Supercars are the type of vehicles that most gearheads drool over. They are exclusive, pack a mean punch, and will for sure turn heads. The very first supercar ever made, namely the Lamborghini Miura, is now worth its weight in gold. Some of the wealthiest and luckiest gearheads have the chance to own classic and modern supercars.
The last 50 years saw the creation of tons of supercars, with the iconic Lamborghini Miura paving the way. Some of these classic supercars had the weirdest features, but they were nonetheless astonishing. Others were designed in ways that not even a Tesla fan would appreciate. It is fair to say that not all supercars are created equal.
10/10 Awesome: 1991 Jaguar XJR-15
Italian supercars manufacturers dominated the ’80s and ’90s. The Ferrari F40 and Pagani Zonda C12 are prime examples. With that said, companies from the United Kingdom are not far behind. The McLaren F1 and the Jaguar XJR-15 are proof that the British know how to make supercars. The early ’90s were a great period for Jaguar fans.
The super-rare Jaguar XJ220 is a collector’s dream, but so is the XJR-15. Being the first all carbon fiber road car ever made, it is quite logical that the XJR-15 became a sought-after collectible. The two-seater comes with a 6.0L V12 that makes 450 hp at 6,250 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 4,500 rpm. As if this was not enough, the XJR-15 uses the same chassis as the XJR-9 that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans. With only 50 units, the XJR-15 is a rarity that is now worth north of $950,000.
9/10 Horrible: 1981 Ferrari 400i
Ferrari is synonymous with excellence and sportiness. A number of astonishing Ferraris wreaked havoc on and off the track over the last 83 years. Ferrari did not always hit the nail on the head. There were instances when cars made by the notorious Italian automaker were less than satisfactory. It is often said that the Ferrari 308 GT4 is the worst Ferrari ever made. Sadly, Ferrari designed something even worse.
The Ferrari 400i is unlike what most gearheads would expect from a Ferrari. The 400i was the very first Ferrari to be fitted with an automatic transmission. The powertrain fits the shoddy interior and lukewarm design. Underneath the hood sits a 4.8L V12 that makes 311 hp at 6,400 rpm and 303 lb-ft of torque at 4,200 rpm. Though valued at a little over $410,000 in pristine condition, the 400i is not as satisfying as it could be.
8/10 Awesome: 1992 Bugatti EB110 Super Sport
The French have the reputation of manufacturing some of the most soporific vehicles in the world. While it is fair to say that the regulations in place prevent carmakers from letting loose, the French seem to have issues in the research and development side of things. Bugatti is one of the few French car brands that never followed the rest of the herd.
The Bugatti EB110 is the ultra-rare and ultra-quirky ’90s Bugatti. Looking as if it was coming straight out of a James Bond movie, the EB100 packs some serious power. However, nothing trumps the Super Sport trim level. The quad-turbocharged 3.5L V12 develops 603 hp at 8,250 rpm and 479 lb-ft of torque at 4,200 rpm. That is simply insane for a car from the early ’90s. Only 32 Super Sports were made.
7/10 Horrible: 1996 Vector M12
Most gearheads never heard of the brand Vector Motors Corporation. Established in 1978, Vector would manufacture American-made supercars until the mid-90s. Though a low number of cars rolled off Vector’s assembly lines, one of them is memorable for all the wrong reasons. The Vector M12 is one of the reasons why American car companies avoid manufacturing supercars.
It is quite hard to understand why the Vector M12 failed. The car had great aerodynamics and came stock with a 5.7L V8 capable of pumping out 490 hp at 6,800 rpm and 424 lb-ft of torque at 6,800 rpm. However, no one wanted the M12. Things were so bad that production only lasted a couple of months. One of the most famous buyers, tennis player Andre Agassi, asked for his money back after taking the M12 for a spin.
6/10 Awesome: 1993 Lister Storm
Several car companies were around for a very short period of time. Whether it is caused by poor sales or poor market fit, these companies are now only a memory. With that being said, these brands still live on thanks to gearheads with a thing for obscure vehicles. Lister is no longer around, but its one and only car will remain one of the coolest British cars of the ’90s.
There are several reasons why the Lister Storm is awesome. First, it uses the same chassis as the XJR-15. Second, it comes with the largest engine found on a road car. The 7.0L V12 pumps out 546 hp at 6,100 rpm and 583 lb-ft of torque at 3,450 rpm. The British beast did not fail to attract gearheads’ attention globally. Today, the Lister Storm will only be seen at high-end car shows or in museums.
5/10 Horrible: 2005 Mitsuoka Orochi
Japan is home to some of the finest cars to ever come out of Asia. From the iconic Toyota Supra MK4 to the less popular Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4, Japanese carmakers showed the world that they too could design remarkable cars. Gauging whether a car is amazing or not is impossible without having a benchmark. The Mitsuoka Orochi fell way below that benchmark.
The Japanese are known for coming up with some of the strangest things in the world. The Mitsuoka Orochi is exactly that. Another weird Japanese creation. Fitted with a 3.3L 3MZ-FE V6 that makes 233 hp and 240 lb-ft of torque, the Orochi is far from being like the Acura NSX on which it is based. The Orochi received very harsh criticism in Europe and North America.
4/10 Awesome: 1995 Venturi 400GT
When it comes to supercars, the Italian and the British tend to dominate the scene. Whether it is the well-established or the smallest brands, these two countries deterred surrounding countries from venturing completely into the supercar market. Back in the mid-90s, an obscure French company challenged popular supercar manufacturers.
The Venturi 400GT is the sort of car that will have every car enthusiast daydream. Its exquisite looks hide a twin-turbocharged 3.0L Renault V6 that develops 402 hp at 6,000 rpm and 391 lb-ft of torque at 3,500 rpm. The Venturi 400 GT is the French supercar most gearheads never heard of for a good reason. Only 13 units were made between 1994 and 1996.
3/10 Horrible: 2006 Covini C6W
Smaller automotive ventures must come up with something drastically different in order to make it. However, being too different is not necessarily a recipe for success. The tales of DeLorean, Hummer, and countless others showed that wanting to be unlike any other successful car brand is not always the way to go. Something that was often tried and always botched is the six-wheeled sports car.
The C6W project started back in the early ’70s. Inspired by the legendary six-wheeled 1977 Tyrell P34 F1 car, the C6W was supposed to be a street-legal supercar that would revolutionize the entire industry. Equipped with Audi’s 4.2L V8, the C6W is rated at 433 hp at 346 lb-ft of torque. The main issue with the C6W is that the technology is simply obsolete at this point.
2/10 Awesome: 2006 Saleen S7
Domestic car companies have moved away from the supercar. Instead, they focused on producing muscle cars with supercar power. Understanding that supercar really was a thing reserved for Europeans, American companies simply stopped. One of the most unlikely domestic companies to come up with hit the bull’s eye.
When Saleen announced the S7 in the early 2000s, gearheads nationwide were wondering if the company had not lost its mind. The S7 is not something American carmakers usually come up with. However, the mean twin-turbocharged 7.0L V8 and the racy look changed everybody’s initial impression. With a power output of 750 hp and 700 lb-ft of torque, the S7 is one of the most impressive supercars made in America.
1/10 Horrible: 2007 Caparo T1
There are times when companies want to come up with the ultimate time-attack machine. While their intentions are good, the end results are often mind-boggling. Whether it is a shoddy overall design or an engine that is as satisfying as kicking the coffee table with the pinky toe, these promising cars are abject failures. The Caparo T1 is one of them.
There are several things gearheads don’t know about the Caparo T1, such as the fact that it was featured in the British version of Top Gear. In that episode, the floor of the car fell off. However, this is not where the nonsense ends. The Caparo, despite its astonishing performance, is a coffin on wheels that should not be driven by anyone.