In the 1970s, during the height of the oil crisis, a new breed of performance car was introduced to consumers in order to satiate their need for power and speed. The small cars from Japan like the Datsun 240Z and Toyota Celica were popular choices, but many American drivers wanted something with more presence. Something with a big V8 engine and room for four adults and their luggage.
The demand for more fuel efficient cars was so great that automakers turned to some old designs that were sitting in their catalogues. Car companies had been trying to sell these retro-styled cars since the 1950s, but they never caught on because people preferred modern designs. Now, however, people needed something affordable that got good gas mileage, so they turned back to the tried-and-true British sports car for their new performance car.
In the 1980s, British sports cars were some of the most popular cars on the road. Their retro-styled lines, smooth ride, and power-to-weight ratio made them a great choice for both performance and fuel efficiency.
Although these British cars had been out of production for decades, they were just what people wanted. Today, people who grew up in the 1980s are looking back to their childhood and remembering the British sports cars that they had as kids. Some have decided to restore their old car or buy a new one to relive their youth. They can even go on a nostalgia tour with a new British car club. These tours let you drive an old classic from place to place with other people who love the same type of car as you do.
The British sports cars of the 1980s are not only great for driving but also make great collectibles. Many have been restored to their original condition and sold at auction for hundreds of thousands of dollars each! They are also fun to customize because there is so much space inside them that it makes room for all sorts of accessories.
British Cars of the 1980s
Austin Healey Sprite MKIII
The Austin Healey Sprite was a popular British sports car in the 1960s. It had a small 1.3-liter engine that produced just over 60 horsepower, but it could reach speeds of over 100 miles per hour! The car’s open top and small size made it a popular choice for people who wanted to enjoy the open road without getting too hot or too cold. It was also relatively inexpensive and easy to maintain, which made it an affordable car for young people with jobs. Unfortunately, production stopped in 1971 when the factory closed down.
By the 1980s, Austin Healey Sprites were becoming collectibles and prices were increasing rapidly. People began to search for ways to make their cars unique so they could stand out from the crowd at car shows. This led to many Austin Healey owners converting their cars into convertibles by cutting off the roof! Many people also added upgrades like new interiors and electronic ignition systems so they could enjoy their cars for longer.
In 1984, the company Austin Healey began making cars again and offered a special edition of the Sprite called the Sprite MKIII. This car had many improvements over the old model, including an increased engine size of 1.6 liters and four-wheel disc brakes. It also had a convertible roof and more storage space in the trunk. However, this model was discontinued in 1986 after just three years on the market.
Bentley Mulsanne
The Bentley Mulsanne was a luxury car that was made by Bentley Motors Limited in Crewe, England from 1982 to 1994. It was an updated version of the previous generation Bentley Mulsanne, which was produced from 1971 to 1981. The original Mulsanne was a luxury car that could seat five people and had a top speed of 125 miles per hour! It also had more horsepower than most sports cars with its 4,887 cc V8 engine that produced almost 300 horsepower! The Mulsanne sold well until 1982 when production stopped because it cost too much to make compared to its competitors like Mercedes-Benz and Rolls Royce.
When Bentley Motors Limited re-released the Mulsanne in 1982, they were careful to make it cheaper to produce. They replaced the large V8 engine with a V8 engine that had only 3,982 cc and produced less horsepower. However, the car was still quite expensive, so only a few were sold. The Mulsanne was discontinued in 1994 after just 13 years on the market.
Aston Martin Lagonda
The Aston Martin Lagonda was a luxury car that was made by Aston Martin Lagonda Limited in Newport Pagnell, England from 1976 to 1990. It was an updated version of the previous generation Aston Martin Lagonda, which was produced from 1971 to 1976. The original Lagonda had a front-mounted V8 engine that produced 255 horsepower and could reach speeds of up to 150 miles per hour! It also had the world’s first automatic air conditioning system and electronic instrument panel. Unfortunately, it cost too much to make and sold poorly. Production stopped in 1976 when the factory closed down.
When Aston Martin Lagonda Limited re-released the Lagonda in 1976, they made many improvements including better brakes and larger tires. They also added an automatic transmission and a five-speed manual transmission so customers could choose between them. This helped sales improve dramatically, and the company sold over 2,000 cars between 1977 and 1990! However, this model was discontinued after just 10 years on the market due to poor sales caused by high production costs.
Rolls Royce Silver Shadow
The Rolls Royce Silver Shadow was a popular British luxury car in the 1970s and 1980s. It was sold for $38,000 when it first came out, which was expensive even by Rolls Royce standards. However, it became popular among wealthy celebrities like Elvis Presley and John Lennon. Elvis even owned two of them!
The car had a 5.3-liter V8 engine that produced 170 horsepower. It could reach speeds of up to 130 miles per hour, which made it a popular choice for racing enthusiasts. It also had some advanced features like power steering and an electronic fuel injection system. However, many people complained that the fuel injection system didn’t work very well, which led to many breakdowns and accidents on the road.
The Silver Shadow was replaced by the Silver Spirit in 1983 after eight years on the market. This new model had more powerful brakes and improved suspension systems that made it much safer to drive than its predecessor.
