I would like to start a bit of a discussion on what exactly is a British car. Or maybe, what isn't? Everyone would agree that an MG or Triumph or Jaguar designed, built, and sold in England during the 40s or 50s is a British car, but what about one of the Rolls-Royce cars built in the US at Springfield during the late 1920s? What about the current modern MINI Cooper that was designed in England and mostly built there, but under the auspices of the German BMW? And then there are the Jaguars and Land Rover that aren't built on British soil.
I know my view, for the most part, but what is yours? What does or doesn't constitute a British car? And how much does it matter to you at a show, in our news coverage, or on a t-shirt?!
Good morning from Sydney,
It's a question that comes regularly at our annual All British display days - 1500 to 2000 cars usually. CKD assembled cars here & NZ? Sure. Citroens assembled in Slough? Nope. Or Volvo P1800s assembled by Jensen in West Bromich? And what about Lotus Sevens assembled in NZ, not by Lotus, but under licence? Is that a proper Lotus?
@max-pegler Exactly! I have seen the P1800s at shows like the Stowe British Invasion and then others questioning them being there. I always believe in erring on the side of inclusion, but what when we write here, which ones do we really want to concentrate on?
There are many classic British cars here in central Florida. I recall when I was being transferred here in 1988 from the Washington DC area and owning a 1974 TR6, I had to sell the TR6 because I thought (for reasons really unknown) Florida was not a place to have a British car. Constant heat and rain, ya know! Well was I wrong. Should have kept the TR6 cause it was my favorite color of pimento with chestnut interior and only had 48k miles on it. I sure was wrong about Florida. There were Brit cars languishing in garages every where and where brought out for any excuse to go for a top down ride. Even if it was 95 degrees and 100% humidity. So now here I am 5 Brit cars later and loving my current ride, a 1973 Stag.
@1973stag Gotta admit that is kinds funny - Florida is perfect for British sports cars. Or British cars of any type! Well, you might want a/c if you have a totally enclosed car with no air-flow inside. What part of Florida are you in? I would definitely consider a Triumph Stag British 😉 Classically British at that.
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