1. MG SV-R Based on the Qvale Mangusta, the SV was supposed to MG Rover’s supercar – hence its price tag of £82,000. The Peter Stevens-designed body certainly drew attention, while the mighty 385bhp 5.0-litre V8 translated into 0-60mph in 4.9 seconds. Just 64 models were built before the company went bust.
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2. MG TF Launched in 1995, the MG F was an instant hit. Its combination of a mid-engined layout, rear-wheel drive and neat looks made it a real British rival to the MX5. Press reception was lukewarm, though, and despite MG Rover facelifting it and dropping the troublesome hydragas suspension in 2002, the TF was never as good as it should have been.
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3. Triumph TR7 Built in the dark days of the 70s by British Leyland, the TR7 was a huge departure from the TR6. Designed by Harris Mann – who penned the Allegro – the wedge-shape and pop-up headlamps ensured it looked rather futuristic, even if its reliability, build quality and limp 2.0-litre engine weren’t.
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4. Triumph Stag Britain’s answer to Mercedes SL was as British as a wet summer... And ultimately about as popular. Styled by the Italian designer Michelotti, the car was fitted with a V8 engine and launched, one year behind schedule, right into the arms of a fuel crisis. However, the original 3.0-litre unit was not just thirsty, but unreliable too – and only 25,877 models were built between 1970 and 1977
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5. Triumph TR6 With its 2.5-litre straight six engine, long bonnet and rear-wheel drive, the TR6 was something of a poor man’s Austin Healey when it arrived in 1969. It hung around until 1976, by which time it was long past its best. That didn’t stop it from finding popularity in the US, though.
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6. Lotus Elan Low weight, great looks and a beautifully balanced chassis made the Elan the small roadster to beat in the Sixties and early Seventies. Technological highlights included a twin cam 1.6-litre motor, independent suspension and four-wheel disc brakes. Still considered a handling benchmark, even against modern machinery.
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7. MGB Roadster Reliable, easy to drive, cheap to own, beautiful to look at... There are lots of reasons that the MG B, launched in 1962, quickly became Britain’s best selling sports car. Such was the power of its appeal, production only ended in 1980, while its influence can still be seen today, in cars like the Mazda MX-5. A landmark car for the British motor industry, the car retains a powerful following right up to this day.
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8. Jensen CV-8 Rare but highly collectable, the CV8 was launched in 1962, and was powered by a 6.0-litre Chrysler V8 engine. One of the fastest production four seater money at the time could buy, the fibreglass bodied machine was capable of a 0-60mph sprint of 6.7 seconds and a top speed of 136mph.
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9. Austin Healey Sprite The small Healey appeared in 1958 and earned the nickname 'Frogeye' as a result of its distinctive headlamps. To keep costs down it featured the tiny 948cc A-series engine from the Mini, lightly tuned to give 43bhp.
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10. Austin Healey 3000 Known as the 'Big Healey', the 3000 used a powerful 3.0-litre straight-six motor. Despite low ground clearance the car was a very successful rally car, particulary in the hands of Stirling Moss' sister, Pat. Competition engines produced over 200bhp.
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11. MGA MG’s first truly modern sportscar, and the model that helped set a styling template that can be followed right up to the introduction of the MG TF. The A replaced the t Series cars, and was introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1955. Interestingly the MG A remains one of the most successful MG exports of all time, 101,081 examples were produced, with almost 95 percent of them being sold overseas.
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12. Triumph TR3 When the stylish TR3 first appeared in 1955, British sportscars were the height of American motoring fashion. During the two years it was in production Triumph produced 13,377 examples. Just 1,286 were sold in the UK, the rest being exported to the States.
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