8 of the best mid-engine classics

There’s nothing middle of the road about a mid-engine motor. Many high-end sports cars have their engines in front of the rear axle, making for a vehicle that’s supremely easy to handle even at top speed.

So which manufacturers have put the engine centre stage in their motors? What should you know about driving a mid-engine classic? Our guide answers your questions about history, handling, and insurance for classic cars.

Read on to find out what we’ve picked as our top eight mid-engine classic motors.

Why choose a mid-engined car?

First, let’s look at what to expect from a mid-engine car. Why might you choose to drive one?

As a rule, front-engine cars are best for everyday drivers in regular cars, as the engine is over the wheels that need traction, making the vehicle easy to drive. Rear-engine cars are great for acceleration, but sometimes a little harder to handle – especially in the wet!

The big advantage of mid-engine cars is handling. There’s equal traction on all four wheels and they have a low centre of gravity, so they’re more stable when cornering than cars with either rear or front engines. That’s why mid-engine placement is standard for high-end performance cars.

By placing the engine in the middle of the vehicle, the weight is better distributed. This makes the suspension more effective – especially important in a low-slung sports car.

The cons? If you get into a spin, it’s hard to get out of it again – neither braking nor accelerating will work as effectively as in a front or rear-engined model.

And that engine takes up space in your car’s cabin, so there’s little room for rear seat passengers. Of course, that’s not a consideration for sports cars – though definitely a drawback for a family vehicle.

Mid-engine cars can also be harder to maintain or repair, as it’s harder to access the engine.

But if the pros outweigh the cons for you, which mid-engined classic cars should you put on your wish list? We’ve put together a list of eight of our favourites, starting with the eye-wateringly expensive but including a few more accessible options, too.

1. Lamborghini Miura

We can dream, right? The Lamborghini Miura is one of those cars that makes motoring enthusiasts go misty-eyed – though the price will bring anyone without a Rockstar budget straight back down to earth! They’re widely credited with transforming the idea of what a car could be and are the inspiration behind many other supercars and hyper cars today.

Even if owning a Miura is out of the question, we can still admire these mid-engine masterpieces. They really revolutionised car design in the mid-1960s – and the engine placement set the new standard for sportscars.

Designed by Lamborghini’s top engineers in their spare time, as Signor Lamborghini himself was focused on luxury grand tourers rather than sports cars, they are now considered the marque’s most important model.

They still look space age today – and the performance is out of this world! When launched in 1966, the Miura was the fastest production road car in existence: its top speed was around 170mph, and it had an acceleration of 0-60 mph in 6.3 seconds.

The last Miuras were produced in 1973, but they live on: over the decades, they have been a status symbol for cultural icons such as Rod Stewart, Eddie Van Halen, and Miles Davies.

So how much would a Miura set you back? They were sold for $20,000 dollars new, equivalent to more than $150,000 in today’s money. But you’d probably need ten times that to snap one up at auction nowadays.

2. Fiat X1/9

So, if your budget is a little more restrained, where should you look? The history of affordable mid-engined sports cars is generally traced back to the Fiat X1/9, launched in 1972.

This little gem shares a designer with the Miura: Marcello Gardini, of Italian design house Bertone. So how does it compare in terms of performance?

Well, with only a 1.3-litre engine producing a top speed of less than 100mph, it’s certainly no high-end performance car. But it has plenty of its own charms: it’s huge fun to drive and handles beautifully. Looks-wise, it has wonderful Italian flair.

Perhaps one of the greatest attractions, though, is that it incorporates many advanced structural safety features. It was produced at a time when governments were beginning to get tough on automobile safety, and Fiat wanted to pre-empt any future legislation. So, the X1/9 has front and rear crumple zones and a strong cage around the passenger compartment.

Of course, the best way to stay safe on the roads is to drive carefully and maintain your vehicle well. That’s something that vintage motoring enthusiasts tend to do beautifully, which is one of the reasons why classic car insurance is often so low.

3. Lancia Montecarlo

This fine motor was conceived by automotive design house Pininfarina, who had originally been commissioned by Fiat. In the event, Fiat went with an alternative from Bertone, which became the X1/9.

Undeterred, Pininfarina switched to a partnership with Lancia – and the Montecarlo was born.

So, what’s special about this motor? It boasts a Lampredi twin-cam two-litre engine, which Lancia claimed could do 120mph. It’s got great steering, and an interior that’s spacious for a sports model. And it looks quite unlike any other Lancia, having been not only designed but also built by Pininfarina.

These days, collectors appreciate the Lancia Montecarlo for its rarity value: less than 8,000 were produced, with manufacture ceasing in 1982. So if you get your hands on one of the few remaining models, it might be best to turn to a specialist company to arrange your insurance for a classic car.

Lancaster has over 35 years’ experience in this area, and we’d be delighted to provide you with a quote.

4. Lotus Esprit

With its sharp, streamlined looks, the Lotus Esprit is a sports car to be reckoned with. Launched in 1976, the Esprit was the successor to the Lotus Europa – another great British mid-engined sports car.

The lightweight glass fibre body is often called wedge-shaped, but that term scarcely does justice to these angular beauties. They were one of the first ‘folded-paper’ designs from Giorgetto Giugiaro, also renowned for cars as varied as the DeLorean (yet another amazing mid-engine classic) and the Volkswagen Golf Mk 1.

There were four series and many derivatives over the 28-year production run, and they became particularly popular in the United States.

Despite their Italian style, these cars were manufactured at the Lotus plant in Norfolk, and became a great British icon thanks to their starring role in the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me.

Don’t try driving yours off a pier into the sea though – it won’t turn into a submarine as it does in the movie, and you’ll have ruined a superb car! Instead, drive it carefully, and get it covered by classic car insurance arranged by Lancaster.

5. BMW M1

The M1 has huge rarity value: manufactured between 1978 and 1981, only around 450 were ever produced. It was the first mid-engine model for the German manufacturer, and its most expensive at the time of launch.

Originally, BMW planned to build a sports car with Lamborghini. When that agreement faltered, it went ahead on its own, using the skills of Italian designers combined with that famed German engineering expertise. The result: the superb M1.

The M1 had a twin-cam, 3.5-litre, inline-six engine with 277bhp. Its top speed was an incredible 164mph, and it could do 0-60mph in 6.5 seconds. That’s quite some car, especially for its time!

Today, it’s achieved cult status, and in 2008, BMW brought out an M1 Homage Concept car to mark its 30^th anniversary. Today, the original models are the most expensive road-legal BMWs you can buy – if you’re lucky enough to find one for sale at auction. It is not to be confused with the more recent BMW 1 Series.

6. Toyota MR2

Japanese manufacturer Toyota is probably best known for the reliability of its family cars. But it has produced a few iconic vehicles, of which the MR2 is decidedly one.

Launched in 1984, the MR2 was Japan’s first mid-engine production model and proud of it: the name stands for either ‘Mid-Engine, Rear-Wheel-Drive, 2-Seater’, or ‘Mid-ship, Runabout, 2-Seater’. Engineers from Lotus were involved in the design of its suspension and handling.

The first generation of the MR2 had a 1.6-litre twin-cam engine producing 122bhp, making it capable of 0-60mph in less than 8 seconds. This sporty gem quickly won fans thanks to its fabulous performance, superb road handling, and great reliability.

There were three generations of the MR2, with production finally ceasing in 2007. Is this the mid-engine car of your dreams? If so, contact Lancaster for a quote for classic car insurance. We’ll search our panel of insurance providers to find you quotes to suit your requirements and your budget.

7. MGF

MGBs have long been one of the most popular vintage motors – at Lancaster, we arrange classic car insurance for more than 40% of the models you see on the UK’s roads today. But what about their newer, mid-engine cousins?

The MGF was a revival of the renowned MG badge, unveiled in 1995 with a 1.8-litre, 120bhp engine. It was produced until 2002, when it was superseded by the MG TF – another fine mid-engine car.

One of the MGF’s intriguing features is its Hydragas suspension, making for a very comfortable ride. Combined with the excellent handling, it’s no wonder that this amazing motor quickly became the best-selling affordable sports car in the UK.

These days, they’re regarded as great value modern British classics. With a surprising amount of space inside, they can even work as an everyday car.

Plus, there’s a thriving MG Owners Club, and members get discounts on many classic car insurance products arranged by Lancaster.

8. Porsche Boxster

The Boxster really is a mid-engined marvel. Launched in 1996, this roadster was a relatively downmarket offering from the great German marque, which was at the time facing bankruptcy. But while the Boxster may have been considerably cheaper than luxury Porsche models such as the 928, it remains an impressive car.

So how did the little Boxster – and its coupé version, the Cayman – revive the fortunes of Porsche? By proving to be one of the very best handling cars on the roads, with sleek looks inspired by classics from the 1950s. And all for a bargain price.

There have been four generations so far and many configurations, but an early Boxster would be our choice for sheer nostalgia value.

We’d pick the very first 2.5-litre model or its 2.7-litre successor, which you can buy for just a few thousand pounds. These cars may be getting on for a quarter of a century old but driving them never feels stale. You won’t find many affordable sports cars with a steering response quite this sharp!

Of course, even with cornering capability as assured as a Boxster’s, accidents can happen – so make sure your vehicle is covered with suitable classic motor insurance.

Get a quote from Lancaster today

There are so many fantastic mid-engine cars that it’s hard to choose just one. But whichever model you eventually pick, make sure you get it covered with suitable classic car insurance.

At Lancaster, we’ve got more than 35 years’ experience arranging cover for all sorts of older vehicles. We search a panel of leading insurance providers to find cover that’s tailored to your needs and your budget.

If you love restoring old classics, then you can choose laid-up cover until your vehicle is roadworthy. And if you enjoy displaying your motor, then Lancaster can arrange static show or historic rally cover for you.

Benefits of cover can include discounts for low mileage or car club members, and EU cover up to 90 days.

With our experience and expert knowledge of the industry, we can quote for just about every classic car on offer, even the rarest of models.

Get a quote from Lancaster today.

Policy benefits, features and discounts offered may very between insurance schemes or cover selected and are subject to underwriting criteria. Information contained within this article is accurate at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.