Ford’s reputation for creating affordable performance machinery was cemented in 1992 with the famous Escort RS Cosworth, following on from the similarly iconic Sierra Cosworth.

Faithfully following Lotus founder Colin Chapman’s philosophy of ‘simplify and add lightness,’ the 1957 Lotus 7 embodied the lightweight performance ethos that put British sports cars on the map. 

The 1962 Reliant’s fame is largely down to a starring role as Del Boy’s company car in ‘Only Fools and Horses’ and as Rowan Atkinson’s automotive nemesis in ‘Mr. Bean’.  

The secret of the E-Type’s success was in its value. Launched in 1961 it had the performance and touring credentials of contemporary Ferraris and Aston Martins, but cost around a third of the price. 

The fastest ever production road car for many years, the no-compromise 1998 McLaren F1 was the first ever carbon-fibre bodied car famously with an engine bay lined with gold leaf to deflect heat from its engine.  

From humble beginnings as a utilitarian mud-plugger in 1970, the Range Rover has evolved into a symbol of ultimate luxury, favoured by everyone from royalty to rappers. 

Launched in 1970, Britain’s answer to the class-dominating Mercedes SL, the convertible Triumph Stag’s performance and styling by Michelotti earned it a sizeable following in the UK. 

Dubbed ‘the most famous car in the world’, thanks to its link to James Bond, the 1963 DB5 put Aston Martin on the map as the maker of the definitive GT car. 

Sir Alec Issigonis’s miracle of front-wheel-drive packaging launched in 1959 has been the template for nearly every compact road car since. 

The AC Cobra was created in 1962 when US automotive legend Carroll Shelby approached British based automotive manufacturer AC, requesting it build a race car around Ford’s V8 engine.