British car brands list – If you’re searching for a British car brand, or simply want to find out more about British car brands in general, you’ve come to the right place.
This comprehensive list of British car brands includes all the most well-known names, along with lesser-known marques and companies that have only produced one or two cars over the years but remain memorable nonetheless.
Car Brands From The United Kingdom
AC Cars Ltd.
Founded in London in 1924, AC Cars Ltd. is a brand that’s perhaps better known for the hand-built luxury sports cars of yesterday than they are today.
In recent years, new management at AC has re-introduced the brand with a lineup consisting entirely of rear-wheel-drive cars built using traditional methods and modern materials.
Their current line includes several models ranging from about $30,000 to about $110,000 per vehicle (their Le Man’s race car sells for well over half a million dollars).
Although AC may not be as well known as some other UK car brands, their cars are loved by those who own them.
And despite being small players in today’s market, if you see an AC sports car driving down the road it’s not likely to go unnoticed.
Ascari Cars Ltd.
As one of just two companies in Great Britain to take a place on our list, Ascar Cars is an extremely popular brand and manufacturer.
For decades, Ascar Cars have made their name by crafting sleek machines that expertly blend speed and elegance.
Today, you can enjoy a whole host of exceptional cars from Ascar Cars at prices that fit most budgets. No matter your taste or interests, you’re sure to find something that meets all your expectations.
From premium sedans to sporty hatchbacks and convertibles, luxury vehicles are available for every need.
If you’re looking for a unique way to say I love you or simply want to treat yourself, browse all available models today!
Alldays & Onions Car Company
Perhaps you’ve never heard of Alldays & Onions, but chances are you’ve heard of its most popular car model. It was called The Clipper and was one of Britain’s earliest sports cars.
It was manufactured in Coventry by Alldays & Onions (hence, the company name) between 1901 and 1905, after which it merged with other companies to become Humber Limited.
If you have any information on where The Clipper is today, please contact us immediately. We will pay handsomely for its return.
We cannot allow such a historical piece of machinery to fall into enemy hands! We are at war, after all. Good day!
Aston Martin
There are few car brands that have a more storied history than Aston Martin. One of England’s oldest car companies, Aston Martin traces its roots back to 1913.
Founder Lionel Martin originally built racing cars and sports cars for members of England’s wealthy elite.
The company changed hands over time, eventually landing under Ford’s control during World War II; it wasn’t until 1994 that it was sold again and began producing high-end sports cars once again.
Modern Aston Martins are among some of the most sought-after luxury sports cars on today’s market.
Belsize Motors
Just because a car is manufactured in Britain doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a British car.
This can be confusing, as many cars are produced under foreign ownership or joint-production agreements, which means you could technically drive an American-made Chevrolet off a German ship and onto English soil; it doesn’t make it any less American.
Belsize Motors is an example of an English car manufacturer still in operation today.
These luxury vehicles are produced in traditional style by hand and include Jaguar-derived chassis among others to create a premium vehicle for discerning customers.
Bentley Motors Limited
Bentley is a manufacturer and marketer of luxury cars headquartered in Crewe, England. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, itself based in Wolfsburg, Germany.
The company was founded by W. O. Bentley on 18 January 1919 in Cricklewood near London; they began building cars in 1920. W.O. Bentley sold his remaining shareholding in Bentley Motors to Rolls-Royce plc in 1971 but remained as chairman until 1987.
In 1998, Vickers decided to sell Rolls-Royce Motors. The most likely buyer was BMW, who already supplied engines and other components for Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars, but BMW’s final offer of £340m was beaten by Volkswagen Group’s £430m.
VW chairman Ferdinand Piëch wanted to acquire Rolls-Royce Motor Cars because he saw it as a way to solve his company’s problem of lacking a presence in the lucrative ultra-luxury car market.
VW also made attempts to acquire Ferrari around the same time, which were rejected by Enzo Ferrari.
Briggs Automotive Company
With 50 years of experience in manufacturing cars, Briggs Automotive Company is known for designing and producing off-road vehicles.
The company owns a lot of successful names in the car industry such as Aston Martin and some other companies. Its famous brands include Alpine, Arrows, Bentley, Bitter CD, Caterham Cars, and Ginetta Cars among others.
The production facilities are located at Gaydon in Warwickshire where there are also offices for its commercial businesses.
Caterham Cars
Caterham is one of England’s most famous car brands, offering high-end sports cars as well as low-priced kits. While Caterham’s ancestry dates back to 1949, it only started to build its own cars in 2011.
The brand has been owned by entrepreneur Graham MacDonald since 2006. Until 2015, when it went bankrupt, Caterham was part of Malaysia-based DRB-Hicom.
In 2015 it was purchased by a Russian consortium called The Elite Group led by Eugene Kravchenko (through his investment company Eco Racing Initiatives) and Nikolay Smolensky (through his investment company Allok Autosports). It is still headquartered in Leafield Oxfordshire.
Chater Lea
The Chater Lea is a luxury car brand based in England that is perhaps most well known for its high-end sports cars.
While most of its products have been manufactured exclusively in England, some have also been assembled in Germany as well.
In addition to building cars, Chater Lea has also created other related products and services, including home electronics devices and a line of golf accessories.
The company was founded by Basil Staunton and Kevin Leach in 1993 with just $75,000 but now employs more than 2,000 workers from various countries around the world.
Ginetta
The London-based automaker was founded in 1958. Since then, it has become one of England’s premier sports car companies, building both open and closed sports cars.
One of its most famous models is a lightweight prototype called The Gullwing that features an aluminum space frame construction and a Porsche 911 engine with four valves per cylinder.
The company received financial support from Noble Automotive to get it through 2014.
Don’t worry if you’re not familiar with Ginetta; few people are! What makes them unique, however, is that they make high-quality sports cars at incredibly low prices.
It’s just one example of how English car manufacturers tend to be understated but bring big value to consumers all over the world!
Jaguar
A staple in British car manufacturing, Jaguar sells itself with an old-school, English luxury feel.
Historically noted for its grand touring and racing pedigree, Jaguar today remains both a performance marque and a well-respected luxury brand.
It’s also one of only a few remaining brands to have maintained production in England since pre-World War II.
The first car to carry a Jaguar badge was produced in 1935, but it wasn’t until 2000 that Ford sold control of what had become its premier luxury brand back to a group of shareholders who believed they could revive it—and they were right.
Today, Jaguar is on track to be profitable by 2013 and sells more than 120,000 vehicles annually worldwide.
James & Browne
For those who appreciate a classic car with some old-school charm, James & Browne was one of England’s oldest and most respected carriage manufacturers.
The company started out as James Hanbury & Co. in 1795 and eventually earned a royal warrant from Queen Victoria (who used their carriages). They went on to become one of England’s leading car makers but sadly fell into decline during World War II.
Today they are still revered for their high-quality automobiles, including The Leacock—an English sports car with a 3L 6-cylinder engine that hit speeds up to 100 miles per hour in 1938.
Land Rover
Since 1948, Land Rover has been building rugged and dependable SUVs that are known for going anywhere.
For example, models like Defender (1983-present) were built with such a strong chassis they were nicknamed The Indestructible.
Furthermore, models like Range Rover (1970-present) are known for their incredible off-road performance and luxury features; making them an obvious favorite among celebrities.
Speaking of which, let’s not forget luxurious makes like Aston Martin (1947-present), Jaguar (1934-present), Bentley (1903-present), Rolls Royce (1884-present), and Maserati. In short, England has produced a diverse list of iconic car brands.
Lotus Cars
Not only is Lotus one of England’s oldest car brands, it’s also one of its most recognized.
Founded in 1952 by Anthony Colin Bruce Chapman, who also founded race-car manufacturer Caterham, Lotus continues to use a fiberglass monocoque design for all its cars.
This process dates back to Chapman’s aviation days and allows for light construction without sacrificing structural integrity.
The company makes both sports cars and supercars with engines ranging from 1.6L to 6.0L V8 units (depending on the model).
All models are available as either a coupe or convertible; some have optional rear-wheel drive while others offer full four-wheel drive.
McLaren
It’s very difficult to condense a list like this down to just five brands but I think it’s important to represent all corners of England.
So that means no Land Rover, no Bentley, and sadly no Aston Martin either. But what do you know! It’s McLaren.
McLaren was founded in 1963 by New Zealander Bruce McLaren who wanted to create a world-class sports car company – and boy did he succeed.
After stints with Cooper and BRM, Bruce founded his own Formula One team in 1966 before being killed in 1970 while testing his Can-Am car at Goodwood Circuit when he lost control at high speed due to the failure of his rear wing mounting.
Morgan Motor Company
James Morgan founded The Morgan Motor Company in 1910, selling his first three-wheeler a year later. In 1913, he produced his first four-wheel car and began selling it to civilians soon after.
Since then, The Morgan Motor Company has grown into one of England’s leading sports cars and is responsible for producing some of Britain’s finest (and fastest) automobiles.
Here are a few stats about what many consider to be Britain’s finest made
MG Rover Group
Once a part of one of Britain’s top auto manufacturers, MG Rover Group (which is now defunct) once produced iconic cars like Minis and Rovers. Once its assets were sold, production ceased in 2005.
But don’t let that stop you from enjoying some British-made car brands.
For instance, Aston Martin still makes sports cars at its UK factory as does Jaguar Land Rover which has created a lot of other offshoots to replace names it dropped when it acquired much larger Ford Motor Company (one being Land Rover).
Porsche also has plants in England and their famed 911 line still gets made there too.
MINI
If you’re looking for an inexpensive sports car, there are plenty to choose from. From classic convertible British sports cars to modern iterations on a theme, here are some great British sports cars that won’t break your bank.
MINI has been churning out quality sporty models for decades now and continues to do so with their most recent incarnation: The F56 MINI. If you prefer your classic convertibles, check out Jaguar’s E-Type and Daimler’s SLR McLaren.
Rolls-Royce Motors
Headquartered in Goodwood, West Sussex, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited is a manufacturer of luxury automobiles and motoring accessories.
The company was founded by Henry Royce on 15 March 1906 as a result of his previous collaboration with Charles Rolls.
In 1998, Vickers plc acquired Rolls-Royce Motors. It sold it to BMW AG in September 2003, which retained ownership of Rolls-Royce Limited until it divested its interest in 2011.
The company name was changed to Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited in 2003 after BMW’s sale.
Its manufacturing headquarters are near Derby, England, where it conducts final assembly; a single-car marque established under BMW ownership is Mulsanne Roveries.
TVR (Talladega Supersport) (AMC owned)
If you want a British car that has iconic status, there’s nothing better than a TVR. The company was founded in 1947 and is still going strong today, making it one of Britain’s oldest brands.
It all started when Trevor Wilkinson took his passion for American V8 muscle cars and put it into practice by building an English machine to compete with them.
TVRs are known for their high-revving V8 engines, carbon fiber body panels, cramped cockpits, and wild styling; they look like they come from another planet!
While most models didn’t last long on production lines—the brand stopped making cars in 2006—the TVR name lives on with new versions under Chinese ownership since 2013.
What Is The Small British Car?
The British car manufacturing industry is quite small compared to many other major car brands. Despite that, it’s not hard to find a big number of top-quality and really expensive models if you look for them.
But what about those on a budget? Which UK cars are affordable but still fun to drive? Here’s our list of 10 Best Small UK Cars You Can Buy in 2022: What Is The Small British Car?
There are no two ways about it: the best small British car can be considered as one with an extremely high price tag.
So then how does one define such a vehicle? If we could ask Lord March (who knows everything there is to know about racing) then he would tell us that small means a power-to-weight ratio.
What Brand Of Cars Are British?
British-made sports cars, Best car brands in the UK, Uk car brands list, English car names… or maybe you’re wondering: What Brand Of Cars Are British? You’ve come to the right place. Here you’ll find out which automobile manufacturers are based in Great Britain.
The United Kingdom is home to a number of popular luxury and sports car brands like Aston Martin, Bentley, and Jaguar.
If you’re wondering what brand of cars are made in Britain there’s plenty more information on our site.
It turns out that England is also where Rolls Royce was founded back in 1904 so we have all you need to know about Rolls Royce vehicles here too!
There’s even a list of top UK car brands if you want something more current!
Are Any Cars Made in the UK?
The automobile industry in Britain is dominated by foreign-owned companies that build their cars overseas.
According to Wikipedia, the United Kingdom has a vibrant automotive industry and is well placed internationally in terms of competitiveness and innovation.
Unlike American car brands, there are no major UK-based automakers on our list—but there are plenty of venerable old names that have been building cars since before we were a country.
Many British auto brands have failed over time: some have been absorbed by other companies while others simply stopped producing vehicles after becoming obsolete.
Here’s a comprehensive list of all 16 British car brands still operating today.
What Cars Are Built in Britain?
Due to new trade agreements between Britain and France, it’s become easier for French car companies to build cars in England.
Historically, however, there have been a number of notable brands that have produced vehicles right here on English soil.
If you’re considering buying a British automobile brand, or are just interested in learning more about these vehicles, we’ve compiled a list of five famous UK car brands.
Before we dive into our comprehensive list of UK auto manufacturers below, check out how these brands measure up on a global scale: Britain: The World’s 10th Largest Automobile Market Many assume that Britain is not home to any automobile manufacturers at all.
What is The Best British Car?
There’s no denying that Britain has a rich automotive history, producing some of the world’s most beloved cars and contributing to many areas of design and technology.
Some say it all started with Sir Henry Royce and his desire to produce high-quality motor vehicles.
Since then, Britain has produced more than its fair share of top-notch automobiles.
But what are some of your favorites? If you had to pick one or two iconic car brands from Great Britain, which would they be? Let’s take a look at some top picks below.
How Many British Car companies Are There?
Since World War II, England has been home to a number of automakers that have produced a variety of vehicles for many different car markets.
Some brands are still in operation today; others have stopped production for decades. But all contributed to what we now consider British car brands.
Read on for an overview and directory listing of those companies. I have also included links to additional information about each brand, where available.
Keep in mind that much of what’s here is based on my own research and interpretation – so if you happen to know differently about any company or car model, please let me know via our contact form at the bottom right!
Summary:
There is no denying that Britain has a rich history when it comes to manufacturing vehicles. Though most UK car manufacturers have disappeared over time, there are some who have survived and continue to produce cars today. This list will take you through some of these brands and make you look at where they are today. Enjoy!
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