Forgotten Sports Cars

[Danny]

Can you think of any sports car which have gone without recognition?
Or perhaps no-one bought?

My candidate would be the Grinall IV

Weighing in at a mere 677kg, and sporting an not inconsiderable 250hp, it had an astonishing 543bhp/ton.

Consider this. The Ferrari Enzo has 484bhp/ton, and the Pagani Zonda C12S a mere 451bhp/ton.
This equates to a 0-60 time of 3.4 Seconds.
Not bad for a £25,000 car.

 

[skip0110]

It sounds like a precursor to the Ariel Atom. Was the engine sourced from a car or a motorcycle?

 

[Layla's Keeper]

Well, here's a good list of classic sports cars that so often get overlooked.

1998 Callaway C12

The C12 was the first car that moved Reeves Callaway from tuner status to manufacturer. It was his intention to take the car to Le Mans and the aerodynamics and suspension package reflected this. However, Chevrolet already had a successful factory program for the Corvette at this time, and as such pulled their backing from Callaway, leaving him to produce this C5 chassis based supercar.

2003 Invicta S1

A beautiful carbon-bodied 2-seat coupe, powered by the Ford Cobra Mustang engine that's made itself the new Rover V8 of the British sports car industry, the Invicta is a classy and high-performing competitor to cars like the Morgan Aero 8, TVR Tuscan, and MG SVR.

2002 Vemac RD320

Despite considerable success in both the JGTC and occasional forays into Australian and British GT racing, this Honda NSX V6 powered track car for the street, much in the spirit of the British Noble or the American Mosler, is a stand-out performer and looker.

I think these are good examples of unfortunately overlooked sports cars.

 

[ExigeEvan]

Jaguar XJ220.

Not forgotten, just not bought.

 

[Dave A]

Jaguar XJ220.

Not forgotten, just not bought.

Lol, so true. Fantastic car and it can still out accelerate modern supercars like the Pagai Zonda C12S, which is lighter and more powerful than the super Jag.

 

[1X83Z]

Can you think of any sports car which have gone without recognition?
Or perhaps no-one bought?.

More mainstream ones:
- 87-88 BMW M6 (and the entire original 6-series)
- 94-95 BMW 850CSi (and the entire original 8-series)
- 01-03 BMW Z8
- 93 Cadillac Allante
- 87-89 Chrysler Conquest TSi
- 84-86 Dodge Conquest
- 92-93 Dodge Daytona IROC R/T
- 91-92 Isuzu Impulse RS
- 83-89 Mitsubishi Starion
- 92-97 Subaru SVX
- 90-93 Toyota Celica All-Trac
- 92-94 Volkswagen Corrado SLC
- 04 Volkswagen Golf R32 (history will overlook this vehicle)

 

[Small_Fryz]

The HSV GTS, and HSV GTO and GTS coupes, arnt heard of much,

The GTS coupe can do 0 - 60mph under 5 seconds,

 

[Gil]

More mainstream ones:
- 87-88 BMW M6 (and the entire original 6-series)
- 94-95 BMW 850CSi (and the entire original 8-series)
- 01-03 BMW Z8
- 93 Cadillac Allante
- 87-89 Chrysler Conquest TSi
- 84-86 Dodge Conquest
- 92-93 Dodge Daytona IROC R/T
- 91-92 Isuzu Impulse RS
- 83-89 Mitsubishi Starion
- 92-97 Subaru SVX
- 90-93 Toyota Celica All-Trac
- 92-94 Volkswagen Corrado SLC
- 04 Volkswagen Golf R32 (history will overlook this vehicle)

I agree with most of this list, especially the BMW M6, which was copied extensively by Ford with the late '80's/early '90's T-Bird.
I think the 8-series was more of a boulavardier, than a true sports car. It was also priced out of the realm of obtainability.
The Z-8 is the equivalent of an automotive orgasm. What a truly beautiful, awesome car. Would that it had availability with a manual transmission.

 

[300TURBOVS]

MKIII Supra Turbo 👎 Great car,yet unnoticed by everyone
236 HP
Under 10,000
Heavier than a 'Vette

 

[eliseracer]

Many people have only seen the Z8 in pictures and such, but when one of them passes you on the road, follow it for a bit and appreciate one of the most beautiful sculptures to see daylight. Henrik Fisker's top work, I'd say.

XJ220 overlooked, yes... for a V6.

 

[Emohawk]

MKIII Supra Turbo 👎 Great car,yet unnoticed by everyone
236 HP
Under 10,000
Heavier than a 'Vette

Uh, there was and is lots of these, they're quite popular. Maybe my perspective is skewed, as they often overshadow the MkII Supra (and nobody cares about the MkI it seems).

Back on topic, this is a pretty good list, and I'll add:
Covini c6w
Bristol Fighter
Delfino Feroce

 

[McLaren]

The 2000 Saker SV1.

Not sure about the horsepower, but this car can do 217Mph!

 

[Small_Fryz]

very nice car mclaren 👍

 

[xcsti]

I'd consider the toyota 2000gt a forgotten sports car, but that might only be because it wasn't available in most markets. The only exposure the us had to it was in the bond movie "You Only Live Twice". Still a great looking car in my opinion.

 

[1X83Z]

I think the 8-series was more of a boulavardier, than a true sports car. It was also priced out of the realm of obtainability.

Perhaps, but the CSi model, which was effectively the M8, was a legitimate sports car even if the others weren't.

 

[flyinglow08]

gotta agree w/ the vw corrado. cool car but no one ever talks about them

02 ford thunderbird such a great car in the 50's...ruined. it was ruined before the 02 model though.

'73-'78 mustangs still...trying...to...forget...

 

[Jugend]

Weighing in at a mere 677kg, and sporting an not inconsiderable 250hp, it had an astonishing 543bhp/ton.

Isnt that more like ~375hp/ton?

The Saker looks cool btw.

 

[xcsti]

'73-'78 mustangs still...trying...to...forget...

Haha, the mustang II. Oh gotta love the king cobra . Not that the fox platform was amazing either.

 

[Danny]

Isnt that more like ~375hp/ton?

It's officially rated to be 543hp/ton

 

[Cap'n Jack]

HRT 427 , Nuff' said...

 

[eliseracer]

The Corrado VR6 gets occassional mentioning in EVO magazine, as one of the best sports cars ever. Check the back in The Knowledge (the pros and cons section):

+ Everything
- Nothing

 

[Gil]

gotta agree w/ the vw corrado. cool car but no one ever talks about them

02 ford thunderbird such a great car in the 50's...ruined. it was ruined before the 02 model though.

'73-'78 mustangs still...trying...to...forget...

The new T-bird, is not a sports car. It is advertised as the more "civilised" alternative to the fire-breathers offered by others.

And while there is no love lost on the Mustang II's keep in mind that they kept the brand alive till the Fox-body 'Stang was introduced.

And while the Fox has it's many detractors, it was indeed a fast, yet fairly inexpensive ride.

 

[flyinglow08]

The new T-bird, is not a sports car. It is advertised as the more "civilised" alternative to the fire-breathers offered by others.

And while there is no love lost on the Mustang II's keep in mind that they kept the brand alive till the Fox-body 'Stang was introduced.

And while the Fox has it's many detractors, it was indeed a fast, yet fairly inexpensive ride.

thnx for clearing that up for me Gil. It is true about the mustang though, where would they be without them.(they wouldnt)

Makes me laugh when they keep them off to a corner at mustang shows.

 

[Danny]

The Mark 2 Mustangs were my favourites

The look a bit like Aston Martin V8s.

 

[skip0110]

Strangely, I think the Mustang II is going to gain popularity...yes they were terrible performers from the factory, but the fact remains that they did come with the small-block Ford, so that means you can build one with the dime-a-dozen EFI 5.0. They had nice graphics as well.

They were the best selling Mustangs ever as well, I think.

 

[miata13B]

More mainstream ones:
- 87-88 BMW M6 (and the entire original 6-series)
- 94-95 BMW 850CSi (and the entire original 8-series)
- 01-03 BMW Z8
- 93 Cadillac Allante
- 87-89 Chrysler Conquest TSi
- 84-86 Dodge Conquest
- 92-93 Dodge Daytona IROC R/T
- 91-92 Isuzu Impulse RS
- 83-89 Mitsubishi Starion
- 92-97 Subaru SVX
- 90-93 Toyota Celica All-Trac
- 92-94 Volkswagen Corrado SLC
- 04 Volkswagen Golf R32 (history will overlook this vehicle)

I would have to disagree with these cars on your list M5. . . When was the last time you picked up Sport Compact Car?

As for the BMW, I would have to say in CT. there are a few places I know of that tune them quite nicely. . . Though few and far between. . .

 

[mr_pushrod]

A simple calculation (power divided by weight) shows the Grinnall to have 370bhp per ton. As for forgotten sports cars, how about the Panther Solo?

Mid engined and 4WD with a Sierra Cosworth engine.

 

[Gil]

thnx for clearing that up for me Gil. It is true about the mustang though, where would they be without them.(they wouldnt)

Makes me laugh when they keep them off to a corner at mustang shows.

No prob.
My avatar is proof enough that no one disses T-birds unfairly without me getting on them a bit.

Of course I believe that Ford stopped making T-birds after the '66 model year, and didn't start back up until about 1982.

Again the T-bird was never meant to be a sports car. It was a "sporty" car.
But legend has it that when raced in the '50's the Birds would lose due to poor wheel and tire design. The bead would break on the tires in hard corners rendering both tires on the outside of the car flat and useless.

The T-bird was/is more of a Tourer. Get their fast, in class, without breaking your a**.

 

[1X83Z]

I would have to disagree with these cars on your list M5. . . When was the last time you picked up Sport Compact Car?

That's like asking God he last time he's been to Hell.

Exactly which cars does Sport Compact Car tune? The 93 Allante? The 91-92 Impulse RS?

 

[miata13B]

That's like asking God he last time he's been to Hell.

Exactly which cars does Sport Compact Car tune? The 93 Allante? The 91-92 Impulse RS?

Freaking bold doesn't work on bold. . . The Daytona Iroc R/T has been shown, the Starion, Corrado, GTI R32, Even a '04 BMW 3 series Sport Wagon that had been converted into a M3 : )