Here's a list of the forgotten American cars that were performers or innovators of their time
Everyone knows the Mustang, Corvette, Viper, Camaro, and Charger. These are quintessential American cars that even non-car people know about. Everybody has something to say about one of these cars, but I'd like to go in-depth into some American cars that our collective memory has forgotten about and that deserve more attention. Here's a list of 10 of them that you don't hear often about.
You may have heard of the GNX, but if you're a true Buick enthusiast, you'll also remember the GSX, the older brother of the legendary GNX. In its time, the GSX was just as legendary as the GNX, but the latter is remembered a lot more fondly than its sibling. The 1970 Buick GSX was an optional package on the Buick Gran Sport 455 meant to compete with the Oldsmobile 442, Chevy Chevelle SS, and the Pontiac GTO. Those cars seem to receive much more praise than the GSX, but the GSX could easily keep up with the lot. In fact, the GSX's 455 held the highest torque output of any American car - 510 pound-feet - until the second-generation Viper came along. Sadly, due to poor sales and the looming gas crisis, the GSX was killed off after only two years of production, with a total of only 678 examples made.
Do you want a Miata? Wrong. You want a Pontiac Solstice. The Solstice has the same general formula as the Miata, being a small two-seater convertible powered by a naturally aspirated four-cylinder. When it was unveiled for production in 2005, Pontiac received 7,000 orders within 10 days. It was clear that people wanted an American Miata. The Solstice was so good that it was nominated for "North American Car of the Year" in 2006. With 177 horsepower and 166 pound-feet of torque, the Solstice was not a performer, but it was fun, and that's all that mattered. After the 2008 recession, GM was forced to shut Pontiac down. Reportedly, over 65,000 Solstices were built during its four-year model run, meaning it was a success for Pontiac, but not enough to save the company from the chopping block.
RELATED:This Is The Best Feature of The 2006 Pontiac Solstice
The Cadillac ATS-V is the States' answer to the BMW M3 and M4. The V-line of Cadillac is meant to be the ultimate combination of performance and luxury, and while everyone knows the legendary CTS-V, the ATS-V still goes unnoticed, perhaps because of its powertrain - a 3.6-liter, turbo V-6. Compared to the big supercharged V-8 of the CTS-V, the turbo V-6 felt puny. But, the ATS-V deserves your attention for a number of reasons. The turbo V-6 makes a solid 464 horsepower and 445 pound-feet of torque, allowing a 0-60 mph sprint in 4.2 seconds. But, there's more to it than that. The ATS-V came in both coupe and sedan form, allowing you to choose which version suits your needs most. It also came with only a manual, allowing for that extra bit of connection and engagement. Critics report that steering input is instant and direct, the steering wheel is communicative, and the dampening is just right. Since it's been discontinued and replaced with the CT4-V, the ATS-V has fallen to the wayside, forgotten about by most.
The Buick Riviera was the best choice between the Cadillac Eldorado, Oldsmobile Tornado, and itself. For one, unlike the other two, it was rear-wheel drive instead of front-wheel drive. The Riviera went on for a long time, lasting eight generations and 35 model years, and a total of over a million Rivieras left the factory. It seems many underestimate the influence the Riviera had. The first four generations of the Riviera are the most known and liked. After the fourth generation though, the Riviera became subject to the malaise of the American car market in the late 70s and never had the same appeal it had before. But, the Riviera name still has a place in many people's hearts because of its beautiful looks, powerful engines, and signature "boat" status. Do kids today know about it, though?
RELATED: A 200-MPH Cadillac CTS-V Wagon Really Exists!
If Darth Vader needed a car, this would be his choice. Long, low, sleek, powerful, and able to carry the kids to school, it's the perfect unassuming sleeper. The Impala SS name hadn't been used in 25 years, so for Chevy to bring it back for 1994 was a big risk; but boy, did it pay off. In the first year, Chevy sold over 6,000 examples in only one color: black. The Impala SS came with an iron-head LT1 making 260 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque, allowing it to go from 0-60 in seven seconds. It's not the fastest, but in its time, it was impressive, and it's fully capable of taking some modifications for power. Another cool factor of the Impala SS is that they all came standard with the police package that Caprice police cars had - stiffer suspension, shorter gear ratios, improved hoses, a digital tachometer, and more.
The Ford Probe might be one of the most obscure Fords ever. The Probe was a result of Ford's and Mazda's collaboration, and thus was based on the platform of the Mazda MX-6. Funnily enough, the Probe was actually originally meant to replace the Mustang, but the Mustang community objected to the Japanese underpinnings, front-wheel drive, and lack of a V-8. The Probe, however, did compete with the Japanese sports cars of the time, such as the Nissan 200SX, Toyota Celica, and Acura Integra. Sadly, the Probe only lasted eight model years, from 1988-1997.
RELATED: Why the 1996 Chevy Impala SS Was a True American Sports Car Icon
Remember when Japanese and American brands buddied-up because American companies couldn't compete with how advanced Japanese cars were? The Dodge Stealth R/T Turbo is one of those cars, like the Ford Probe, that was the child of Chrysler and Mitsubishi. The Stealth platform was based on the Mitsubishi GTO. Chrysler took the GTO and restyled it and sold it under the Dodge brand. The Stealth R/T Turbo was a very advanced American car for its time, with AWD, a twin-turbo V-6 making 300 horsepower, four-wheel steering, and electronically controlled suspension. All this made this Dodge faster than a lot of classic muscle cars.
If you've liked the last few badge-engineered American cars, you'll love this. The Chevy SS originally was the Australian Holden Commodore, but GM decided to bring the Commodore over to the U.S. as the Chevy SS. But, in GM's infinite wisdom, it didn't advertise the car at all and pulled the plug after just four years. The Chevy SS came with a 6.2-liter pushrod small block, making a respectable 415 horsepower. It was one of the last American V-8 manual sedans that wasn't really American.
RELATED: Dodge Neon SRT-4: Costs, Facts, and Figures
The Ford Taurus is perhaps one of the dullest and forgettable cars ever. But, Ford proved that the Taurus, despite its mundane and unassuming looks, could be cool. The name SHO stands for "Super High Output", and it's a fitting name. The Taurus SHO is one of the best American sleepers, packing a 3.6-liter EcoBoost V-6 making 365 horsepower, allowing for a respectable 5.7 seconds from 0 to 60 mph. This is a car your grandma could drive and never know it could beat a lot of the traffic on the road in a race.
The Dodge Neon is a car that is associated with meth, brakes of asbestos, and trailer parks, but the Neon SRT-4 is a car that surpasses all such expectations. The Neon SRT-4 is a regular Neon, but on steroids. The engine is the same as well, but with just one change - forced induction - that helps it produce 215 horsepower and 245 pound-feet of torque. The SRT-4 has some handsome alloy wheels, a tasteful spoiler, a hood scoop, and a new front bumper. Despite some reliability issues, the Neon SRT-4 is a solid fun potential daily.