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Gone Forever: Forgotten Car Brands That Disappeared From The Auto World

Brands like Ford, General Motors, and others have become synonymous with the auto industry and cars overall. But many lesser-known car companies have come and gone over the years. Brands like American Motors (AMC), DeLorean, and even International have entered and exited the automotive market. Those brands that disappeared all brought something to the table at one point in time.

But ultimately, these companies had many issues with funding, sales, and/or design flaws. Some companies like Packard tried new designs and technology far ahead of their time. The aforementioned AMC was a company once ahead of the pack but it fell behind by the 1970s and ’80s. Automotive brands like DeLorean had great concepts, but the final product didn’t resonate with consumers. Check out these lesser-Known car brands that disappeared from the auto world forever right here.

Photo Credit: Mecum

DeLorean Motor Company

DeLorean Motor Company, or DMC for short, was founded by legendary automotive executive John DeLorean. The brand debuted on the market in 1975. The company goal was to build a different kind of sports car. Delorean sought government assistance by building the DeLorean factory in an area with high unemployment. The original DeLorean factory was built in 1978 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The DMC DeLorean is a mid-engined car, what a performance car from this era should be (via Britannica).

Photo Credit: Mecum

Unfortunately, the DMC was the only model the company produced. The automotive media lambasted the car for its underwhelming performance number of 0-60 in 10.5 seconds. They also didn’t like the inability to choose any color other than stainless steel. The fact that the car couldn’t be painted caused a lot of frustration among consumers who would have otherwise purchased a DMC. Coupled with John DeLorean’s takedown by the FBI, the brand was bankrupt by the early 1980s.

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Rare Power: These Classic Muscle Cars Could Make You A Millionaire

Most drivers know that the prices of classic muscle cars have gone through the roof. It can indeed take a millionaire to win some of the classic car auctions we see today. It all started in the ’90s when people rushed to snap the cars they lusted over in their youth, making $5000 cars worth $50,000 overnight. But it didn’t stop there. Rare, desirable cars equipped with special options had even more significant price hikes.

These made certain vehicles worth over $1,000,000. It was an important milestone for muscle car culture. Today, the price tag of $1 million is not uncommon in the classic muscle car world. Here are several cars that could make you a millionaire someday if you’re lucky enough to own them and put them up for sale.

Ford thunderbird
Photo Credit: Car Domain

Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt

In 1963, Pontiac, Chevrolet, and GM were out of factory-supported racing. Mopar dominated the strip with the Max Wedge. But that was about to change when Ford introduced a factory-built drag racer called the Fairlane Thunderbolt for the 1964 season.

Photo Credit: Auto WP

Built using a plain Fairlane two-door sedan body and removing all but the essentials, the Thunderbolt was all about lightweight and power. The interior was spartan and the trim was removed. Ford realized that van-sourced bucket seats were lighter than the standard bench, so the Thunderbolt had two small seats in the front. Under the hood was the new 427 V8 FE with a factory output of 425 HP. However, experts think the actual output was closer to 600 HP since the engine had a special intake manifold, high-performance heads, and special pistons (via Auto Evolution).

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The Most Futuristic Electric Cars You Won’t Believe Actually Exist

The auto industry is constantly changing and moving toward the future. The cars you see today will be completely different tomorrow. A big reason for that is that electric cars have been making inroads into the auto industry since the 1990s when battery technology matured. But it’s only been in the last 10 years that electric cars have become a staple of everyday driving. The electric cars that we often see as concept vehicles are unbelievably futuristic.

But all these cars actually exist, albeit in concept and production forms. Consumers are more welcoming toward electric cars now than ever before. From the Cybertruck to the Rivian R1, there are more reasons than ever to embrace an electric car. So we looked at the most futuristic electric cars that you won’t believe actually exist. These were and are cars that set the standard for what the future of electric vehicles would be.

Photo Credit: Driving Electric

Lucid Air

A car company developed the Lucid Air with no previous products and no prior experience in the car industry. But thanks to a comprehensive design process and warranty plan, the Lucid Air is one of the most compelling electric cars on the road. This car offers pure luxury in every sense of the word (via Car & Driver).

Photo Credit: Driving Electric

The Lucid Air is what the future of luxury cars looks like and it’s quite impressive. The interior of the Lucid Air has some of the most expensive materials ever used in a luxury sedan. With a comprehensive warranty and technology, the Lucid Air could compete with some of the finest luxury cars in the world.

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These American Cars Were Never Even Available In The US

The American car industry is the biggest in the world. Its history is fascinating and full of very recognizable American cars. Everyone in the world who even remotely understand cars knows the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Corvette, or Jeep Willys. Names like Cadillac, Ram, or Buick are distinctly American. Even non-car people know what they are.

However, due to expansion, American companies opened branches all over the world and produced numerous cars both under familiar and not-so-familiar names that were never offered in the States. So today, we showcased these American models. You might recognize the nameplate, but we guarantee you won’t recognize the shape. Check out these American anomalies below.

Photo Credit: Wiki

Dodge 3700 GT

For many years, the Dodge Dart was one of the best-selling Mopar products in America. But very few people know that it had a significant presence in Spain under the name Dodge 3700. This model wasn’t identical to US-built Darts, but was positioned slightly upmarket. It was the most powerful and expensive car produced in Spain in the 1970s (via Bring A Trailer).

Photo Credit: Pinterest

The first Dodge 3700 GT left the factory in 1971 with a 225 Slant Six engine. The 225 CID is 3.7 liters, hence the 3700 designation. This Dodge got GT brakes, improved suspension, and a luxury interior. That’s why the Spanish government often used it. Production ceased in 1977 after only 9959 examples.

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The Greatest General Motors Cars Of The 1980s and ’90s

General Motors was one of the most iconic automakers during the muscle car era of the 1960s and ’70s. But by the 1980s and 90s, drivers saw General Motors as a far different company. Sales of General Motors cars were slipping and consumer tastes were shifting more toward imports. The company had to adapt quickly, but many of its efforts were short-lived failures like the Pontiac Fiero.

There were a few notable GM cars that came out in the 1980s and ’90s, however, and many were forward-thinking concepts. For example, the Typhoon and Syclone are still considered two of the fastest vehicles ever made. The 1995 Impala SS was also an iconic car that’s still a part of pop culture today. You could also say the C5 Corvette was one of the most iconic Corvette models ever made. So we looked back at the greatest GM creations of the 1980s and ‘90s. Take a trip down memory lane with some of your favorite General Motors cars of decades past here.

Photo Credit: Mecum

1981 Corvette C3

The 1981 Corvette C3 is one of the most controversial Corvette models. Because of the tightening emissions laws at the time, the C3 was only available with a single-engine option. The L81 engine only had a measly 190 horsepower but the rest of the car was flawless. The lines on the C3 Corvette were some of the most beautiful in Corvette history (via Bring a Trailer).

Photo Credit: Hagerty

The interior was also a vast improvement over the previous generations as the car was a lot more livable for the driver. The Corvette C3 was a sports car that suffered from the political climate at the time but its design wasn’t that bad.

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These Amazing Corvettes Made True Automotive History

Ever since the first Corvette was unveiled on the showroom floor in 1953, the model has been a golden standard for American performance. Born out of a desire to compete with the best European sports cars, Chevrolet has managed to be the dominant force in the segment for 70 years now. The Corvette is not only one of the longest-running nameplates but also one of the most successful sports cars of all time. Many amazing Corvettes rank among the best American cars as true gems.

The Corvette is not just an icon in the engineering and design sense of the word. It’s also a symbol of the US car industry, design approach, and overall philosophy. The Corvette has come a long way from the small, fiberglass-bodied roadster of 1953 to today’s 21st-century supersonic sports car with a rear-mounted engine. In preparation for the Corvette’s 70th birthday, take a look back at the truly amazing Corvettes that made history.

Photo Credit: Mecum

1953 Corvette

The introduction of the Corvette was the most important automotive news of 1953 as no one expected such an exotic car to be built and marketed by Chevrolet. All of a sudden, there was a brand new roadster made by a mid-class manufacturer with no sports car experience. However, despite that, the first Corvette was a well-designed and well-executed model. The most exciting thing about the new Corvette was its fiberglass body. Back in the early ’50s, plastic was still the material of the future and wasn’t common in the industry (via Corvette Story).

Photo Credit: GM

Under the hood was an inline-six engine called “Blue Flame” featuring a 3.9-liter displacement and a modest 136 HP. The engine came from Chevrolet’s standard lineup equipped with three Carter carburetors. Chevy engineers tried to keep costs down by borrowing mechanical components from other vehicles and using them on the Corvette. The price was $3490, so the 1953 Corvette wasn’t exactly affordable but cheaper than a Jaguar XK120 or a Ferrari 166.

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Unique Cars That Only Earned Respect After They Were Discontinued

A car company takes a huge risk every time it releases a new model. They don’t know if customers will respect it or if its design will appeal to the buying public. Customers wonder if it will actually be a dependable machine. Answers to those questions only come with time and real-world driving. However, some cars somehow flew under the radar and didn’t achieve the mainstream popularity the companies hoped for when they were released.

The cars listed below did just that. We can’t exactly call them flops because all of the machines on this list are capable and well-executed models. But they only (and finally) gained popularity only after they were discontinued. Some of them are valuable classics today that simply were not very popular when they were new. They all had some interesting features or designs but needed to be more understood by the general market. Look back on these interesting, late-blooming cars right here.

Photo Credit: Auto WP

Mercury Cyclone CJ

Even though the is far from the first muscle car name that pops into your head when you think of late ’60s muscle cars, this Mercury was popular back in the day. However, today it’s forgotten along with the brand itself, which was discontinued by Ford a few years ago. Along with the compact-sized and Mustang-based Cougar, Mercury had the Cyclone, an intermediate muscle car built on the Fairlane/Torino platform (via Hemmings).

Photo Credit: Auto WP

The Cyclone was introduced in 1964 and stayed on the market until 1971. The best version, which is the most interesting to collectors, was the Cyclone CJ. Those two letters marked the presence of the famed 428 Cobra Jet engine, which was the first genuine street muscle engine built by Ford. With a 7.0-liter displacement and an advertised 335 HP, the Cobra Jet really produced over 400 horses in real life. The Cyclone CJ was a serious street racing contender, and this new engine significantly upped the performance. However, less than 3,500 Cyclone CJs left the factory in 1969.

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Classic Cars We Wouldn’t Touch With a 10-Foot Pole

Classic cars are a big part of the automotive industry because they reintroduce us to the passion that went into developing the vehicles that we have today. Many of these classic cars have increased in price and popularity in recent years. But not every classic car is worth a fortune, even though the values on many cars have been bolstered due to nothing more than simple nostalgia.

These classic vehicles rank among the greatest in car history. But others should be avoided at all costs. There have been several cars released over the past 40 years that just left drivers scratching their heads. Automakers have changed a lot over the past couple of decades, and much of that experience comes from failed car models. We looked at classic cars that most drivers shouldn’t touch with a 10-foot pole. Find out the specific cars we’re talking about below. You’ve been warned.

Photo Credit: Car Domain

1984 Ford Bronco II

The Ford Bronco II was a modest attempt by Ford to capture some market share created by the Jeep Cherokee and the Chevy S10 Blazer. Both the Cherokee and S10 Blazer were breakout successes, and Ford wanted to get in on this. Although the Bronco II was far-cry from the full-size Bronco with which it shared a nameplate. The problem was the Bronco II was nothing like the Bronco models that made the nameplate a hit with consumers (via Motor Trend).

Photo Credit: Car Domain

The most obvious drawback to the Bronco II was the lack of a removable top. The full-size Bronco’s always offered a removable top as an option, and the Bronco II was lacking in this department. The next drawback was that the Bronco II didn’t offer a V8 engine, a standard feature in all the previous Bronco generations.

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These Classic Cars Were Only Sold For One Model Year

Whenever a car is released on the market, the company that produced it projects its market life. On average, new vehicles spend five to seven years on the market, after which they are significantly refreshed or completely redesigned. However, in the case of some classic cars, manufacturers deliberately present models with a limited market life of even one single year.

Called “one-hit-wonders,” these cars were available for a limited amount of time and are often more exciting versions of standard models. These “one and done” models had unique designs, features, and performance and became collector’s items. We compiled the most interesting classic cars that were available for just one model year here.

Photo Credit: Bring a Trailer

Oldsmobile Rally 350

To fight tightening regulations that were destroying the muscle car class, Oldsmobile introduced the bright yellow Rally 350 model. It was a clever way to avoid high insurance premiums with a smaller but still powerful 350 V8 engine featuring 310 HP (via Hemmings).

Photo Credit: Motorious

Other manufacturers introduced similar models, but Oldsmobile is most famous due to its unmistakable appearance and eye-catching yellow paint. However, Rally 350 wasn’t a big success on the market despite the clever engineering, and GM made only 3547 examples in 1970.

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These Sports Cars and Trucks Defined The 1990s

The 1990s were one of the most innovative times in the auto industry. Car fans went from the boxes of the 1980s to the sleek modern cars that we have today. Certain cars changed the game, like the Toyota Supra Turbo and the cab-forward Chrysler sedans. The 1990s were also the birth of the SUV era, which is now the preferred type of vehicle in today’s world. The car industry also saw pickup trucks venture further into the mainstream and move away from being a farm tool.

The 1990s also saw many automotive brands fade away such as AMC, Eagle, and Geo. This was the decade of change and no industry saw as much change as the auto industry. We looked back at sports cars and trucks that completely defined the decade. These were vehicles that pushed the boundaries of design and performance. When you think of the car industry in the ’90s, you can’t go back in time without thinking about these cars and trucks first.

Photo Credit: Mecum

GMC Typhoon

Nowadays the idea of a super powerful performance SUV isn’t out of the question. The Typhoon was the fastest production SUV of the period. The performance was downright exhilarating using the same type of turbocharged engine that was found in the Grand National. The fact that it was based on the S-15 platform made it even better (via Car & Driver).

Photo Credit Mecum

The production cycle for the Typhoon was very short, but in that short amount of time, the SUV made quite an impact. The Typhoon was the stuff of legends and it paved the way for the performance vehicles like the Grand Cherokee SRT that we have today.

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