Most automotive historians will agree these are among, if not the 10 best classic British sports cars. Further, it is almost universally agreed British sports cars are largely responsible for spreading sports car fever here in the United States. As the legend goes, many of the GIs returning from World War II had become particularly enamored with the agility of the small open roadsters to which they were introduced during their time on the European continent.
When the war ended, many of those guys arranged to bring examples of the cars home with them. Those who didn’t (or couldn’t); fondly recalled the unique experience of driving them. Consequently, demand for open two-seaters eventually reached something of a groundswell here in America.
Keep in mind, most of these were just regular, wage earning guys, and when it came to European sports cars, the most affordable ones were all made in England. Thus it can be said the British sports car was responsible for the explosion in interest in this type of car here in the States.
What follows is our list of the 10 best classic British sports cars—ones the GIs might have bought and drove. By the way, for the purposes of this list, we’re defining classic as any model introduced before 1970.