No need for ten cars that I’d want to keep stabled in Britishland; just five should do quite nicely, thank you. And as the distances aren’t vast, I don’t care about nonsense like fuel consumption (not that it’s ever been much of a consideration, come to think of it).
And all right-hand drive, of course.
1939 Alvis Speedster 25
More roomy (and much more powerful and reliable) than the MG T car models, the “25” had a 4.3-liter straight-six engine which provided 137bhp. Sufficient for the time, and sufficient for the Brit country roads I’d be driving on. Other candidates for this spot: the aforesaid MG TF from the T-class, Morgan Plus Four and Caterham Seven 420.
2009 Bristol Fighter
An actual British supercar, made to “compete” with the Gordon Murray-designed McLaren F1, the Fighter had a Dodge Viper V10 engine in a car which weighed half that of a Viper. Jeremy Clarkson once called driving it “stupendously suicidal”, and I can think of no higher praise. Other candidates: Jaguar E-type Series 2.
1975 Range Rover
After they’d worked out all the (many) niggles in the 1970-74 models, the 1975 model Range Rover was upgraded with creature comforts while keeping the lovely 3.5-liter V8 Buick/Rover engine. Also, this was the generation before all the horrible electronic nonsense arrived to bedevil Rover owners. Other candidates: none.
1960 Bentley S2 Continental
…with the “new” (for the time) Rolls-Royce V8 engine tweaked by Bentley engineers, it was (and still would be today) “sufficiently fast” — and I dare say, “sufficiently posh” too. Other candidates: none.
1968 Mini-Cooper S MkII
My “town car” for those quick little trips to the village pub or grocery store. Small, quick (1,275cc!), nimble, easy to park, easy to drive; I’d probably drive this little beauty about 90% of the time, and all the others the remaining 10% (assuming, of course, that the others were better-than-average in terms of reliability — high hopes, but there it is). Other candidates: none.
There’s no E-type, no MG, not even an Austin-Healey, because there’d be examples of all those in my European- and U.S. garages.
Yup, when it comes to my British garage, I’m backing Britain:
… albeit with some American engines. I love me my British cars, but there are limits.
That Bentley is gorgeous and the Range Rover is a solid choice.
Here’s my list:
1929 Blower Bentley ……. with a number on the radiator and the “Doors”. …and Rule Britanna playing on the radio ( that it doesn’t have ) and I refuse to play God save the King for Chuck.
Lotus Emira …. Since Harry likes his.
Aston Martin V12 Vantage…….. Because V12
Bentley Continental GT Speed…….Because Bentleys are for driving.
Mclaren Senna………You didn’t mention any limits other than British and wrong side drive.
Nope, I had a Triumph and a Mini. Both burned me financially with electrical problems. No English cars for me. I will stick with Audi or Volvo.
…or Toyota.
Nope on the Toy. They put their starter under the intake on the V8 engine. It is an 8 hour job to replace it.
But, since it’s a Toyota, you shouldn’t have to.
It was a common problem with the Tundra v8’s. The solenoid would varnish and would not work. Once you are that far into an engine replace everything that could be a potential problem. Since I had the fuel rail off I removed the injectors and had them serviced and installed new o-rings. I could have probably gotten by with polishing the contacts with scotch bright but I did not want to tear that far into that engine again.
“I love me my British cars, but there are limits.”
cough * Lucas electrical systems * cough
My own list:
Pre-war Bentley Blower.
Rolls Royce V16 – as driven by Roman Atkinson in Johnny English
Morgan Plus 8
Range Rover
Something crazy from Maclaren.
I am fresh back from my annual (sometimes semi-annual, as this year it will be) trip to Wales. I was greeted by my smiling BIL in his new (to him) 2009 Bentley Brooklands coupe, which to my eye, is a direct descendant of the S2 Continental. He’s an ENT doc and one of his patients sold it to him on “good terms” in appreciation of my BIL doing a bang on job of saving the patient from head and neck cancer. 11,7XX km on the ticker and pristine condition. It’s hard to believe that a car that cost $340K in 2009 could be had today for just under $30K. Road like a dream through the verdant Welsh countryside.
We have occasion to return to England again in July, but sadly not to Wales. We are heading over to Liverpool, the Cleveland of England, for a medical conference. I trust a few serviceable pubs remain near the dock area, where we’ll be staying. I will most certainly be on the lookout for a mini-keg of Wadworth’s 6X for our kind host. If I can’t bring one back, I will certainly drink one in his honor.
But the main attraction will be driving that Bentley back to Carmarthen. I was amazed that their Bentley dealer offers what I consider a very affordable maintenance scheme on Bentleys out of warranty; £430/months gets you a full maintenance package that covers every maintenance issue, including parts and labor, even for wear and tear. Engine, transmission and electrical repairs are covered at a heavily discounted rate (50% off). Very fair, I’d say. And their loaners, should one be required, are Bentleys! (My Jag dealer gave me a ragged out Land Rover for my 3.5 day software update on my XJ19.)