1950s cars: the British cars that defined the decade

1948 to 1971. Morris (later BMC), Britain.

Designed by Alec Issigonis, the Minor stayed in production for more than two decades, and in 1961 it became the first British car to reach one million sales.

Buying guide

1951 to 1956. Austin, Britain.

Launched as the "New Austin Seven", the A30 was Austin's first car with monocoque construction and used BMC's A-series engine.

1950 to 1956. Ford of Britain, Britain.

Unveiled at the 1950 Motor Show, these Fords combined unitary construction with MacPherson strut front suspension. A Zephyr won the 1953 Monte Carlo Rally.

Buying guide

1948 to 1958. Rover, Britain.

Rover's utility 4x4 was unveiled at the Amsterdam Motor Show on 30 April 1948 and stayed in Series I form until the Series II replaced it in 1958.

Buying guide

1949 to 1964. Rover, Britain.

Rover's post-war saloon was offered with four and six cylinder engines. Early 75 models carried a central fog lamp in the grille, which earned them the nickname "Cyclops".

Buying guide

1948 to 1961. Jaguar, Britain.

The XK120 arrived at the 1948 Earls Court show with a new 3.4-litre twin-cam six, and in 1949 one exceeded 130mph at Jabbeke in Belgium. The E-type replaced the range in 1961.

Buying guide

1953 to 1956. Austin-Healey, Britain.

Donald Healey's prototype was shown at the 1952 Earls Court show, where Austin's Leonard Lord agreed to build it. Austin produced it until the six-cylinder 100-6 took over in 1956.

Buying guide

1953 to 1962. Standard-Triumph, Britain.

The TR2 proved its speed in high-speed runs on the Jabbeke road in Belgium. The TR3 that followed gained front disc brakes, and the line ran until the TR4 took over in 1962.

Buying guide

1955 to 1962. MG (BMC), Britain.

More than 100,000 MGAs were built between 1955 and 1962, and a Twin Cam version with a 1588cc engine arrived in 1958.

Buying guide

1959 to 2000. BMC, Britain.

Launched on 26 August 1959 as the Austin Seven and Morris Mini-Minor, the Mini mounted its engine sideways and drove the front wheels.

Buying guide

1945 to 2003. Volkswagen, Germany.

Series production at Wolfsburg restarted in December 1945 under British military control, with Major Ivan Hirst central to the effort. More than 21.5 million were eventually built.

Buying guide

1955 to 1975. Citroën, France.

Revealed at the 1955 Paris Motor Show, the DS used hydropneumatic suspension developed by Paul Magès. Some were built in Britain as well as in France.