Friday Fun Thread: Rule Britannia...

So last week was German cars, this week it's British offerings. I was surprised how easy this list was to put together - Remember that Great Britain is home to Lucas Electrics, the reason they drink Guinness warm...

So here's my Top Ten List of British automobiles:

1. Rolls Royce Silver Cloud. Really, anything offered up by Rolls Royce should make the list, but the Silver Cloud is the quintessential luxury car. From the "Spirit of Ecstasy" hood ornament to the hinged hood, the Silver Cloud cemented Rolls Royce's reputation as the ne plus ultra in luxury automobiles.

2. Bentley Azure. Oh, sure, it's 0-60 time of 6.1 seconds is downright lethargic by present-day standards. But when you consider the sheer mass of car - including the real wood dashboard and full leather interior - it's downright astounding.

3. XKE Jaguar. From "Deadman's Curve" to "Harold and Maude", Jaguar's answer to the Corvette was as much a media star as a track star. The distinctive styling and foreign appeal made it an instant hit here in the states, where folks looking for an alternative to the Chrome Roamers and lead sleds were eager for this exotic.

4. Morris Minor-Mini. To borrow a phrase from Dave Barry, a car so small it was routinely stolen by squirrels. It's been done in car, truck, SUV, and rally forms. In Cooper S guise it won the Monte Carlo rally four times in the 1960s alone.

5. Aston Martin DB5. James Bond's car. 'nuff said? Even without the machine guns, ejector seat, and bulletproof rear plate, the DB5 holds a storied place in the automotive world. Replacing the DB4, the DB5 brought a newer, larger motor, a five-speed transmission, and a triple carb to the picture.

6. Morris Garage Model A (MGA). This is one of those models where the aesthetics trump the actual function. It was a radical departure for the folks at MG, with the low, swooping lines replacing the angular T-type models.

7. Lotus Esprit. Another Bond car, albeit from the {shudder} Roger Moore years. Also hit it big in "Pretty Woman". The supercharged, intercooler four cylinder engine was pushed to achieve over 300 HP from the factory.

8. Triumph TR8. Triumph is a funny company. They started out making motorcycles, got into the car business, then folded the car business and went back to making motorcycles. Kind of a more successful Suzuki, actually. The TR8, even with the eight cylinder motor, offered less than 150 HP and 0-60 times that are eclipsed by minivans today. But it looks nice.

9. XJS Jaguar. The XJS (V12) Jag coupe is one of the rare exceptions to the rule that the convertible is better-looking than the coupe IMHO. There's just something about that styling that's understated, yet distinctive all at the same time.

10. Morris Garage Model B (MGB). This is a nostalgic favorite, as I had a friend in high school who was crazy about MGs, owning several models and even racing one in amateur autocross. One of the most frightening moments of my life came in one of Derek's MGs - we took a sharp corner at high speed and I looked over the door sill to see that my side of the car was actually off the ground...

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Thus concludes the offerings from (formerly) Great Britain. Luxury cars, stylish roadsters, and screamin' sports cars - who could ask for more? From Rolls Royce to Lotus to Aston Martin, British cars have fascinated the American public from the post WWII era on.

What other British cars should have made the cut?

That is all.