Five brilliant cars built by rubbish ’70s Britain

Step aside Allegro: these motors were all class

British cars became a running joke in the ‘70s, thanks to a trend of patchy reliability and shonky build quality.

It didn’t help that the motoring industry seemed unable to manufacture cars in big numbers – between strikes – nor match the ingenuity and class of the European opposition.

Look beyond easy targets such as the Allegro and the Marina, though, and you’ll find this was something of a golden age.

The brave inventiveness and engineering talent of the time produced some British world-beaters – and many remain among the best-value classic buys of today.

1. Jaguar XJ-S (1975–’81)

The XJ-S was the most refined grand touring car in the world in the late-’70s, routinely compared with Lamborghinis and Ferraris – which were usually found wanting in comparison.

1. Jaguar XJ-S (1975–’81) (cont.)

The German opposition, meanwhile, couldn't get close to the Jaguar's silky driving appeal or effortless urge: the 150mph XJ-S was powered by the world's only mass-production V12 engine.

1. Jaguar XJ-S (1975–’81) (cont.)

While collectors have since woken up to the car's appeal as a ’70s glamour machine with truly distinctive looks, the XJ-S still remains relatively cheap for what it offers.

The model received a new engine and became the XJ-S HE in 1981, and pre-HE cars are now getting rare. Even so, they still seldom cost more than £20,000.

2. Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow (1965–’80)

The greatest of all the Rolls-Royce Shadows was a victim of its own success: the plethora of Silver Shadows now working as sad old wedding cars tends to obscure the fact that these grand saloons were superbly engineered and finished.

2. Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow (1965–’80) (cont.)

Sure, some rivals were faster, some were even quieter and there is no doubt several big cars handled better, but none did it all with such graceful aplomb as the Silver Shadow, with its whisper-quiet, under-stressed V8.

2. Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow (1965–’80) (cont.)

Today, a sorted example is a delight to drive – but there are many pitfalls for the unwary and a huge number of cars to choose from between £4000 and £15,000-plus.

3. Reliant Scimitar GTE (1968-’75)

Trend-setting and much-desired in the ’70s, the Reliant Scimitar GTE still has a lot going for it – including reliable Ford V6 running gear for nifty performance and easy servicing.

3. Reliant Scimitar GTE (1968-’75) (cont.)

The body still has a refreshing elegance about it that no other sports estate has ever quite matched – although the glassfibre construction is something of a double-edged sword. Sure, it’ll never rust, but it’s also inescapably linked to the Reliant Robin.

3. Reliant Scimitar GTE (1968-’75) (cont.)

Cheap-to-buy Scimitars have always invited 'improvements' in the form of silly wheels and the like – encouraging the general view that the GTE was really just a jumped-up kit car.

Regardless, they remain cool things if you can find one in a nice bright ’70s colour with all the right bits. Look to pay no more than £10,000 tops, and possibly as little as two grand.

4. Rover 3500 SD1 (1976-’81)

With decent build quality, the SD1 would likely have been the saviour of the floundering Leyland combine: powerful and high-geared, it delivered performance and chassis behaviour to match the best of Europe in the hotly contested executive saloon sector.

4. Rover 3500 SD1 (1976-’81) (cont.)

These V8 hatchbacks were cunningly simple, but dramatically styled. They also came well equipped, with excellent five-speed transmissions and, importantly, they were very safe in a crash – which can’t be said of every ‘70s saloon.

4. Rover 3500 SD1 (1976-’81) (cont.)

Spoilers and wood trim slightly spoilt the purity of the original design after 1981, but the ’70s era SD1s look more dramatic with the passing of every year. They're quite rare now, but they offer a lot of car for five or six grand.

5. Aston Martin Lagonda (1976-’85)

Only in the world of Aston Martins could a sub-£100,000 model be considered a bargain – but given that its futuristic origami styling is certain to capture imaginations in decades to come, now is probably the time to grab a late-’70s Lagonda.

5. Aston Martin Lagonda (1976-’85) (cont.)

A little more than 600 were built through to the early ’90s, which was enough to save Aston and put the company in the limelight again for the first time since the days of 007's DB5.

5. Aston Martin Lagonda (1976-’85) (cont.)

The exotic quad-camshaft 5.3-litre V8 made this one of the fastest four-door cars in the world, while the lavish interior featured digital instrumentation and touch-sensitive switchgear that was not very reliable, but was very much part of the Lagonda's myth and appeal.

Anything half-alive will command upwards of £35,000 today.