Best British Car (National Car Thread 1, Now With Poll)

[Jay]

Straightline hey.

How quick is the SSC 0-100-0 compared to the Mclaren?

 

[ExigeEvan]

What if we were to choose cars that were fundamently British, but udner an American badge. E.g. alot of Ford cars?


[EDIT] If we are allowed....
The Ford Transit

You hate the driver's, but it's Britain's work horse. This baby makes the American Pick-ups look as useful as a shotgun in a hospital.

You can even have some fun with it, Jeremy Clarkson did, and so did the Ford Techies...

 

[Famine]

So anyway,

 

[Roo]

The British flag doesn't make it a British car

Yes, it's built in Britain, but I still only see a small BMW, which will make it forever German in my eyes.

Of course, the arguement could run and run, which is why I'm not going to say any more on the matter.

Onto my nomination...



Suprised?

The original Mini. Almost everyone has a Mini story; they either owned one, or know someone who did. 5.3 million were made over 42 years, proving its popularity and timelessness. They were used for everything, by everyone; the police (not just in Britain, but in Australia and America too); the Army (not sure whose army that is, but I know both e British and Australians used them), and the AA. The Mini also had great success in rallying, particularly the Monte Carlo Rally where it won 4 years -1964 to 1967 - on the trot (although the top 4 finishers in 1966 - 3 Minis and a Lotus Cortina that finished 4th, along with 6 other British cars - were all disqualified for having illegal lights, leaving a Citroen to a highlky dubious win). It's a car that really got the supermini going in Britain (didn't start it, but certainly helped it along a bit).

I own 2. Why? Because they're brilliant fun to drive, they're cheap to buy and run, you can park anywhere (including in school halls), and to be part of the whole Mini culture. The fact that most Mini drivers wave at each other on the road (yeah, call me sad, but it's a nice feeling on rubbish days).

 

[KSaiyu]

I'm flying the flag for:

 

[YSSMAN]

Nice folks, keep them rolling...

@ ExigeExcel: Yes, the Ford Transit is allowed...

I'm also surprised no one has nominated a Rolls-Royce or Bentley yet. Oh well, I'm happy to see this thread sorta working out. I got a bit worried when I went to bed last night...

 

[Danny]

Sorry, but there is no classier way of powersliding at 110mph, and it just looks...woah.

(P.S, WO=Walter Owen)

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=3682708170226987549&q=bentley

 

[ExigeEvan]

I'm also surprised no one has nominated a Rolls-Royce or Bentley yet. Oh well, I'm happy to see this thread sorta working out. I got a bit worried when I went to bed last night...

Becasue of the Duke Of Yorkshire , a.k.a Ultrabeat, gets anywhere near them

 

[Danny]

Becasue of the Duke Of Yorkshire , a.k.a Ultrabeat, gets anywhere near them

I appoint you Official Crapbag of Birchgrove!

J/K I'm just in it for the Bentleys my good man, speaking of which I has another nomimination.

Two, actually.

Bentley Speed 8. It's not often Brit entrys do well in Le Mans.

Bentley 8 Litre. 220hp in 1932 was outstanding, as was the 110mph top speed. Just like the Lotus Carlton (still just a Vauxhall, btw ) it was amazing in its day, and this 74 year old car will outperform many new cars. And it was huuuuge!

 

[Race Idiot]

I'm flying the flag for:

Oh gawd thats hot.

But i'm going to have to go for the MKI Ford Escort, which is just as British as the Transit is. Although I didn't know that the MKII was actualy designed in germany.

I would to bad things to Ultrabeat to own one of these.

 

[KSaiyu]

ahhhhh they've got an 8 page feature in the new classics mag on sale on the Mk1, just reminded me to buy it. Lovely car.

 

[Tornado]

Give me a BREAK. I repeat what I said about that annoying font not making you appear intelligent.

And I will repeat what I said before: I couldn't care less. Purple font doesn't make Famine more intelligent, does it? Why it seems to bother the indisputable pool of knowledge that is M5Power, or why he continues to start petty arguements with me seemingly for the sake of starting them is all so distant in explanation from my obvious lack of knowledge when compared to him.

Bugatti Automobili SpA was created in 1987 (more than eight decades after the brand was founded in France) and was bankrupt eight years later after having produced ONE model, the EB110. You set him up for that answer to show your "superior" knowledge. Congratulations - you made yourself look like a fool.

First of all, if that is what I intended to do you are far from innocent. Second of all, that is not what I as doing in the slightest. I asked him about Bugatti of Modena, and then I explained why I asked. In addition, the simple fact that you felt the need to start a useless arguement when I wasn't even talking to you reinforces the fact that you have nothing better to do than following me around wherever I post and starting ****.

 

[Famine]

Ford GT40.

[stir]

 

[Race Idiot]

Ford GT40.

[stir]

Well it was built and designed in England so I suppose thats another one.

Wikipedia article on GT40

 

[Danny]

I would to bad things to Ultrabeat to own one of these.

I'd give you a Mark I Escort to stay away from me.

 

[Poverty]

Its a bit of a shock that the car Poverty picks is German, isn't it?

And, I do believe I win

Yes I did that on purpose, and yes I do belive you win. I cant think of any other british car that could compete, unless fords count.

Ultrabeat posted a german car too!

 

[Dave A]

I can think of a few that might keep up with or beat an F1 on a track, and I'm not including race cars or purpose built track cars.

 

[Danny]

Ultrabeat posted a german car too!

Technically true, but let's not get technical. It's too hot.

 

[Dave A]

Yep let's keep it untechnical, I think the new Ascari A10 will be quite a fast car, it'll be a lot quicker than the KZ1.

 

[Danny]

[untechnical and slightly vague] Yes, and it's very pretty too.[/untechnical and slightly vague]

 

[Danny]

Another nomination-

Aston Martin DB7 GT

And also the E-Type.

I don't know which is better looking ^

 

[ExigeEvan]

Ford GT40.

[stir]

I was thinking of that when I asked before posting the Transit, but I figured it wasn't as cool as the almight transit.

So are we going to have a poll eventually or is it just an opinion based system?

 

[Dave A]

A GT40 is a damn sight cooler than the Super van or the Ford Racing Transit.

 

[ExigeEvan]

A GT40 is a damn sight cooler than the Super van or the Ford Racing Transit.

I wasn't comparing it to them at all.

I was comparing it to the Transit. The plain simple Transit. The van that helped make Britain, the van that is an ambulance, the van that delivers your food, the van that gets yobs off the street.

It's the van that is Britain.

We salute you.

 

[Dave A]

I would definitely say that the GT40 is cooler than any Transit. But the Transit is a damn sight more important, good call.

 

[Michael-GT]

Too bad their aren't any Ford Transits where I live.

Ford Transit>Ford Econoline

Don't forget the TVR Griffith:

This UK car hopefully, won't be voted :

 

[YSSMAN]

I've added a poll, consisted of your nominations and I've also added two cars to the list as well, including the TVR Tuscan and Rolls Royce Phantom.

 

[amp88]

You're missing the original Mini, which has several votes so far (including myself)

 

[YSSMAN]

I was hoping to roll it in all under the MINI name, so I'm sorry.

 

[neanderthal]

best is such a vague term

how do you decide which is best between the guv's rangie or the mk 1 escort? even the cortina was a hell of a cool car, especially in lotus form, (but only certain years are desirable as i understand.) or the ford capri?

the sierra
the RS200
jensen intercepter which pioneered so many technologies in one car
the SD1 which was just sexy (albeit unreliable and badly put together)
triumph dolomite sprint?
the land rover "defender/ series1/ series II etc" which is the first car that most people in the "undeveloped world" saw in a lot of cases

and im just trying to list some of those cool cars that have not been mentioned so far.

im going to nominate the original mini cooper for laying the footprint clearly. for being a car for everyman. and for being so damm cool.

oh, and M5 power, the lotus carlson was beaten to the punch by the AMG hammer