There’s no better feeling than turning up to the smartest event on the calendar in a comfortable, luxurious, British saloon that can glide effortlessly into the pre-1966 car park.

Here are four classic choices, each of which fits the bill beautifully, with lounging room inside for your friends and family. They’re British and proud of it, and each choice is as solid as the Bank of England and just as safe a long-term investment.
 
But the big news for these big saloons is that they offer excellent value for money when compared with contemporary sports cars. Cut the roof off the Riley or make your Jaguar XK-flavoured instead of saloon-shaped and you’ll be laying out considerably more money. The Revival awaits you… and your family.

£40,000
R-R Silver Cloud III
There is no better way of truly arriving at an event than in a Rolls-Royce – preferably on the rear seat. Tried-and-tested running gear and fantastic specialist support make the Cloud sensible as well as suitable. Earlier cars aren’t worth miles more, so the choice at this price is wide.



£5000
Humber Super Snipe
THE 1948 SUPER SNIPE is an upright and strangely appealing old-school saloon that blends the design of the pre-war Super Snipes and Pullmans with the much more modern Raymond Loewy-penned front end from the later Hawk. These pre-1952 cars are hard to find but they are still great value in terms of metal for money – and well worth the effort if you want something that can carry a legion of full-sized Revival fans, hats and all!

£10,000
Riley RM Series
For many, these elegantly styled saloons are the epitome of the quintessential English gentleman’s carriage. When it first appeared in 1945, the RMA was underpinned by a pre-war chassis, but a lively 1.5-litre twin-cam set it apart from the opposition. The larger-engined 2.4-litre RMB/RMF add suitable wafting ability, and a budget of £10,000 will buy you a worthwhile example, albeit at a premium over the RMA/RME.

£15,000
Jaguar MkVII-MkIX
As with all Jaguar saloons, the MkVII-MkIX tend to live in the shadow of their illustrious sporting siblings. But they shouldn’t, as these amply proportioned saloons possess a fair amount of agility and, with an XK engine up front, more than enough straight-line speed. Prices currently lag behind the more popular Mk2’s and will probably continue to do so. But these models’ more stately image seems fitting for the Revival car park.