Classic cars made in Coventry
06 July 2021
To celebrate Coventry's year as UK City of Culture 2021, we decided to look into the city's illustrious motor manufacturing history. It turns out that, much as Detroit dominated car production for decades in the US, Coventry was, for much of the 20th Century, the UK's Motor City.
The city had been full of artisans and engineers for centuries, and during the 19th Century the two industries of weaving and watchmaking were in particularly good health.
This strong expertise meant that Coventry was ideally placed to capitalise on two successive transport innovations: the chain-driven bicycle, from around 1885, and the motor car around a decade later. Indeed, many of the big names in Coventry's automotive history – Triumph, Riley and Singer among them – began in bikes before diversifying into the combustion engine.
By the outbreak of the First World War, the city was home to more than 50 car manufacturers. Production reached its peak in Coventry during the 1950s and 1960s – a golden time for car design, as you'll see from some of our nominations below.
Here, then, are our pick of some of the finest automobiles to emerge from the city.
Daimler (original)
Daimler occupies a hugely important place in the early history of British car manufacture. The first Daimlers rolled off the assembly line (a former cotton factory on Sandy Lane, Coventry) way back in 1897.
The ninth machine to leave the factory was then driven the length of mainland Britain, from Land's End to John O'Groats, by the intrepid inventor and journalist Henry Sturmey, with a mechanic in tow. As a publicity stunt it was hard to beat: soon enough the Prince of Wales (the future Edward VII) had his own Daimler, and motoring fever was gripping the country.
Daimler Double Six (1926-37)
The Double Six name was given to a series of luxury cars built, in small numbers, by Daimler of Coventry – each one built to meet the particular specifications of its owner. It was, quite simply, the most sophisticated and opulent motor available at the time, and as such it won admirers among royals and screen stars in the UK and beyond.
George V owned two seven-seater limousine versions, while Jordan's King Hussain went around in a convertible variant. It's not hard to see the attraction. With its long body and low windscreen, the late-model Double Six 40/50, for example, has an extraordinary presence – best seen in profile, when it looks utterly commanding.
Triumph Herald (1959-71)
Selling well over half a million models and spawning successors in the Vitesse, Spitfire (see below) and GT6 models, the unassuming but attractive Triumph Herald was a common sight on Britain's roads in the 1960s, whether in saloon, convertible, coupe, estate or van forms. Its legacy lives on still, as witness the use of a Herald at the 2012 London Olympics closing ceremony.
The very first Herald Coupe to come off the production line was shown – cut in half from bonnet to boot to show the chassis, engine and mechanical parts – at the 1959 Earls Court Motor Show, and now resides at the Coventry Transport Museum.
Jaguar E-Type (1961-75)
This one had to be in here. Not only is it probably the most iconic car to come out of Coventry, the E-Type must surely line up as one of the most beautiful cars ever made.
Jaguar's sinuous, speedy sports car emerged during what was arguably the high-water mark of Coventry’s car industry, the early 1960s. The car became a symbol of that decade's growing sense of colour, confidence and fun – a personification, in chrome and leather, of the Swinging Sixties. We've given it a fuller appreciation here.
Capable of speeds approaching 150mph, the E-Type presented motorists with an irresistible mix of beauty and performance. What's more, for the time in a car this desirable, it was also relatively affordable, with early models available for just £2,000.
It was a highly influential car, too. Its unitary construction, disc brakes, rack-and-pinion steering, and independent front and rear suspension – not to mention its ability to do 0-60 in under seven seconds – made it in an instant icon and spurred developments across the motor industry.
New York's Museum of Modern Art gave the E-Type the ultimate accolade, including an example (a blue roadster) in its permanent design collection. It's one of just six automobiles to be recognised as such.
Triumph Stag (1970-77)
With its TR line and others, local brand Triumph had been making highly capable, easy-on-the-eye sports cars and roadsters since the late 1940s. The Stag, however, was something of a departure: a convertible grand tourer designed for both high speed and long-distance driving, with a growling 3.0-litre V8 engine under the gracefully canted bonnet.
It wasn't all rosy, though. Like many cars of the Seventies, the Stag found itself saddled with a reputation for unreliability – in particular, a tendency to overheat, though often this was down to drivers not topping up the engine coolant.
History has been kinder, however, and today the Stag is a much sought-after classic. And, taking in those striking looks once again, we can see why. We'll have ours in mustard yellow, please. Just make sure you’ve got the right classic car insurance for yours.
Alvis TC 108G (1956-1958)
After the E-Type and Stag above, we're sensing a theme here with the arrival of this Alvis in our list: some seriously eye-catching cars came out of Coventry. Only 37 examples of the TC 108G were made before its successor, the TD 21, arrived in 1958: still, on looks alone, we're giving it a free pass onto our list.
Manufacturing in Coventry from 1919 to 1967, Alvis produced racing cars, aircraft engines, armoured cars and other armoured fighting vehicles – as well as a string of stylish, upmarket road cars.
Riley RMA (1945-52)
Along with Alvis and Armstrong Siddeley, Riley was one of the major car manufacturers operating out of Coventry during the first half of the 20th Century – now little more than an evocative name, but at the time one of the most adventurous and admired car marques around.
Founder William Riley had run the family weaving business until a crash in the market led him to producing bicycles in 1896: motor cars followed, with Riley's first outing, the 17/30, appearing in 1913.
The first post-war Riley, the RMA must have been a glimpse of an exciting and elegant future after the hardships and austerity of the war years. Featuring a 1.5L engine, hydro-mechanical brakes and an independent suspension system, it luxuriated in a wooden body frame and could reach 75mph.
Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire (1952-60)
Under the name Sapphire, Coventry maker Armstrong Siddeley produced a series of elegant large saloons during the 1950s. All bore a tiny silver Sphinx on the bonnet, symbolising the Sapphire's murmuringly quiet engines (the Sphinx is famed to have sat silent in the Egyptian desert for centuries). Our pick of the bunch is probably the first generation (234 / 236), just for those beguilingly simple, curvaceous lines.
Sunbeam Alpine (1959-68)
Made by the Rootes Group in Ryton-on-Dunsmore, just five miles out of town, the second Sunbeam Alpine (three separate cars bore the name throughout the 1950s, 60s and 70s) was surely one of the most graceful cars of a uniquely elegant decade in automobile styling. This Alpine was a two-seater convertible that went through five generations over the decade, each as easy on the eye as the last.
It still stands up well as an icon of the decade, thanks in part to its appearances in iconic films such as Get Carter and Dr. No. If you're after a slice of authentic Britain, you could do far worse. Remember to secure your investment with some good classic car insurance.
Peugeot 405 (1987-1997)
Peugeot? In Coventry? Well, yes, from 1985 to 2006 the French brand did have Coventry as one of their manufacturing bases, thanks to a complex chain of acquisitions that saw Chrysler taking over the Ryton-based Rootes Group, before in turn being swallowed up by the Gallic car giant.
For 20 years, then, several of Peugeot's biggest-selling cars were produced in the West Midlands, and the company deserves a mention on this list. Our choice from the models produced at Ryton is Peugeot's elegant, Pininfarina-designed family saloon, which won the 1988 European Car of the Year competition – polling the largest number of votes in the contest's history.
Versions included a 16-valve variant on the sporty Mi16 model, which could kick out 160hp and reach a maximum speed of 140mph. We hope anyone still hurling one of these around today is armed with some good insurance for classic cars!
Hillman Avenger (1970-81)
Along with the Ford Cortina, Morris Marina, Vauxhall Viva and Austin Allegro, the Avenger is one of the most recognisable cars of the 1970s. In fact, some of the cars in that list haven't survived posterity too well – but the Avenger, made at the Rootes plant in Ryton, retains the respect of classic car lovers. For one thing, it was a stylish-looking thing, borrowing some of that curvy American 'Coke bottle' styling that also graced the Mk3 Cortina. Its rear lights, in the shape of hockey sticks, are also fondly remembered.
Despite not being particularly sophisticated under the bonnet, the Avenger punched above its weight in motorsport, always finishing strongly in the British Touring Car Championship. Hillman produced a road-going version of this rally regular, complete with bonnet bulge, rear spoiler and side stripes, and named it the Avenger Tiger: that car is a collector's classic to this day.
Hillman Imp (1963-76)
Included not so much for its reliability or beauty, the Imp makes it onto our list because of its quietly revolutionary nature. The first mass-produced British car to feature an aluminium engine block and cylinder head, the Imp also had its engine transferred to the boot, and featured rear-wheel drive to allow maximum space for passengers and baggage. As a practical, compact small car, it was overshadowed by the Mini, but it deserves its place in British automotive history.
Like its big brother the Avenger, the Hillman Imp also became a decent rally and touring car, winning Holland's Tulip Rally in 1965 and the British Saloon Car Championship for three consecutive years from 1970.
Triumph Spitfire (1962-80)
Through five relatively unchanged generations across 18 years, Triumph's Spitfire was a hugely successful example of the nimble, rear-wheel-drive, two-seater convertible that seemed to express some of the carefree spirit of the 1960s. They're still very popular with classic car enthusiasts and restorers, and would make a great first restoration project – you'll find numerous used examples online. Get to know your vehicle and your tools, fix yourself up with some classic car insurance and away you go!
Small, agile and deliciously fun to drive, throughout its life the Spitfire enjoyed a friendly rivalry with the MG Midget, made just an hour's drive south in Abingdon. Get a couple of classic car enthusiasts started on the relative merits of these two 60s/70s icons and watch the sparks fly.
Jaguar XJ-S / XJS (1975-96)
The fact that the XJ-S was designed to be, yet never quite became, a worthy successor to the E-Type shouldn't be held against it – after all, what car on earth would manage to follow that motoring icon? To our eyes, the XJ-S (subtly rebranded as the XJS after Ford took ownership in 1991) still scores pretty highly in the elegance stakes, with its long, gently sloping bonnet and swooping back end, complete with those famous 'flying buttresses' behind the rear windows.
It is, in short, a beauty, and would make a worthy addition to any classic car collection. Anyone lucky enough to own one now will want to pair it with a level of classic car insurance that such a style icon deserves.
Jaguar XJ series 1-3 / Daimler Sovereign (1968-92)
Jaguar acquired its Coventry neighbour Daimler in 1960, and from then on produced a series of virtually identical cars under the two marque names, with the Daimler badge signifying a slight uptick in luxury. The XJ and Sovereign, for example, were very similar, with just a few exterior and interior details to separate them.
Like a few of the Coventry classics we've cited here, the XJ / Sovereign saw the need for relatively few design changes across its long life: throughout, it represented a particularly British restrained elegance. Power-assisted steering, leather upholstery and air conditioning were among the cutting-edge creature comforts featured in these stylish luxury cars.
Protect your Coventry classic with classic car insurance
Congratulations to Coventry and to the elegant cars that have rolled off the city's production lines. Whether you own one of these style icons or a different piece of UK automotive history, you'll want to give your classic the protection that it deserves.
The benefits of classic car insurance through Lancaster can include:
- Historic rally cover
- Static show cover
- Limited mileage discounts
- Choice of repairer
- 24-hour claims helpline
Policy benefits, features and discounts offered may very between insurance schemes or cover selected and are subject to underwriting criteria. Information contained within this article is accurate at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.