A four seater convertible with Italian style and a V8 engine. Sold between 1970 and 1978 as a luxury sports car to compete with Mercedes Benz S Class. The Stag was a huge success when launched in the UK where it now enjoys cult status but never cracked the US market that it was originally targeted at
Fresh air motoring for the whole family provided by the Rootes Group in the early 60s. With styling cues from Studebaker, the Rapier cut quite a dash with two tone paint, plenty of chrome and pronounced rear fins. The Rapier sold well in both saloon and convertible form (both of which you can see at the Great British Car Journey) and competed with distinction in rallies like the Monte Carlo.
Rolls Royce is historically the world’s most famous luxury car brand. We have both a Silver Spirit and Silver Shadow at the great British car Journey as well as other luxury cars like Bentleys and Daimlers. This Silver Spirit is unmistakably a Rolls-Royce both inside and out. Effortlessly eating up the road with a cabin full of leather and varnished wood, this car has a presence and pedigree beyond doubt.
Perhaps the best remembered of the Hillman cars the Imp ws built in a new Scottish factory, the Imp was Rootes’ attempt to take on the Mini. Poor build quality and early unreliability took its toll and although it is fondly remembered by many, it only achieved 10% of the Mini’s sales figures.
Often unfairly criticised as not being as striking as the E type, the XJS is in fact the best selling car Jaguar has ever made. Whether in Six cylinder or V12 form, coupe or convertible, the XJS offered distinctive style and effortless cruising in a very British form.
Having produced generations of worthy but staid cars. Rover broke the mould with the sharp P6 particularly in V8 form. The SD1 would continue the revolution.
We also have the Rover 800, Rover P4 and 216 featured in the Car Journey
It is 75 years (in 2023) since Sir William Morris reluctantly launched the Minor, which he rather dismissively called the “poached egg” at the 1948 British Motor Show There are plenty of Minors at Great British Car Journey including a lovely low -light convertible, a 1956 saloon with less than 7,000 miles on the clock, a genuine Minor “Million” and of course an early Traveller. You can even drive a convertible and our second “Minor Million”
Designed by a genius called Alec Issigonis, (who also designed the Morris Minor) the most successful British Car of all time. Launched in 1959 and still in production 40 years later. Originally sold as the Austin Seven Mini but also branded Morris Mini Minor before reverting to just plain Mini in 1969. 30 years after it was launched , the Mini was still selling well despite the success of the Metro. A few tweaks to the styling to modernise ir but pretty much the same little car
We have both the MK1 and MK2 Minis but we have lots of other Minis too at the Great British Car Journey from Mini Coopers to Clubman to Travellers to other Special editions.
In 1984 & 1985 the new Front Wheel Drive Cavalier MK2 outsold the Ford Sierra for the first time. it was always a strong seller and was another piece of essential street furniture for decades despite losing ground to the Sierra and its successor the Mondeo in later years.
The first post-war small car from Vauxhall, the Viva firmly established Luton’s credentials as a producer of good value small family cars when it was launched in 1963. The Viva went through two facelifts from the original HA version before being replaced by the hatchback Chevette.
A very clever hard top version of the Much-loved MGB. The V8 was a truly fast car but it needed more styling oomph to distinguish it from the standard version.
A true child of the 70s with a futuristic wedge shape and a slightly crazy interior. Advertised as “the shape of things to come” it was designed by Harris Mann who also designed the wedge-shaped Princess. More than 100,000 were produced between 1975 & 1982
Out with the Chevette and in with the Astra. Crisp styling and a new OHC engine. The Astra was destined for a very long production run …but not in the mark one guise. Vauxhall’s rival to Ford’s best selling Escort was launched in 1980 and is still being made today but sadly not in the UK
For more than 40 years it has been a much loved car, popular with Mums , Dads and growing families. Mk1 and 2 Astras are now a rare sight but of course like Chevettes, Vivas and Victors, they can all be seen at the Great British Car Journey
Launched in 1980 as the Austin Mini Metro with great fanfare as the successor to the Mini, the Metro was a clever reskin of its smaller brother which took the fight to the Fiesta in the increasingly popular “super mini” category Over 2 million were sold before its withdrawal in 1998.
It may not have been the fastest sports car of the 60s and 70s but the MGB provided truly lovely wind in the hair motoring with style, brio and a decent turn of speed.
The replacement for the Cortina divided opinion initially with its jelly-mould styling but soon became a firm favourite with sales executives all over the country. The Sierra and the Cavalier battled it out for over a decade for that lucrative company car market.
Tamwoth based Reliant became the butt of many a joke with their three wheelers but they provided reliable transport for generations of owners including Derek Trotter
The subject of the first Chapter of The Great British Car Journey : there are numerous examples of Austin’s iconic little car on display, from “ordinary” saloons to Swallows and Sports. There is even a Ruby on our Drive Dads Car fleet so you can sample how the family travelled in the 1930s. The little car built in Birmingham which changed the world.
Fiesta production has finally ceased after nearly half a century of production. More than 20 million have been made and the early cars are now extremely sought after. Building on the success of the Escort and the trend for smaller cars the Fiesta became one of the UK’s best selling cars of all time. We have several Fiesta at the Great British Car Journey from this sporty XR2 to a Cabriolet and the very popular MK3
From the launch of the MK1 in 1967 the Escort was a top selling car for Ford. The Mk3 and subsequent Escorts really dominated the sales charts in the UK. This truly was the front wheel drive car that set the standard for Vauxhall and BL to follow. Ford were on a roll which would last until the next Millenium. Of course there are several different Escorts at Great British Car Journey both to admire and drive.
Great British Car Journey
Derwent Works
Ambergate
Derbyshire DE56 2HE
