After the Great War, Europe returned to manufacturing automobiles from around 1920, the following decade becoming known as the Vintage era and featuring rapid technical advances over the Edwardian traditions. The vintage decade witnessed the widespread adoption of more modern and higher-speed engines; the abandonment of taxation on cylinder bore promoted the development of the higher-revolution short-stroke engine. The introduction of leaded fuel allowed for higher compression ratios, further increasing engine power.
It was after the first World War that the term 'Sports Car' began to appear in the motor catalogues, although the exact origin of the name is obscure.
The demand for high performance motor cars was growing, and as racing cars were not yet exorbitant in price it was practical for some manufacturers, such as Bugatti and Sunbeam, to offer from one basic design this year's racing car and next year's sports car.[50] Other designers, such as Cecil Kimber at Morris Garages exercised great ingenuity in converting standard touring cars into acceptable sports cars.