Eccentric Brits

1.) Light Car Company Rocket (1992-1998)

It looked like a 1960s F1 car and went like one too. The LCC Rocket was powered by a motorcycle engine, a 1.0-litre Yamaha four-cylinder putting out 143bhp, and it weighed just 370kg. You could do 0-60mph in less than four seconds, with speed joined by superb handling.

The car was designed by Gordon Murray, the McLaren F1 guru, and was built by ex-racer Chris Craft. It featured a tandem two-seater design and had the dubious distinction of having a Guinness world record for the fastest speed in reverse: 104mph.

When launched, the LCC Rocket cost £38,800 and prices remain high. Only 50 were ever originally produced so it’s a solid investment, not to mention a great car.

2.) Reliant Scimitar SS1 (1984-1990)

Only 1500 Scimitar SS1s were ever built, in part because the Michelotti styling didn’t find universal favour. However the all-round independent suspension and 50/50 weight distribution guaranteed great handling, when combined with the low weight.

The Nissan 1.8-litre turbo engine gave a 126mph top speed as well as a 0-60mph time of 6.6sec. The low weight contributed to this, which in turn was thanks to the glassfibre body. And that, in turn, means the bodywork is rustproof, which means examples found today will at least not suffer from that. Prices for a good example are about £2000.

3.) AC Ace (1993-2000)

The AC Ace was a great effort to find glory again for the brand epitomised by the Cobra. It had some impressive aspects, including a 260bhp 4.9-litre V8 from a Ford Mustang that gave a top speed of 140mph and a 0-60mph time of just 5.9sec. The firm chassis and double-wishbone suspension could definitely handle that horsepower, so cornering, ride quality and braking were all very good indeed.

Thanks to some stiff competition, only 59 examples were ever made so around £30k for an AC Ace may well represent a solid buy.

4.) Midas (1978-present)

You can still find a Midas new, in kit form, or buy one used from around £2k. For that you get something that is an evolution of the Mini Marcos of the 1960s which in its turn was a variant on the original Mini. The Midas, with suspension off the Metro, uses the BMC A-Series engine, which can be highly tuned, and is accompanied by rustless, lightweight GRP bodywork.

In fact the aerodynamic bodywork was breathed on by Gordon Murray so it’s pretty slippery through the air although there was a convertible version made as well.

5.) Bristol Brigand (1982-1993)

For the gentleman – and back in its day it would be for a gentleman – who finds something like a Bentley too commonplace, there is the Bristol Brigand. It’s all about discretion, which stretched to a company that never revealed power outputs. But there is more than enough power from the turbocharged 5.9-litre V8 to waft this weighty car to 60mph in less than six seconds.