20 Performance Machines and Driver’s Cars People Can Own

10. Lotus Elise

When they presented the Lotus Elise in 1996, it caught the automotive world by storm. Such a compact, yet beautiful roadster with a lightweight body and precise handling was unique on the market. Soon, it influenced many big manufacturers to produce similar models. The Lotus perfectly captures the essence of sports car dynamics in a sleek, balanced package.

11. Lancia Aurelia

Introduced in 1950, the Aurelia was a revolutionary car, and not only for its design and performance. Its narrow-angle V6 engine was the first mass-produced V6 engine in the world. Produced as sedan, coupe or convertible, the Aurelia was an exclusive and expensive machine with engine displacement ranging from 1.8-liters to 2.5-liters.

The compact and light V6 unit was fairly powerful and propelled Aurelia to respectable top speeds. The later series were even successful racing cars. When they released the Aurelia, the combination of power, refinement, dynamics made it an instant classic driver’s car.

12. Ferrari Dino 246 GT

The Dino was a big step for the company even if it was the smallest model Ferrari they ever made. Introduced in the mid-60s as the 206 Dino, it was an entry-level model with a V6 engine. But Ferrari purists were outraged since this was the first sports car they made without the big V12 engine.

The 246 Dino debuted in 1968 and sales picked up, making this little car responsible for the financial stability Ferrari always needed. But most of all, the Dino was a blast to drive, even though it had a smaller engine with fewer cylinders. This car showed that sometimes, less is more.

13. Triumph TR6

The TR6 was a successor to TR5 and US-market only TR250, which all shared basic construction, dimensions, and design. The TR6 was introduced in 1968 and featured disc brakes all around, an independent suspension and a 2.5-liter straight six engine with 145 HP.

Thanks to the weight of just under 2,200 lbs, the TR6 was agile and among the fastest power roadsters on the market in the late ’60s. They ended production in 1976 after making more than 90,000. Today, the TR6 is a popular choice for classic roadster fans who want old school looks and a sublime feel with a decent performance.

14. Ferrari F40

Introduced in 1987, the Ferrari F40 was a commemorative model, marking the company’s 40th anniversary. However, it was much more than that. It was and still is one of the greatest sports cars they ever built. Also, it is one of the best Ferraris they ever produced. Most of the chassis and drivetrain came from a 288 GTO.

However, they upgraded the engine to produce almost 450 HP. Contrary to other models in their lineup, Ferrari decided to install a twin turbo V8 with 2.9-liter displacement instead of the naturally-aspirated V12 people commonly associate with the brand.

15. Mini Cooper S

In 1961, Mini Cooper made its debut featuring a larger engine, disc brakes and close ratio transmission. It produced 55 HP, which was 20 HP more than a standard Mini. And even though the power ratings sound diminutive now, the car weighed just over 1,100 pounds, making it lively and quick.

With its front-wheel-drive handling and precise steering, the Mini Cooper is nimble and easy to drive fast, making it the perfect candidate for racing. During the ’60s, Mini Coopers were extremely successful in rally championships, as well as touring car races all over the world.

16. Chevrolet Corvette C7 Grand Sport

Chevrolet realized the Z06 was too much to handle for some buyers. And despite the fantastic looks and brutal performance, the car was close to its limits of the front engine/rear-wheel drive configuration with little space for improvement. And that is why they made an interesting hybrid model that proved to be one of the best Corvettes they ever made: the 2017 Grand Sport.

Chevrolet named the car after ill-fated racing ‘Vettes from the early ’60s. The modern Grand Sport has a 460 HP engine from the regular Corvette with a wide body and track from the Z06. This combination proved to be a winning formula since the Grand Sport has handling and driving dynamics the wider stance improved. And it did that while retaining the dramatic looks of the Z06.

17. Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7

Today, the Carrera is the basic 911, but in 1973, it was the model designation of a special and influential car. The name originated from the famous Carrera Panamericana Mexican road race that Porsche won in the mid-50s. The factory wanted to commemorate this success by naming the new performance version they intended for homologation.

Ever since the late ’60s, the displacement of the 911 engines steadily grew. So, by 1973, the biggest was the 2.7-liter, which in RS trim delivered 210 HP. But that wasn’t all, as the Carrera 2.7 RS was a fully lightweight car with a wider rear track. Also, it had a revised suspension, racing instruments and distinctive rear ducktail spoiler.

18. Shelby Series 1

Porsche presented the Series 1 in 1999 featuring a gorgeous roadster body and low silhouette. In fact, it had a design most drivers could trace back to mid-60s. However, under the body, everything was new. Also, the car got its power from an Oldsmobile 4.0-liter V8 engine delivering 320 HP. Since the car was light, the performance was great and 0 to 60 mph times were around four seconds, which was fantastic for the late ’90s.

Unfortunately, the U.S. regulations regarding car manufacturing forbade Shelby from producing the Series 1 as a regular model. They only allowed them to build it as a kit car, which they = refused. Unfortunately, due to the limited availability and high price, they only built about 250 of them up until 2005.

19. BMW M3 E30

When most people think of BMW performance, they think of the “M” class cars. But, among dozens of models that wore the M badge, the M3 E30 is the most iconic. But BMW only produced them from 1985 to 1992. In fact, the E30 M3 was a homologation special they designed to compete in the European Touring Car Championship.

At first, BMW didn’t envision the performance version of their E30 3-Series. However, when Mercedes introduced the 190E 2.3-16 model, BMW quickly reacted and the M3 was born. The heart of the E30 M3 is the S14 straight-four engine with 2.3-liters of displacement, and 195 and later 215 HP. Since the car was light, the performance and road holding was great. Soon, the M3 turned out to be the most successful racing car in touring car racing history.

20. Honda NSX

When the NSX first appeared in 1989, it revolutionized the supercar market. Basically, buyers got Ferrari performance and looks for supermarket prices. And that came along with Honda’s signature reliability and maintenance costs. The heart of the NSX is a 3.0-liter V6 producing 274 HP and later 3.2-liter V6 with 290 HP.

Since the car is light, the 0 to 60 mph acceleration time is a lightning-quick five seconds with top speeds over 170 mph. But the numbers don’t tell the whole story. The NSX is an excellent handling car since it is light and precise, making it perfect for driving enthusiasts.

These are the 20 greatest performance machines and driver’s cars you can own today. Did you find your favorite?