made history in automotive production with style and substance at a relatively affordable price point. The Type E - marketed in the United States and other markets as the XKE - was no exception. The appeal of the E Type – which Enzo Ferrari called 'the most beautiful car ever made' – is irresistible and on the road its suppleness is undiminished. Behind its incredible aerodynamics, the Jaguar has a six-liter engine, modern disc brakes and a refined suspension that has a feel for the legendary D-Type. (Martyn Goddard)
Land Rover Defender 90 (1983)
This was the maximum British response to goods cars. By modifying post-World War II agricultural models through the use of spring suspension and various types of engines, the ultimate off-road car was created. The Defender model - which remains the vehicle for farmers, the military and public service companies - has also become a stylish accessory for civilians. This car is also comfortable – and almost commonplace – on the streets of London and for hunting birds in rural areas. Just like Jeep in the United States, the Land Rover Defender plays a role in determining which car will become a multi-purpose vehicle in the future. (Martyn Goddard)
Lotus Seven (1957-73); Caterham Seven (1973-Present)
Seven is the embodiment of Lotus founder Colin Chapman's repeated mantra, namely "Simplify and make it lighter." First appearing in 1957 with a 1172cc four-cylinder engine from Ford, the Seven produced between 28 horsepower and 40 horsepower, depending on the setting, which might have made it look skinny until the arrival of the Seven, which was even lighter at just 498 kg. This car is fast and gets faster every year. After Lotus production ceased in 1972, Chapman sold the production rights to former car salesman, Grahan Nearn, and his company, Caterham Cars, who then continued production of the Seven – in whole or kit form – to this day. (Caterham Cars)
McLaren P1 (2013)
The McLaren P1 is proof of a single-minded and eccentric but viable outlook in the British car industry. As a super car from a very obsessive manufacturer, the P1 is a racing rocket with power sourced from a mixture of gasoline and electricity. The 3.8 liter twin turbo V8 engine with 727 horsepower combines with a 176 horsepower electric motor, for a total of 903 horsepower to spin the rear wheels with seven gears. Production was limited, to just 375 cars at a price of around £866,000 or around IDR 17.8 billion but the P1 promised the mythical status of its proud predecessor, the McLaren F1 throughout 1992-1998. (Martyn Goddard)
Morgan 3 Wheeler (2011)
The Morgan Motorcar Company has been owned by the same family since 1909, when Harry Morgan promoted the tricycle, the Cyclecar. And with that spirit, Charles Morgan - the founder's grandson - presented the newest model: the open car. 3 Wheeler Car Type weighing 544 kg using a 2 liter V-twin engine with 80 horsepower. Racing from 0 to 96km/h can be achieved in 4.5 seconds with a top speed of 185km/h. (Martyn Goddard)
Rolls-Royce Phantom VI Limousine from Park Ward (1968-90)
There's nothing more British than the Phantom VI, which first appeared in 1968 and remained in the Rolls-Royce catalog until 1990. From then to now, Rolls-Royce, has pursued lucid motoring. The Phantom VI – quiet, smooth, luxurious and exclusive – is that clarity. The company produced just 347 of these graceful behemoths, and almost all of them with bodywork handcrafted from Mulliner Park Ward, located in London. Early models used a 6.2 liter V8 engine, while the later model 6.75 liter V8 produced 254 horsepower, but calculating the power was a chore for buyers: just how powerful was the engine under the hood of a Rolls-Royce today. (Rolls-Royce Motor Cars)
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