30 Cars That Make Auto Fans Look Like Mobsters

29. Lincoln Town Car

The early ’80s brought much-needed downsizing to the American car industry. Those enormous cars with monster engines became a thing of the past. Lincoln responded by presenting the popular Town Car they built on the Ford Panther platform with a 5.0-liter V8. The Town Car was a recognizable boxy-shaped sedan with a big chrome grille and bumpers. It was a luxury model that buyers loved for its proportions, soft ride, and plush interior.

Nimbler than comparable Cadillacs and able to blend in traffic, the Lincoln Town Car was the definitive mobster limousine of the ’80s. This trend continued in the ’90s, with the 1990 to 1997 model being highly popular.

28. Ford Bronco

Even though O.J. Simpson rode in a white Bronco during his infamous live highway chase, he’s obviously not a real mobster. But the Ford Bronco played a major role in criminal activities South of the Border. In fact, entire generations of Mexican and Colombian drug traffickers used Broncos for delivering drugs and checking on convoys in remote parts of Central America.

The Bronco was compact, making it maneuverable on and off the road. The small dimensions meant the interior was cramped, but buyers loved it nonetheless. Soon sales numbers went through the roof. The second and third generations were even more successful than the first since they were bigger, more comfortable, and came with upgraded equipment and a bigger list of options.

Despite solid sales, Ford decided to retire the Bronco in 1996 to concentrate on pickup trucks and SUVs. However, fans of the Bronco were and still are quite vocal to see the legendary off-roader again. So finally, last year Ford announced that the Bronco will return by 2020 in a new form with the same spirit and appeal.

27. Porsche 930 Turbo

The Porsche 930 Turbo was the perfect sports car for a young mobster in the ’70s and ’80s. A new, red or black, Porsche 930 Turbo was the best way to show off wealth and class. Just imagine those South Florida drug lords and their Porsches. When Porsche presented it in 1975, the 930 Turbo was the perfect car for the gangster scene.

When Porsche introduced the new generation named the 930, it featured the same basic layout. Although the design was new and improved and it came with bigger engines, the real news was the 1975 930 Turbo. Faced with government-imposed restrictions, Porsche needed something to boost power and performance. However, it still had to retain the normal displacement, so turbocharging was the perfect solution.

The 930 Turbo developed 260 HP from its 3.0-liter flat-six engine and came with signature air cooling, a big rear wing, and a wider rear track. It was notorious for its ill-handling capabilities, but the 930 Turbo delivered an exhilarating performance at a time when performance cars were nearly nonexistent. The 930 was the beginning of a legendary breed of lighting-fast Porsches and turbocharged sports cars.

26. Chevrolet Suburban

In the famous TV show, The Sopranos, Tony Soprano drove a Chevy Suburban. After decades of lusting after big American sedans, those modern-day gangsters turned to big SUVs. Why? SUVs have plenty of power, can carry up to seven people, have a big trunk, and can go anywhere. Best of all said mobsters can order a bulletproof version as well.

During the ’50s and ’60s, Suburban moved to the truck platform. At the same time, Chevrolet introduced an all-wheel-drive option for its trucks so you could order the Suburban with AWD as well. This was the moment when the Suburban became an off-road model. The all-wheel-drive option was popular during later generations.

It became an almost-mandatory option for the famous, long-serving seventh generation, which was available between 1973 and 1991. Today, the Suburban is still a big, heavy full-size SUV on a truck chassis with V8 engines. It has lost some of its rugged characteristics, but it has retained its basic layout and name. They are still quite common.

25. Cadillac Escalade

Cadillac jumped on the luxury SUV bandwagon relatively late in 1999 with the first-generation Escalade. Even though it was nothing more than a rebadged Suburban, the Caddy was soon one of the most dominant models in the market. That was because the opulence and excess of the classic Cadillacs easily translated to the 21^st century and the luxury SUV segment.

Cadillac recognized the opportunity, so they presented four generations of the biggest, most opulent luxury SUV models ever. Soon, the market went crazy for these apartment complexes on wheels. The Escalade is still a rebadged Suburban, but Cadillac manages to hide it with an enormous amount of luxury. The Escalade is the perfect classic Cadillac in modern form for a new generation of luxury car buyers, and yes, even mobsters.

24. Toyota Century

The Century was a hand-built, limited-production limousine Toyota designed for the Japanese royal family and high-ranking Yakuza members. Toyota presented the Century in 1967, producing it for 30 years with minimal changes to its technical layout or design. Only in the RHD configuration, it sold in Japan and a few select Asian markets.

The first generation of the Toyota Century came with a 3.0-liter V8 engine that produced 170 HP. The interior was filled with the finest leather, wood, and chrome. Each car came standard with climate control, which was advanced for the period. The ride was extremely comfortable and quiet, allowing the Century to cruise effortlessly even on the roughest terrain.

23. Cadillac Eldorado

Most mobsters loved the Eldorado, the top Cadillac personal luxury model from 1967. It featured a front-wheel-drive, which many criminals claimed provided added stability in extreme conditions. But the 1976 Eldorado was an automotive dinosaur in many ways. It was the last Cadillac with the enormous 500 CID V8 engine, one of the biggest car engines ever.

It was the last Cadillac convertible for over 10 years since the late ’70s safety laws almost killed the convertible class. Most of all, it was the last of the truly big land yachts that dominated the domestic car industry in the ’70s.

Even during the production of this Eldorado, it was obvious the industry was changing. The company knew it had to rethink its strategy to stay on top of the game. However, the glorious 1976 Eldorado was a perfect way to end an era of excess luxury, monstrous engines, chrome trim, soft rides, and plush interiors.

22. Mercedes G-Class

Today, the G-Class is the irreplaceable garage decor of modern gangsters, celebrity musicians, athletes, and actors. But 40 years ago, Mercedes designed and built this to be the transport of Iranian Special Forces. The story goes like this: sometime in the mid-70s, Iranian leader Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was a renowned Mercedes fan and customer. Pahlavi asked the company to make a special, all-wheel-drive, off-road, light military vehicle for his elite forces. Since the Shah was a high-profile client, Mercedes obliged and in 1979 presented the G-Class.

However, there was a huge problem. Just a few months before the official release of the G-Class, the Iranian revolution started and radical Islamists overthrew Shah Reza Pahlavi. That meant the deal with Mercedes was off, so the company was left with a fully-developed car without a customer.

So Mercedes decided to offer the G-Wagen to other armies as well as transform it into a passenger vehicle. Unfortunately, the G-Class lost its off-road capabilities, and become nothing more than a status symbol for millennial criminals and their families.

21. Cadillac Seville

In the 1970s, Cadillac realized the market had turned to more nimble and precise foreign cars, such as the Mercedes W116 S Class. They decided to introduce a smaller, more modern car that was every bit a Cadillac so the market would accept it as such. The answer was the 1975 Seville, the first downsized Caddy and an affordable luxury car. An extremely smart move for the company, it was one of the best U.S. sedans of the late ’70s.

Because the 1975 Seville was the perfect car for the time, sales went beyond Cadillac’s expectations. The Seville was elegant, perfectly sized, and reasonably powerful. Also, it came with a long list of options and trim choices, including the interesting Slantback body style. With its Gucci-themed trim package, it was the perfect ride for a fashion-loving mobster on the rise.

20. Hummer H1

Remember the rise of Hip Hop in the ’90s with those countless music videos featuring lifted off-roaders and a bunch of girls dancing? You probably remember the Hummer H1. When AM General introduced it in 1984, they initially named the H1, “HMMWV,” for High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle.

They designed and produced it solely for military purposes. An enormous, all-terrain vehicle in numerous versions, they equipped it with a massive diesel V8 engine. The H1 was capable of enduring hits from RPGs or even going over land mines. The military spec Hummer is still one of the most robust military vehicles ever made.

The “Rambo” image made it appealing to civilians after the Gulf War in the early ’90s. So, AM General started producing the Hummer H1, a road-legal model that retained all the critical ingredients of the HMMWV. It had the same design, drivetrain, and appearance, but came with an improved interior with better drivability. The civilian H1 arrived in 1992 and was sold until 2006, becoming popular for the newer generation of mobsters and organized crime figures.

19. Mercedes R107 SL-Class

If you want to look like a “Cocaine Cowboy” from ’80s Miami, then this is the car for you. This generation was in production from 1971 to 1989 and is quite common. The engine choices include a six-cylinder engine and several V8s including the 560 V8. The 450 or 500 V8 engine is the most popular and offers the best combination of power and efficiency.

Mercedes sold over 237,000 of those elegant convertibles during its 18-year run, with almost two-thirds of the production being U.S.-spec cars. For that reason, you won’t have any problems finding the right Mercedes SL-Class for you. But be ready to pay around $25,000 for a decent example of this Teutonic power roadster.

18. Maserati Quattroporte

Are you tired of those German luxury sedans? Is a classic Bentley too “old,” yet a Jaguar too plain for your tastes? Perhaps you want something with four doors, a high-revving sports car engine, an undeniable luxury appearance, and lots of charm.

But what about the 2003 to 2012 Maserati Quattroporte, with its 4.2 or 4.7-liter Ferrari-designed V8 engine? It has a spacious and luxurious cabin, and in the sedan form, the Quattroporte is a proper Italian exotic disguised as a premium sedan.

Although expensive when new and a bit costly to maintain, the Quattroporte will make you stand out in the crowd of much more modern, expensive cars. The Quattroporte will provide you with the irresistible Italian charm of a modern-day Gotti.

17. Audi S8

The early 2000s S8 was an interesting machine with its fully-aluminum body and extremely capable Quattro all-wheel-drive system. Audi put a high-revving 4.2-liter V8 engine in an elegant, yet comfortable package. The S8 was for cruising highways in total safety and luxury, making it a favorite with European organized crime figures. With its stealth appearance, road holding and power, the S8 was fast enough to disappear when things got messy.

The S8 is notorious as a car that mobsters often used in drive-by shootings and to target rival gangs. The main reason was that all Audis have similar designs, so an A8 could be easily mistaken for an A6 or other Audi model. So if you were an innocent bystander who happened to see a drive-by shooting, you wouldn’t be able to recognize the car in question.

16. Jaguar XJR

Jaguar sedans were always common among British gangsters. Since the days of those bank robbers in the Jaguar Mk2, this brand has always been highly regarded in underworld circles. However, when the XJR version appeared, the UK crime figures finally had a car that could rival the most powerful versions of the Mercedes S-Class or BMW 7-Series.

The XJR comes with a 4.2-liter supercharged V8 and 400 HP. Although it has the power to surprise Porsche owners at the stoplight, the XJR also has the polished road manners to be the perfect long-distance cruiser. Even though some British gangsters have the money to buy a Rolls Royce or Bentley, those cars were too outlandish and opulent. That’s because if you are in illegal business, you might want to keep a low profile.

15. Range Rover Sport

The Range Rover Sport is a common SUV and one of the first models to introduce SUV performance to a larger market, especially in America. For years, this was the most popular car in the segment. The current generation is experiencing healthy sales numbers, even though it isn’t the fastest or most powerful SUV in its class.

The Range Rover Sport uses a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 that pumps out 518 HP. The enormous power is enough to launch this big, heavy vehicle from 0 to 60 mph in 5.0 seconds, which is definitely fast. In Europe and some other parts of the world, the Range Rover Sport acts like a Cadillac Escalade, but for local gangsters.

14. Low Riders

Although Low Riders are now common show cars, back in the day, they were the favorite transport of gangsters. With bouncy hydraulics, mural-style paint jobs, shiny rims, and gold-plated bumpers, low riders were a statement of the owner’s status and character.

Of course, driving a low rider and being a gang leader is only possible in your hood or in some of L.A.’s close-knit communities. The police will easily spot you if you set foot outside of South Central LA.

13. Porsche Cayenne Turbo

Ever since the first Cayenne Turbo appeared in the early 2000s, the market for quick, luxury SUVs was born. This Porsche with its four doors, raised body and all-wheel-drive offended a lot of brand purists. However, it also brought much to the segment in terms of driving dynamics, performance and prestige. This is the perfect car for the modern-day mobster with a family.

Fast-forward 15 years and here is a new Cayenne Turbo with even more power, faster acceleration times and better road holding than before. The heart of this lightning-quick SUV is the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine that sends 550 HP to the eight-speed automatic and intelligent all-wheel drive. The result is an impressive 0-to-60-mph acceleration time of 3.7 seconds.

12. Lincoln Navigator

The SUV craze started long before Lincoln presented the Navigator. However, this model was so perfect for the class, it soon became a legend in the segment. Big, luxurious, expensive, powerful and prestigious, the Navigator was all that one SUV needed to be. Besides that, the Navigator had style and attitude and was equally at home in the rich suburbs as it was in shady downtown alleys.

You could see soccer moms and gangsters driving the same model, which was interesting. Even today, the sight of an original Lincoln Navigator demands respect. Introduced in 1998, the Navigator was a sales hit with a long list of options, drivetrain configurations, and trim packages. The 4.6-liter V8 with 300 HP was enough for most tasks. The original Navigator will be a valuable classic in the SUV genre someday, so grab a well-preserved, one-owner model today for a low price while you still can.

11. Cadillac STS

In the late ’90s, Cadillac introduced the Seville STS or Seville Touring Sedan. It got 300 HP from the 4.6-liter V8 engine and had a magnetic ride, plush interior, and numerous other features. It was a true competitor to the likes of Mercedes or BMW.

For a while, the Cadillac STS was the most powerful production front-wheel car they ever built. Although they designed it for comfort, this Caddy could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just seven seconds.

This was probably the last Cadillac sedan commonly used by the wise guys of American organized crime. After the STS, mobsters turned to Escalades, accepting the big SUVs as their vehicles of choice.

10. Ferrari Testarossa

The ultimate ’80s Ferrari is the Testarossa. Ferrari presented it in 1984 and based it on the 512 BB architecture. It came with a flat 12 engine and rear engine configuration. But what made it famous was the styling and brutal performance that made it a legend of the period.

The Testarossa was an interestingly engineered car with a wide track due to the flat 12 engine. This helped achieve more room in the interior, but it was hard to maneuver the car in tight spaces. Although it sold well, it was only when it was in the popular TV show, Miami Vice, did they crown the Testarossa the symbol of ’80s car culture.

9. Buick GNX

Do you want to look like a hitman? Then the Buick GNX is the car for you. The story of this model is an interesting one. Back in 1982, Buick started experimenting with turbocharging its line of standard V6 engines. The results were satisfying, so the Buick engineers got permission to develop a performance version that would deliver better acceleration figures.

Soon, there was the Buick Gran National with 175 HP, which wasn`t impressive, but it was a start. However, in the next couple of years, the Gran National got a bigger engine and more power. This made it go from 175 HP to 200 HP, and finally to 235 HP. With those numbers came acceleration times of less than six seconds, making those black Gran Nationals seriously quick cars.

But in 1987 came the ultimate version they called the GNX, or Gran National Experimental. It featured the same 3.8-liter turbocharged V6, but with 275 HP and 0 to 60 mph times of 4.7 seconds. Nobody expected such a bold move from Buick. After all, Buick was a company for old people producing cars without any excitement.

And suddenly, there was a turbocharged V6 coupe that broke every classic muscle car mold out there. And, it was even faster than a Ferrari. At that moment, the Buick GNX was the fastest-accelerating production model in the world. But at $29,000 it wasn’t exactly budget-friendly. However, legend says some owners paid for their cars just by street racing them for money.

8. Chevrolet Impala SS

The Impala SS is one of the most legendary names in the history of Chevrolet performance. They offered the original Impalas SS from 1961 to 1969, presenting full-size muscle cars that could beat many other performance cars at the stoplights. With its big-block engines and close-ratio, four-speed transmission unit, the Impala SS was a street-legal drag racer of the highest order.

However, as the muscle car era came to an end, they discontinued the Impala SS, only to resurrect it in 1994 as an option on the seventh generation of this legendary model. Since the early 90s marked the return to performance for most American manufacturers, Chevrolet installed the famous 5.7-liter LT1 V8 engine in the full-size rear-wheel-drive sedan. Also, they equipped it with a heavy-duty suspension and components to create a modern-day muscle legend.

So, for two years, Chevrolet produced almost 70,000 Impala SS models in several colors. However, dark purple was the most popular and sought-after. The engine delivered 260 HP, propelling the big sedan to 0 to 60 mph time of seven seconds. While they’re not exactly spectacular numbers, for the mid-90s, those were quite good results.

7. Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited

Today, fast SUVs are nothing special, but in the ‘90s, they were extremely rare and obscure. However, Jeep produced one which will be a collector’s item in the near future. This is 1998 5.9 Limited, one-year, top-of-the-line model. And best of all, Jeep equipped it with every luxury item they had to offer, as well as the 5.9-liter Magnum V8 producing 245 HP.

Although 245 HP doesn’t sound impressive today, it was a lofty number by late ‘90s SUV standards. The Grand Cherokee 5.9 was basically a Jeep hot rod model before those modern SRT versions with their powerful Hemi engines. However, they only have about 15,000, so the 5.9 Limited is a definite future classic. This generation of Jeep`s SUV was a very popular gangster express in Europe and other parts of the world.

6. Mercedes ML 63 AMG

The Cadillac Escalade is one of the most common luxury SUVs around. Although it has a big and powerful V8 under the hood, nobody expects this enormous car to be as fast as it is. Interestingly, the guys from Hennessey decided to make the Escalade faster than the Camaro and almost as fast as the Corvette ZR1.

The HPE 800 kit includes a supercharger and over 30 various upgrades to the Escalade stock drivetrain. The result is a massive 805 HP beast that can reach 60 mph in a mind-blowing 3.7 seconds.

5. Lamborghini LM002

The LM002 falls somewhere between a truck and an SUV since it has four doors and a truck bed. This crazy creation debuted in the mid-’80s as Lamborghini’s attempt at entering the world of luxury SUVs widened its appeal. The LM002 used a special chassis, suspension and Lamborghini’s famous V12 engine. The 5.2-liter engine with 400 HP was the same as in the legendary Countach.

For those buyers who thought that 400 HP was not enough, they could get the LM002 with a 7.3-liter monster V12 engine from a racing boat. They nicknamed the LM002, The Rambo Lambo. This truck was a rugged, desert-going version of the supercars Lamborghini is famous for making. Despite the enormous power and tough looks, the LM002 was hard to drive, had an enormous thirst for fuel and had problems with off-road stability.

Also, it was extremely expensive. The Michelin tires, which they still offer exclusively for this model cost $5,000 per tire. However, the crazy LM002 was capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds, which was unheard of in the late 1980s.

4. Bentley Bentayga

The world of luxurious SUVs has a new entry, thanks to Bentley’s powerful, comfortable and expensive Bentayga. The $229,000 premium-class SUV has two engine choices. Drivers can choose the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 with 542 HP or the 6.0-liter W12 engine with 600 HP. Both engines make this 5,400-pound house on wheels get to 60 mph in four seconds.

The size and the performance of this car are simply mindboggling. The top speed is electronically limited to 187 mph. But theoretically, on a long enough stretch of road, the Bentayga can reach 200 mph. The performance figures are better suited to a supercar than to a five-passenger luxury SUV. This just shows how the industry has advanced over the years.

3. Chrysler 300C

The early 2000s saw the return of these classic Chrysler sedans. The perfect homage to one of the quintessential American sedans is the 300C. They built it on a modern platform with a range of powerful engines including the 5.7 Hemi. The 300C was big, strong, well equipped and well-built. It sold well and is still the car to own if you’re looking for that classic style and feel.

Interestingly, sales are still strong. That just shows there is still a market for sturdy American, rear-wheel-drive sedans with comfortable interiors and big V8s.

2. Mercury Marauder

Despite the fact the Grand Marquis was never intended to be a performance car, Mercury decided to turn it into one. They installed a highly-tuned 4.6-liter V8 that delivered 302 HP, and a revised suspension, gearbox, and brakes. All those changes turned this sleepy, comfy sedan into a sharp muscle car.

One of three colors available, the black paint gave the Marauder menacing looks and an aggressive stance, clearly differentiating it from its more sedate cousins. The performance was surprising for a big, heavy sedan with a 0 to 60 mph time of around seven seconds. But the biggest asset was its appearance. Just the sight of a big black sedan in your rearview mirror made most people move over.

1. Dodge Charger Hemi

The new Charger sedan debuted in 2005 as a true American four-door with a rear-wheel drive platform or optional all-wheel drive (AWD). Dodge offered the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine as the top engine choice. But best of all, it had an aggressive muscular design that reminded buyers of the Charger’s heritage and history.

Immediately, it was a fantastic success since Dodge combined modern technology with retro styling. And then they added Hemi power in a great package. It wasn’t what the muscle car fans asked for, but it was a proper performance car they needed. However, the engine you will need is the 350 HP 5.7-liter Hemi.