THE BRITS

Cars from Jaguar, Land Rover, Austin, Caterham, Frazer Nash and Morgan are among the home-grown legends you can see in action at Bicester

Words Jack Phillips

Photography Amy Shore, JLR Classic

WHILE FRANCE AND GERMANY could both claim to be the original home of the motor car, no country quite has the same love affair or sprawling back catalogue as plucky old Britain. We can make anything – whether in a shed, as part of a cottage-industry company or in a huge manufacturing organisation.

The Owen Jaguar is an example of the former category, created by Brooklands racer Freddie Owen and once owned by record producer Pete Waterman. Up front is a six-cylinder 3.4-litre Jaguar engine shrouded by a homemade space-frame chassis and hand-rolled alloy body.

Jaguar itself is represented in the Flywheel Brits demo by Pendine’s Guy Broad-fettled Mk1, which is piloted by Rev Adam Gompertz, while the wider Jaguar group is unleashing the remarkable 1965 Land Rover Series IIA-inspired Islay Edition of the Works V8, boasting a huge 405bhp and a sub-six-second

0-60mph time. The car it honours, Spencer Wilks’ own, is in Pioneers.

Then there is the Caterham, the benchmark for many kit-car makers. The Surrey-based brand’s range starts with the brilliant low-power, low-grip Classic, all the way up to what will scream around Bicester today: the 620R. No Caterham is faster, despite sharing the 2.0-litre Duratec with much of the range. The difference is a supercharger, helping produce 310bhp in a car weighing half a tonne. Hence the model’s name – you do the maths...

Other examples in this category are from what were once major manufacturers that sadly lacked the powers of endurance – but these machines have taken on a renewed vigour. The Austin A40, driven by Kerry Wilson, is enjoying a moment in the sun thanks to a thriving Historic racing scene.

The Frazer Nash Mille Miglia, meanwhile, has an enviable history and ease of drive that belies its 1950s origin. The Goodwood Nine Hours and London Rally in 1953 must have been a breeze. One of a mere 11 made, it is a true rarity.

OPPOSITE The distinctive Morgan 3 Wheeler roadster gets added bite at Bicester, as does the 405bhp V8-powered Land Rover Islay Edition.

But if Frazer Nash and Austin have been lost, Morgan remains and is using the same family recipe it always has. Only safety regulations, as well as engine and ’box availability, have required certain shifts. Today BMW has that covered, while the auto transmission is becoming an increasingly popular option courtesy of race-bred ZFs. Today’s Plus range comes with four- or six-cylinder power, the latter a 335bhp twinturbo borrowed from the Z4. The package combines tradition and innovation – traits that have helped Morgan carve its special niche.

Another Morgan to appear in the Brits category on Sunday is both traditional and unconventional: the 3 Wheeler of Alex Goy. Complete with shark-teeth decals…

2023 Land Rover Classic Defender Works V8

Islay Edition

2013 Caterham 620R

1934 Frazer Nash

Norris Special

1958 Owen

Jaguar GTS

2023 Morgan Plus Six

1963 Austin A40

1933 MG K3

1958 Jaguar Mk1

1953 Frazer Nash

Mille Miglia

2016 Morgan

3 Wheeler