The United Kingdom has given us some truly beautiful grand touring machines that would give any coachbuilder a lesson in design. Sure MGs and Triumphs are great but don’t forget about the extraordinary works of art like the 1954 Jensen 541 featured in this week’s video. Many of these cars even share components with more common models making them more affordable to maintain than some other European classics. If you have a sizeable budget, here are some storied British grand tourers available now on Hemmings Motor News.
Good:
The car: 1975 Jensen Interceptor
Price: $68,000
Location: Milford, Connecticut, USA
Seller’s Info: Click here
The Jensen Interceptor is a British Grand Tourer designed in Italy, powered by American muscle and built in England. Other British cars of the day made motorsport concessions but Jensen designed the Interceptor to cruise the motorways in comfort. This restored convertible came as production of Interceptor III wound down, making this a rare model. It has the correct Chrysler 440 cubic inch V8, three-speed automatic transmission and limited slip differential.
Better:
The car: 1955 Jaguar XK140SE Fixed Head Coupe
Price: $80,000
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Seller’s Info: Click here
If you’re trying to keep the miles on your Bugatti Type 57 low then consider an XK140 coupe. The XK140 has upgrades over its XK120 predecessor such as more interior room, flashing turn signals, increased power and some aesthetic changes. It’s also the first Jaguar sports car offered with an automatic transmission. This well-documented XK140 has been driven all over North America and has the miles to prove it. It appears to have been well maintained and loved by its owner, who named the car ‘Olivia’.
Best:
The car: 1952 Bentley R-type La Sarthe
Price: $560,000
Location: Taunton, Somerset, England
Seller’s Info: Click here
Designed for the post-war aristocratic echelon, the Bentley R-Type makes a grand statement. The long coupe is powered by an inline six-cylinder and came standard with a manual transmission but could be sourced with an automatic. Despite its cumbersome size, the R-Type was capable of reaching 100 miles per hour. If the original R-Type wasn’t up to your standards, Bensport LTD of the UK may have the car for you. This R-Type has been tastefully retrofitted with a redesigned and handcrafted aluminum body on a restored R-Type chassis available as the La Sarthe, named for the famous Le Mans track.
If you know of a great, stylish car for sale and would like us to feature it, please let us know!
Petrolicious makes no claim as to the accuracy of the information contained in the car’s original listing, nor will it be held responsible for any errors in said information. If you’re interested in any of these cars, do your homework and research extensively before you buy.
