Weekend Roadster Classic - Part 2
The British influence on the two-seater sports car
With over a hundred years of constant innovation and technological advancement, the British have left an enormous mark in the way we create, drive and perceive automobiles. One of the vehicle classes heavily influenced by British car manufacturers is two-seater sports cars.
As a nation of convertible car lovers, they didn't let wind, rain, or freezing temperatures deter them from buying cars without roofs. This dogged commitment in the face of the weather made Britain the undisputed king of classic convertible sports cars.
Here are some more famous British roadsters that you might consider a Weekend Roadster.
Jaguar E-Type
You can't talk about British Classic Roadsters without making mention of the Jaguar E-Type. Launch at the Geneva Motor Show in 1961, it stole the show, with Enzo Ferrari describing the new Jaguar as the most beautiful car in the world.
In its early design, the Jaguar E-Type took its styling from the D-Type Le Mans racers. However, the E1A prototype of 1957 is where the E-Type's takes shape. The Malcolm Sayer styled E1A was smaller than the final production E-Type and had a 2.4-litre engine, showcasing the new independent rear suspension design. Subsequent prototypes refined the E-Type's shape and dimensions, and the car grew larger to accommodate the American market.
Jaguar continued to develop the E-Type road car by fitting the larger 4.2-litre engine in 1964. When the Series 3 was introduced in 1971, it had a 5.3-litre V12 engine, updated brakes and standard power steering.
Jaguar built some E-Types as a coupe and 2+2 cars, and though these models weren't exactly roadsters, the convertible version is the most numerous of the E-types, with almost 34,000 produced across all generations.Â
With its stylish lines and racing pedigree, it is no wonder that the Jaguar E-Type is often considered one of the greatest sports cars of all time.
AR Online | Jaguar E-type: the sports car that changed the world
Triumph TR3
The Triumph TR3 was a British roadster produced between 1955 and 1962 by the Standard-Triumph Motor Company. The TR3 is an evolution of the earlier TR2 model, with greater power and improved braking.Â
Well known for its performance, powered by a 1,991cc inline four-cylinder producing a dynamic 100 horsepower, the TR3 was better suited to the road than the TR2 in replaced due to its added power and standard front disc brakes. The added performance gave this car the edge, and it was far quicker than a comparable MG MGA.Â
The TR3 was one of Triumph's most successful models, winning races, rallies and the adoration of the enthusiast road-going market.
Classic Cars Journal | Pick of the Day: 1961 Triumph TR3A, a quintessential British sports car
Triumph TR4
The TR3 was succeeded by the Michelotti-styled, mechanically similar Triumph TR4. Built between 1961 and 1965, the new TR4 body style did away with the cutaway door design of the previous TRs to allow for wind-down windows in place of less convenient side curtains. The angular rear allowed a boot with considerable capacity for a sports car.
The TR4 was optioned with a unique hard top design that consisted of a fixed glass rear window with an integral rollbar and a detachable steel centre panel. This was the first such roof system on a production car, which preceded the Porsche 911 Targa by five years, and is now commonplace on the Mazda MX-5 RF.
The Triumph TR5, built between 1967 and 1968, was a worthy successor to the TR4, maintaining the Michelotti styling, but Triumph replaced the inline four-cylinder motor with a much more powerful 2.5-litre straight-6.
Classics World | Triumph TR4/TR4A Buyer's Guide
Triumph TR6
By the time the Triumph TR6 was launched in 1969, the Triumph sports car range had grown and become much more sophisticated than its predecessors. German coachbuilder Karmann was tasked with updating Michelotti's attractive TR4/5 styling, employing a wider grille and Kamm tail for a lower, more modern look. However, the TR6 retained the straight-six engine used in the previous TR5/TR250 models, with mechanical fuel injection in the UK market.Â
After being acquired by Leyland Motors in 1960, the Triumph brand declined over the next twenty years, and the TR6 was considered the last 'proper' Triumph and one of the last of the traditional British sports cars.
Hemmings | A sports car classic turns 50: Remembering Triumph's TR6
Lotus 7/Caterham 7
In 1957, Lotus launched the Colin Chapman designed Lotus 7, a small, simple, lightweight two-seater roadster. The original Lotus 7 was highly successful due to its attraction as a road-legal car that could be used for clubman racing.
In 1972 Lotus struck a deal to allow Caterham to continue building the 7. Caterham has continued to develop the 7 from its basic roots, trying out wider bodies, powerful forced-induction engines and more sophisticated suspension. Today, Caterham continue the manufacture of the 7, and you can still identify the lightweight design features that made the 7 so famous when it was released over sixty years ago.
Hot Cars | A Look Back At The Lotus Seven Roadster
Lotus Elan
In 1962, the Lotus Elan was developed as a two-seat roadster with a fibreglass body mounted onto a steel backbone. Designer, Colin Chapman, called this a "Fold on the dotted line" steel chassis. This type of construction strengthened the load-bearing structure of the car to support the engine and suspension components. In addition, the lightweight bodyshell fitted to the rugged steel backbone chassis enhanced overall performance while it optimizes the car's handling attributes.
The Lotus Elan was perfect for the enthusiast who wanted to be in total control of his car with precise handling and blistering performance. As a result, the Elan became Lotus Cars' first commercial success and the inspiration for the design of the Mazda MX-5 in the 1980s.
Lotus Marques | Lotus Elan History
Early British sports cars were built with a keen focus on handling, top speed, and driving fun. Not always loved for their reliability, the post-war British roadsters have set the standard for lightweight two-seater roadsters available today.