8 Rare British Sports Cars With Killer Good Looks

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Imagine 10 British cars, without reasoning of Land Rovers. Chances are, you thought of nan Mini and astir of nan others were sports cars. It's hardly surprising, fixed that nan British car manufacture is synonymous pinch sports cars, bringing america galore fun-to-drive coupes, GTs and roadsters.

Now, of course, Great Britain hasn't produced arsenic galore sports cars successful caller years. But do we request to punctual you of nan fantabulous Lotus Emira that apologizes to nobody? Or nan handsome and brutish Aston Martin DB12 that surely wasn't made for introverts? Maybe you for illustration nan insane Ariel Atom? Or you crave nan retro charm of Caterhams and Morgans? Whichever type of sports car you're into, nan British car manufacture has a batch to offer.

However, location is nary mobility that nan glory days of nan British sports car person passed. In nan past, you had nan usual, celebrated MGBs, Triumphs, and Austin-Healeys, but besides fringe automakers that you astir apt didn't cognize existed. These mini companies produced fantabulous fun-to-drive machines, astir of which are chartless coming owed to constricted production.

In this piece, we'll observe 8 uncommon British sports cars pinch slayer bully looks, without mentioning nan accustomed suspects. Sure, nan Jaguar E-Type is gorgeous and nan Aston Martin DB5 is iconic. Still, we deliberation they've some already sucked capable oxygen from automotive history and we're now giving immoderate of it backmost to British sports cars unfairly near retired of history books. Let's excavation in!

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You astir apt already cognize astir nan Jensen Interceptor, and you whitethorn person seen it connected "Top Gear." We for illustration its transatlantic looks — portion American, portion British. But we emotion its Chrysler 6.3-liter V8 pinch 325 hp.

Here, however, we'll beryllium focusing connected an earlier Jensen expansive tourer — nan 541. Carrying accepted British elegance on pinch purposeful sports car looks — akin to nan Mercedes-Benz SL Gullwing – the 541 is simply a show to behold. The specifications are spot on, too. The Jensen 541 had an active, swiveling grille flap, conscionable for illustration today's high-end vehicles. The flap gave nan beforehand extremity a classier look erstwhile closed and helped to lessen aerodynamic drag. When nan motor needed cooling, nan flap opened to let airflow. Remember, this is 1954 we're talking about! And from 1957, Jensen moreover equipped higher-spec versions of nan 541 pinch four-wheel disc brakes, which were a novelty characteristic astatine nan time.

For propulsion, Jensen opted for a 4.0-liter inline-6 from Austin, producing 130 hp and 209 lb-ft of torque — acold from impressive. However, Jensen utilized fiberglass for nan body, truthful nan 541 weighed conscionable 2,980 pounds. As a result, nan elegant GT sprinted to 60 successful 10.7 seconds and had a apical velocity of 115 mph. For 1957, Jensen boosted nan motor output to 150 hp successful nan high-performance 541-R model, which sprinted from 0 to 60 successful 10.1 seconds and reached a apical velocity of 125 mph. In 1960, Jensen introduced nan facelifted 541-S, which had a regular grille and a clunkier design. It besides weighed much and came pinch a slower automatic transmission.

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Ferrari won nan 1958 24 Hours of Le Mans title pinch its 250 TR58 racing machine, but different car stole nan headlines. The elephantine slayer calved in Slough took a people triumph aft emerging successful prototype shape little than a twelvemonth prior.

The Peerless GT was a existent overachiever, but crucially, it besides brought america a stunning road-going machine. It's an workout successful bully sports car design, pinch an fierce beforehand extremity dominated by a gaping grille and accentuated headlight housings. The broadside floor plan is uninterrupted and sleek, pinch fins successful nan rear giving it dynamism and character. The multi-spoke wheels only adhd to nan characteristic and springiness disconnected Aston Martin DB5 vibes. Oh, and we haven't mixed things up — nan GT is not produced by nan early 1900s American shaper called Peerless. Still, nan company's Slough works was utilized to manufacture Peerless vehicles before.

Underneath, nan Peerless GT featured a spaceframe chassis. However, Peerless founders Jimmy Byrnes and Bernie Rodger wanted to create a larger conveyance that would accommodate 4 passengers. So, they made nan GT six inches longer and gave it a five-inch wider track. Even nan De Dion rear axle creation was chosen acknowledgment to its space-saving properties, though it besides aided successful handling.

The assemblage was made from lightweight fiberglass. However, this was done retired of necessity — Peerless couldn't spend nan tooling for a alloy body. Meanwhile, nan 2.0-liter motor was nan aforesaid arsenic successful nan Triumph TR3. The four-popper produced 100 hp and propelled nan GT to a apical velocity of astir 110 mph.

American V8 muscle, Giorgetto Giugiaro styling, and a coach-built assemblage by Bertone — nan Gordon-Keeble GK1 has each nan hallmarks of a awesome British expansive tourer, and a creation that stood nan trial of time. Giugiaro's power is evident successful nan clean, elegant lines, which springiness nan GK1 a timeless, understated look. Still, nan vicious-looking beforehand extremity pinch those frowning headlights injects immoderate aggression, broadcasting nan monolithic horsepower nether nan bonnet.

Unlike nan Peerless GT, however, nan GK1 performs arsenic good arsenic it looks. John Gordon, who antecedently worked for nan Peerless/Warwick Car Company, and Jim Keeble, an technologist who had acquisition pinch American V8 engines, wanted to create a British sports car that would push nan capacity envelope. So, they utilized Chevy's small-block 327-cubic-inch (5.35-liter) V8, which was bully for 300 hp and 360 lb-ft of torque. Torque was channeled to nan rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission. The result? 0-60 successful conscionable 6.2 seconds and a apical velocity of 139 mph. In 1964, this was Ferrari fast.

Still, Gordon and Keeble besides made judge nan GK1 had nan accepted British driving signature. So, nan Keeble-designed chassis was made from quadrate tubular steel, which gave nan GK1 fantabulous rigidity. The independent beforehand suspension, de Dion rear axle, and four-wheel disc brakes ensured stableness and safety. Meanwhile, nan thick, double-skinned fiberglass bodywork ensured durability and lightness.

Overall, nan Gordon-Keeble GK1 was a worthy competitor to nan Aston Martin DB5. However, Gordon-Keeble produced conscionable 99 units earlier shutting down, making nan GK1 incredibly rare. It's still comparatively inexpensive today, though, starting astatine astir $30,000. The motor and gearbox are easy to maintain, too!

The Triumph TR2 was a good illustration of an affordable 1950s British sports car. It was lightweight and compact, reasonably powerful, and applicable for its size. Heck, it moreover competed astatine nan 24 Hours of Le Mans. Most importantly, it was comparatively accessible.

What nan TR2 wasn't, though, was good-looking. Fortunately, nan Swallow Coachbuilding Company improved nan styling dramatically pinch its ain return connected nan model, called nan Doretti. Swallow's type looks importantly sleeker, pinch a well-designed beforehand extremity and refined broadside profile. Every statement connected nan Doretti fits perfectly, making it look for illustration it was sculpted from clay.

The proportions were different from nan TR2 arsenic well. Apart from nan unsocial bodywork, nan Doretti featured a Swallow-built tubular chassis and longer wheelbase. This allowed nan coachbuilding institution to position nan motor further back, almost for illustration successful a front-mid configuration. As a result, nan hood appeared longer, giving nan Doretti a much graceful appearance. The truth that Swallow built nan outer bodywork from aluminum only adds to its charisma. With only 276 units built from 1954 to 1955, and less than 80 left, nan Swallow Doretti is besides a uncommon machine; pristine examples bid prices good into six figures.

Whether nan streamlined, aluminum bodywork made nan Doretti faster than nan TR2 is anyone's guess. Unsurprisingly, Swallow didn't supply capacity figures backmost successful nan day. Still, nan car carries nan aforesaid 2.0-liter motor from Triumph's affordable sports car, mated to a four-speed manual pinch overdrive. With 90 hp connected tap, nan inline-4 brought nan TR2 to 60 successful 12 seconds and a apical velocity of 107 mph.

The E-Type is Jaguar's astir celebrated car and, according to Enzo Ferrari, nan astir beautiful car ever. He apparently said that successful 1961 – six years earlier Alfa Romeo introduced our favorite, nan otherworldly 33 Stradale. It's 1 of our readers' favourite Italian cars, too.

But location is different Jaguar that mightiness besides bargain nan crown from nan E-Type — nan XK120 by Carrozzeria Pinin Farina. It's a one-off, truthful possibly that's nan logic why it's ne'er mentioned. Still, it's a stunner, moreover complete 70 years aft being shown astatine nan 1955 Geneva Motor Show. Yes, nan regular XK120 was besides a good-looking car, but Pinin Farina's return is measurement much mature and modern. The legendary coachbuilding institution integrated nan beforehand fenders into nan doors and nan rear of nan car, creating a cohesive level crossed nan sides. It looks overmuch sleeker this way. More muscular arsenic well. No wonderment modern GTs still travel nan aforesaid formula!

Oh, and nan XK120 by Pinin Farina has nan capacity to lucifer its stunning looks. Pinin Farina has chosen nan high-output SE (Special Equipment) 3.4-liter inline-6, which produced 180 hp. It was capable to crown nan XK120 roadster arsenic nan world's fastest accumulation car astatine launch, pinch a apical velocity of 120 mph. It's not coincidental — that's wherever nan "120" successful nan sanction comes from. 

Yes, this is nan aforesaid institution that has built nan AC Cobra. Still, nan legendary roadster is besides part-American. It was based connected AC's Ace, sure, but improved importantly by Carroll Shelby — nan mythical American automotive designer. Chances are you already cognize that story, but present is different car based connected nan Ace you astir apt ne'er heard of. The Aceca doesn't hide a V8 nether nan hood and surely wasn't touched by Mr. Shelby. But it's undoubtedly 1 of nan astir handsome expansive tourers from nan 1950s.

Just look astatine really that sweeping, continuous roofline tapers to nan rear. Or nan statement that connects nan headlights to nan taillights. Heck, location is moreover symmetry — look astatine really nan agelong hood tapers to nan large, recessed grille. The proportions — spot on. It's a elemental design, yes, but it's done masterfully. Put simply, location is nary perspective that does a disservice to nan Aceca.

AC didn't connection nan expansive tourer pinch American V8 power. Initially, nan Aceca was disposable pinch an antiquated AC Weller Light Six engine. The 2.0-liter inline-6 portion produced conscionable 85 hp and 110 lb-ft of torque. Still, it only had to move 1,973 pounds, truthful nan Aceca could still scope respectable 103 mph. Things changed dramatically successful 1956, though, erstwhile AC opted for Bristol's modern 2.0-liter inline-6, which delivered 102 hp and 123 lb-ft of torque, raising nan apical velocity to 115 mph. Both versions are uncommon beasts; AC produced 151 units pinch its ain motor and 169 much pinch Bristol power.

Yeah, that's nan aforesaid Bristol that borrowed nan motor for nan AC Aceca. Sadly, nan legendary British sports car shaper officially went into liquidation successful 2020, though things had appeared to beryllium looking up successful 2016 erstwhile it introduced nan Bullet one-off prototype astatine nan Goodwood Festival of Speed. It's a shame, because immoderate of its modern cars were much than a lucifer for nan competition.

The Bristol Fighter, for instance, offered a unsocial grand-touring experience, powered by a Dodge Viper V10. Still, Bristol equipped nan monolithic 8.0-liter motor pinch its ain camshaft, ending up pinch 525 hp — overmuch higher than nan 450 hp of nan past Viper pinch nan 8.0-liter engine. It was capable for a apical velocity of 210 mph — overmuch higher than Viper's 180 mph — and a 0-60 clip of only 4 seconds.

Still, nan Fighter was ne'er built to compete pinch nan Viper. Instead, Bristol wanted to present luxurious high-speed travel, alternatively than an engaging one. So, nan attraction was connected maximizing aerodynamics. The Fighter was shaped to cheat nan wind, pinch a sleek, teardrop form. Moreover, it was a afloat 5 inches narrower than nan Viper! As a result, nan resistance coefficient was conscionable 0.28 Cd. To heighten high-speed refinement, Bristol besides installed longer gearing successful nan six-speed manual transmission. Even so, nan Fighter besides handled corners well, acknowledgment to nan 48:52 weight distribution and debased curb weight of astir 3,300 pounds.

We besides deliberation it rocked slayer bully looks. The headlights mightiness beryllium excessively small, but nan wide style of nan Fighter is rather stunning, pinch a peculiarly sleek and move broadside profile. The chef's kiss: Gullwing doors!

TVR was founded correct aft WWII, conscionable for illustration Bristol and galore different British sports car makers. Unlike its contemporaries, TVR is still alive, having announced nan all-electric Griffith based connected nan V8 Griffith a fewer years ago. At nan move of nan millennium, however, nan company's R&D section worked astatine afloat steam to present a Le Mans racecar and high-performance roadworthy cars.

The consequence — high-speed machines that still defy belief today. The Typhon expansive tourer, successful particular, was exceptionally precocious and accelerated for its time. Notably, it featured a super-rigid aluminum honeycomb chassis, afloat c fibre bodywork, and adjustable dampers. Oh, and it was besides powered by a 4.2-liter supercharged inline-6, bully for 585 hp and 467 lb-ft of torque. That's a batch successful a car that weighs conscionable 2,337 pounds, so nan Typhon sprinted to 60 successful conscionable 3.8 seconds and achieved a apical velocity of 215 mph. TVR besides produced 2 Le Mans homologation specials connected nan aforesaid chassis. The T440R packed a people aspirated 4.2-liter inline-6 pinch 440 hp and was much of a driver-focused vehicle.

Then location is nan measurement it looks. The Typhon has nary consecutive statement connected its bodywork — only fluid shapes. The wraparound windshield and tapering rear model only accentuate nan biologic look, giving nan Typhon a dazzling broadside profile. The headlights and taillights besides merit typical mention. They are evidently punched straight into nan bodywork — nary lodging necessary. It's a alternatively uncommon approach, 1 that gives nan Typhon a much organic, porous look. Yes, group pinch trypophobia mightiness find it unsettling, but it does make nan Typhon rather unique.