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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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Cars That Were Almost Worthless But Now Fetch Huge Prices

Depreciation is one of the nastiest words in the car world. As you probably know, the minute you drive a new car off the dealership lot, it’s technically a used vehicle, and you can no longer get the price you paid for it. Over the years, depreciation takes up to 90% of the value making the prices of old and well-worn vehicles ridiculously low. That’s also happened with the prices of the world’s most sought-after classic cars.

True, those vehicles are now cherished and multi-million-dollar investment pieces, but once, they were just old cars on the way to the scrap yard. Some even ended up there forever. All the vehicles on our list were once very cheap. But unfortunately, they aren’t anymore. Check out these cars that were once worthless but now cost big prices if you can even find them for sale.

Photo Credit: Auto WP

Toyota 2000 GT

This car was introduced in 1967 and turned the eyes of the car world to a small company from war-torn Japan. All car magazines of the period praised the ride and driving dynamics. Despite having only 150 HP from its high-revving 2.0-liter six-cylinder, the 2000 GT had decent performance and almost race car-like handling. In the late ’60s, this car entered the SCCA championship and found much success (via Toyota UK).

Unfortunately, due to high prices and poor brand recognition, the number of 2000 GTs sold was very low – exactly 351 cars until 1970. It didn’t even help that it was in a James Bond film. But we couldn’t call it a failure. The 2000 GT did precisely what it was supposed to do; it showed the world that the Japanese car industry was the next big thing in the car world.

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These Are The Most Jaw-Dropping Auto Show Reveals Of All Time

One of the most exciting aspects of the auto industry is when automakers reveal new models to the public. A lot of the time, these cars don’t come to fruition until the automaker gets feedback for a concept car. The concept car has been the way that automakers showcase the future of design. Cars like the Oldsmobile Aurora, Plymouth Prowler, and even the Ford Bronco started as concept cars.

There have also been many high-end cars revealed on the auto show circuit which was a complete surprise. The Tesla Cybertruck was one of these vehicles as the automotive industry didn’t know what to expect from Elon Musk. The Cybertruck was one of the most jaw-dropping reveals in auto show history but there have been many others as well. We looked at some of the most jaw-dropping auto show reveals in history, so check them out here.

Photo Credit: Edmunds

Porsche Mission E

The Mission E was one of the most jaw-dropping Porsches of all time because it was unlike anything else that ever hit the road. The Mission E was unlike any other Porsche before because it was a fully electric-powered sports car. No other Porsche before was a fully electric model (via Porsche).

Photo Credit: Edmunds

The Mission E was also groundbreaking because it can be fully charged in 15 minutes. Other notable features of the Mission E were the frighteningly fast 0 to 60 times the car produced. The styling of the Mission E was also different from anything else on the market at the time.

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Super-Fast SUVs That Can Outrun Even The Fastest Sports Cars

Even though the idea of fast SUVs is nothing new, auto enthusiasts are continuously amazed by just how far this segment has evolved. From crude, heavy, and slow models, the segment evolved to very expensive and very fast machines that can challenge any sports car.

And it’s not just at the stoplight drags but also on the track and in the braking course. Yes, these high-performance SUVs are that good. So we chronicled the best of these super-fast SUVs. Check out these super SUVs that can leave sports cars in the dust right here.

Photo Credit: Auto WP

Aston Martin DBX

Even though nobody expected that Aston would produce an SUV, it happened in 2020 with the fantastic DBX. The idea behind this model was to offer sports car handling and feel in an SUV body with a lot of power and driving dynamics (via Aston Martin).

Photo Credit: Auto WP

With a Mercedes-derived twin-turbo V8 under the hood, the DBX has two power levels. The base model has a 542 HP engine, while the DBX 707 has 700 HP on tap. The more powerful version can reach 60 mph in 3.1 seconds and achieve almost 200 mph.

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Discontinued Cars That Could Make Massive Comebacks

The automotive industry goes in waves, and there are always hot products that go in and out of favor. Like the station wagon, for instance. It was once a dominant form of family transportation that was replaced by the minivan. Nowadays, crossovers and SUVs are all the rage and pickup trucks have become luxury items. With the industry changing so often, vehicle nameplates get discontinued. Many of these nameplates are never seen again, and others come back after decades of memory, such as the Toyota Supra and the Chevy Camaro.

There are many great cars and trucks that have come and gone over the past couple of decades. Some of these revered discontinued vehicles are ripe for a major comeback. We looked at vehicles that were discontinued but could make a strong comeback in the coming years. The automotive industry is changing in ways it never did before, and these cars deserve to make another appearance. Check them out right here.

Photo Credit: Car Gurus

Toyota FJ Cruiser

The FJ Cruiser was released to much fanfare in 2007, and a lot of that excitement was because of its retro styling. The initial sales for the FJ Cruiser were strong, but they took a nosedive within three years. The FJ Cruiser failed because of the 2008 recession and the high cost of fuel at the time, but nowadays everyone wants an SUV. There’s huge potential for the FJ Cruiser to come back as an EV model or even a diesel-powered model. The classic styling of the truck made it a notable competitor for the Jeep Wrangler (via FOX News).

FJ Cruiser Via Motor Trend
Photo Credit: Motor Trend

The FJ Cruiser has been on the market in the rest of the world since 2007 and will cease production this year. The FJ EV concept, which debuted a few years ago, showed massive potential for what could come from the brand. With the Hummer EV and the Rivian RT, consumers are looking for fun off-roading that won’t hurt the environment. A new FJ Cruiser has the potential to be a lot more popular than the outgoing model ever was.

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These Are the Most Influential Cars In Auto Racing History

The automotive industry and racing have gone hand in hand since the creation of the first mass-produced automobile. When racing turned into professional motorsports, the big three automakers decided to get involved as a way to market their newest vehicles to consumers. In the late 1950s and early ’60s, stock car racing exploded in popularity, and these cars became rolling billboards worth millions of dollars. It’s been repeatedly said that when a car did well at the racetrack on Sunday, it would be flying off dealership lots that Monday.

Cars like the Plymouth Superbird, Chevy Monte Carlo, and Ford Thunderbird were some of the best-known cars to dominate the racing circuit. It also helped things out to have major star power behind the wheel of these cars, thanks to Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, and Jeff Gordon, just to name a few. We looked at some of the most influential cars in automotive racing history and how these cars changed the face of the automotive industry. You don’t have to be an auto historian to appreciate the relevance of these cars, so enjoy them right here.

Photo Credit: Auto WP

Ford GT

The original Ford GT was a car built with a specific purpose in mind, and that was to dethrone Ferrari in world races. The car did exactly that and was one of the most victorious cars in the history of the LeMans. What made the GT special was not only its beautifully shaped aerodynamic design but also the powerful engine under the hood (via Ford).

Photo Credit: Auto WP

The GT was such an instrumental part of automotive history that it inspired the movie “Ford vs Ferrari”. There has never been another car designed like the GT, and especially not without the interesting story behind it. In a way, the GT was the car that got the world into automotive racing on a major level.

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Muscle Cars That Smoke Most Supercars In The Quarter Mile

Introducing muscle cars to the American market brought power and performance to the masses. However, the rise in popularity of sanctioned racing saw the need for more specialized cars in the form of factory drag racers. These cars were made in minimal numbers and weren’t street-legal, but they had unreal quarter-mile times. They featured unique technology, high-compression engines, and rear slicks straight from the factory. These vehicles weren’t advertised in magazines could only be bought if you were in the know.

Today, we looked back at 40 fantastic drag-racing muscle car specials. Very rare, extremely powerful, and brutally fast, these cars shaped the history of the muscle car segment and helped establish legends on the tracks and streets. So get prepared for a quarter-mile ride of a lifetime and check out these cars right here.

Photo Credit: Mecum

Pontiac Catalina 421 “Swiss Cheese” (1962)

In the early 1960s, Pontiac realized that racing helps sell cars and that the famous Detroit mantra “Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday” works. Pontiac had a sound basis for a fast Super Stock car in the form of a two-door Catalina and a potent 421 V8 engine, but it needed more. The model needed to add power and subtract weight (via Hemmings).

Photo Credit: Mecum

To do the latter, Pontiac’s engineers manufactured numerous aluminum parts like bumpers, fenders, hoods, and so on, saving 159 pounds from the heavy car. Moreover, the car got the nickname “Swiss Cheese” since they also drilled holes in the car’s frame to save a few more grams. With a high-compression 421 V8 engine and 410 HP, these Catalinas were lightning quick. The cars were used for two years, 1962 and 1963, and Pontiac built only 14 “Swiss Cheese” Catalinas, each given to notable drag racers of the day.

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