When it comes to classic sports cars, some models get all the glory, while others quietly fade into the background. In this article, we’re shining a spotlight on 25 underrated sports cars from the past that deserve more recognition. These hidden gems may not have made the biggest headlines, but they’ve got plenty of charm and performance to offer. Whether you’re a car enthusiast or just curious, these underappreciated models are worth knowing about.
Contents
Mazda RX-7 (FB/SA)
The first-generation Mazda RX-7, known as the FB/SA, is a lightweight sports car that brought rotary engine technology to the masses. Its 1.1L 12A rotary engine delivered a unique driving experience, thanks to its high-revving nature and smooth power delivery. Despite its success in motorsports and the affordable thrills it offers, the FB/SA RX-7 is often overshadowed by later RX-7 models. With its sleek, timeless design and impressive handling, this car is a hidden gem for enthusiasts.
Toyota MR2 (AW11)
The Toyota MR2 AW11, produced from 1984 to 1989, is a mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive sports car that offers an exceptional driving experience at a budget-friendly price. Its 1.6L 4A-GE engine, borrowed from the AE86, is known for its reliability and spirited performance. The AW11 MR2’s agile handling, thanks to its low center of gravity and lightweight chassis, makes it a true driver’s car. Despite its capabilities, it often gets overlooked in favor of more mainstream sports cars.
Datsun 240Z
The Datsun 240Z, introduced in 1969, is often celebrated for its role in making sports cars accessible to the masses, but it doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves as a true classic. With a 2.4L inline-six engine producing 151 horsepower, the 240Z offered performance that rivaled European sports cars at a fraction of the cost. Its sleek design, excellent balance, and strong reliability make it a standout model in automotive history, yet it remains underrated by those unfamiliar with its heritage.
Porsche 944
The Porsche 944, produced from 1982 to 1991, is often overlooked in favor of the more iconic 911. However, the 944 offers a fantastic balance of power, handling, and everyday usability. Its front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, combined with near-perfect weight distribution, made it one of the best-handling cars of its time. The 2.5L inline-four engine, later upgraded to a 3.0L in the S2 model, provided ample power, making the 944 an engaging and underrated sports car.
Alfa Romeo GTV6
The Alfa Romeo GTV6, produced from 1980 to 1986, is a hidden gem in the world of classic sports cars. Its 2.5L V6 engine, known for its sonorous exhaust note, delivers a thrilling driving experience. The GTV6’s rear transaxle layout gives it excellent weight distribution, resulting in superb handling. Despite its racing pedigree, including success in the European Touring Car Championship, the GTV6 is often overshadowed by other Alfa Romeo models, making it an underrated choice for enthusiasts.
Lotus Esprit S1
The Lotus Esprit S1, introduced in 1976, is a wedge-shaped icon that brought exotic car looks and handling to a more attainable price point. Powered by a 2.0L inline-four engine, the Esprit S1 wasn’t the fastest car in a straight line, but its lightweight chassis and superb handling made it a joy to drive on twisty roads. Despite its appearance in the James Bond film “The Spy Who Loved Me,” the Esprit S1 remains underappreciated in the sports car world.
Nissan 300ZX (Z31)
The Nissan 300ZX (Z31), produced from 1983 to 1989, is often overlooked in favor of its successor, the Z32. However, the Z31 was a groundbreaking car in its own right, featuring advanced technology like a turbocharged V6 engine and digital instrumentation. With up to 200 horsepower in the Turbo model, the Z31 offered impressive performance for its time. Its angular design and technological innovations make it a unique and underrated sports car that deserves more recognition.
Saab Sonett III
The Saab Sonett III, produced from 1970 to 1974, is a quirky Swedish sports car that’s often forgotten. Powered by a 1.7L V4 engine, the Sonett III combined lightweight construction with front-wheel drive, resulting in nimble handling and decent performance. Its distinct design, with pop-up headlights and a fiberglass body, set it apart from other sports cars of its era. Despite its unique character and driving dynamics, the Sonett III remains underappreciated in the classic car community.
Fiat X1/9
The Fiat X1/9, produced from 1972 to 1989, is a mid-engine, targa-topped sports car that’s often overshadowed by other European models. Designed by Bertone, the X1/9’s lightweight construction and superb balance made it a delight to drive. Its 1.3L and later 1.5L engines weren’t the most powerful, but the car’s agility and handling more than made up for it. The X1/9’s affordable price and unique design make it an underrated classic worth considering.
Triumph TR8
The Triumph TR8, produced from 1978 to 1981, is the V8-powered variant of the TR7, offering significantly more performance. With a 3.5L Rover V8 engine under the hood, the TR8 delivered 133 horsepower, making it one of the most powerful British sports cars of its time. Despite its potential, the TR8 was produced in limited numbers and is often overlooked by collectors. Its combination of V8 power and British charm makes it a hidden gem in the sports car world.
Mitsubishi Starion
The Mitsubishi Starion, produced from 1982 to 1989, is a turbocharged sports car that’s often forgotten in discussions of 1980s performance cars. With a 2.6L turbocharged inline-four engine, the Starion offered up to 197 horsepower in later models, providing strong acceleration and performance. Its wide stance, aggressive styling, and rear-wheel-drive layout made it a true driver’s car. Despite its impressive credentials, the Starion is often overshadowed by more well-known Japanese sports cars.
Chevrolet Corvair Monza
The Chevrolet Corvair Monza, produced from 1960 to 1969, is an unconventional American sports car with a rear-engine, air-cooled layout. Its unique design and engineering made it a standout in the U.S. market, where front-engine, rear-wheel-drive cars dominated. Powered by a flat-six engine, the Corvair Monza offered a balanced driving experience with good handling and decent power. Despite its innovative design, the Corvair was plagued by controversy, leading to its underappreciation today.
Alpine A310
The Alpine A310, produced from 1971 to 1984, is a French sports car that’s often overlooked in favor of its more famous predecessor, the A110. The A310 featured a rear-mounted V6 engine and distinctive wedge-shaped styling, offering a unique blend of performance and style. With its lightweight construction and rally heritage, the A310 was a capable performer on both road and track. However, it remains underrated compared to other sports cars from the era.
Ford Capri
The Ford Capri, produced from 1968 to 1986, is often referred to as the “European Mustang” due to its similar styling and performance. Available with a range of engines, including a potent 3.0L V6, the Capri offered strong performance and was a popular choice for enthusiasts in Europe. Its sleek design, affordable price, and fun-to-drive nature made it a hit, but it’s often overlooked in the sports car world, especially outside of Europe.
Lancia Fulvia Coupe
The Lancia Fulvia Coupe, produced from 1965 to 1976, is an Italian sports car that’s highly regarded by those in the know but remains underrated in the broader automotive community. Its narrow-angle V4 engine and front-wheel-drive layout provided excellent handling and performance, especially in rallying, where the Fulvia achieved significant success. Despite its engineering excellence and elegant design, the Fulvia Coupe doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves as a classic sports car.
BMW 8 Series (E31)
The BMW 8 Series (E31), produced from 1990 to 1999, is a grand tourer that’s often overlooked despite its advanced technology and luxurious design. Powered by a range of V8 and V12 engines, the E31 offered impressive performance and refinement. Its sleek, wedge-shaped design and pop-up headlights give it a timeless appeal. Despite its high price and limited production numbers, the E31 is an underrated gem that offers a blend of performance, luxury, and exclusivity.
Renault Alpine GTA/A610
The Renault Alpine GTA/A610, produced from 1984 to 1995, is a rear-engine sports car that’s often forgotten outside of Europe. Powered by a turbocharged V6 engine, the GTA/A610 offered strong performance and excellent handling, thanks to its lightweight construction and aerodynamic design. Despite its capabilities and distinctive styling, the Alpine GTA/A610 is frequently overshadowed by more mainstream sports cars, making it an underrated choice for enthusiasts.
Opel GT
The Opel GT, produced from 1968 to 1973, is a compact sports car that’s often compared to a “mini-Corvette” due to its similar styling. Powered by a 1.9L inline-four engine, the Opel GT offered decent performance and handling for its size. Its sleek design, pop-up headlights, and affordable price made it a popular choice in Europe and the United States. However, the Opel GT is often overlooked in discussions of classic sports cars, despite its unique charm.
Jaguar XJS
The Jaguar XJS, produced from 1975 to 1996, is a luxury grand tourer that’s often overshadowed by the more famous E-Type. Despite this, the XJS offers a refined driving experience with its smooth V12 engine and comfortable interior. Its long production run and various updates kept it relevant, but it never quite achieved the same iconic status as other Jaguar models. The XJS’s combination of performance, luxury, and style makes it an underrated classic worth considering.
Mazda MX-3
The Mazda MX-3, produced from 1991 to 1998, is a compact sports coupe that’s often forgotten in the sports car world. Its unique selling point was the 1.8L V6 engine, one of the smallest V6 engines ever produced, which provided a smooth and rev-happy driving experience. The MX-3’s agile handling, thanks to its lightweight design and well-tuned suspension, made it a fun car to drive. Despite its qualities, the MX-3 remains an underappreciated model among sports car enthusiasts.
De Tomaso Pantera
The De Tomaso Pantera, produced from 1971 to 1992, is a mid-engine Italian sports car with American muscle under the hood, thanks to its Ford 351 Cleveland V8 engine. This combination of Italian design and American power made the Pantera a unique and potent machine. Its aggressive styling and strong performance made it a competitor to more famous exotics of the era. Despite its appeal, the Pantera often flies under the radar, making it an underrated classic.
TVR Griffith 500
The TVR Griffith 500, produced from 1991 to 2002, is a British sports car known for its raw performance and minimalist design. Powered by a 5.0L Rover V8 engine, the Griffith 500 offered explosive acceleration and a visceral driving experience. Its lightweight construction and rear-wheel-drive layout made it a true driver’s car. Despite its capabilities, the Griffith 500 is often overlooked in favor of more mainstream sports cars, making it a hidden gem in the world of classic cars.
Volvo P1800
The Volvo P1800, produced from 1961 to 1973, is a stylish Swedish coupe that’s often overshadowed by other European sports cars. Its 1.8L inline-four engine provided reliable performance, while its elegant design and robust construction made it a favorite among enthusiasts. The P1800 gained fame as the car driven by Roger Moore in the TV series “The Saint,” but it remains underrated compared to other classic sports cars. Its combination of style, reliability, and history makes it a unique choice.
Acura NSX (NA1)
The first-generation Acura NSX, produced from 1990 to 2005, is often praised by those who know it, but it still doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves as a game-changing sports car. With a mid-engine layout, all-aluminum construction, and a 3.0L V6 engine that produced 270 horsepower, the NSX offered supercar performance with Honda reliability. Its user-friendly nature, combined with its advanced engineering, made it a pioneer in the sports car world. Despite this, it remains underrated in the broader automotive community.
Subaru SVX
The Subaru SVX, produced from 1991 to 1996, is a unique sports coupe that’s often overlooked due to its unconventional design and high price at the time. Powered by a 3.3L flat-six engine and featuring all-wheel drive, the SVX offered a blend of performance and security in all weather conditions. Its distinctive, aircraft-inspired styling, with wraparound windows and a sleek profile, set it apart from other cars of its era. Despite its innovation, the SVX remains an underappreciated classic.
This article originally appeared in MyCarMakesNoise.
More from MyCarMakesNoise
The Top 20 Most Expensive Touring Bikes Today
If you’re a motorcycle enthusiast with a taste for luxury, you’re in for a treat. In this article, we explore the top 20 most expensive touring bikes available today. Read More
20 Most Badass Movie Vehicles Ever
From sleek sports cars to rugged off-road beasts, movie vehicles have a special place in our hearts. These iconic rides not only steal the spotlight but also define the characters who drive them. Read More
15 Surprising Facts About Hybrid Cars You Should Know
Hybrid cars have gained immense popularity for their promise of fuel efficiency and environmental benefits. However, some surprising aspects of these vehicles often go unnoticed. In this article, we uncover 15 shocking facts about hybrid cars that every potential owner should know. Read More
