Sometimes, we forget that certain cars ever existed, and they slip into obscurity. That can happen to some of the best vehicles on the planet, but once we remember them, we realize how good they were.
Or, in some cases, how bad they were. This list contains some of the best and worst classic cars we have all forgotten about and why they were so good or best avoided.
Audi V8
We all know about the Audi A8 and S8, but a car that came before both of those was the Audi V8 launched in 1988. While it looked similar to the Audi 200, the V8 had unique body panels that marked it from its siblings, and under the hood was a novel V8 engine.
Audi fused two Volkswagen Golf GTI 16-valve units to form a 3.6-liter V8, providing 250 hp. That was enough to propel the Audi V8 to a top speed of 155 mph with a 0-62 mph time of 7.6 seconds. The Audi V8 was a powerful, reliable, safe, and comfortable car that, for whatever reason, has faded into obscurity. The reality is that it deserves far more attention than it gets.
GMC Syclone
Despite its phenomenal success and fame in the enthusiast segment, GMC’s stunning Syclone pickup truck has slipped into the shadows. This is because GMC only sold the truck for a single year, from 1991 to 1992. Based on the GMC Sonoma, the Syclone is a high-performance version of the truck with a 4.3-liter LB4 turbocharged V6 under the hood.
The Syclone is widely considered one of the best performance trucks ever. The truck produces a staggering 280 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque, and when new, the Syclone could accelerate from 0-60 mph in just 4.3 seconds and complete the quarter-mile in 13.4 seconds. These impressive performance figures testify to the Syclone’s power and speed.
GMC Typhoon
Another excellent forgotten GMC product due to its short production run is the incredible GMC Typhoon SUV. Like the Syclone, the Typhoon was a high-performance vehicle based on the Syclone pickup truck. Under the hood sat the same engine, a 4.3-liter GM LB4 turbocharged V6 producing the same 280 hp and 360 lb-ft of torque.
The Typhoon and Syclone got their extra power thanks to a Mitsubishi TD06-17C/8 cm2 turbocharger producing 14 psi of boost and a Garrett water and air intercooler. GMC also revised the intake and exhaust manifolds and fuel system, and both vehicles had a new throttle body from the 5.7-liter GM small block V8. From 1992 to 1993, GMC produced 4,697 Typhoons.
Honda Accord Type R
Think of Honda Type Rs, and your mind will go to the Civic Type R or the exceptional Integra Type R, also sold as an Acura. However, Honda also produced an Accord Type R, the thinking man’s Type R. Under the hood is a 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine derived from the Prelude, complete with VTEC, producing 209 hp and 158 lb-ft of torque.
Its lower torque and power peaks than an Integra Type R means the power delivery is smoother and less volatile than other Honda Type Rs. The exceptional front-wheel drive system provides grip and confidence, and the Accord Type R was lighter than its main rivals, the Ford Mondeo ST200, Vauxhall Vectra V6 GSi, and Alfa Romeo 156 V6.
Subaru SVX
When we think of Subaru, we usually think of family wagons, extreme rally cars, and off-road masterpieces. However, in the 1980s, Subaru decided to try a high-end sports car, and thus, the gorgeous SVX was born.
Subaru created the SVX to compete with rivals from Europe. It went all-in with the design and enlisted the services of legendary designer Giorgetto Giugiaro to create an eye-catching coupe. He certainly did that, with a fighter jet-style canopy and a sleek, streamlined body, creating a gorgeous car with an exceptional interior. The SVX had a 3.3-liter DOHC flat-six under the hood with 231 hp.
Lancia Thema 8.32
In the 1980s, Lancia saw what BMW was doing with the M5 and decided to produce something to rival its German competition. The Italian manufacturer developed the Thema 8.32, a higher-performance version of the Thema with a powerful Ferrari V8 under the hood.
The engine was a 3.0-liter Ferrari F105L V8, modified with a cross-plane. This changed the firing order of the smaller valves to make them better suited for long-distance travel. Lancia sold fewer Thema 8.32s than hoped, thanks to the high $40,000 asking price.
Renault Alpine GTA
In recent years, Renault has veered from producing its own sports cars. It’s left that role to its Alpine division with the brilliant A110. However, one of the best cars from its past is the Renault Alpine GTA, with the French manufacturer producing just 7,400 examples in the 1980s. The GTA was also the first Alpine produced 100 percent by parent company Renault.
Under the hood, the GTA launched with a 2.9-liter V6 engine, producing 160 hp and 166 lb-ft of torque. Later, the company introduced a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine, which had 200 hp and 214 lb-ft of torque. The sleek, streamlined design is still eye-catching in 2024, and with so few made, it’s one of the rarest cars Renault has built.
Yugo/Zastava Yugo
Often referred to as the Yugo, the Zastava Yugo was a shortened version of the Fiat 128, and this basic car did make its way to the United States. Imported from Yugoslavia, it sold for around $4,000. It was basic, with cheap plastics and materials used throughout, although it was still a better bet than some of the Ladas of the time.
Zastava produced the Yugo from 1980 to 2008. Under the hood, a range of basic and small inline-your engines produced up to 65 hp in 1.3-liter form. Thanks to Malcolm Bricklin, the cheap, compact car came to America from 1985 until 1992. In total, Zastava sold 141,651 Yugos in the United States.
Reliant Robin
The Reliant Robin is often the car that symbolizes the three-wheeler segment. British manufacturer Reliant introduced the Robin in 1975, hoping to make three-wheelers more mainstream. The Robin’s small size made it great for city use and parking in tight spots, but its three-wheel arrangement could be precarious.
While exaggerated by Jeremy Clarkson and Top Gear, Robin was badly affected by instability. So was power, with the 850 cc engine producing just 33 hp. Even worse was the rust issues that constantly plagued the Robin, making it hard to find one in good condition.
1970-1977 Ford Pinto
As time passes, more and more people begin to forget about the Ford Pinto. This is probably for the best, as the Pinto is a blot on Ford’s copybook that the Blue Oval would rather we not know about. The subcompact car made its debut in 1970, yet it quickly became apparent that the design was fatally flawed.
If a Pinto was rear-ended, it had a horrible tendency to catch suddenly fire. An NHTSA investigation revealed this was due to a poor fuel tank design, but more remarkable is that Ford knew there was an issue but never changed the design. Around a dozen people died in fiery Pinto accidents, ruining the car’s reputation beyond repair.
Porsche 914
Over the last few decades, Porsche has worried about the longevity of the 911, so it began introducing other cars to the range, such as the 924 and 944. One that is regularly forgotten about, however, is the Porsche 914, available only as a targa-topped two-seat roadster.
Under the hood, the range-topping 914/6 had a 2.0-liter Porsche 901/3 flat-six with 109 hp, while the standard 914/4 engine was a 1.7-liter Beetle-derived Type 4 with 79 hp. Thanks to its large trunk, the 914 was a more practical sports car, and it became Porsche’s top seller during its model run, outselling the Porsche 911 with over 118,000 units sold worldwide.
Renault Espace
Family MPVs are some of the most practical vehicles on the market, and that story started with the Renault Espace, which made its debut in 1984. The car initially debuted as the Mtra P18, which was then developed into the first-generation Espace. Under the hood, there was a choice between two inline-fours and a turbodiesel inline-four.
Renault adopted a fiberglass body on a warm-galvanized steel monocoque spaceframe, with the galvanization process increasing torsional rigidity by 60 percent. Renault introduced the Espace II in 1991, and the Espace is now in its sixth generation, although it is now markedly different from the first production version of 1984.
Matra-Simca Rancho
The Matra Rancho might look like a Range Rover, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Launching in 1977, the Rancho was a Simca, later a Talbot, 1100 pickup truck with a new body section bolted onto the pickup truck bed. Matra lengthened the chassis and produced a polyester and glass fiber body. Its unusual looks gave the Rancho a certain charm, although its off-road pedigree is deceiving as it only had two-wheel drive, and Under the hood was a small, 1.4-liter 80 hp engine.
Matra sold 58,000 Ranchos in the United Kingdom until production stopped in 1984. While it wasn’t a remarkable vehicle, the Rancho introduced the world to the concept of a crossover SUV. It paved the way for the popular SUV segment, making this unusual SUV ahead of its time.
