Ferrari F40

The number of cars that are no longer in production today that we wish could be returned is vast. Everything from sports cars to supercars to family cars is included, and we have struggled to narrow it down to a compact list.

But this list has 13 of the best vintage cars from history that should return. Their presence on this list is based on their overall performance, desirability, and reputation when in production. 

Jaguar E-Type

1961 Jaguar E-Type
Image Credit: Mecum.

The iconic Jaguar E-Type is easily one of the most beautiful cars ever created. Enzo Ferrari reportedly said it was “the most beautiful car ever made.” Jaguar launched the E-Type in 1961, becoming the XK-E in the United States. Series 1 E-Types had the 3,8 and 4.2-liter XK inline-sixes under the hood, producing 265 hp and propelling the E-Type to 150 mph.

When Jaguar introduced the Series 3, the E-Type now had a 5.3-liter V12 under the hood, which saw a power increase of 272 hp and more torque than the Series 1 and Series 2. The Series 3 is easily identifiable thanks to the large cross-slatted front grille, flared wheel arches, and wider tires.

BMW M1

BMW M1
Image Credit: Olli1800, CC BY-SA 3.0/Wikimedia Commons.

The spectacular BMW M1 is the car that launched BMW’s M division into the performance giant it is today. The M1 launched in 1978 after a troubled upbringing, with BMW initially partnering with Lamborghini to create the car. Conflicts and Lamborghini’s financial issues saw BMW go alone, producing a gorgeous supercar with a 3.5-liter M88 inline-six with 273 hp and 243 lb-ft of torque.

Remarkably, BMW’s M division would not produce their bespoke performance car until 2023 with the hideous XM SUV. The BMW i8 is the closest we have got to a genuine M1 replacement, while BMW also toyed with the idea of a new M1 with the M1 Homage from 2008.

Subaru SVX

Subaru SVX
Image Credit: Svxcess at English Wikipedia, Public domain/Wikimedia Commons.

Subaru is most famous for its fast, potent rally cars and family SUVs. However, Japanese manufacturers can produce great sports cars when they put their minds to it. The Subaru SVX was Subaru’s first attempt at a luxury performance car as it looked to take on its rivals from Europe.

Subaru enlisted the help of design genius Giorgetto Giugiaro to produce the SVX. Giugiaro developed an eye-catching, sleek, streamlined sports car with a fighter jet-style canopy and a lavish interior. Under the hood, Subaru gave the SVX a 3.3-liter DOHC flat-six with 231 hp, and it remains one of the best cars Subaru has ever produced.

Lancia Thema 8.32

Lancia Thema 8.32 Estate
Image Credit: Lebubu93, CC BY-SA 3.0/Wikimedia Commons.

In the mid-1980s, Lancia was looking at creating a performance saloon. The trouble was that the competition was tough, thanks to the BMW M5, but Lancia felt it could produce something better. Enter the Lancia Thema 8.32, a higher performance version of the Thema saloon with eight, meaning eight cylinders, and the .32 standing for 32 valves.

Lancia worked its magic under the hood, taking a Ferrari 2.9-liter V8 engine typically found in the Ferrari 308 and reworking it to better suit the Thema 8.32. The 212 hp engine now had a crossplane crank, making it much better suited for longer-distance driving, and the 8.32 did provide a brilliant driving experience. Only the high asking price of $40,000 let it down.

Oldsmobile 442

1972 442 Oldsmobile
Image Credit: Vernon Harvey/Flickr.

Oldsmobile is a name long consigned to the history books, but the American manufacturer knew how to produce an amazing muscle car. Its finest was the Oldsmobile 442, which was released in the 1960s during the golden era of muscle cars. 

The late 1960s and beginning of the 1970s were its heyday, with the 1970 442 having a massive 7.5-liter V8 under the hood producing 370 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque. Muscle cars are becoming a rare breed with the demise of the Chevrolet Camaro and the Dodge Challenger and Charger. So, a return of Oldsmobile is something we can all get behind.

Lamborghini LM002

Image Credit: Mecum.

The Lamborghini LM002 is more of a modern classic, but it’s one we wish Lamborghini could bring back. While it wasn’t a massive sales success, it was a brilliant performance SUV. The Italian manufacturer took the lessons from its failed Cheetah and LM001 programs to produce a striking SUV with considerable power under the hood.

The LM002 had a 5.2-liter L503 V12 producing 444 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, while the 7.2-liter L804 marine V12 used in various Class 1 offshore powerboats offered more power. This V12 produced 612 hp, a significant increase on the regular L503 model. Lamborghini only produced 301 LM002s, which makes them exceptionally rare.

Renault 4

Renault 4
Image Credit: Lothar Spurzem, CC BY-SA 2.0 DE/Wikimedia Commons.

With the new Renault 5 EV proving that older small cars can return as retro electric cars, maybe Renault should bring back the even smaller Renault 4. The original Renault 4 had a lot of charm, coming in as a new “car of the people” for France to replace the aging Citroen 2CV.

Power came thanks to a small, water-cooled 600cc 1.1-liter four-cylinder engine. While the Renault 4 only produced up to 32 hp, it was more than enough for a city car of the era, and the small size meant the Renault 4 was very light. The updated styling of the Renault compared to the 2CV made it a hit with the French public, and it provided a nice boost to the French manufacturer.

Pontiac Firebird Trans Am

1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am SE
Image Credit: Mecum.

Pontiac is another American automotive name now consigned to the history books. But many still hold out hope that one day Pontiac could return, and what better way to do so than with the Firebird Trans Am. The Trans Am became most famous thanks to its appearance in Smokey and the Bandit, which starred Burt Reynolds.

Pontiac produced the Firebird from 1967 to 2002, with the second generation being the most famous, thanks to Reynolds. The number of engines available with the Firebird in the 1970s was vast, ranging from a Buick V6 to a Chevrolet inline-six and up to the enormous 7.5-liter Pontiac V8. Sadly, the gas crises of the 1970s saw power figures take a hit, but the Firebird remained an icon.

Buick Gran Sport GS 455

 

Buick Gran Sport 455 Stage I
Image Credit: Mopar89, CC BY-SA 3.0/Wikimedia Commons.

Buick might still be around, but it has been some time since they produced a genuine, performance car. The Gran Sport, however, was one of their best, and it had been around the block a few times by the time they introduced the GS 455 version. This was the ultimate version of the Gran Sport, with a massive 7.5-liter V8 producing 350 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque.

With optional upgrades, that power could rise even higher. The Stage 1 trim boosted power to 360 hp, yet according to Dennis Manner, a Buick Engine development engineer, dyno tests of the Stage 1 upgraded GS 455 saw the power figure rated at 376 hp.

Citroen BX

Citroen BX
Image Credit: Guillaume Vachey, CC0/Wikimedia Commons.

Again, we are stretching the term vintage here with a modern classic; however, the Citroen BX showed just how incredible the French manufacturer could be. Citroen launched the BX in 1982, and it became a big hit in Europe and the United Kingdom. The styling was by design legend Marcello Gandini, who brought us the incredible Lamborghini Countach.

His unique design ensured that the BX stood out among the more average-looking daily drivers, but it had more than one trick up its sleeve. The BX had the exceptional Citroen hydropneumatic suspension, making it one of the most exciting and comfortable family cars on the market. Power came from a turbocharged 16-valve inline-four, a turbo-diesel inline-four plus a diesel engine, and a range of naturally aspirated inline-fours.

Ferrari F40

1987 Ferrari F40
Image Credit: Mecum.

Bringing back the 200 mph Ferrari F40 might seem counterproductive, given that Ferrari still produces fast and powerful supercars. Yet many of those have become sanitized thanks to recent hybrid power models or the many driver aids available. The F40 is the last truly raw Ferrari supercar that scared you out of the driver’s seat.

The F40 was the last Ferrari unveiled before founder Enzo Ferrari died, and it commemorated Ferrari’s 40th anniversary. Under the hood is a ferocious 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine with 471 hp, enough to push the F40 to a top speed of 201 mph. Many still say the F40 is the greatest car Ferrari has ever produced.

Audi Quattro

Audi-Sport_quattro-1984
Image Credit: Audi.

While the Quattro name is still part of the Audi range, it has simply become a moniker for its four-wheel-drive vehicles. In the 1980s, the Audi Quattro was a fully-fledged sports car that made a name for itself on the world rally stage. The German manufacturer produced the Quattro from 1981 to 1991, and it quickly became an icon of the 1980s.

Power was initially sourced from the 2.1-turbocharged engine of the Audi 200 saloon, and all of the Quattro variants had a version of the inline-five engine under the hood. The Quattro won the World Rally Championship title in 1982 and 1984 and placed second in 1983 and 1985. The Quattro would also smash the Pikes Peak Hill Climb record in its form as the Sprot Quattro S1 E2.

Lancia Stratos

Lancia-Stratos-1973
Image Credit: Lancia.

Another Lancia that we would love to see return is the exceptional Stratos. The Lancia Stratos is the most well-known Lancias and is eye-catching with its wedge shape and sharp edges. Lancia built the Stratos to dominate the World Rally Championship, precisely what it did.

The Stratos won the manufacturers’ title in 1974, 1975, and 976, and Sandro Munari added a drivers’ title to the Stratos’s tally in 1977. Thanks to its falling under the Ferrari umbrella, the power came from a Ferrari-Dino V6 engine, and Lancia only ever produced 492 road-going versions of its wedged icon.

Author: Henry Kelsall

Henry is a freelance writer, with a love for all things motoring whether it be classic sports cars, or Formula 1 racing. He has freelanced for over eight years now, mostly in automotive matters, but he has also dabbled in other forms of writing too. He has a lot of love for Japanese classics and American muscle cars, in particular the Honda NSX and first-generation Ford Mustang. When not writing, Henry is often found at classic car events or watching motorsports at home, but he also has a curious passion for steam trains and aviation.

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