Best Posts in Thread: Best of British: Ten of the best cars made in Britain, as our motor industry booms again

Jack Peterson · Dec 22, 2014

Dave & Imp said: ↑

In my past I owned some British cars: MGB, Austin Healy Bugeye Sprite (fun car) Lotus Europa, and Jaguar, mostly classic vintage cars. A somewhat significant stable of Bristish cars for an American.

I also owned a couple of “somewhat” British cars: Lola Formula Ford and Birkin Ford. I am not sure what countries I would give credit to for those cars because they were somewhat specialty built. The Lola-Formula Ford chassis was British but of course the engine was American. The Birkin pedigree was much more complicated as it was a replica of a Lotus 7 (British Chassis and bodywork but was made in South Africa.) with the benefits of Ford Engine and modern technology including discs breaks and more horse power per pound that my Shelby Cobra 427. It was the best handling car I have ever had the opportunity to drive.

The most fun cars of all of them for the road was the Birkin Ford car (it was also a track car), and the most fun exclusively on the track was the Lola Formula Ford. Many of the others cars (not listed here) were just lots of sloppy made metal parts put together. The Lotus Europa I would not drive farther from home, than a tow truck could tow me back or to my mechanic due to reliability issues. Colin Chapman’s (Lotus founder) concept was to have a car made as light as possible for winning races. His goal was to win a race, and then have the car disintegrate after crossing the finish line. He was a purist in mechanical design, but maybe not the best marketing man for road cars.

The British road cars were fun (crazy), particularly the Bugeye Sprite. The Lucas electrical system parts seemed to be lacking in reliability and I could never understand why almost all British cars used Lucas almost exclusively for a long period of time. Does anyone know who's life the founder of Lucas saved to get all those electrical part contracts?
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Impressive Dave!
My back end teenage years saw me as a raw Young Entrant to her Majesty's Service at the Start of my career but I did manage to obtain Wheels through those early years. Bog Standard cars but all did there job for me in travel. ( photos are not Origional but as close as my memory would let me get them.

1. 1959 Standard Pennant. 980cc 2. 1961 Standard pennant 1100cc
3. 1963 ford Anglia estate 1000cc
4 1968 British Leyland Mini van 900cc
5 1974 Hillman Imp 850cc

Not Speed kings but versatile for my needs in those early years.

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Best Posts in Thread: Best of British: Ten of the best cars made in Britain, as our motor industry booms again

Jack Peterson DI Forum Luminary Highly Rated Poster SC Connoisseur Veteran Air Force