A panel of motoring experts have tested 50 of the most iconic British cars ever made – from the 1900s to the present day – and there was one clear winner of the best British-built car
A panel of motoring experts have assessed 50 of best cars built in the UK determine the country’s top British-built vehicle.
Classic and contemporary gems from glittering past and intriguing present of UK motoring history were scrutinised before the experts landed on a definite victor.
The shortlist boasted heavyweight names like the Range Rover, Jaguar E-Type, McLaren F1, Ford Fiesta, Bentley Blower, and even Nissan’s very own Qashqai and Leaf, but only one automotive legend felt worthy of the title, one so impressive it had survived from one century to the next.
Finally, it was decided – the MINI was the winner, with nods to its vintage Austin/Morris roots and the noughties revolution under BMW stewardship, securing its status as the Mini/MINI.
BMW’s rebranding to all-caps MINI when resurrecting this city car classic at the millennium wasn’t just about a name change; it was upholding a legacy that began in the swinging sixties, reports the Express.
Auto Express’s gurus pinned down the rationale behind crowning the Mini/MINI as the apex of British automotive engineering – nothing else mirrors the UK’s car-making prowess more fittingly.
They concluded: “We reckon no other British-built vehicle better represents the relevant, innovative, and pioneering UK automotive industry quite like the world’s original small car.”
They added: “There really can be little doubt – the Mini (not forgetting the modern-day MINI) truly is the best car this green and pleasant land has ever built. Long may it continue.”
The Mini triumphed as the top dog, but it faced tough competition from other iconic British-built vehicles like the Jaguar E-Type, which snagged second place, and the Land Rover Defender, rounding out the top three.
While British cars dominated the list of 50, non-British cars also made the cut because they were manufactured in the UK. This inclusion explains the presence of Nissan’s Qashqai and Leaf, as well as Ford’s GT and Fiesta, highlighting Britain’s long-standing appeal as a manufacturing hub for global car companies.
Commenting on the GT, experts said: “Commissioned by Ford’s US bosses to race under the Stars and Stripes flag and win the gruelling Le Mans 24-hour race, the low slung GT40 racer was actually designed and built in the UK.”
This comprehensive list celebrates the entirety of the UK’s automotive history, but one wonders how much shorter it might be if only the last 25 years were considered.
Over the past quarter-century, the UK’s car industry has been through a tumultuous time, with Brexit, the pandemic, and multiple economic downturns taking their toll on British car manufacturers.
As the automotive sector faces mounting pressures, including concerns over potential impacts from Donald Trump’s actions, the UK government is stepping up. It has recently released a Research Briefing on ways to bolster employment within the automotive manufacturing industry.
In the research briefing, the Government declared: “In Budget 2024, the government set out funding for certain sectors ahead of the industrial strategy’s publication.
“This included confirmation of £2 billion in funding to “support the automotive sector, including the zero emissions vehicle manufacturing sector and supply chain, providing the long-term certainty that industry need to invest in advanced, greener technologies”.
“More recently, the government has also said that the industrial strategy will support the automotive industry, alongside actions that are already being taken.”
