Sometimes, a car launches one step ahead of the competition. On other occasions, that step is too big, and the vehicle is too far ahead of its time.
This is often due to the technology’s infancy, but a wide array of factors, such as aerodynamics, are usually at play.
This list details 24 classic cars that were ahead of their time in one way or another. Some went on to great success, while others were a step too far.
Dodge Charger Daytona
The Charger Daytona and the Plymouth Superbird were among the NASCAR “aero cars.” Dodge extracted the most aerodynamic performance possible from the Daytona, with features such as the streamlined nose and rear wing aiding that.
Both cars, however, were too quick for the series, and NASCAR banned them in the early 1970s.
Lamborghini LM002
The LM002 was born out of the ashes of Lamborghini’s Cheetah military vehicle project. It had a 5.2- or 7.2-liter V12 engine under the hood, and Lamborghini produced 300 units.
The LM002 was a forerunner of the Urus that Lamborghini would eventually produce. In the 1980s, though, demand for a super SUV wasn’t there.
Honda Insight
The Honda Insight introduced the world to hybrid cars before they became mainstream. The Insight became the first hybrid car available in North America, with a 1.0-liter inline-three under the hood.
Adding a 13 hp electric motor boosted its fuel economy to a remarkable 73 MPG combined. Demand for hybrids was much lower, however, than it is today.
GM EV1
The General Motors EV1, the first purpose-designed electric vehicle of the modern era, could have kick-started an electric revolution. GM received a positive reception for the car when it broke cover in the 1990s.
Unfortunately, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) mandate that required the production and sale of zero-emissions vehicles (ZEV) for the seven major automakers selling cars in the USA never happened. This followed an alliance of automakers to rescind the mandate. Most EV1s were then returned to GM and crushed.
Aston Martin V8 Vantage
The V8 Vantage first appeared in 1977 and was, in effect, a British-built muscle car. But it was well ahead of the muscle car’s second coming, not long after the significant gas crisis of the 1970s.
The 390 hp V8 was spectacular, and the V8 Vantage is often regarded as one of Aston Martin’s finest creations.
Chrysler Turbine Car
Chrysler’s Turbine Car was one of the most fascinating concepts of the 1960s. Italian coachbuilder Ghia constructed the body, and under the hood was an A-831 engine that could operate on many fuels.
However, Chrysler only produced 55 turbine cars and canceled its program in 1966. Chrysler’s turbine project ceased in 1979; only nine turbine cars still exist today.
Aston Martin Lagonda
Thanks to the epic digital dashboard, Aston Martin’s Lagonda was ahead of its time. It sported CRT projectors like those in old TVs and was the first production car in the world to feature a digital instrument panel.
However, the digital instrumentation could have been more reliable, and the development cost for its electronics was four times as much as the budget for the entire car. Later versions used a more conventional dashboard.
Citroën DS
The Citroën DS’s standout feature was its hydropneumatic suspension. This allowed it to set new ride quality and handling standards, and its streamlined shape made it incredibly aerodynamic.
The DS would become one of Citroën’s most successful cars. It was also the first production car in the world to have hydropneumatic suspension and disc brakes.
Buick GNX
The GNX was the product of a partnership with ASC/McLaren. They took the standard Buick Grand National, increased the power to 276 hp and 360 lb-ft, and created the last hurrah for the model.
Many, however, say that Buick and McLaren’s power estimates were somewhat conservative, and the GNX was pushing 300 hp.
Citroën Traction Avant
Citroën set the standard for handling and occupant comfort for a long time. The Traction Avant had a low center of gravity, and it was the first production car with an all-steel monocoque aerodynamic body.
The Traction Avant lacked a separate vehicle frame or chassis under its body, helping distinguish it from its taller siblings.
Lotus Elite
The Elite was Colin Chapman and Louts’s first attempt at a road-going sports car. Unfortunately, it fell short in some areas, with a resonant vibration occurring at 4,000 rpm and poor quality control.
The Elite, however, provided solid foundations for Lotus to produce some of the finest sports cars in the world. Its successors were, therefore, much more refined.
Talbot Matra-Simca Rancho
The Talbot Rancho is an 1100 pickup truck with a lengthened chassis and polyester and fiberglass body on top of it. While it looked like a 4×4, the Rancho was front-wheel drive only.
At the time, there was no demand for a 4×4 lookalike that lacked true, off-roading capabilities. However, the car did pave the way for the SUV sector to become what it is today.
Peugeot 401 Eclipse
The Peugeot 401 Eclipse is the world’s first retractable hardtop. The French manufacturer took the covers off the stunning coupe in 1935.
Sadly, Pegeuot built just 79 examples of the 401 Eclipse. The retractable hardtop design was ahead of its time.
Pontiac Aztek
We admit that calling the Pontiac Aztek a classic is a stretch. But the Aztek was a moderately good car. What was awful, however, were the looks Pontiac’s designers gave it.
The market just wasn’t ready for a whacky, unusual-looking SUV. Fiat’s Multipla received a similar reception. Pulitzer Prize-winning automotive journalist Dan Neil called the Aztek one of the 50 worst cars ever.
Studebaker Avanti
The Studebaker Avanti certainly has one of the most striking designs of the 20th century. Studebaker’s president famously doodled the car during a flight, and it rapidly entered production.
It would become America’s first mass-produced fiberglass four-seater, featuring innovations such as a built-in roll cage, padded interior, and no front grille. Studebaker marketed it as “America’s only four-passenger high-performance personal car.”
BMW 850i
In the late 1980s, BMW wanted to boost its engine power for its new 850i flagship coupe. So it took two of its inline-six engines, mated them together, and created a new V12 coupe.
The 850i’s 5.0-liter V12 was good for 296 hp, which would rise to 322 hp. It was a striking and sleek-looking coupe, and the car was an early adopter of multi-link rear suspension.
Ford Mustang Boss 429
Ford produced the Mustang Boss 429 for two years, created for homologation reasons so the car could enter NACAR.
Ford undertook a lot of work to cram the 429 ci V8 engine into the Mustang, and ultimately, it would never race in NASCAR. The Blue Oval produced just 1,356 examples of the Boss 429.
Tucker ’48
The Tucker ’48 results from a dream by American entrepreneur Preston Tucker. He wanted to create a car with innovations such as disk brakes, a rotating headlamp, and seatbelts.
He did achieve his dream, but after just 50 units, Tucker was suddenly accused of fraud. He was soon acquitted, but the damage from his investigation and trial prevented any more of his cars from selling.
Ford Taurus SHO
In the 1980s, Ford wanted to create a high-performance version of its Taurus sedan. So, it gave the task to its Special Vehicle Operations, and the Taurus SHO was the result.
It had a 3.0-liter Ford Vulcan V6 under the hood, reworked by Yamaha to produce 220 hp. The Taurus SHO could hold its own against even the mightiest cars from Europe.
Audi A2
The Audi A2 would not look out of place if launched today. Its lightweight, low-drag, and efficient construction was one of the world’s first cars with an aluminum body.
Despite its strong points, it failed to become a sales success. It was only on the second-hand market that consumers realized how good it was.
Lamborghini Miura
Many view the Miura as having started the supercar segment. Under the hood, a 3.9-liter L406 V12 sat, and the mid-engine layout became the standard for high-performance vehicles and supercars.
The Miura laid the foundations for future Lamborghinis, allowing the Italian manufacturer to produce legends such as the Countach and Diablo.
Chrysler Airflow
The streamlined Chrysler Airflow was the first car in the world designed explicitly with aerodynamic performance in mind.
Under the hood was an inline-eight engine ranging from 4.9 to 5.3 liters, but sadly, the concept was a commercial failure. The market did not accept an aerodynamic car and one with an unpopular design.
AMC Eagle
The AMC Eagle arrived when “crossover” had yet to enter the automotive lexicon. The Eagle was incredibly forward-thinking, and AMG predicted that consumers would want a comfortable vehicle with the ride height and foul-weather capabilities of a four-wheel-drive utility vehicle.
The Eagle was the first mass-produced American passenger car with four-wheel drive, and what resulted from AMC’s drawing board was a novel and very competent vehicle. Sadly, the world wasn’t quite ready for the Eagle, but AMC had shown that the crossover concept could work.
Porsche 959
The 959 directly rivaled the Ferrari F40, but Porsche’s supercar was markedly different. Thanks to its all-wheel-drive system, the Porsche 959 was a glimpse into the future, combining race-car performance with luxury sedan comfort.
The 959 provided the basis for the first all-wheel drive Porsche 911 Carrera 4, and its performance convinced Porsche executives to make all-wheel-drive standard on all of its turbocharged 911s.
