Great, yet little-known supercars

[Mike Rotch]

I was reading a Porsche magazine on the weekend that had a special on Ruf 911's. Its first article was on the Yellowbird - the Ruf Ctr. I never realised just how far ahead of its time this car was.

Launched in 1987 as a 'stripped-down, lighter' 911, it provided performance that only a handful of modern day supercars can match, never mind beat. In the late 80's, the F40 and the 959 were battling it out for bragging rights over the first to achieve 200mph. In late 1988 the Yellowbird was clocked at 212.5mph at Nardo. 212mph! in 1988!

Just some other stats:

469bhp@5950rpm
0-62mph - 4.1secs

Got any other fantastic supercars of the past or present that somehow got forgotten?

 

[MistaX]

Hah, the Yellowbird.
My Fav. Ruf of all time. IMO the best design Porsche ever came out with.

I'd like to think the Noble M12 GTO3 is pretty much unknown. And I want one.

0-60 in 3.7
It's got some twin turbo V6. I think It's a Ford engine. I'm not really sure. 352HP 350lb/ft 1050KG.

 

[Victor Vance]

The Lotus Seven:

Almost nobody who I know has even heard of it. Weight is its ultimate weapon. Just over 1,000 pounds. The originals have weak powerplants, though, but the car lives on today as the Caterham C7 and Donkervoort D8 kit cars. Give it a 250 hp engine and it could smoke anything costing less than a quarter mil.

Also, the Dodge Charger Daytona and Plymouth Roadrunner Superbird:

So, just two muscle cars with a long nose and ricer's dream-sided reaw wing, right? Wrong. These cars were built with only one thing in mind. Speed. Pure speed. They couldn't brake or turn for crap, but, man, could they go fast. The Grand National (that's what NASCAR's Nextel Cup was called back then)versions were breaking 200 at Daytona (Coincidence? Remember the Ford had a Torino Talladega) and Talladega. While not supercars by any other measure, the thing is in 1969 the street versions, when equipped with the right engine (the 426 HEMI Street Wedge, naturally) could break 200 without any modifications. Well, maybe a carburaetor adjustment or two. But, they were the fastest production cars on the road.

 

[TheCracker]

The Noble and Caterham/Lotus 7 are long from forgotten in this country - i see them on a daily basis! - i'm sure they are pretty rare in the US though. Mista X - The Noble does use a highly modified Duratec V6.

 

[Victor Vance]

Yeah, the first - and only - time I ever saw a Caterham was at an SCCA Solo event. It had to be a Caterham because of the grille design.

Oh, fergot to add - Superperformance also builds replicas.

 

[TsLeng]

👍 Plymouth superbird & dodge charger daytona.

Those damn wings beat the crap out of any ricers'.

 

[S13DRIFTSPEC]

Also, the Dodge Charger Daytona and Plymouth Roadrunner Superbird:

So, just two muscle cars with a long nose and ricer's dream-sided reaw wing, right? Wrong. These cars were built with only one thing in mind. Speed. Pure speed. They couldn't brake or turn for crap, but, man, could they go fast. The Grand National (that's what NASCAR's Nextel Cup was called back then)versions were breaking 200 at Daytona (Coincidence? Remember the Ford had a Torino Talladega) and Talladega. While not supercars by any other measure, the thing is in 1969 the street versions, when equipped with the right engine (the 426 HEMI Street Wedge, naturally) could break 200 without any modifications. Well, maybe a carburaetor adjustment or two. But, they were the fastest production cars on the road.

And about the rear wing. The reason why its so high is so the trunk lid had enough room to open. I think the reason they never put the spoiler on the trunk was because it created so much downforce the trunk lid would bend or something would break i forget.

 

[Victor Vance]

👍 Plymouth superbird & dodge charger daytona.

Those damn wings beat the crap out of any ricers'.

Best part? these actually work

Most ricer's dont, but a tasteful group of sport compact tuners, who I will refuse to call ricers since they actually do a good job, put nice looking wings on that also work.

 

[Mike Rotch]

Another one is :

the Edonis

Turbo'ed 3.7l V12 giving out 680bhp @ 8000rpm.

Apparently good for 224mph and 3.9 secs for 0-60mph.

 

[Rue]

It may be 'super', but it's so ugly it's not funny.

 

[Ev0]

Blitz Skyline R34 GT-R

I know most of you are thinking the Skyline is well known, but keep in mind in North America, outside of Japanese performance enthusiasts, the Skyline is almost completely unknown. But fame aside, this is one helluva fast car. 0-60 in 3 seconds flat, top speed of over 210 mph.

 

[TheCracker]

Another one is :

the Edonis

Turbo'ed 3.7l V12 giving out 680bhp @ 8000rpm.

Apparently good for 224mph and 3.9 secs for 0-60mph.

Engine and chassis are from 'un-built' Bugatti EB110's - body styling probably by Stevie Wonder - its no 'wonder' that no one bought them!

 

[MistaX]

You can tell by looking at it it's a relative of the EB110. It looks really similar.

 

[McLaren]

This is a cool thread. I was going to make one but never got around to it. So I'm going to state a few.

One look at these, and you'll probably think these are the same. They're not. The first is a Diablo SE30 Jota, and the next is a SE30. These two Lamborghinis were greatly overlooked during their time, but that may be due to the fact they only were built in very small numbers, espcially the Jota. With only 150 made, and 12 of those Jotas, it may be easy to say why these supercars were overlooked. However, when you see a one of these in person, you'll be gald you did. These cars are extremely rare, and seeing one is said as a chance of a life time. I had that chance.

 

[Event]

I'm pretty sure that it is unanimous that these are well known supercars. Whenever I think of Lamborghini, I think Diablo.

Now, the Innotech Mysterro, there's an unknown supercar!

 

[McLaren]

But they're still Diablos hardly anyone has ever even heard of.

And the Innotech. Such an awesome car.

 

[Event]

Looks exaclty like an Inferus form GTA3. 👍

I've heard of both the Jota and SE30. I'm sure many have. When I see a Daiblo, though, I think Diablo. I don't look at what "trim" it has (unless it is a VTTT, of course. )

 

[The359]

Covini C6W:

380hp 4.2L V8, top speed of 185mph

De Tomaso Guara:

300hp 4.6L Ford V8. 0 - 60 in 5s, top speed of 170mph

Bristol Fighter S:

660hp 8.0L Viper V10. 0 - 60 in 4s

Farboud GTS:

480hp 2.8L V6. 0 - 60 in 3.3s, top speed of 200mph

Invicta S1:

320hp 4.6L Ford V8. 0 - 60 in 5.0s, top speed of 170mph

Leblanc Caroline GTR:

540hp 4.5L Supercharged V8. 0 - 60 in 2.7s, top speed of 212mph

Evans Series 3 486LM:

550hp 4.7L V8. 0 - 60 in 3.8s, top speed of 180mph (governed)

Isdera Commendator 112i:

400hp 6.0L Mercedes V12. 0 - 60 in 4.8s, top speed of 212mph

Proto Motors Spirra:

320hp 4.6L V8. 0 - 60 in 4.6s, top speed of 173mph

Mullen M-11:

270hp 3.5L Oldsmobile V6. 0 - 60 in 4.8s, top speed of 160mph

 

[McLaren]

Those are good ones. Good job The359.

 

[RB26DETT]

the jaguar XJ 220

 

[Event]

The XJ220 was the biggest disaster in Automotive history.

How about the Qvale Mangusta? I saw one of these the other day and I had no idea what it was.

 

[The359]

Some more...

Orca C113:

650hp 4.2L Audi V8

Vemac RD350:

3.5L Honda V6

Westfield XTR4:

185hp 1.8L Audi Turbo I4

 

[Quick_Nick]

The Lotus Seven:

Almost nobody who I know has even heard of it. Weight is its ultimate weapon. Just over 1,000 pounds. The originals have weak powerplants, though, but the car lives on today as the Caterham C7 and Donkervoort D8 kit cars. Give it a 250 hp engine and it could smoke anything costing less than a quarter mil.

Seven replicas are so underestimated by people. The Caterham Superlight R500 Evolution goes from 0-60 in 3.2 seconds. The Ferrari Enzo has 3.3 second McLaren F1 has 3.4 & they both cost way over $500,000.00. I've always wanted to import one, but I don't think they're street legal in the U.S.A. I've only seen one seven on the highway once a long time ago.

 

[Event]

Covini C6W:

380hp 4.2L V8, top speed of 185mph

can you say photochopped? I can see pagani Zonda, Carrera GT, AND Asari KZ1. And why are there 4 front wheels? c'mon!

EDIT: That's a real car?!? wtf! I google image searched it and it is real! wtf?

Raise your hand if you wnat it in GT4! *raises hand*

 

[The359]

Very real:

4 front wheels for improved front end grip.

 

[Mike Rotch]

Great list The359 👍

 

[bengee]

I like the Bristol Fighter. Found it while searching for British cars for "guess that car" sometime last year.

I saw a super seven (don't know what kind it was) near my house on SF roads.

 

[98cobra]

Another one is :

the Edonis

Turbo'ed 3.7l V12 giving out 680bhp @ 8000rpm.

Apparently good for 224mph and 3.9 secs for 0-60mph.

Wow only 3.9L for a V12. Pretty good numbers too. 👍

 

[98cobra]

I'm pretty sure that it is unanimous that these are well known supercars. Whenever I think of Lamborghini, I think Diablo.

Now, the Innotech Mysterro, there's an unknown supercar!

Nice, never heard of it. Any specs?

 

[TheCracker]

How about the Yamaha OX 99-11, still the nearest to an F1 car on the road