For decades, the British car industry was one of the most active in the world and one of the biggest exporters of cars. This means that British models are amongst those who motorized the world. But despite being so influential, cars from the UK weren’t always big sellers in America. However, some of them were, and here are the best 10 cars that were successful in America but were made in the United Kingdom.
1. Jensen Interceptor
Jensen Interceptor was not exactly a muscle car but more of a Gran Turismo. With its Italian styling by Vignale, massive size, superb comfort, and powerful Chrysler 383 or 440 V8 engine in the front, this four-seater coupe was one of the fastest and most comfortable cars for crossing continents in the late ’60s and early ’70s. This cool-looking coupe had the style of a muscle car and Detroit power, even though it was above the reach of an average car enthusiast.
All Interceptors featured Chrysler engines, the 383 and 440 V8 being the most common choices. However, regular interceptors in coupe and convertible form were much more successful, and over 6400 were made by 1976, many of which sold in America. This exciting car combines Italian styling, British luxury, and American muscle car provenance.
2. MG B GT V8
One of the most popular and typical British roadsters from the ’60s is definitely the MG B. Introduced in 1962, B was the successor to the MG A, which helped establish the roadster class in the US. For the standards of the day, the MG B was a fairly modern car with unibody construction, a roomy interior, and decent suspension and steering.
Today, we will tell you about its coupe version, the GT, equipped with a V8 engine. This small two-seater open top turned into a proper V8-powered muscle car. Introduced in 1973, the MG B GT V8 was powered by a 3.5-liter engine with 175 HP, a good figure for early ’70s standards. American buyers loved the GT V8 since it offered compact dimensions, improved practicality, and much more power and performance, which was a winning combination in anyone’s book.
3. Jaguar Mk 2
Jaguars were always powerful and fast machines, covered in beautiful bodies and equipped with luxury interiors. They were car enthusiasts’ dream cars, combining aesthetics with smooth six-cylinder engines and luxury trim. Over the years, Jaguar earned its performance credentials with numerous racing wins and beautiful sports cars. Still, in the ’60s, it presented a proper muscle car disguised as a performance sedan in the form of the Jaguar Mk 2.
This car earned the nickname “Bank Robbers’ Express” because of its speed and handling, which helped bank robbers quickly escape the scene. That is why the British Police also started using them in the ’60s. With a top-of-the-line 3.8-liter engine sourced from the E-Type and 220 HP, the Mk 2 was a very capable and elegant sedan with a 0-60 mph time of 9 seconds flat.
4. Jaguar XJ6
It was introduced in 1968, and back then, there was nothing similar on the market. The XJ6 was a low, sleek, and elegant sedan, equipped with powerful straight-six engines and even a 5.3-liter V12 for the most demanding customers. This was the first car that perfectly blended luxury with sport appeal and a signature shape that lasted through eight different generations up to 2009.
In all of its iterations, the Jaguar XJ6 was a popular luxury car in America, which means there are plenty of those around. Some of the early models are cheap, and this is the perfect starter classic if you are into legendary British motors.
5. Range Rover
If the Land Rover Defender was the definitive off-road vehicle, the Range Rover, introduced in 1970, took the concept and improved it far beyond anybody could have guessed. Most car historians agree that Range Rover started the modern SUV class with a unique blend of off-road capabilities, elegant design, and luxury appointments. After this model, more and more manufacturers decided to try to sell comfortable off-road vehicles, and that is how the SUV craze swept through the industry.
Range Rover was simply an answer to customers who needed a capable car but not a Spartan off-roader like the Defender. The company didn’t expect much in 1970, but very soon, sales were encouraging, so Range Rover invested in the concept. During the ’80s and early ’90s, the original Range Rover became the bestselling vehicle in its class and an industry legend.
6. Jaguar E-Type
Introduced in 1961, the Jaguar E-Type was a sensation on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Despite Jaguar’s long-lasting tradition of building fine sports cars, the E-Type was years ahead with superb design, four-wheel disc brakes, independent rear suspension, and powerful straight-six engines. It was derived from the Le Mans-winning C and D Type racers and was as fast as any Ferrari or Maserati at the time. But the best thing was the price; the E-Type had the looks, power, and performance of high-priced Italian exotics, but it cost just a fraction of the price.
It stayed in production for 15 years until 1976 and sold over 74,000 copies, most of them here in the USA. Today, Jaguar has the F-Type sports coupe, which is clearly a modern interpretation of the classic E Type design form, but it is still a modern car that captures the essence of this legendary model.
7. Triumph Spitfire
The Spitfire was the second definitive British roadster from the ’60s and, in our opinion, much cooler than the MG B. Despite having similar mechanics, modest power, and performance, the Spitfire got its name from a World War II fighter plane. It boasted a much more aggressive and sportier design with lower sides and a sharper front end.
This legendary roadster was introduced in 1962 and powered by a pretty diminutive 1.1-liter four-cylinder engine with 63 HP. Over the years, the power grew to a 1.5-liter engine with 71 HP and more torque, which improved the driving dynamics. As with all other British roadsters, the biggest market was the US, and of the 314,000 made, most ended up here.
8. Triumph TR6
If the Spitfire was Triumph’s roadster for the masses, the TR6 was a car for a profound lover of open-air driving and speed. The Spitfire could be considered underpowered despite its weighing only 1500 lbs, but the TR6 had decent power and convincing performance straight out of the box.
The TR6 was a successor to the TR5 and the US-market-only TR250, which all shared basic construction, dimensions, and design. Introduced in 1968, the TR6 featured disc brakes all around, independent suspension, and a 2.5-liter straight-six engine with 145 HP. Thanks to its weight of just under 2200 lbs, the TR6 was pretty agile and was amongst the fastest power roadsters on the market in the late ’60s.
9. Ford Capri/Mercury Capri
The Mustang’s success was very influential and inspired most American brands to offer a pony car model of their own. Even in Europe, the Mustang was popular and familiar. Still, Ford wanted to explore the market further with a smaller, European version that would be cheaper and more suited to the needs of European buyers. This is how the Ford Capri came to be in 1969.
Designed in the UK, Capri was a European Mustang in every way. Using the “long hood-short deck” formula and semi-fastback styling, the Capri looked great and had a fantastic stance. Despite being based on the standard Cortina floor pan and using the same engines, Capri looked like a thoroughbred sports or muscle car, and it was often confused for a US-built Ford. This affordable coupe proved successful, almost as successful as the Mustang, and sold in millions through its 16-year lifespan. It was also imported into the USA as Mercury Capri in the mid ’70s.
10. Jaguar XJS
Introduced in the mid-70s, the XJS was a big step for the company. Under the long hood, it had a well-known 3.6-liter six-cylinder and a 5.3-liter V12 engine, which was a better choice if you wanted a full GT experience.
The XJS was an extremely popular choice, especially in America, where Jaguar sold the majority of the 115,000 cars made. Due to elegance, power, and speed, the XJS remained in production for an incredible 21 years and is still a respectable car. The prices are not high for perfectly preserved examples, and we recommend you find later models with the V12 engine.