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10 Most Important Sports Cars From Mazda

Mazda’s saga in the sports car realm reads like an impassioned chronicle of engineering boldness, lightweight agility, and soulful design. From the groundbreaking Cosmo rotary to the global phenomenon of the Miata, Mazda has consistently demonstrated that driving pleasure transcends raw horsepower.

In the spirit of renowned automotive journalist Vukasin Herbez, this article explores ten of the most important sports cars in Mazda’s history. Each selection represents a pivotal moment when Mazda dared to innovate—reinventing package layouts, embracing rotary power, or redefining affordability in a way that reshaped both the brand’s DNA and the broader sports car landscape.

1. Mazda 110S Cosmo (1967-1972)

Photo Credit: Concept Carz

When the 110S Cosmo debuted in October 1967, it wasn’t merely a halo car—it was a declaration of Mazda’s ambition. Underneath its gracefully curving coupe body hid a two-rotor Wankel engine displacing just 982 cc yet delivering 110 horsepower. That power-to-weight ratio translated to a 0-60 mph sprint in roughly 10 seconds and a top speed past 120 mph—astonishing for a sub-1.0-liter engine in 1967.

Photo Credit: Auto Gazette

Limited to around 1,176 units, the Cosmo proved rotary reliability in series production. By marrying exotic engine technology with a refined grand tourer ethos, the Cosmo launched Mazda’s long-standing romance with the rotary and set the stage for every RX that followed.

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10 Craziest Racing Cars Allowed On The Street

In an era when motorsports regulations demanded homologation specials, manufacturers unleashed engineering marvels that blurred the line between track dominance and street legality. These “crazy racing cars” were effectively detuned—or sometimes barely detuned—versions of purebred racers, fitted with headlights, mirrors, and just enough emissions controls to pass for a road car.

Here are ten of the most outrageous racing cars ever homologated for street use. Each represents a remarkable chapter in sports car history, where performance trumped practicality and a factory’s racing ambitions were writen in metal.

1. Lancia Delta S4 Stradale

Photo Credit: Motor 1

In the mid-1980s, Group B rallying reached incandescent levels of power and danger—and nowhere was that more evident than in the Lancia Delta S4. Its Stradale (road) version, produced from late 1985, was effectively a slightly tamed rally monster. Underneath the unassuming five-door hatch exterior lurked a mid-mounted 1.8 L twincharged (supercharged and turbocharged) four-cylinder making around 250 hp in road trim—or significantly more in full rally spec.

Photo Credit: Silodrome

With all-wheel drive, a Hewland gearbox, and a curb weight near 2,300 lb, the S4 Stradale could sprint to 60 mph in about 4.5 seconds. Despite its homologation requirement of 200 units, Lancia delivered only around 200 cars to customers, each a visceral reminder of the Group B lunacy. Today, the Delta S4 Stradale remains a fever dream: a car so wild on gravel that tamed slightly for tarmac, it still feels feral behind the wheel.

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Unveiling the 15 Longest-Running Car Models in the World

Throughout automotive history, only a select few car models have stood the test of time, captivating generations of drivers and adapting seamlessly to ever-evolving trends.
These legendary vehicles blend classic design with modern innovations, showcasing how engineering excellence and cultural significance can ensure longevity.
From humble beginnings to global icons, they reflect the spirit of their eras while embracing the future.
Join us as we explore the remarkable stories behind the world’s longest-running car models and discover what makes them truly timeless.

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Pick of the Day: 1972 Chevrolet Nova SS

The problem with Chevrolet muscle cars is that many were performance packages, so you need documentation in order to prove their provenance. However, our Pick of the Day is one of the few hi-po Chevrolets that has its pedigree baked in the VIN. This 1972 Chevrolet Nova SS is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Lenexa, Kansas.

Make a list of primo Chevrolet muscle cars and there’s a good chance documentation is the only way to prove it is what it is. 1961 409 Impala SS? Nothing will tell you whether it came with a 409 or the SS package. L78 1966 Chevelle SS 396? Sorry, you’re SOL—the VIN will tell you it’s a real SS, but nothing will tell you which version of the Rat motor was originally installed. Ditto the L79 1966 Nova SS. What about a first-gen Camaro Z/28? The data plate may hold a clue, depending on the model year. And the hallowed LS6 Chevelle? Nothing will give you info on whether it’s an SS 454 or which 454 it was built with, again unless you have original documentation.

The 1972 Nova SS doesn’t suffer from this problem. No, the Super Sport package is not reflected in the VIN, but the engine is. Nineteen seventy-two was the first year General Motors put the engine code in the VIN, which helps collectors to no end, and the Super Sport’s engine was an exclusive, so it wasn’t available on any other Nova. That means if you find a Nova with a “K” in the fifth character of the VIN, you will have an authentic Super Sport. The L48 350, which first appeared in the Nova SS in 1968, was now rated at 200 net horsepower after producing 270 gross horsepower the year before. Most of the drop had to do with the rating method rather than an actual drop in horsepower.

Through 1968, the model was known as the Chevy II, with the Nova and Nova SS being the highest trim levels. Starting in 1969, the Chevy II name was dropped and all were now known as Novas. From 1968-72, the Chevy II/Nova evolved little, featuring detail changes that would require a discerning eye to determine the model year. Starting in 1973, with federalized requirements for the front bumper, Chevrolet’s compact received its first restyle for its generation.

As such, the 1972 Nova SS is the last of the desirable Novas. However, this 1972 Chevrolet Nova SS  stands out for other reasons, as it has only 33K miles on the odometer. It has “the original window sticker, Protect-O-Plate, new vehicle inspection from the original dealer, maintenance logs, [and] owner’s manual, many historical and restoration photos will be included in the sale,” says the seller. Aside from its numbers-matching 350, it is equipped with a Muncie four-speed manual transmission, power front disc brakes, and Flowmaster exhaust system. Vintage aftermarket items include a column-mounted tachometer, Thrush headers, Lakewood traction bars and subframe connectors, Accel SuperCoil, Weiand intake, and Holley carb. It’s painted Golden Brown with a Light Covert cloth and vinyl bench seat—can you think of a more 1972 color combo?

Sure, the big-block 396 often seems the way to go, but those weren’t built past 1970, and it takes a lot to prove that it’s real. This 1972 Nova SS requires little fuss and offers peace of mind that no other Nova SS can offer. For $59,900, isn’t it worth the peace of mind?

Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com

350-Powered 1936 Cord 810 Custom Two-Door Westchester

This 1936 Cord 810 began its life as a Westchester sedan before becoming the subject of a custom build by a marque specialist in the 1990s that included the conversion of its bodywork to a two-door configuration and the installation of a 350ci small-block Chevrolet V8. Additional work following the seller’s acquisition 16 years ago included the installation of a General Motors 700R4 automatic transmission that sends power to the rear wheels through a 3.70:1 limited-slip Ford 9” rear end. It rides on a custom perimeter frame supported by Mustang II-style independent front suspension, triangulated four-link rear suspension, and adjustable coilover shock absorbers. Finished in black, the car also features power steering, power-assisted Wilwood cross-drilled and ventilated disc brakes, staggered-width 15” wheels with Cord chrome covers, mechanically operated pop-up headlights, burgundy cloth upholstery, air conditioning, power windows, and an engine-turned dashboard with Classic Instruments gauges. This custom Cord 810 two-door Westchester is now offered in Costa Mesa, California, with a fitted indoor car cover and a clean California title in the seller’s name.

The Cord 810 was introduced in late 1935 for the 1936 model year and returned for 1937 as the 812 before the Auburn Automobile Company ceased manufacture of the Cord marque. Gordon Buehrig-penned styling included a “coffin-nose” front profile with a louvered wraparound grille, a rear-hinged hood, hideaway headlights raised via dash-mounted hand cranks, concealed door hinges, and a locking fuel-filler door. Six body styles were offered during the Cord’s production including a pair of two-door convertibles and four four-door, fixed-roof variants.

This example’s fastback Westchester sedan coachwork was modified during the 1990s build to create a two-door, fixed roof configuration. Work included relocation of the B-pillars 6” rearward of their original positions, elimination of the rear doors, and elongation of the rear-hinged front doors to the 42” length utilized for the factory convertible variants. A perimeter frame was added underneath the unibody during the project. The body was refinished in black following the work, and a ceramic coating is said to have been applied in preparation for the sale, at which time the headlight cables were lubricated.

Burgundy-powder-coated Chevrolet Rally wheels measure 15×7” up front and 15×8″ at the rear and wear chrome Cord hubcaps and stainless-steel beauty rings. Michelin wide-whitewall tires from Diamond Back Tires measure 215R15 and 235R15. Power-assisted Wilwood Dynalite four-wheel disc brakes were added during a mechanical refresh performed by DF Metalworks in Huntington Beach, California, after the seller’s acquisition and feature four-piston calipers acting upon slotted, cross-drilled, and ventilated rotors at front and rear. The brake fluid was flushed in preparation for the sale.

The cabin is trimmed in burgundy cloth over folding front and fixed rear bench seats with matching upholstery over the door panels and rear side panels and a color-keyed headliner, carpeting, and lap belts. Modifications include Specialty Power Windows, Vintage Air air conditioning, and a Pioneer CD player. The driver-side power window unit was replaced in preparation for the sale.

The banjo-spoke steering wheel is wrapped in burgundy leather and sits on an Iditit tilt column ahead of a burgundy-painted dashboard. A Cord engine-turned panel has been retained and houses custom Classic Instruments instrumentation with burgundy dial faces including a 120-mph speedometer, a 7k-rpm tachometer, a clock, and gauges monitoring fuel pressure, fuel level, oil pressure, coolant temperature, and voltage. The six-digit odometer shows 8,300 miles, approximately 4k of which have been added under current ownership. The oil pressure and coolant temperature gauges are inaccurate.

The 350ci Chevrolet small-block V8 is said to be a crate engine that was supplied in 1995 and features an Edelbrock 1406 four-barrel carburetor, an Edelbrock Performer intake manifold, HEI ignition, and custom valve covers. The cooling system was updated following the seller’s acquisition with a Stewart Stage 2 aluminum water pump, a Walker Super Cobra copper and brass radiator, and a SPAL 2600-cfm shrouded puller fan modulated by a Derale PWM control unit. An Odyssey 980 battery is located in the trunk and is equipped with a cutout switch. An oil change was performed using synthetic oil in preparation for the sale.

The driveline has been converted from front- to rear-wheel drive and features a Stage 2 GM 700R4 automatic transmission from Mad Dog Transmissions that was installed during the work by DF Metalworks after the seller’s acquisition of the car. Also fitted at that time was a solid axle featuring a J&S Gear Co. 3.70:1 Ford 9” rear end with a limited-slip differential. Suspension modifications during the project included the addition of a Mustang II-style front end that incorporates .204-wall DOM Spartan Rod Works upper and lower A-arms, dropped forged spindles, a chrome sway bar, Carrera adjustable coilover shock absorbers, and rack-and-pinion power steering. Rear suspension utilizes an Art Morrison triangulated four-link setup with a sway bar and Bilstein adjustable coilover shock absorbers.

The title lists the car’s identification number as FB1501, which corresponds with a Cord engine number but is stamped on the cowl tag as the serial number. FB1501 is also stamped on one of the frame rails, and the stamp is shown in the photo gallery below.

15 Most Underrated Japanese Cars of the ’90s You Can Still Afford

The 1990s were a golden era for Japanese car manufacturers, blending reliability, innovative engineering, and unique styling into affordable packages. While iconic models like the Toyota Supra or Nissan Skyline often steal the spotlight, numerous hidden gems from this decade remain largely overlooked. These underrated cars provide enthusiasts with exceptional value, combining engaging driving dynamics, proven dependability, and timeless charm—all without breaking the bank. Today, many of these lesser-known classics are still affordable and readily available, making them perfect candidates for budget-minded collectors or daily drivers seeking something distinctive. Let’s explore 15 underrated Japanese vehicles from the ’90s that deserve your attention.

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15 ’90s Cars That Were Way Faster Than People Remember

The 1990s marked a vibrant era for automotive enthusiasts, defined by bold styling, advancing technology, and an increasingly competitive horsepower race. While iconic models like the Toyota Supra, Mazda RX-7, and Nissan Skyline often dominate conversations about this era, numerous other cars delivered exhilarating performance yet somehow slipped from memory. Hidden beneath more famous badges and enduring legends, these underrated vehicles offered power and acceleration that could surprise even seasoned drivers. Join us as we rediscover fifteen forgotten gems from the ’90s—cars that were far quicker, more thrilling, and significantly more impressive than most people remember today.

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10 Muscle Cars Produced In Less Then 100 Examples

Choosing a truly rare muscle car means hunting down models so scarce that spotting one today feels like striking gold. Below are ten legendary American muscle cars, each produced in fewer than 100 examples. From all-aluminum racing engines to open-top Hemi convertibles, these machines combined earth-shaking power with extreme exclusivity—delivering heart-pounding acceleration and collectibility. Buckle up as we explore ten ultra-rare muscle cars, each packing enough thrust to leave any onlooker awestruck.

1. 1969 Chevrolet Corvette ZL1 (2 Made)

1969 Chevrolet Corvette Zl1 4
Photo Credit: Mecum

Chevrolet’s 1969 Corvette ZL1 was essentially a race car in street clothes. Under its hood, an all-aluminum 427-cubic-inch V8—sourced directly from Chevy’s Top Fuel dragsters—delivered a conservative 430 horsepower rating on paper, but in practice output hovered closer to 550 hp at the crank. Bolted to a beefy M22 “rock crusher” four-speed, this Corvette rocketed to 60 mph in around four seconds—astonishing for the era.

Photo Credit: Motoring Me

Only 2 examples were built, making the ZL1 an instant legend. Its lightweight engine block and aggressive camshaft gave the Corvette blistering throttle response, ensuring that any twist of the gas pedal launched it down the quarter mile with authority.

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10 Legendary Swedish Machines

Sweden’s automotive heritage is defined by a unique blend of rugged practicality, innovative safety engineering, and unexpected performance flair. From the humble family cruiser to turbocharged rally machines, Swedish marques carved out niches that combined reliability with an understated excitement. Below are ten legendary Swedish cars from Volvo and Saab—each a testament to Scandinavian design’s blend of function, form, and fun. Buckle up as we traverse decades of clean lines, potent engines, and automotive milestones that continue to inspire enthusiasts worldwide.

1. Volvo PV444

Volvo Pv 444 Ls 1957 Rubinröd (cropped)
Photo Credit: Wiki

Launched in 1947, the Volvo PV444 marked a turning point for postwar European automaking. Its unibody construction and efficient 1.4-liter straight-four produced about 40 horsepower—modest by modern standards but spirited enough to handle rugged Swedish roads. With its distinctive rounded fenders and sloping hood, the PV444 blended charming aesthetics with unexpected agility.

1954 Volvo Pv444 Hs Rear Side
Photo Credit: Wiki

The hot-rodders of the 1950s discovered that swapping in larger B-series engines, including the 1.6- and 1.8-liter units, transformed the little Volvo into a quick street performer. Its robust chassis and simple suspension made it a favorite for rally raids, earning the PV444 its reputation as the car that put Volvo on the performance map.

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10 Attractive Mid-Size Pickup Trucks You Will Want To Own

Choosing the right mid-size pickup truck means finding a balance between rugged capability, responsive performance, and everyday usability. In 2025, several models deliver muscular power, refined handling, and attractive styling without tipping into full-size territory. Whether you need a weekend adventurer or a reliable workhorse, these ten mid-size pickups excel in power delivery, towing capacity, and driver-focused comfort.

Below, we explore ten attractive mid-size trucks available today—each packing enough grunt to satisfy gearheads while retaining maneuverability for urban streets. Buckle up as we dive into ten standout mid-size pickups you can own right now, each boasting its unique blend of performance, poise, and practicality.

1. Ford Ranger

Ford Ranger (t6, P703) Wildtrak Img 7320
Photo Credit: Wiki

The Ford Ranger mixes a bold, rugged exterior with engines that pack genuine punch. Under the hood, the 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder cranks out 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, delivering instant throttle response whether you’re towing a trailer or carving through off-road trails. With its off-road-focused Tremor package, the Ranger gains a lifted suspension, all-terrain tires, and heavy-duty skid plates—perfect for adventurous drivers who demand both traction and reliability.

Ford Ranger Raptor (p703) 1x7a6776
Photo Credit: Wiki

On paved roads, its independent front suspension and refined chassis tuning allow for predictable handling and minimal body lean. Inside, driver-assist features like adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist combine with an intuitive infotainment system to make every drive feel composed and controlled.

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