The British car industry might not be the most esteemed, but it's still had a fair impact. And from The Italian Job to James Bond, British cars sure have had some decent screen time down the years.
To mark the Coronation of King Charles III, we've picked out some absolute crackers. So, whether you're a fan of the monarchy or you think the Royal Family's a whole load of baloney, there's bound to be one classic car that jolly well catches your interest.
Let's get to it.
What Makes a Car a Classic?
Good question.
From the point of view of road tax, any vehicle over 40 years old is considered 'classic' or 'historic', meaning you don't have to pay to tax it. But that definition's not good enough, is it?
If you saw a banger with three wheels or a World War II army truck rolling down the high street on a Sunday afternoon, you wouldn't exactly call it a classic, would you?
Of course not. That's why for a vehicle to be considered a classic in the true sense of the word, we think it has to:
1) Be old enough to not be considered 'new', but not necessarily more than 40 years old
2) Have some styling and/or features that makes it appealing
3) Have entered into the national consciousness in some way (maybe THE most important factor)
Aston Martin DB5
A.K.A James Bond, because we know that's what you're thinking …
It might not be the absolute best overall, but it's sure the most beautiful British car. Yep, Sean Connery's gadget-filled companion became many a schoolboy's dream. It's often touted as the best Aston Martin ever produced, which is a real compliment in itself.
And according to all accounts, it drives as well as it looks.
McLaren F1
Britain's finest sports car, the McLaren F1 (originally introduced in 1992) was originally designed to be used on the roads, with an average speed of 231mph making it a perfect choice for an ultra-modern vehicle.
But of course . . . we all know it's impossible for a fast car not to end up on the racing circuit. The McLaren F1's racing success includes not only winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but also competing against specially-built prototypes.
Such is the car's fame that it's also appeared on television and various publications, with Channel 4 calling it the greatest car. And only 106 were ever made, making it one of the rarest.
Lotus Esprit
Better known as the car that turns into a submarine in The Spy Who Loved Me, the Lotus Esprit stands out for its DeLorean-like styling and futuristic look.
One of the best-selling models of its type and designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, it's safe to say that the Esprit went down a trait upon its first release. The simplistic and straight shape of the car was first introduced in 1976 making it an attractive alternative to the sleek curves made popular in the 1960s and 1970s. And with the distinction of a Bond movie to its name, it's safe to say that the Esprit really stands out on the silver screen.
A car with some 'spirit'.
Lotus Elise
There was a time when Lotus was the practically the pinnacle of British motoring, and that really shines through with its Elise model.
Small, agile, aerodynamic – turning corners has never felt better. And packing a tonne of power into one small package, the Elise epitomises Lotus founder Colin Chapman's belief that lightness is key to the best sports cars, and we can't help but agree.
In Chapman's words: “(A)dding power makes you faster on the straights, subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
Rolls-Royce Phantom
Phantom sounds about right, as they're so rare to spot these days.
This is a perfect example of an earlier British car from one of the country's oldest (but least accessible) car manufacturers. Evoking a sense of class and prestige, Rolls Royce's products are always right up there in terms of grandeur, with the Phantom being no exception.
Built in the original automobile style, the Phantom vaguely resembles a horse carriage with an engine installed at the front. The interior is built according to tradition and lined with curved seats. Truly an automobile made before concern for aerodynamics was a thing.
MGB Roadster
Like the Mini Cooper, the MGB Roadster has to go down as one of the most recognisable sports cars ever made. It's also been one of the most accessible, making it an ideal candidate for a 'project car'. The successor to the MGA and first produced in 1963, it stayed in production until 1995, having been produced by three separate companies.
Although most MGBs came fitted with 1.8-litre 4-cylinder engines, the last few built by Rover were called the MG RV8, with the latter part being an abbreviation for ‘Rover V8’. The many customization options on offer and the specialty tuning shops can even result in electric conversions.
Morris Minor
One you've probably heard of, but maybe didn't know exactly what it looks like.
Designed by famed British-Greek designed Alec Issigonis, the Morris Minor dominated the British market for a good while, its success down to its simple design and extra polish over its rivals of the period – including the well-known Volkswagen Beetle.
First produced in 1948, the Morris Minor is yet another example of 'Britishness' in the automobile world, and it even became the first British motor car to sell more than 1,000,000 units. Not bad, we think.
Jensen FF
The Jensen FF: a four-wheel-drive grand tourer produced by British car manufacturer Jensen Motors between 1966 and 1971.
Would you believe it, it was the world’s first all-terrain four-wheel-drive production car. The powertrain was sourced from Chrysler, installing the second generation 6,277 cc (6.3 L; 383.0 cu in) V8 engine and 3-speed TorqueFlite A727 automatic transmission.
Jaguar E-Type
There's classic cars, and then there’s the E-Type. This British icon recently celebrated its 60th birthday, giving us all a good excuse to remind ourselves of its beauty.
Just look at that long, sloping bonnet and those salacious curves. Best of all, it can fly like a rocket, too. And in 1961, a car priced at £2,097 that could hit 150mph was the bee's knees. It’s no wonder an aerodynamicist came up with it. Indeed, the E-Type classic status almost verges on parody.
Land Rover Series 1
Know how we mentioned about a World War II army truck rolling down your street not being a classic?
Well, that's still true, but to be fair, the Land Rover Series 1 is based off of one. Yep, inspired by the Jeep used by American GIs in the Second World War, the Land Rover Series I was built to be the workhorse utility vehicle that would seriously help post-war Britain get back on its feet. Rover’s chief engineer, Maurice Wilks, thought he could have a pop at improving upon the US Army's Jeep, and boy did he think right.
And who would have thought it would go on to become such a major icon? Part of the success of this British classic car has to go down to how well-built the original models were. After all, this isn't just a workhorse, and its rather back-to-basics looks have helped make the car a staple of the UK's country roads. And when you see how the modern Land Rovers and Range Rovers have turned to luxury, seeing this old classic on the roads is a revelation.
Even today, it'll still take a jolly good battering in the countryside.
Triumph Spitfire
How could we not include the vehicle named after one of the greatest fighter planes ever made? Yep, it was the Spitfire that became a byword for British perseverance and fighting spirit during the Battle of Britain, and you probably never knew there was a car named after it.
Built between 1962 and 1980, it was available with a 4-cylinder engine only, being upgraded with each new version of the car to be released. The first engine was a 1.15-liter, then upgraded to a 1.3-liter and eventually with a 1.5-liter.
A quirky and exceptionally light-weight sports car, it had huge turning potential and the original produced just 63hp and 67 lb-ft, but the final Spitfire 1500 made a whopping 71hp and 83 lb-ft when it left production.
Bentley Blower
It's not just Rolls Royce that has an important connection to British engineering excellence, but Bentley as well.
The 4.5-lire Bentley sports vehicle was designed to compete alongside Bugatti and Lorraine-Dietrich models during endurance competitions. Legendary British racing driver Tim Birkin recognised that a vehicle like this could become a racing car, so he collaborated with a former Bentley mechanic and produced a supercharged version.
Best of luck driving one nowadays, though. The engine might 'blow' out ...
The Original Mini
You knew it was coming . . . how could we forget the iconic little car seen racing through the streets of Turin in 1969's The Italian Job? And even if you're 6ft tall and can barely climb inside one without hitting your head, it's almost impossible not to see the appeal. To sense the history.
Yet the Mini wasn't always destined to be a movie star. It actually started out a humble life by making motoring affordable to families right across the country. Built to be small and efficient, this was an 'everyman' kind of car.
But pretty soon, the Mini was a competitor in the race series both on and off road, its wacky design becoming a recognisable icon and influencing the next generation of car manufacturers. Throughout the 1960s, British fashion was on the up, and Mini was very much an important part of this trend.
Of course, we all know about its modern MINI successor (along with the second Italian Job movie from 2003), but there's simply no comparison.
Summary
Well, that's our list!
Unfortunately, because leasing deals are almost exclusively offered on new cars, it probably won't be possible for you to lease any British classic cars. But we hope you're still lucky enough to get behind the wheel of one some day, whether that's through ownership or just a test drive.
And whatever you plan on doing during the Coronation, have a happy bank holiday.
FAQs
What is an iconic British car? The most iconic British car has got to be the Mini.