There’s a lot more to American muscle and UK classic cars than just filling up the tank. The former had a reputation for being brasher and bigger, while the latter are quieter and efficient. Both have made history in the world of automobiles but it’s quite difficult to pick the better machine.
The cultural aspects of both countries have had a large impact on the design and construction of their cars. Americans see their cars as a way of life, while Europeans see them mainly as a means to get around.
At British Auto Specialists, we offer general maintenance and expert engine repairs for seven major U.K. automakers. We also work on dentless paint repair and auto body collision repair. We continuously upgrade our technology, equipment and staff training to provide quality services to our clients.
Our experts have prepared this comparison for you to have a better idea on UK classic cars and their American counterparts.
Key differences between them
With the huge history behind them, these car types come with features that make them significantly different. These are mentioned below:
Size
UK Classic cars are usually built compactly, majorly for complementing their smaller roads. For the larger American muscle, their automakers focused on accommodating them for the larger U.S roads.
Quality
In U.S. markets, automakers focused on making more durable and straightforward cars than the competition. Importance was also given on technicality rather than the visual appearance.
For automotive manufacturers in the U.K, quality mattered in addition to aesthetics, starting from the side mirrors to chassis. This led them to be more costly than their competition.
Performance
For Americans, nothing was more important than horsepower. Their vehicles were made for driving on highways and for drag racing.
European ones were not behind power but attention was given to other features too. This made the car more responsive and comfortable to ride on any surface, from race tracks to urban areas.
Engines
U.K Classics had small engines that were highly tuned to deliver peak horsepower. The American muscle had a higher capacity but was detuned for running on lower-octane gas.
Examples of American Muscle
Shelby GT350
Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
Baldwin-Motion Phase III GT Corvette
Dodge Charger Daytona
Pontiac Catalina 2+2
Examples of UK Classic
Triumph Herald
Jaguar XJ6 Mk1
Rover SD1
AC Ace/Cobra
Triumph Stag
So, who has the best cars? You can call us biased but we believe that the best cars were made in the UK. Both nations have created some amazing marvels on wheels, without which the motoring world would have been less colourful. British Auto Specialists is a family-run auto shop committed to restoring and repairing British cars. We have been offering dealer level services for the past 15 years. We aim to keep your vehicle operating reliably and looking great ensuring top-quality-in-house work. Read our blog on vintage car restoration for added insight. Call us to know more about our services.