Whether we own a classic car or not, all car lovers have that craving for them. We have that special place in our heart for some of these amazing classic cars. All of these may not be that popular, but they need to be mentioned for their share of influences. The impact that they had in the automobile industry in the course of time was great. Let us look at the 20 classic cars that you didn’t know about, but you should, in this list:
One of the amazing classic cars was the 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado. It stood out for setting the classic precedence in many ways. It was the first one to offer a mass-produced car with automatic transmission and a high compression V-8 engine.
It also was the first car to have a front wheel drive in thirty years. This car had the best power train that was recognised and distinguished. It was dramatically designed in the market after its own, and it had a long nose and hidden headlights.
It did carry a 425cubic inch rocket pushrod and its V-8 engine produced 385hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. The automatic transmission it had was TH425. In 1966 the car could go from 0-60mph in mere 7.5 seconds and it executed a top speed of 135mph.
The tornado was also the first subframe car built by GM. In those days it won great honors and titles that no other American car had ever got. It stood third in the European car of the year contest in the year 1966.
Along with this, it also won the Motor Trend of the Year award in the same year. Undoubtedly, it was one of those amazing cars that you didn’t know about but you should.
The most aerodynamic version of Mercury Cyclone the Cyclone II was made for the tracks in the year 1969. It was the model that did abide by the homologation rules of a minimum of 500 cars be produced for public sale.
The production model as such was produced in the first week itself and was made in a couple of trim packages. The Cale Yarborough special package was a white car with a red interior and exterior trims. There were only 285 units built of these models.
The other one of this make was the Dan Gurney special which had 218 units in its kitty. It sported a blue trim and interiors with white body. It also had a Ford 351 Windsor V-8 engine producing around 290 ft-lb of torque.
These amazing classic cars are very special in their own right for all of them were hand built as to add the aerodynamics to the car. The entire front was cut off just in front of the front tires. Further, the sheet-metal measuring around 19.5 inches were welded to the car.
It had a great 426-, 428-, 429 cubic inchV-8 engines. The mercury cyclone spoiler was very well able to achieve its goal and proved itself greatly in the racing circuit winning eight Grand National Races during the year 1969 and 1970.
The Buick Caballero station waggon was one of the rarest and amazing classic cars that were ever produced. This out and out the masculine car was very short lived. With its bossy feel and all steel body, it gave a very sturdy and a hard look to the Caballero.
The 1958 Buick Caballero was also designated as pillar-less hardtop wagon. Being a rear wheel drive it had a three-speed automatic transmission and a 364 cu-in V-8. It had the Dyna-flow engine that generated a 304 horsepower and a torque of 430lb-ft.
It gave a good acceleration which went 0-60mph in just 9.9 second and recording a top speed of 118mph. The 10,186 units of the Caballero were built during its one year production period. Due to its design, this station wagon was greatly practical and breezy.
Even though the Caballero faced the same problem like any other hardtops, there were complaints of the noise air leaks it had. But still, this one of the amazing classic cars was able to carve a niche’ for itself as one of the rarest makes.
This definitely is famous for the next amazing classic cars that you didn’t know about but you should. The Caballero became the next big thing in the automobile industry for quite some time.
The Dodge came up with its version of a budget muscle car- the Dodge Coronet Super Bee in the year 1968. This was to counter and compete with the Plymouth’s launch of its budget muscle car, the Road Runner in the year 1967-1968.
This famous of the amazing classic cars got its name based on the B- Body the interior was designed by Alexander-Brother. This one of the amazing classic cars was first introduced at the Detroit motor show. It was available with the powerful Hemis 426 V-8 engine.
This classic car was known for generating 425bhp. It also was equipped with an optional Mopar A-833 four-speed manual transmission, high-performance G-70 15” tires of which only 125 units were sold. The Ram chargers system of the car had two large hood scoops, an under hood air Plenum too and a switch for selecting hot or cold.
Even though it was very modestly priced but it surely did not compromise on the styling part. It was to add to the good looks a single wider rear bumble bee stripe along with ‘Scat pack’ badge on the grille and trunk were added. The fiberglass was used for the lift-off hood had a stylish black matte finish.
After its revival, the Stutz Motor company joined hands with the retired Chrysler designer Virgil Exner and together they came up beautiful Stutz Blackhawk. The American luxury two-seater which stayed in production from 1971-1987 and being hand-made it took around 1500 man-hours to built this beautiful, amazing classic car.
By the time the production ended in the year 1987, only 500-600 cars were The design included a spare tire that jutted out of the trunk-lid and the freestanding headlamp. The fuel cap was located inside the spare tire in the initial models.
This car spelled luxury and opulence in its detailing, it had a Pontiac’s 7.5lt V-8 engine. The luxurious interiors included 24-carat gold plated trim. The dashboard and the seats were of Connolly Leather, the headlining and carpeting was done in fine mink and wool.
Along with these an electric sunroof, burglar alarm and a high-end AM/FM eight track quadraphonic sound system were added. This truly luxurious, classy and amazing classic car had a long list of celebrity takers.
Each car included a dash Plaque which mentioned its original owner’s name, like the Shah of Iran, had a fleet of twelve cars. Other celebrity takers include Elvis Presley, Jerry Lewis, Isaac Hayes, Muhammad Ali, Billy Joel, and Elton John.
The 1957 lightweight French Panhard Dyna Z was a four-door sedan and two-door Cabriolet. The Panhard was known for producing economical cars and considered itself as the pioneer in automobile trend rather than a follower.
This amazing classic car also features some of the unusual engineering stances. This romantic looking car was not only efficient, unique and light without a bigger price tag. But it had a comfortable seating arrangement for six and good space for luggage too.
The generated 50bhp was achieved with its 851cc two-cylinder Boxer engine and with a four-speed column mounted control. It had great fuel economy which provided 40miles per gallon. The car gave the average speed of 60 mph and was known for easy handling.
It was also capable of achieving 80 mph and in 1957 it was very commendable. This amazing and classic car was also good on the rallying circuit registering around 900 wins. Among the triumphs, some worth mentioning is the 1-2-3 finish in the Monte Carlo Rally.
The other were the three consecutive wins of the index of performance at Le Mans from the year 1950-1952 etc. This car was one of those that you didn’t know about but you should.
The year 1969 saw the inclusion of another amazing classic car- the Marcos 3.0 GT by the British manufacturer Marcos engineering. It was a two door beautiful fastback coupe’. The design was a bit dramatic like just out of somebody’s fantasy but inside the hood, it was great stuff.
A great car that had evolved from the races, gave us performance speed and style. We love our classics because they gave us what any car lover would want giving us performance, style, design and speed back then is commendable.
The large central bonnet bulge of the car was necessary to equip it with a Ford Essex V6 engine and transmission from Ford Zodiac. It could give a 140 bhp and a144hp for Europe. It had a four-speed manual transmission from Laycock-DE-Norman Ville overdrive for the third and the fourth gear.
This amazing classic car could accelerate from 0-60mph in 6.8 seconds and gave 19.5 lb-ft of torque at 3000rpm. It had a top speed of 125mph. As we know this car had a wooden chassis which was later switched with a steel space frame for the more practical purpose. In spite of the car’s smaller frame it had good leg room and space even for taller drivers.
The Rambler Marlin debuted in the year 1965. It was one of the most
radically designed fast-back. This car was a personal luxury car with
very advanced concept interiors. It was introduced with a bang and it
was advertised in around 2,400 newspapers for its launch.
This car was everything sporty, had a distinctive style and evoked
great excitement. The Rambler Marlin wheelbase was a couple of inches
shorter. The length was also a few inches longer than any than the
regular American hardtop, making this amazing classic car look very
sleek and futuristic.
It had the deep compound-curve windshield added to the uniqueness of
the design. Along with the side window opening which was pushed back to
just the centre of the rear wheel. Even though the Rambler had great
exquisite and unique design but only 2,545 units of them were sold.
The Rambler had room for four passengers in the advanced-concept
interior. This amazing classic car had a great variation of the engine
the largest being the 270cu-in 5.4lt 4 barrel V-8 engine.
It had the automatic transmission with the shifter in the floor
console which was advanced. The Marlin was also the first American car
to have front disk brakes.
The Pontiac Club De Mer gave the term ‘futuristic’ a whole new
definition. Introduced in 1956, the great minds of Paul Gillian and
Harley Earl came together for the creation of this wonder piece.
Following the route of exclusivity, GM destroyed the only one Pontiac
De Mer they produced (even so it was a non-running mockup). There’s
only the one ¼ scale model that ever saw the sun, and as a matter of
fact continues to do so till date.
However, there is a full-sized Pontiac Club De Mer, mint shaped and
functioning fully. Apart from this, another Genius, Marty Martino,
renowned for his recreational skills, put together another Pontiac De
Mer replicating the chassis and powertrain of a 1959 Pontiac.
Besides these two, the revived version made use of the 1959 Model’s
inner doors, jambs, cowl sections, hinges and latches, augmented with
square tubing. All these features helped retain the originality of the
designated model while it flowered under the engineering skills of
Martino.
His style reflected in the authentically sculpted fiberglass outer
body that replicated the Paul-Harley design. It took the craftsmen 3
years to put together this sensation and were awarded a whopping
$110,000 when the car was sold at the 2009 Barrett-Jackson auction.
It was habitual of the GM of outdoing its rivals. It was Harley Earl
who gave birth to yet another paragon in the body of the GM Lesabre
Concept car which ironically originated out of his compulsion to beat
HIS own previous design of the Buick Y-Job.
The vision of this beauty was found in the North American Aviation
F-86 Sabre Fighter. Earl wanted a more automotive design which would at
the same time effortlessly combine the aircraft styling and
functionality.
He tested the design on himself first, using it as his personal
automobile as he believed that his likings would be equally appreciated
by the American public. The car was packed with rather impressive
features, externally as well internally.
The engine was designed to incorporate Roots-type supercharger
pushing 18.2 PSI of boost and overall was operated on 335 horsepower and
381 pound-feet of torque. The car struck the gawkers with its
wraparound windshield and the aircraft fuselage-inspired snout and
further captivated them with its sci-fi gadgetry rivaling one of a
well-engineered air-craft.
The GM Lesabre Concept has Harley Earl written all over it. This is
one of those amazing classic cars that you didn’t know much about but
you should.
Following the AMC legacy, this second-generation Javelin balanced on the two extremes- one could either fall in love or hate it forever. There was no in between. On account of its ultra-prominent bulging front fenders, the automobile came to be recognised as the “humpster” Javelin and was known as Javelin’s most extravagant and extraneous production. It was compared to the popular Mustangs of the time.
The Javelin offered a wider variety of style and performance configurations at many reasonable prices. In an effort to outrun the Mustang, the AMC produced the Javelin and the AMX simultaneously. The former was a conventional car with a live rear axle and a dual choice engine in addition to standard car features.
The subsequent models met fresh advances both in its sense of exterior and interior traits. Though as not relatively widespread as its competitor Mustangs, it’s far from impossible to track down a “humpster” Javelin or AMX.
The Kenosha County turned out more than 95,000 Javelins and 15,000 AMX’s during that period itself. But the model has managed to retain exclusivity in terms of certain color combinations, drivetrains and other options which together can deliver a desirable and hence greater valued car.
The GM went all out with the 1955 Chevrolet Biscayne XP-37, claiming it as “an exploration in elegance” by equipping the four-passenger automobile with a pillarless hardtop, panoramic windshield, distinctive side covers, swiveling front seats and finally finishing it off in brilliant Atlantic green.
The car also gave inspiration to many future classics including the Corvette, the Corvair and the evergreen Cadillac Eldorado. The car was a dream come true for people who loved cars but didn’t handle complexities well- apart from some necessary motors and servos, there were effectively no electrical systems.
In fact, the car didn’t even house a conventional car battery or fuel tank. The vehicle is currently owned by Mr. Joe Bortz a man acclaimed of an exclusive collection of historically rather significant cars (mostly concepts) believed that the car was no longer in existence until his son, fortunately, spotted a photo of it in automobile quarterly.
After an invigorating negotiation process, the car was finally rescued from an auto scrap yard in Michigan and luckily didn’t have any vital parts missing. Work on outer body deterioration started after an insight of the original condition of the car. In 2011, it was prominently displayed at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.
The mid-engine sports car with a Pininfarina-design produced by the Lancia in Italy during 1975-1981 was the Lancia Scorpion. It was produced as the contender to Fiat’s 124coupe’. It came in two series as spider and coupe’.
The spider version which was sold in America was also known as the Lancia Scorpion or the Lancia Beta Montecarlo. This amazing classic car had a uniquely designed roll back; with a manually operated Targa style convertible top.
The Lancia scorpion was an amazing classic beauty which was unveiled at the 45th Geneva Salon international Del l’Auto. It was powered by a twin-cam 1756cc engine giving out 81hp and a top speed of 190km/h with the acceleration time being 9.3 seconds.
The torque that it produced was around 89lb-ft. During a couple of years that it stayed in production, a total of 1801 units were produced making it a very collectable car as well. Almost every scorpion had a convertible top with a semi pop-up head light.
Even though being a great car it had some issues, like rust was a common issue; the firewall and the wheel were prone to rust. The audible engine noise in the interior was also an issue that could have been dealt with.
The 1965 Plymouth Belvedere was a very versatile and advanced car. It came with the model variation of the two-door hardtop, convertible model, four-door sedan also a six and a nine-passenger station wagon. The Belvedere II was a two-door hardtop coupe and convertible with a 273 cubic inch V-engine along with other engine variations.
It got a redesigning in the year 1967 when a high-performance GTX was added. The Belvedere came with both three-speed automatic and three-speed manual transmission. The 426 hemi was exclusively for the professional racers. Only 1921 units of the Belvedere II convertibles saw the light of the day.
The Plymouth Belvedere was a great amazing classic car that is very hard to find, a stylish and affordable car that delivered good torque and superb performance. With a cantilevered top that made it recognisable from a distance, it had its own aura and mechanical charm.
The basic difference of the Belvedere I and BelvedereII was that the later had all the standard equipment of the former along with special trims, carpeting, foam cushions and back up light. The car’s name was behind the front wheel opening and this car was exquisite. Definitely, a car that you didn’t know much about, but you should.
Everybody is aware of the 1950’s Cadillac Eldorado but somewhere down the line in the 1959 Desoto Firedome gets overcasted by it. This amazing classic car is equally good looking like its counterpart.
Introduced in the year 1959 it was a full sized vehicle produced by Desoto’s premium line.
It was offered in two-door coupe and convertible and four-door sedan and station wagon. The four-door sedan body type was a rear wheel drive with a three-speed manual transmission. The mid- range Firedome came with a 383V-8 engine and an amazing torque of 410ft-lb.
In order to reach the 0-60mph, it took some nine seconds, and also gave a top speed of around 119mph. The Desoto took the concept of its interpretation of forward look in its convertible way ahead it the longer hood of the car became prominent, accentuated by strong Fender blades.
To take its concept further, and add to the extravagance, this amazing classic car was available in twenty-six solid colors and 190 dual tones. The fine mesh grille with a triple scoop front bumpers was a must for all Desoto makes.
The year 1959 was a year of contrast for the Desoto although being such a wonderful car the production of the Desoto Firedome ended but the Desoto also registered its two-millionth car.
The year was 1951 and could you image a dream machine gliding on the roads, well Buick XP300 did! The company’s chief engineer is himself a pioneer car collector and he had put all his passion into designing this amazing classic car- the Buick XP 300.
It was truly the translation of his dream to create a car of the future. A two door convertible a sports car with a very futuristic design had an electric shaver grille, a wraparound windshield, a tri-finned tail, the center fin sporting an electric radio antenna and push-button power seats and windows, including the push-button rear convertible window.
The low, sleek design had heavy metal trims and heat treated aluminum body; also the use of Aluminum panels had drastically lightened the weight of the car. It had a 335hp V-8 engine and needed a menthol- gasoline fuel for itself and it could gain a top speed of 110mph.
It is also said to have recorded a top speed of 140mph by the Buick’s General Manger. This fine and the amazing classic car were truly the dream machine and it went on to find its place in the classic car exhibit of Sloan Museum in Flint, Mich.
The “La Salle” brand was manufactured by the Cadillac division of GM
motors. The La Salle Roadster got its share of revival in the year 1955.
It was in hat year that Harley Earl’s Art and Color section created two
Cadillac dream cars for the GM motor’s Motorama car show.
One of these amazing classic cars had a four-door hardtop sedan and
the another one was a two-seat convertible roadster. Both of them were
showcased in the Motorama for their innovation and great styling later
were toured through large parts of North America.
Some of the designs were based on the previous La Salle designs like
the vertical grille opening, Dagmar bumper guards, unique open rear
wheels, cars were painted pearlescent white, with a contrasting blue
Cove ellipse on the body side.
This amazing classic car had a uni-body construction, the fiberglass
body was strengthened by the custom built steel frame. This amazing
classic car had a ground clearance of 5.1inches and had a 13inch turbine
style wheel and the brake drums cast at the centre section of the cars.
Although its reign was short-lived, this classic beauty went down the pages of history with good reviews.
Here comes the next car on the list of the classic cars that you
didn’t know about but you should. The Gm Firebird III was a very
futuristic and a space-age inspired amazing classic car. The imagination
of Earl Harley reached its epitome with the design of the third car in
the gas-turbine powered engine experiments.
The design of the car was truly futuristic in its approach the
steering wheel, brake pedal and the accelerator was totally replaced
with a single stick control system; which was placed between the two
seats. The no hold steering, the space age air-drag brakes like those
found in aircraft and the automated guidance system took care of the
safety of the car.
Through the futuristic ultrasonic key of this amazing classic car,
the large butterfly doors were opened by high-frequency sound waves of
this key. It also became the ultimate fun car with nice fins. The ground
clearance was only of 5.3 inches.
The body was that surely aerodynamically designed with its fibreglass
body the color was also taken care of with its silver-gold pearlescent
rocket-like effect. This two-seater amazing classic car had probably the
most daring design and innovation of all time put together.
The elegant maker Saab came up with the concept car of the Saab
Sonett II was beautiful and amazing classic car. A race car by design it
gave great competition to its contemporaries like Austin-Healy Sprite,
triumph spitfire etc.
But unfortunately it was disqualified from certain competitions due
to its limited number of production, but that contrarily helped it to
achieve what it today stands as one of the coveted collectables. It was
the most collectable and sought after the car had a fiberglass body
which was fixed to a box type chassis and the roll-bar that supported
the hardtop.
The 1969 Saab Sonnett II had a two-stroke engine namely Shrike which
could give a decent 70 hp and the engine displacement was an impressive
841cc, but this became relatively unpopular in the United States of
America due to its failed emission standards so a switch to Ford Taunus
V-4 engine came forth.
Nowadays the front wheel drive is a very normal affair but back then
sporting such a thing is worth mentioning. Interestingly this feature of
this exotic looking car also was considered very helpful and good for
trekking in tough condition. This amazing classic car was light, fast,
nimble and noisy everything put together for a great sports car.
The high-performance two-seater sports roadster was built by a
British Manufacturer Rootes group. As the history goes the formula one
champion Jack Brabham went to Rootes with the suggestion of conversion
of Alpine’s smaller engine with a larger ford V-8 engine.
And the Sunbeam Tiger went into production in the year 1964 sporting a
260 cu in 4.3lt V-8 engine and it gave around 174bhp and a top speed
120mph and could go 0-60 in a good 8.6 seconds. The initial produce of
the assembly was fitted with Borg-Warner 4 speed All-Synchromesh manual
gearbox.
Some important changes were required for befitting such a powerful
engine in a smaller car. The chassis was modified to meet the demands
along with it, the rack and the pinion system was adopted for the
flexibility of the car. Despite the cars shorter wheelbase, it was roomy
enough for taller drivers.
The year 1965 was very successful for Sunbeam recording two wins and
seven podiums. Almost 7,100 units were produced until the end of the
line in the year 1967. The Tiger was a revised version of its older
self, with revised bumpers, new-turn light and side chrome fitting,
twice as powerful than the Alpine it was only 20% heavier than it.
