Great British Sports Cars
This site was built to recognise the incredible variety of world class sports cars designed and built in Britain. I have started to write about my favourite car makes and models to begin with and I will continue to add to this collection, especially when I get the chance to drive one of the cars in question!
Britain has a long standing association with motor sport and car production. Groundbreaking racing cars like the 1959 Cooper, Brabham BT52, and Williams FW14B demonstrated innovation on the circuit, which fed into various road cars over the years.
The cars produced in Britain were not always innovative and cutting edge however. Poor designs, mismanagement and social upheaval all played a part in the downfall of what once lead the world.
These oversights have led to the majority of independent British sports car companies sadly failing – being slow to respond or plain unlucky; it’s a bittersweet story.
Some of the oldest and most famous car companies were founded in Britain and their cars continue to excite enthusiasts worldwide. Several independent British sports car companies remain in the UK, and some have been sold onto other companies, keen to invest in the heritage. Find out more about them here on this site!
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The Lotus Elan – Suspension of Disbelief
It’s only when you’re stood next to the original Lotus Elan that you realize how small it actually is. In footage and pictures the Elan’s perfect proportions disguise its tiny size. The Elan is pure Lotus in design. A distillation of Colin Chapman’s expertise and knowledge. Gordon Murray, Jay Leno and Harry Metcalfe are all…
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The Jaguar XJ41/42 – How A Jaguar Managed to Change Its Spots
The Jaguar XJ41 /42 project was intended to be the replacement for the E-Type. The production car would be named F-Type and would be a more focused sports car than the comfy “grand tourer” XJS. Taking cues from the 1978 Pininfarina XJSpider concept car, Keith Helfet would design the F-Type. The range would contain a…
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Triumph TR7 – A Triumphant Finale?
The Triumph TR7 always seemed like a “nearly” car to me. It didn’t have the old fashioned charm of the TR6 or the modern driving experience it’s appearance promised. Like many British Leyland cars of this era, there was huge pressure to get a product to market quickly and rationalise the range of cars competing…