Most people agree that the Italians make the most beautiful European cars. However, the Brits may argue otherwise, as they've also produced gorgeous cars like the legendary Jaguar E-Type, the McLaren P1, and almost every Aston Martin model ever made.
However, while British automakers have proven many times that they can create beautiful cars, we all know too well that many of these cars have other issues that gearheads may want to avoid. There are many British cars that look stunning but are slow, unreliable, hard to drive, or have other intolerable problems. Let's explore ten of them.
10 Aston Martin DB7
When Ford acquired Aston Martin in the '90s, its first goal was to build a new entry-level model to appeal to more people and make the brand profitable again. That's how the DB7 came to be.
Although the DB7 was a lot more affordable than any other Aston built before it, it still had the beauty the brand is commonly associated with and a powerful V12 engine. The only reason we don't recommend buying this car today is that it can be costly to maintain the V12 engine. It's no surprise that the DB7 is among the cheapest V12-powered sports cars you can buy today.
9 Jaguar F-Type
The Jaguar E-Type is easily one of the top three British sports cars of all time. However, its spiritual successor, the F-Type, wouldn't even be mentioned in the same sentence as the icon as it is terrible.
The F-Type debuted in 2013 and was based on a shortened version of the XK's platform. The reason we wouldn't recommend buying the F-Type is that it has many reliability issues and can be boring to drive if you don't have the top-of-the-range SVR version.
8 Noble M600
Noble Automotive has built several awesome sports cars over the years, but none are as revered as the M600. The M600 debuted in the 2000s and impressed many with its supercar-worthy design, lightweight carbon-fiber construction, and power.
Equipped with a massive twin-turbo V8 blurting out 650 ponies and 604 lb-ft of torque, the M600 could hit a top speed of 225 mph. Despite being so fast, the M600 didn't have important driving aids like electronic stability control and ABS, making it a bit sketchy, to say the least.
7 AC Ace
AC Cars have been quiet for a long time, but gearheads will always remember it for building the AC Ace. The AC Ace is not that great on its own, but its body was used to build one of the most iconic American sports cars ever; the Shelby Cobra.
However, unlike the Shelby Cobra, which was powered by a mighty V8 engine tuned by the legendary Carroll Shelby, the AC Ace only had a 2.0-liter straight-six producing less than 100 hp.
6 MG Midget
The Midget might have one of the worst model names we've ever heard, but no one can deny its beauty. The Midget was conceived at a time when British automakers knew how to design beautiful roadsters.
Sadly, the Midget lacked the power to match its looks. Equipped with a tiny four-cylinder engine making a woeful 65 hp, the Midget took almost 20 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph.
5 TVR Sagaris
TVR doesn't get the same respect as McLaren, Aston Martin, or Jaguar, but it has built several amazing sports cars over the years. The 2005 Sagaris is one such car. Its combination of beauty and power earned it many fans. In fact, the Sagaris was so impressive that Jeremy Clarkson said it was the best TVR ever made.
The main reason why the Sagaris appears on this list is that it can be dangerous to drive. Since it lacks important safety technologies like ABS, traction control, and even airbags, you probably don't want to drive it. Oh, and there's also the infamous TVR reliability — or lack thereof.
4 Morgan Plus Four
Morgan is still building vehicles today, but it's impossible to tell by looking at its lineup. That's because Morgan cars look like they were built about a century ago. The Plus Four, which debuted in 2020, is no different.
Like other Morgans, the Plus Four has a vintage design and is built on a wooden frame. Although the Plus Four has a turbocharged inline-four engine making 255 hp, it only has a top speed of 118 mph, which is pretty slow for a car that costs $70,000.
3 Jensen Healey
Jensen is best-known for making the Interceptor in the late '60s. However, the company built many other models before going out of business, one of which is the Healey. The Healey was a huge success for Jensen in the '70s, as it became the best-selling Jensen model of all time.
The main reason why buyers loved the Healey was its beautiful convertible design. However, like many British sports cars produced at the time, the Healey wasn't quick, as it was powered by a small four-cylinder engine.
2 Lotus Elan M100
The first Lotus Elan is easily one of the greatest classic British sports cars of the '60s. However, the same cannot be said for its successor, the Elan M100. The Elan M100 debuted in 1990 and was supposed to compete with the popular Mazda MX-5 Miata.
However, the Elan M100 failed miserably. Unlike the rear-wheel-drive Elan, the Elan M100 used a front-wheel-drive layout that purists hated.
1 Triumph Spitfire
The Spitfire arguably has the best model name of all classic British sports cars. Introduced in the '60s, the Spitfire is a front-engined RWD convertible that Triumph built in honor of the Spitfire fighter plane from WWII.
Every gearhead expects a car called the 'Spitfire' to be pretty fast, but the Spitfire didn't live up to such expectations. During its 18-year production run, the Spitfire never made more than 100 hp.