Vehicles Feature
British Cars We Wish They Still Made
Michael Frank
Sometimes the past should stay dead and gone.
Like we said in our story "American Cars We Wish They Still Made," we're not talking here about cars that were once great. For that story there'd be Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts, Austin Sevens, Alvises, Lotuses--you get the idea. But should any of those cars really be redone? No, like Model Ts, these cars had their place and time, and both have passed them by.
Intro
1952-55 Bentley Continental
1961-65 Jaguar E-Type
1962-67 MGB
1963-65 Aston Martin DB5
1964-67 Austin Healey 3000 MkIII
1964-68 Sunbeam Tiger
1948 Land Rover
But there are some British cars that, like their American counterparts, are not only timeless but, now more than ever, missed in the mix of very reliable and very bland automobiles. In fact, the whole of the British automaking know-how has almost entirely come under foreign ownership, probably for the better on the quality side, but certainly not on the creativity front for the most part. So here's our list of vehicles that showed what the Brits knew well--sweet lines, great-sounding engines, excellent power--and why each should have a chance to rise from the ashes.
And as we said in our wrap-up of American cars we wish they still made, you really should vote on your favorite British car. After we've given you a couple more lists (from Italy and Germany), we'll put together a grand collected list of ten cars worthy of revival, picked by the voters.
1964-67 Austin Healey 3000 MkIII
With its long hood, short cockpit and Jaguar E-Type-shaped rear, it could easily be believed that this Austin Healey would have been the car that everyone wanted, had there been no E-type.
Arguing that there should be one today is somewhat tougher--the only legitimate comeback kid among the Austin, Sunbeam and Jag is the lattermost. But its combination of sexy shape, availability with two-tone paint and excellent handling is what attracted 50,000 buyers to the cars and what makes MkIIIs worth upwards of $30,000. And, given how easily carmakers can develop new shapes on existing platforms, it isn't hard to see why a car like this could find a niche and significantly boost the rest of a brand's image.
British Cars We Wish They Still Made
Michael Frank
Sometimes the past should stay dead and gone.
Like we said in our story "American Cars We Wish They Still Made," we're not talking here about cars that were once great. For that story there'd be Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts, Austin Sevens, Alvises, Lotuses--you get the idea. But should any of those cars really be redone? No, like Model Ts, these cars had their place and time, and both have passed them by.
Intro
1952-55 Bentley Continental
1961-65 Jaguar E-Type
1962-67 MGB
1963-65 Aston Martin DB5
1964-67 Austin Healey 3000 MkIII
1964-68 Sunbeam Tiger
1948 Land Rover
But there are some British cars that, like their American counterparts, are not only timeless but, now more than ever, missed in the mix of very reliable and very bland automobiles. In fact, the whole of the British automaking know-how has almost entirely come under foreign ownership, probably for the better on the quality side, but certainly not on the creativity front for the most part. So here's our list of vehicles that showed what the Brits knew well--sweet lines, great-sounding engines, excellent power--and why each should have a chance to rise from the ashes.
And as we said in our wrap-up of American cars we wish they still made, you really should vote on your favorite British car. After we've given you a couple more lists (from Italy and Germany), we'll put together a grand collected list of ten cars worthy of revival, picked by the voters.
1964-67 Austin Healey 3000 MkIII
With its long hood, short cockpit and Jaguar E-Type-shaped rear, it could easily be believed that this Austin Healey would have been the car that everyone wanted, had there been no E-type.
Arguing that there should be one today is somewhat tougher--the only legitimate comeback kid among the Austin, Sunbeam and Jag is the lattermost. But its combination of sexy shape, availability with two-tone paint and excellent handling is what attracted 50,000 buyers to the cars and what makes MkIIIs worth upwards of $30,000. And, given how easily carmakers can develop new shapes on existing platforms, it isn't hard to see why a car like this could find a niche and significantly boost the rest of a brand's image.
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