Britain’s Iconic Cars

November 14, 2016 1:54 pm Categorised in:

In recent decades the British automotive industry has witnessed a dramatic demise, mostly due to a steady increase in the number of car brands choosing to manufacturer and assemble their products throughout Europe and Asia. In doing so, many iconic British brands have collapsed, such as Morris Motors. This is, however, not to say that Britain’s automotive industry has failed to leave its mark. In fact, ever since the early 1900’s Britain has designed, manufactured and assembled some of the most prestigious vehicles in the world.

In this article, we’ll be taking a look back at these vehicles and exploring what makes them such icons of their time. We’ll also be delving into the history of their brands and the features that separated them from the growing number of vehicles crowding Britain’s roads during a time of extravagant spending.

The Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost

Originally named the ‘40/50 h.p.’ and primarily manufactured in Manchester, the Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost is a great example of British design and engineering working hand-in-hand. This is due to its iconic chrome finish and 4-speed manual transmission, something which was unusual during 1913.

The Silver Ghost went on to become the jewel at the heart of Rolls-Royce’s claim of making the ‘best car in the world’. Its engine was respected so much that Rolls-Royce went on to use the same engine in its range of armoured cars.

The Aston Martin DB5

From its Warwickshire headquarters Aston Martin have manufactured some of the most iconic vehicles in the world. These vehicles, including its famous DB5, have been featured in each of the James Bond films.

The DB5, which was manufactured between 1963 and 1965, was named honouring former CEO Sir David Brown. It sported a truly unique design and the grill that Aston Martin has become iconic for in the years since. Beneath the bonnet, on the other hand, was a 5-speed transmission and 5500 rpm engine.

The Mini

Both Morris Motors and Mini were originally manufactured at Oxfordshire’s Cowley plant, unlike Morris Motors’ range of vehicles Mini are still common sight around the world. This is in part due to their iconic design and reliable reputation. The Mini was, however, also helped significantly by the thriving mining industry during the 70’s and 80’s due to the miners love for the Mini-Minor.

Since this period Mini have introduced a number of variations to its original concept. In fact, in recent years the brand has introduced a 4×4 version. Although, their vehicles are no longer manufactured in Oxford or its surrounding area.

Car Storage for Your Icon

These are just a handful of the iconic cars to come from British shores in recent decades. Many of these vehicles are regular guests at This is Your Garage, who provide vehicle storage in Oxford for an array of owners and vehicles. You can find out more here and visit our Oxfordshire based garage and to discover more wonderful vehicles from Britain and around the world.


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