Journal: The Golden Age of the British Sports Car Captured on Film

The Golden Age of the British Sports Car Captured on Film

By Petrolicious
April 18, 2013

Though nearly extinct today, the British open-top sports car was once king of the enthusiast motoring landscape. Conceived as stylish, affordable, and informal transportation for a newly-emerging postwar middle class, the era of the classic English roadster has deeply ingrained itself in the Petrolista consciousness like few other niches or subgenres of fun-machines have. MG’s, Triumphs and Austin-Healeys were the heavy-hitters of the time, and each one is explored in a fascinating, detailed, yet light-hearted and entertaining way in the BBC documentary “The Golden Age of the British Sports Car”, presented here in its entirety for your viewing pleasure.

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Marc Lawrence
Marc Lawrence
11 years ago

That was fabulous fun. Tip o me hat to you chaps. 🙂 – Thanks for that. I learned more from that than 50 years of reading sports car mags.

Brompty
Brompty
11 years ago

This is a cracking programme. I especially like the older couple that talk with genune affection for the cars they owned and what the cars represented to them.

Andrew Adamides
Andrew Adamides
11 years ago

Happily, 699DON, the Austin-Healey in the documentary is still on the road today. The following from the DVLA database:

Date of Liability 01 12 2013
Date of First Registration 09 06 1961
Year of Manufacture 1961
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 2912cc
CO2 Emissions Not Available
Fuel Type PETROL
Export Marker N
Vehicle Status Licence Not Due
Vehicle Colour RED
Vehicle Type Approval Not Available

Matthew Lange
11 years ago

I think Morgan, Caterham and Lotus and Jaguar with the new F Type would beg to differ that the British sport is nearly extinct?

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