Log in / RegisterFrom watching Sean Connery drive that iconic Aston Martin DB5 synonyms with the 007 character, to the classic Mini and the stunning, sleek design of the Jaguar E Type, there are many unforgettable classic cars that are worthy of taking a spot on our list of the 10 best classic British cars. Let’s find out who made it and who didn’t! Decisions, decisions…
What cars are considered classic?
Before we dive into the list of classic British cars, let’s first clarify what makes a car classic. The answer isn’t as easy as it may seem. There are plenty of factors, many of which – intangible (the “je ne se quoi” if you’d like). However, we’ve attempted to define the three main characteristics that all classic cars share:
- Unique Design: There’s one thing all classic cars have in common – they are a proper head-turner! Sporting a unique, memorable look, every classic car stands out amongst the standard cars you see driven every day.
- Personality: There are many pretty cars but a true classic has character. How can you beat the 60s cool of a Lotus Elan? Absolutely inimitable!
- Collectability: Not everyone can own a classic car. They are rare pieces, which makes them worth collecting.
Having gotten definitions out of the way, let’s jump in and see those glorious top 10 best classic British cars!
10. Ford Escort Mk1
Current Price: £3,000 – £50,000
Engine: 1,263cc 4cyl petrol, 75bhp
Top speed: 95mph
When the Ford Escort was first introduced in the late 60s it won British car lovers over with its modern look, inspired by the classic American cars of the time. With a four-cylinder petrol engine at the front and rear-wheel-drive, this classic Ford was a practical car with an affordable price tag, which quickly turned it into a bestseller driven by millions. Not to mention, that it turned out to be one of the best rally cars in motorsport history.
Nowadays, you could get a Ford Escort MK1 in the range of £3,000 to £10,000. Bear in mind that a Ford Escort MK1 in an excellent condition can cost you a whopping £50, 000.
9. Morris Minor
Years of manufacture: 1948 – 1971
Current price: £400 – £20,000
Engine: 948cc 4cyl petrol, 37bhp
Top speed: 62mph
Here comes yet another affordable at the time addition to our list of the best classic British cars – the Morris Minor. Designed by the creator of the Mini, Alec Issigonis, the first Morris Minor was a post- WWII wonder. Released in 1948, it soon became one of the most sought-after car models of its time.
Since there were millions of these sold at the time, you can still find some for under £1,000. However, a car in good condition will likely cost you over £4,000.
8. DeLorean DMC12
Years of manufacture: 1981 – 1983
Current Price: £20,000 – £50,000
Engine: 2,849cc 6cyl petrol, 130bhp
Top speed: 130mph
With its unique, futuristic design, the DeLorean had no problem fitting in its iconic role as a time-travelling machine in the Back To The Future franchise. Thanks to the popularity of the movie, the DMC12 has become one of the most recognisable British classic cars, with not only car enthusiasts, but also movie memorabilia collectors trying to get their hands on one of these. That’s more than John DeLorean could have ever imagined when he secured millions in funding from the British Government for his project in the early 80s.
If you want to snap a photo with the DMC12, you’ll find a replica of the DeLorean from Back to the Future 2 in the British Motor Museum in Gaydon. Some originals are available for hire (about £500 a day) if you need one for a special occasion but if you would like to become the proud owner of a DeLorean, you will be looking at prices ranging from £20,000 to £50,000.
7. Lotus Elan
Years of manufacture: 1962 and 1975
Current price: £10,000 – £45,000
Engine: 1,558 cc, 4cyl petrol, 126bhp
Top speed: 137 mph
We love the Lotus Esprit and the Lotus Elise, of course, but featuring a futuristic, angular, design, the Lotus Elan just had to make it on the list. Designed by Ron Hickman, the original Elan was the first Lotus road car with a steel backbone chassis with a fibreglass body and it defined Lotus cars in the decades to follow. It is one of the most iconic 60s classic cars out there.
This is one of the pricer classic British cars on the list, with the cheapest Lotus Elans currently going for around £10,000.
6. Ford GT40
Years of manufacture: 1964 – 1969
Current Price: £500,000 – £12,000,000
Engine: 4,737cc 8cyl petrol, 306bhp
Top speed: 164mph
You need to be a millionaire to own one of these but it doesn’t mean we can’t appreciate history! When we talk about the famous Ford vs Ferrari feud on the race track, the GT40 was the car that turned everything around. Henry Ford bet on British engineering to design a sports car that can steal the Le Mans victory from the Italian powerhouse. Featuring a mighty 4.7-litre V8 paired with precisely designed aerodynamics, the Ford GT 40 was the car to do it.
Granted, the model had a rocky start with a rushed production resulting in bad performance and a terrible loss in 1964. However, after some alterations, in 1966, First GT40 broke Ferrari’s five-year winning streak and went on to have four consecutive victories of its own. That’s what we call a historic classic car!
5. McLaren F1
Years of manufacture: 1992 – 1998
Current price: £5,000,000 – £14,000,000
Engine: 6,064cc 12cyl petrol, 627bhp
Top speed: 240mph
McLaren F1 is the definition of an ultimate supercar. With an extremely light body (1,138kg) and a ferocious 6.1-litre BMW V12 engine, this Gordon Murray masterpiece is the fastest naturally aspirated production car ever created. That’s a record that’s yet to be beaten in over 22 years!
The F1 originally cost $815,000 (£597,000), which may sound like a lot of money, but it’s dwarfed in comparison to its current price tag, which goes somewhere in the millions. With cars like this available only at auction, the price can go anywhere between £5,000,000 – £14,000,000, or even more.
4. Aston Martin DB5
Years of manufacture: 1963 – 1965
Current Price: £500,000 – £5,000,000
Engine: 3,995cc 6cyl petrol, 282bhp
Top speed: 145mph
No list of the best classic British cars can go without mentioning the DB5. Having appeared in James Bond classics Goldfinger, Thunderball and more recently – Skyfall, this 60s masterpiece is forever intertwined with the suave, mysterious look of Britain’s top spy, 007. This is exactly what we meant when we talked about a classic car being defined by its character.
The car is also quite rare, especially if you want the classic left-hand drive. From the 899 DB5 coupes produced, only 220 featured left-hand steering. 193 were sold in the US, which leaves the rest of the world with just 27 left-hand-drive cars to share. If you would like to be seen driving your very own awe-inspiring, convertible spy-mobile, you will have to have very deep pockets, as it rarely goes for under £1,000,000.
3. Jaguar E-Type
Years of manufacture: 1961-1975
Price now: £45,000 – £150,000
Engine: 3,781cc 6cyl petrol, 265bhp
Top speed: 150mph
Once dubbed “the most beautiful car ever made” by Enzo Ferrari himself, the Jaguar E-Type is undoubtedly amongst the best classic British cars ever made. After making its first appearance at the Geneva Motor Show in 1961, this stunning E-Type took the world by storm. With a maximum speed of 150mph, it was at least 2.5 times faster than the average car at the time. Talk about beauty and performance, all wrapped in one!
Despite the Ferrari’s ferocious V12 engine turning out to be too much to beat, the lightweight version of the Jaguar E-Type delivered a solid performance at the Le Mans race, especially for a road car gone sports car. 18 of those lightweight cars were supposed to have been made but only 12 were back in the 60s. Six chassis laid forgotten until 2015 when the Special Operations team at Jaguar decided to take on the project of bringing those last original six to life.
2. The Original Mini
Years of manufacture: 1959 – 2000
Price now: £500 – £60,000
Engine: 850cc 4cyl petrol, 34bhp
Top speed: 73mph
With a unique design that has been around for over four decades, the Mini is the epitome of a British classic. The compact design of the Mini – a family car that measures just 10ft 1/4in (3.05m), shocked motor lovers across the country back in 1959. Innovation, however, found the recognition it deserves when racing legend John Cooper saw the racing potential of the Mini, which led to the production of the 1961 Mini Cooper. After the Mini Cooper S was crowned the winner of the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally, the popularity of the Mini skyrocketed.
Practical and affordable, the Mini has had a 41-year-long production history, which ended in 2000. Despite millions of cars having been made over the years, the originals from the early 60s remain cherished collectables for classic car lovers. And if you’re interested in the future of the Mini, be on the lookout for the upcoming electric Mini – it’s in the works!
1. Land Rover Defender
Years of manufacture: 1948 – 2016
Current Price: £2,000 – £70,000
Engine: 1,997cc 4cyl petrol, 52bhp
Top speed: 50mph
Traditionally, when speaking of British classic cars, you’d think of a sleek design, powerful engine and breath-taking speeds. However, it’s an undeniable fact there is no 4×4 more intrinsically associated with the British car industry than the Land Rover Defender.
Yes, the design of the Defender (especially the original 1948 version) was crude and rough around the edges but when put into its historical and social-cultural context, the Defender stands out as an icon of the British resilience and innovation. Production of the series began just after World War II. Land Rover had just come off of working on military contracts and had materials remaining, so they decided to put the rationed steel and the experience gained over the last few years to create a robust vehicle that can be used by the general population. The Defender was Land Rover’s most notable contribution to the rebirth of the British economy after the war and it gradually earned its classic status.
Over the years, the Defender series put the Land Rover brand on the map and became a trusted favourite for millions of families across the world. When the series production finally came to an end in 2016, it was given a well-deserved heartfelt sendoff that was covered in the national news.