On the road with the great British sports cars

Just 72 examples of the mighty Bentley 4½ Litre were built between 1927 and 1931. A racing variant of the car was known as the Blower Bentley, a supercharged behemoth finished in British Racing Green—the international motor racing color of the United Kingdom. A 4½ Litre Bentley won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1928.

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MG MGA -

Launched in 1955, the MG MGA had a top speed of 157 km/p (97 mph) and could accelerate from 0-97 km/h (0–60 mph) in 16 seconds. Production ceased in 1959.

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AC Ace -

Unfamiliar to many, the AC Ace was produced by AC Cars of Thames Ditton, England, from 1953 until 1963. From this vehicle was born the AC Cobra, known in the United States as the Shelby Cobra.

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Lotus Elite -

The Lotus Elite first appeared in 1957 and was unique for its innovative fiberglass monocoque construction, where glass-reinforced plastic was employed for the entire load-bearing structure of the car (the Chevrolet Corvette used fiberglass for only exterior bodywork). The Elite was discontinued in 1963.

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MG T-type -

Unveiled in 1936, the MG T-type series of sports cars included the MG TF Midget model (pictured). The car survived until 1955 when its '30s design was deemed outdated.

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Lotus Elise -

The Lotus Elise, a two-seater, mid-engine roadster, was launched in 1996 and enjoyed a long run into the next century, only ceasing production in 2021.

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Jaguar XJ220 -

The Jaguar XJ220 was the fastest production car on the planet between 1992 and 1993, achieving an impressive 341 km/h (212 mph) during testing. The luxury sports car only survived until 1994 though, with just 282 cars produced.

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Triumph TR7 -

A product of the British Leyland Motor Corporation, later known as British Leyland, the TR7 was in great demand in the US, the sports car further promoted by the fact that Lucy Ewing, portrayed by Charlene Tilton, drove a silver convertible on the TV show 'Dallas' (1978–1991). Pictured is the 1980 Triumph TR7b drophead coupe.

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Caterham 7 -

A super-lightweight vehicle based on the design of the Lotus Seven, the Caterham 7 is named for Caterham Cars. It was sold in kit and factory-built from by Lotus Cars from 1957 to 1972.

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TVR Griffith and TVR Chimaera -

The TVR Griffith was almost mechanically identical to its sister car, the Chimaera (both seen here). The TVR Chimaera, however, had a different body line and was produced in much smaller numbers. In 2002, the TVR Tamora succeeded both models.

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Lotus Evija -

The all-electric Lotus Evija hypercar is the most powerful Lotus to enter series production. Able to achieve a speed-limited top speed of 349 km/h (217 mph), this futuristic sports car will set back those who can afford it a cool US$2.3 million.

Sources: (Sports Car International) (Guinness World Records) (Motor Trend)

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Jaguar E-Type -

One of the most iconic motorcars ever to grace the road, the Jaguar E-Type was manufactured between 1961 and 1974.

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MG Midget -

A small, lightweight sporty runaround, the MG Midget was produced by MG from 1961 to 1979.

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Sunbeam Tiger -

Produced from 1964 until 1967, the Sunbeam Tiger was conceived in part by American car designer and racing driver Carroll Shelby.

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Austin Healey 3000 -

Cherished by vintage sports car aficionados and still raced in classic car competitions by enthusiasts today, the Austin Healey 3000 was built from 1959 until 1967.

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Triumph Spitfire -

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Lotus Elan -

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TVR Vixen -

The TVR Vixen made its debut in 1967, with 1,029 units manufactured until production ceased in 1973.

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McLaren F1 -

In 1998, the McLaren F1 set the Guinness World Record for the world's fastest production car, reaching a whopping 386 km/h (240 mph).

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Morgan -

In some cases the waiting list for a Morgan sports car has been as long as 10 years. The vehicle is made by the Morgan Motor Company in Malvern, a spa town in Worcestershire.

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Jensen Interceptor -

Made by Jensen Motors between 1966 and 1976, the Interceptor is, in fact, a grand touring car. However, its streamlined body and powerful V8 engine quickly found favor with sports car enthusiasts.

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MG MGB -

The MG MGB was unveiled in 1963 and was made by various motor manufacturing companies until 1996, when it bowed out as the MG RV8. Pictured is a 1968 MG MGB Roadster.

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Lotus Esprit -

An S1 Esprit was featured in the 1977 James Bond film 'The Spy Who Loved Me,' where the car famously converted into a submarine after a road chase.

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Triumph TR6 -

Built by the Triumph Motor Company from 1969 to 1976, the TR6 was a huge success in the United States, whereas only 8,370 were sold in the UK.

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Aston Martin DB5 -

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Lotus Seven -

The Lotus Seven was designed by Lotus founder Colin Chapman and was an instant success when it hit the roads in 1957. More than 2,500 cars were sold before the model was discontinued in 1972.

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Triumph Stag -

A sports tourer that enjoyed a very macho image, the Triumph Stag was sold between 1970 and 1978.

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Austin Healey Sprite -

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Jaguar XK120 -

The Jaguar XK120 is one of the most desirable of British sports cars, a true classic built between 1948 and 1954, examples of which today command huge prices at auction.

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Bentley 4½ Litre -

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MG MGA -

Launched in 1955, the MG MGA had a top speed of 157 km/p (97 mph) and could accelerate from 0-97 km/h (0–60 mph) in 16 seconds. Production ceased in 1959.

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AC Ace -

Unfamiliar to many, the AC Ace was produced by AC Cars of Thames Ditton, England, from 1953 until 1963. From this vehicle was born the AC Cobra, known in the United States as the Shelby Cobra.

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Lotus Elite -

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MG T-type -

Unveiled in 1936, the MG T-type series of sports cars included the MG TF Midget model (pictured). The car survived until 1955 when its '30s design was deemed outdated.

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Lotus Elise -

The Lotus Elise, a two-seater, mid-engine roadster, was launched in 1996 and enjoyed a long run into the next century, only ceasing production in 2021.

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Jaguar XJ220 -

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Triumph TR7 -

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Caterham 7 -

A super-lightweight vehicle based on the design of the Lotus Seven, the Caterham 7 is named for Caterham Cars. It was sold in kit and factory-built from by Lotus Cars from 1957 to 1972.

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TVR Griffith and TVR Chimaera -

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Lotus Evija -

Sources: (Sports Car International) (Guinness World Records) (Motor Trend)

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On the road with the great British sports cars

The sportiest motorcars made in Great Britain

15/10/24 | StarsInsider

LIFESTYLE Vehicles

Great Britain is proud of its reputation in the automotive industry as a pioneer of the sports car segment. Indeed, some of the most iconic sports car brands hail from the United Kingdom, names like Lotus, Jaguar, Triumph and, of course, Aston Martin. Some of these British motorcar manufacturers have been established for over a century, and today their vehicles are renowned all over the world. But what are the automobiles that truly epitomize the great British sports car?

Buckle up, get in gear, and accelerate through this list of favorites from the 1930s to the present day. Click on for more!