Curbside Classic Archive: UK Brands

The following are full-length features for passenger cars, SUVs and minivans.  Pickups, full-size vans and all other trucks are archived in the “Trucks, Pickups and Vans” Portal.  Buses are archived in their own Portal.  For other CC features that are not archived here, use the “Search Curbside Classic” box on the right side of the page.


AC

The Surprisingly Long Story Of AC   Tatra87

1986 AC 3000ME: Optimism, With A V6   Roger Carr


Alvis

1958-67 Alvis TD/TE/TF 21: British Deadly Sins   Tatra87


Armstrong Siddeley

1954-58 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire 346: Peak Siddeley?   JohnH875

1956-58 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire 234 / 236: A British Deadly Sin   Tatra87

1958-60 Armstrong Siddeley Star Sapphire   Aaron65


Aston Martin

1934 Aston Martin Ulster: Ultra Rare Classics Need Gas Too   David Saunders

2011-13 Aston Martin Cygnet: No, Mister Bond, I Expect You To Downsize   Imperialist


Austin

1939 Austin 16: The Tough Austin   KiwiBryce

1947-54 Austin A125 Sheerline Saloon: Neglected British Luxury   David Saunders

1951 Austin A40 Devon: The Best-Selling Import Of Its Time   Paul N

1952-54 Austin A40 Somerset: Short, Chubby And Irresistible   David Saunders

1959 Austin A95 Westminster: Keep It Simple; Make It Complicated But Ultimately Sinful  Roger Carr

1960 Austin Seven (Mini): The Future Started Here   Roger Carr

1962 Austin A110 Westminster: Junior Jaguar Or English Fintail?   Tom Klockau

1964-68 Vanden Plas Princess 4-Litre R: International Brougham?   Perry Shoar

1964-93 Austin Mini Moke: The Mini Thing   Robert Kim

1968 Austin 1800 (ADO17) “Landcrab”: Was It Best In Class, Or Just Plain Ugly?   Roger Carr

1968-72 Austin 1800 Utility: Unique Ute   William Stopford

1968-72 Austin America: Yankee Doodle Disaster   Jeff Nelson

1969 Austin 3 Litre Deluxe: The Landcrab Trilogy Is Complete   Roger Carr

1971 Austin Mini: Yesterday’s Mini; Today’s Micro   Paul N

1972 Austin FX4 London Taxi: 6th And Charnelton In Eugene, Please; Via Serbia   Paul N

1972 Austin Maxi 1500: BMC’s Biggest Missed Opportunity?   Roger Carr

1975 Austin Allegro: Another BLMC Deadly Sin   Roger Carr

1986 Austin Montego Mayfair: Coming Too Late To The Party   Roger Carr


Austin-Healey

1954 Austin-Healey 100: On Her Majesty’s Sporting Service   Tatra87

1958-61 Austin-Healey Mark I Sprite: A Sports Car For The Masses   Ed Stembridge

1960 Austin-Healey 3000: The Most Classic British Roadster?   Roger Carr


Bentley

1987 Bentley Mulsanne Turbo R: In Case A Rolls-Royce Is Too Common For You   Roger Carr


Bristol

Bristol 603 / Britannia / Blenheim: Arrested Development (History)   Tatra87

1953 Bristol 401:  Grey Eminence  Tatra87

1972 Bristol 411: The Last Great British Eccentric (& Bristol History)   Roger Carr

1960 Bristol 406 – Blue Moon Rising  Tatra87


Daimler

1951-56 “Docker Daimlers”: British Deadly Sins   Tatra87

1961 Daimler SP250: The Queen’s Sports Car   LongRoofFan

1962 Daimler SP250: Fish Mouth   Roger Carr

1968-92 Daimler DS420 Limousine: Forgotten Lesser Royalty   Robert Kim

1980 Daimler Double Six: This Was The Best Car In The World   Roger Carr

1989 Daimler Six (XJ40): Dead Cat Bounce   Tatra87


Ford

1949 Ford Pilot V8 (& 1961 Consul): A Little Bit Of Dearborn, From Dagenham   Roger Carr

1953 Ford Consul:  The English Immigrant  Jason Safer

1955 Ford Zephyr Mark 1: Ford Builds The Chevrolet Cadet   David Saunders

1956 Ford Squire: For A Man With A Load On His Mind   Paul N

1963 Ford Cortina Mk1: Ford Takes On BMC, And Wins  Roger Carr

1968-80 Ford Escort Mk 1 and Mk 2: Keeping It Simple, And Profitable  Roger Carr

1969 Ford Capri: The European Mustang Ford Always Promised Itself   Roger Carr

1975 Ford Cortina 1600XL: The Swiss Army Knife Car   Roger Carr


Gilbern

1966-69 Gilbern Genie: The Welsh Grand Tourer  David Saunders


Gordon-Keeble

1964-67 Gordon-Keeble: A British Deadly Sin   Tatra87


Hillman

1963-76 Sunbeam (Hillman) Imp: The British Corvair   Paul N

1966 Hillman Super Minx: Rooting For Rootes   Roger Carr

1967 Hillman Minx: Britain’s Second Longest Lived Nameplate Reaches Its Peak   Roger Carr


Humber

1975 Humber Sceptre Estate: The Ultimate Arrow Is The Forgotten One   Roger Carr


Invicta

1946-49 Invicta Black Prince: A Blue-Blooded British Deadly Sin   Tatra87


Jaguar

Jaguar And Sir William Lyons: One Man’s Passion For Gracefulness, Beauty And Speed (History)   Roger Carr

1950-54 Jaguar XK-120: Rare Sighting In The Wild   Robert Kim

1954-56 Jaguar MkVIIM: Prima Ballerina   Don Andreina

1959-61 Jaguar Mark IX: An Englishman Abroad   GGHo6

1960 Jaguar XK-150S: Treasures Are Meant To Be Shared (And Driven)   Jason Shafer

1961-70 Jaguar Mark X: Curvaceous Coventrian   Perry Shoar

1965 Jaguar 3.4S (S-Type): Sir William’s Bastard Child   Tatra87

1965 Jaguar Mark X: Paying Respect To Madame X   Tatra87

1967 Jaguar 420: The Big Cat’s Best-Kept Secret   Tatra87

1969-72 Jaguar XK-E Series II: The Stuff Of Dreams, The Source Of Nightmares   Dave Skinner

1973 Jaguar XJ12: Double Your Pleasure, Double Your Fun   Paul N

1974 Jaguar XJ12L: The White Whale!   Tom Klockau

1976 Jaguar XJC6: A Rare (And Splendid) Curbside Appearance   Paul N

1979 Jaguar XJ6 Series III: Pininfarina Redux   Tom Klockau

1984 Jaguar XJ6 Vanden Plas: The Cat That Saved Jaguar   Eric703

1986-94 Jaguar XJ6 (XJ40): Beauty Is A Beast   William Stopford

1995 Jaguar XJS Convertible: T-Bird Substitute   Tom Klockau

2000 Jaguar S-Type: The Big Cat Takes A Leap   Brendan Saur

2001-09 Jaguar X-Type: X-Typecast   William Stopford

2004 Jaguar XJ6: So Long Classy Chariot   Gerardo Solis


Jensen

1966-76 Jensen Interceptor: The Handsome Anglo-Italo-American Mashup   David Saunders

1972-76 Jensen Healey: Care To Take It For A Really Long Test Drive?   David Saunders


Jowett

1947-53 Jowett Javelin & 1950-54 Jupiter: British Deadly Sins   Tatra87


Lagonda

1962-64 Lagonda Rapide: A British Deadly Sin   Tatra87


Lanchester

1934 Lanchester 18 Mulliner 6 Light Saloon: Remembering Dr Fred   Roger Carr


Lotus

1972 Lotus Europa S3 Twin Cam: Magnificence In Miniature   Roger Carr

1974 Lotus Europa Special: The Sports Hearse Strikes Again   Tatra87

1977 Lotus Esprit S1: Giorgetto Guigiaro Takes Up Origami   Paul N

2007 Lotus Europa S: Who Wants To Grow Up?   Roger Carr


MG

The MG Sporting Saloons (History):     Part 1     Part 2   David Saunders

1950 MG TD: I Was Retro Before Retro Was Cool   Paul N

1958 MGA: The Almost Great Leap Forward   Paul N

1959 MGA 1500 Le Mans Replica: The OMG Factor   Tatra87

1965 MG 1100 (ADO16): BMC’s Greatest Hit   Roger Carr

1967 MGB: To B Or Not To B   Paul N

1968 MGC GT: Woulda’ Shoulda’ Coulda’ Had The Rover V8   Paul N

1972 MGB GT: Early Adopter   Tom Klockau

1972 MG Midget MkIII: Small Pleasures   Paul N

1976 MG Midget: Always Simple, And Surprisingly Durable   Roger Carr

1978 MGB: Determined To Survive   Eric703

1984 MG Maestro 1600: When Being Better Than Before Is Not Good Enough   Roger Carr

1993 MG R V8: The Ultimate Classic MG?   David Saunders

2002 MG ZS120: Lessons Are Not Always Learnt   Roger Carr

2004 MG X Power SV: Not Exactly What Was Required   Roger Carr

2005 MGR CityRover Select: Too Little, Too Late   Roger Carr


MINI

2018 MINI Countryman Cooper 2.0D Automatic: If You Scratch The Surface, There’s A Capable Car   Roger Carr


Morgan

1936 Morgan 4/4: Trying To Understand The Enigma (Morgan History)   Roger Carr


Morris

William Morris:  One Man’s Lasting Influence On The British Industry And Country  Roger Carr

1955 Morris Minor Series II: Britain’s Favourite Car, Bar None, And Rightly So   Roger Carr

1955 Morris Oxford Series II Traveller: From Cowley To Kolkatta, In 60 Years   Roger Carr

1966 Vanden Plas Princess 1100: Peak Issigonis, With Added Contradictions  Roger Carr

1973 Morris Marina Coupe 1.8TC: Is This The Best We Can Do?   Roger Carr

1980 Morris Marina Van: Almost Big Enough To Carry A Piano   Scott McPherson


Quasar

1968 Quasar Unipower: The Car To Be Seen In, Preferably When Wearing A Mini Skirt   Paul N


Reliant

1975-82 Reliant Kitten: The Discreet Charm Of The Toiling Masses – A British Deadly Sin   Tatra87

1975 Reliant Kitten: Out Of The Blue   Bernard Taylor

1978 Reliant Scimitar GTE: Princess Anne Had One, You Know. And Another, And Another…   Roger Carr


Riley

1966 Riley Elf Mk III: When Is A Mini Not A Mini?   MarcKyle64

1969 Riley 1300 Mk II: Once, One Car In Seven Was Like This   Roger Carr


Rolls-Royce

1930 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental DHC by Carlton Carriage: Seeing Ghosts  Tatra87

1955 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud Series 1: No Wonder The ’65 Ford Claimed To Be Quieter Than A Rolls-Royce   Paul N

Rolls-Royce Camargue: Two Out Of Three Camargues   Don Andreina

1980 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II:  Not To The Manor Born  Jon Stepenson

1981 Rolls-Royce Camargue: Much Ado About Nothing?   JohnH875

1982 Rolls-Royce Corniche Convertible: The Crème de la Crème   Mike Butts

1983 Rolls-Royce Camargue: Turin’s Titanic Tailoring Tragedy  Tatra87

1985 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit: Delivered By The Wind   Dave Skinner

1996 Rolls-Royce Silver Spur:  Peasant-Crushing, Minus The Excitement  Tatra87

2012-17 Rolls-Royce Phantom VII Extended Wheelbase: The Return Of HMS Phantom   Tatra87


Rover / Range Rover / Land Rover

1948-58 Land Rover Series 1: After 67 Years, The Night Watchman Comes Back To The Pavilion   Roger Carr

1963 Rover 95 (P4):  How One Car Defined A Brand  Roger Carr

1969 Rover 2000TC: Very Advanced (But Mostly Forgotten)   David Saunders

1970 Rover 3500S V8 (P6): “Sell It Now? I’d Rather Cremate It And Have It Interred With Me”   Paul N

1971 Land Rover Series III: Need To Go Anywhere? No Problem!   Tom Klockau

1977 Range Rover: Success At Face Value   Don Andreina

1979 Land Rover LWB Station Wagon: Not Stranded In The Jungle   Tatra87

1980 Rover 3500 (SD1): Rover Over Here, Again   Eric703

1985 Rover 3500 (SD1): The Best Of British; The Worst Of British   Roger Carr

1989 Rover 216 EFi Vanden Plas: Taking A Step Upmarket   Roger Carr

1992 Rover 214GSi: Thanks To Honda, Rover Finally Finds True Success   Roger Carr

1993 Range Rover Classic Vogue: Before The Gold Rush   James Pembroke Tenneson

1993-96 Rover 600: What Price Chrome and Wood?   William Stopford

1993 Rover Metro GTi 16v : A British Car To Beat The World?   Roger Carr

1996 Rover 800: Less Than The Sum Of Its Parts   Roger Carr

1999 Rover 216: The Beginning Of The End   Roger Carr

2003-2012 “L322” Range Rover:  New Heights & Horizons  Kyree Rollerson

2004 Rover 75 2.5 V6: High Expectations Of Drinking In the Last Chance Saloon   Roger Carr

2008 Land Rover LR3: My Re-Discovery Of SUV Empowerment (Driving Impression)   Brendan Saur


Singer

1964 Singer Gazelle: A Once Proud Brand Ends Up As A Tarted-Up Mix   James Pembroke Tenneson


Standard

Standard: Raising The White Flag For Britain’s Car Industry – A British Deadly Sin   Tatra87

1955 Standard Vanguard Phase III: Resting After A Good Cypriot Lunch   Big Paws

1962 Standard Vanguard Vignale: The Rarest CC Find Yet?   David Saunders


Sterling

1987 Sterling 825 SL: Turkey In The Grass   Paul N

1987 Sterling 827 SL: A Living Legend   Brendan Saur


Sunbeam

1953-55 Sunbeam Alpine: First Dibs   Don Andreina

1955 Sunbeam Mk3 Convertible: Yearning For A Lost Age   Roger Carr

1964 Sunbeam Rapier Series IV: A Saucier Minx   Tom Klockau

1964-67 Sunbeam Tiger: The Other Cobra   Paul N

1965 Sunbeam Alpine (& Tiger): Britain’s Forgotten Roadster Shows Its Claws, And Some Muscle Too   Roger Carr

1968 Sunbeam Alpine GT: The British Barracuda   Paul N

1970 Sunbeam Arrow: With Stereotype-Defying 325,000 Miles   David Saunders

1973 Sunbeam Rapier H120: The Car I Wanted My Dad To Want   Roger Carr


Talbot

1980 Talbot Sunbeam Lotus: All The Right Ingredients   Roger Carr


Triumph

1948 Triumph 1800 Roadster: The World’s Smallest Dual-Cowl Phaeton?   Paul N

1949 Triumph Mayflower: Your Thanksgiving Turkey   Mike Butts

1959 Triumph TR3A: My Favorite ’50’s Sportscar   LongRoofFan

1962 Triumph Herald: A Tempest In A Teapot    Paul N

1962-64 Triumph Spitfire Mk1: One Of The Cars I’ll Probably Never Own   Aaron65

1966 Triumph Herald: The First Aspirational Compact   Roger Carr

1967 Triumph TR4A IRS: Stereotype Defying Tractor-Engined IRS Daily Driver   Paul N

1974 Triumph Toledo: The Only Car Ever To Be Switched From FWD To RWD?   Tom Klockau

1974 Triumph TR6: Pray For Clouds In Punxutawney   Mr. Tactful

1975 Triumph Stag: A Handsome Failure   Tom Klockau

1975 Triumph TR6: Last Call For Old School Pleasures   Paul N

1976 Triumph Stag: What If Public Appeal Was The Only Criterion For Success?   Roger Carr

1976-81 Triumph TR7: America Gets A Wedgie   Jeff Nelson

1976-81 Triumph TR7: The Shape Of Things To Come; Or Not   Robert Kim

1976 Triumph TR7 Fixed Head Coupe: The Case For The Defence   Roger Carr

1979 Triumph TR7 Drophead: Hot Stuff   Joseph Dennis

1980-81 Triumph TR8: The Wedge Perfected (History)   David Saunders

1981 Triumph Acclaim CD: A Triumph, To Any Acclaim?   Roger Carr


TVR

1998 TVR Cerbera Speed Eight 4.5: The Budget Supercar   Tatra87


Vauxhall

1957-61 Vauxhall Victor F-Series: The British ’57 Chevy   David Saunders

1961-72 Vauxhall Victor: Luton Salutes The Victor   Roger Carr

1964-67 Vauxhall Victor 101 Super: Almost Mine   David Saunders

1964 Vauxhall Viva HA Saloon: Viva Vauxhall?   Roger Carr

1966 Envoy Epic (Vauxhall): An Epic Find, And An Epic Beginning   David Saunders

1969 Vauxhall Ventora (FD Series): Trying To Adapt, With Difficulty   Roger Carr

1977 Vauxhall VX2300GLS: The End Of The British Vauxhall, The End Of Americana?   Roger Carr

1978 Vauxhall Cavalier Sportshatch: If It’s Good Enough, It’ll Sell   Roger Carr

1994 Vauxhall Cavalier 2.0 CDi: “Come Inside Mr Ford, The General Needs To Talk”   Roger Carr


Wolseley

1973 Wolseley Six: A Land Crab Appears In Oregon Despite The Invasive Species Act Or The Wolseley Six Girl Has Got To Have Soul   Paul N