For decades, the American car industry was defined by V8 engines and rear-wheel drive. However, despite that, US car manufacturers always produced innovative front-wheel-drive cars even when that layout was rare and unpopular. Today, we will present the 10 most characteristic FWD machines Detroit has ever made.
1. Cord L-29
Although he was involved with Duesenberg and Auburn, Errett Lobban Cord was a successful car salesman and businessman who wanted to build cars under his own name. So, in 1929, he established a company called Cord and introduced his first model, the L-29. This car had an interesting feature: front-wheel drive. In those days, no one had heard of FWD.
The driving characteristics of the L-29, including the build quality and performance, were superb. But they launched the car just after the Great Depression. And it was the worst economic recession the world has ever seen, greatly affecting sales. However, despite the sales flop, the Cord L-29 was and still is an essential car.
2. Cord 810 – 812
The car market was stunned when the 810, which was later the 812, was introduced in 1936. At that moment, it was the most advanced American production car. It had V8 power, front-wheel drive, an independent front suspension, and hideaway headlights.
The car featured many industry firsts, establishing itself as one of the first revolutionary American sports cars. Unfortunately, the market was unprepared for such an advanced automobile, so the sales numbers were terrible. This caused Cord to close its doors in the late 1930s.
3. Oldsmobile Toronado
Today’s car enthusiasts may not remember Oldsmobile since the company retired the brand in 2000. One of their most famous front-wheel-drive cars is the 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado. This was a big and powerful personal luxury coupe with a twist, as it included front-wheel drive.
Designers drew a fantastic-looking shape with a low roof and hidden headlights. The power came from a big block 455 V8 with 385 HP. The Toronado was successful because it introduced some superb driving characteristics, leaving its competitors in the dust. The first two generations were the best, while the later Toronado was just a Cadillac Eldorado with a different grille.
4. Cadillac Eldorado
The 1967 model year marked a revolution for the Eldorado model regarding new design, technology, and drivetrain. Cadillac has used the Eldorado as a top-of-the-line personal luxury model for years. But by the mid-60s, almost all other GM brands had developed similar cars to the Eldorado. So, Cadillac needed a new model to make a statement and keep the Eldorado at the top of the segment.
In those days, FWD cars were rare foreign models. So, when Oldsmobile introduced front-wheel drive on its 1966 Toronado, Cadillac took the patent and slightly improved it for use on the Eldorado. With this feature, the Eldorado had almost perfect handling and better driving dynamics, keeping its mighty 340 HP engine and classic Cadillac characteristics.
5. Ford Taurus SHO
In the late ’80s, Ford revolutionized the sedan market by introducing the Taurus. This was the first truly modern American sedan to ditch the heavy ladder-type chassis and big engines and go in a different direction with a sleek and aerodynamic body, new technology, and front-wheel drive.
The Taurus sold in volumes, but the famed Super High Output, or SHO, version is the most interesting. The SHO was a performance model in the Taurus lineup that featured a Yamaha-sourced 3.0-liter high-revving V6 with 220 HP. This doesn’t sound like much today, but in 1989, it was a lofty figure. Also, the performance was outstanding, with just 6.7 seconds to 60 mph.
6. Cadillac Allante
Cadillac envisioned the Allante to compete with the Mercedes SL convertible. It was a two-seater luxury convertible by Pininfarina with Italian styling. They included a Northstar V8 engine and front-wheel drive. This was an unusual combination, but the car looked and performed well. Even the production process was specific.
They fabricated the cars in Italy in the Pininfarina factory and then shipped them to the US by jet, which affected the final product’s cost. The Allante stayed in production until 1993, and they built over 21,000 of them. The car proved too expensive to produce, so the factory allegedly lost money on every Allante it built.
7. Cadillac Seville STS
Ever since the Eldorado became a front-wheel-drive model in 1967, Cadillac has included this drivetrain in the rest of its lineup. During the ’90s, Seville underwent a major redesign, including a new platform, Northstar V8 engines, and a sleek look.
However, the best was yet to come, so in the late ’90s, Cadillac introduced the Seville Touring Sedan or STS, which was a competent car. It had 300 HP from a 4.6-liter V8 engine, a magnetic ride, a plush interior, and numerous other features. It was a true competitor to Mercedes or BMW. The most interesting things were the STS’s power rating and front wheel drive. In the past, manufacturers had problems with stability if the car was too powerful. However, Cadillac managed to add a 300 HP engine to power the front wheels.
8. Ford Focus ST
Although all eyes are on the brutal and crazy capable Focus RS, most car fans forget the Focus ST is the sweet spot of the Focus range. The ST stands for Street Technology, and it is Ford’s performance model for normal people with everyday driving habits
Under the hood, a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine sends power to the front wheels. The Focus ST delivers driving excitement with around 260 HP on tap and perfectly balanced front suspension. But with the strong chassis, decent brakes, and direct steering, it can also be a great family hatchback for everyday use.
9. Chevrolet Cobalt SS
Although discontinued, the Chevrolet Cobalt SS will be remembered as one of the best affordable performance cars. Available as a supercharged, turbocharged, or naturally aspirated model, the best SS was the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder introduced in 2008.
The engine delivered 260 HP, which was astonishing by the day’s standards and more than any of the competitors. Also, the Cobalt SS had considerable tuning potential, and getting even more power from this engine was easy. Although based on regular Cobalt, the SS version was nothing like the boring economy car it originated from.
10. Dodge Omni GLH
It was called Omni GLH and was a proper hot hatch and one of the best affordable performance models money could buy in those days. Nobody expected that Dodge could produce a hot hatch that could beat the European competitors, but with Shelby’s help, it did just that.
Shelby took the 2.2-liter four-cylinder and added a turbocharger to produce a total output of 175 hp and 0 to 60 mph time of less than 7 seconds, which was impressive and highly competitive for the day. Of course, the Omni GLH had suspension modifications and other bits improved to handle all that power.