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Probably the most famous Euro-American hybrid was - and is - the AC Cobra. The quintessential muscle-bound two-seater sports car, its near-suicidal performance and rippling bodywork have made it a classic that just won't die. It has plenty of company in its transatlantic niche, however. Before the last war, English marques such as Brough-Superior and Railton saw the logic of mating an American engine with a European chassis, although it wasn't until the '50s and '60s that the Euro-American supercar really became a trend.
The scene was revolutionised by the advent of the mass-produced overhead-valve V8 in the early '50s. These engines may have lacked visual appeal but they delivered smooth, reliable power and huge torque. What's more, they were mass-produced by the million and were correspondingly cheap.
Suddenly a new breed of upstart GT could challenge the authority of the established aristocrats with cars that were equally quick (if not quicker) but far less temperamental and easier to drive. Many were at their best when fitted with automatic transmission, an unheard-of luxury among the old guard of high-revving exotics.
The genre peaked in the mid-to-late '60s with the likes of the 170 mph Iso Grifo 7.0-litre, but by the mid '70s, many Euro-American GTs had succumbed to both the fuel crisis and the flagging potency of their de-smogged engines. Ultimately, without the snob appeal of a great name, they lacked staying power. Some survive, however, including the Chrysler-powered Bristol Blenheim and the Ford-powered Qvale Mangusta, which has suddenly become a lot better known in this country now that MG Rover has bought the company.
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