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Via Filippo Meda, 183, 00157 Roma RM

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Choosing and Preparing Your Wedding Menu

9 July 2019

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Choosing and Preparing Your Wedding Menu

Sports cars were a rare sight in the early ’40s—above all because World War II consumed factories and consumers alike. Ordinary people had neither the time nor the money for exotic vehicles. Once carmakers resumed full production after 1945, however, they discovered a booming demand for sporty two-seat roadsters among affluent buyers. As more manufacturers set out to build affordable competitors to established names like Jaguar, Porsche and MG, the spirit of ’40s sports-car design began to spread. Today, exotic and performance machines fill our roads—a testament to how influential that decade really was. Here are ten of the finest sports cars born in the 1940s.

1. 1945 MG TC Midget

MG’s first postwar model, the TC Midget borrowed much of its styling from the prewar TB. This little two-door roadster packed a 1.3-liter engine that sprinted from 0 to 100 km/h in under 23 seconds—impressive performance for the mid-1940s.
2. 1946 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 “Freccia d’Oro”

Introduced in 1946, the 6C 2500 Freccia d’Oro (“Golden Arrow”) was a luxurious sport tourer favoured by celebrities and dignitaries. Its 2.5-liter inline-six, four-speed gearbox and top speed of 154 km/h (95 mph) earned it both style and substance—and even a cameo in The Godfather.
3. 1947 Maserati A6 1500 Pininfarina

Maserati’s first road-going production car, the A6 1500 was conceived in 1941 but only came to life after the war. Behind its sleek two-seat coachwork lay a 1.5-liter inline-six and a four-speed manual transmission. With fewer than 80 built, it remains an exceptionally rare classic.
4. 1946 Triumph 1800 Roadster

Built by the Standard Motor Company from 1946 to 1948, the Triumph 1800 Roadster featured 1,776 cc of displacement, a four-speed manual gearbox and a graceful two-seat body. As the forerunner of the later 2000 Roadster, it’s now a highly sought-after collector’s car—you can even spot one in our rental fleet.
5. Bristol 401 (1948–1953)

The British firm Bristol Cars equipped the 401 with pioneering Lockheed hydraulic brakes and a distinctive torsion-bar suspension. Its straight-six engine and four-speed manual transmission could push the car to 160 km/h (100 mph), with a 0–100 km/h time of just over 15 seconds—a standout achievement in its day.
6. 1948 Jaguar XK120

Perhaps the most legendary sports car to debut in the ’40s, the XK120 reclaimed Jaguar’s sporting reputation after the war. With a top speed of 132 mph (212 km/h), it was the world’s fastest production car for nearly a decade. Prior to the XK120, Jaguar hadn’t made a true sports car since the SS 100 ended production in 1940. Today, auction prices for well-preserved examples regularly climb into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
7. Allard K1 (1946)

Allard’s first postwar offering, the K1 combined a purpose-built steel chassis with a potent V8 and a three-speed manual gearbox. Its muscular yet elegant styling made it an instant head-turner. Surviving examples are scarce and can fetch well over $175,000 at auction.
8. 1948–49 Ferrari 166 S

Evolving from Ferrari’s original 125 S, the 166 S boasted a 2.0-liter Colombo V12 producing around 140 hp. Only 39 were made, and each competed successfully on road and track—helping cement Ferrari’s racing legend. Today they’re among the most coveted classics, trading for well over $2 million.
9. 1949 Healey Silverstone

Built from 1949 to 1950 by the Donald Healey Motor Company, the Silverstone is famed for its aerodynamic styling—headlamps tucked behind the grille—and its open two-seat layout. Powered by a 2.5-liter Riley inline-four and a four-speed gearbox, it made 104 hp and enjoyed numerous racing victories, including the Coupe des Alpes in 1949 and 1951.
10. 1949 Aston Martin DB1

Known originally as the “2-Liter Sports,” the DB1 was Aston Martin’s first postwar sports car and predecessor to the iconic DB2. Just 15 were built between 1948 and 1950, each powered by a 2.0-liter Claude Hill engine with 90 hp. Even a well-weathered, cobweb-covered DB1 once drew a $600,000–$1 million estimate at auction; in good condition, they can exceed $2 million.