Top 50 British Cars

[Nigel W]

Check out number 34

http://www.autoexpress.stfi.re/best-cars/99216/best-british-cars-top-50-all-time-greatest-british-built-cars-revealed?sf=ekodkzv&utm_gp=1&utm_content=buffer5661d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer#aa

[Paul Kelley]

You've started something here Nigel! Good bank holiday post and now years of disagreement to follow.....personally, I never liked the Mini!! Good that the Stag makes the list, but the usual old comments.
PK

[mole42]

Mini at No.1 is okay but any list that puts a Vauxhall in the top 50 or rates an MGB higher than a Stag is, IMHO, seriously flawed.

[ReddiStag]

Yep, same old outdated writing-off of the Stag, yet not a mention of the notorious reliability problems that beset (for example) the Lotus Esprit, though they mention the fact that it was a Bond car. Now which Italian styled GT did Bond also drive at one point?

[jagorstag]

Strange that the Morris Minor didn't make the top 5....

[HersnotHis]

Mini at No.1 is okay but any list that puts a Vauxhall in the top 50 or rates an MGB higher than a Stag is, IMHO, seriously flawed.

As a company car driver in the 80's I can assure you that the Mk2 Cavalier was a far superior car to the equivalently priced Sierra or for that matter any other car at the time in this price category. Also the Sierra was ugly not only in its basic styling but in that it had thick window surrounds making it a very claustrophobic car compared with the Cavalier. I actually thought the MK3 introduced in 1989 was even better with the 2 litre GLi and GSi being probably the most pleasant cars I have driven in this "company car" category. In their pre catalytic convertor format they were quiet, remarkably torque flexible and surprisingly economic.

I found this list incredibly at variance with my opinions. The Cortina Mk1 and Mk2 were far more significant cars than the Escort Mk1 and should be top 10. The comparison should not be based on the limited special performance "RS etc." versions. If it is any consolation the later Mk1 Cortina GT which I bought new in 1966 woukd leave the concurrent MGB way behind.

I would not put the Mini at the top either. I nearly bought one in 1961 wiith 12000 miles on the clock but on the test drive the gearbox became a selection of neutrals. I later acquired one with my wife and found it a pain to work on and DIY maintain

The Police did not buy Jag MK2's to chase the same being used as getaway cars. Several forces bought Daimler SP250 "Darts" as it was quicker and more manoevrable. IMHO this car should also make the top 50.

H

[TR5convalescent]

I have to concur with H. I had an 85 Cavalier SRi and later a 93 SRi and a Sierra in between which was postively agricultural. Slower and much more thirsty and harder to drive.

[72BLUE]

....... Several forces bought Daimler SP250 "Darts" as it was quicker and more manoevrable. IMHO this car should also make the top 50.

H

It probably did not H, due to it being one of the most ugly cars ever designed.

K

[mike@thenook]

How the DeLorean can be classed anywhere other than bottom is beyond me - total failure of a car only given space on the universe by a dodgy bloke and some dodgy deals....and beyond the AC Cobra too!

I agree with the Mini, it has achieved probably more in terms of change and outright ability than any other vehicle listed apart from The Range Rover which only wins in front of the Land Rover because it will do everything a Landy will do but in comfort.

So my 3 best vehicles are
Mini
Stag
Range Rover
Luckily, we have one of each!

[jbuckl]

Thanks.
The judges may not mean that the ratings are a reflection of 'Best'

FWIW!
Astra and Cavalier were step changes in value, both customer & profit.
XJ6 series 1 style was and is still sublime, only my opinion, advanced construction too.
Ariel atom is something never attempted before.
XK120 gorgeous looking, but nothing much to drive.
Jensen FF forward thinking, way ahead of Audi's success with unbalanced Quattros.
Austin seven ....British, revolutionary, 'our' version of the model T ford, genius.
Lotus 7 (Ford powered Austin chassis) lightness & genius again.
Austin Mini .....Austin 7 continuation / stagnation, then pinched by zee Germans.
Ford Escort MK1 Simples, RS versions Simples & fun.
Triumph Stag sublime style & sound, all time great GT, tricky to overcome the issues, but possible & very much worthwhile

The rest are the answers to questions never asked, or soul-less stodge, even L.R.
Why are the astons that figured so dull? ~No DB4 or DBS? (1970) the modern A.M.s are just thug-mobiles.
Oh, the A.C. Ace / Aceca was pretty, but not the bloated cobra.....and all genuines had live axles too

Ford Sierra ....the start of body styles that make most moderns uninteresting......kind of brave.

Now, where's me coat?

[cjp]

An interesting list but somewhat self serving if you look at the judges.

cjp

[bonnietiler750]

Obviously the TR7 cant be included I perfectly understand that but just to play devils advocate I have a Poseidon Green Convertible TR7 V8 which has a 200hp engine weighs just around a ton EVERYTHING works has a Quaife LSD vented discs Adjustable suspension no rust the thing has probably cost me 7000 quid Top speed something around 145 with this diff and hits 60 in just under/ just over 7seconds on a recent trip to Canterbury (700 miles in total) returned 32mpg.
They really are hard to argue against...yes I know ...the suage line!

[Guest]

I like TR7s! We could all compile our top 50 and they would all be different. You just knew the mini would be 1st though

[mole42]

So, they have Nissan in a list of British cars? And a BMW mini? Hmm. Let's play guess the British parts in those? Oh, yes, Nissan trashed an airport to build their factory in the North-East, and BMW - it'll just be the name won't it?

And they didn't list an Alvis? Or a Jowett?

Ridiculous!

[Paul Kelley]

Told you this would set the stag amongst the pigeons! FWIW I too agree about the Vauxhall's: the Cavaliers were the best company car foot soldiers of the 80s and - different point - if you care to Google about the Prince Henry Vauxhall of 100 hundred years ago they were the Bugatti of their day and made Rolls Royce's look basic. Yes, really!
PK