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Controversial American Sports Cars That Divided The Auto World

Vukasin Herbez January 24, 2023

Car fans both new and experienced know that the American car industry has produced more than a few amazing machines. Of course, many drivers will immediately think of the Mustang or Corvette. But the truth is that US manufacturers have produced many more pure sports cars. Some of them never achieved mainstream success and some did, and many more were controversial.

All of these cars featured powerful engines, streamlined bodies, and exciting performance. Some of these inspired their own kind of controversy as well. So today we’ll concentrate on controversial models that sparked discussion amongst the fans. These cars erupted on the scene and offered more questions than answers. Check out the American sports cars that divided the auto world right here.

Callaway Aerowagen

Rives Callaway established Callaway Cars in 1977, long after the muscle car craze wound down. At the time, high-horsepower performance machines were a thing of the past. He specialized in producing turbocharger kits for European cars. His knowledge, expertise and the start of the turbo era perfectly lined up. As a result, the company took off (via Callaway Cars). During the 1980s, Callaway became known for its series of fast, obscenely powerful Corvettes.

Today, almost 30 years later, Callaway is back with the Aerowagen conversion model. Based on a brand-new C7 Corvette available on all trim levels, the Aerowagen is a conversion kit directly from Callaway or authorized dealers. The kit includes a special rear hatch assembly that transforms the C7 Corvette into a fully functional shooting brake. Small companies produced several shooting brake/wagon conversions on various Corvette models. Still, Callaway’s design is the most advanced, well-designed, and tested. Overall, it improved the design by making it more practical.

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Apollo 3500 GT

This car had several names, including the Vetta Ventura and Griffith GT. But the project started as Apollo 3500 GT. It was the brainchild of Californian engineer Milt Brown who wanted to build a proper sports car to rival European exotics. With the help of Intermeccanica founder Frank Reisner, the Apollo project started to take shape in the form of a handsome coupe powered by a 3.5-liter Buick V8 (via Silodrome).

Production was later moved to Texas and renamed the Vetta Ventura. Yet the car stayed the same. However, it got an upgraded engine in the form of a 4.9-liter Buick V8. Production started in 1962 and lasted until 1965. But some reports say that the last examples left the factory in the early ’70s. In the end, there were 90 cars in total. The Apollo 3500 was a very good sports car. With 240 HP from its V8 engine and lightweight, it was a capable coupe. But the production problems, high prices, and unknown company become too big of difficulties to overcome.

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Dodge Storm Zeder Z-250

You probably never heard about this car. It was a true sports car from the early ’50s built as a pet project of Chrysler’s engineer Fred Zeder Jr. In those days, only Chevrolet had a sports car embodied in the Corvette. Dodge could have an even better car, but the Zeder Z-250 never made it into production. The idea behind this car was fairly straightforward. It was to use common mechanical components, a powerful Chrysler engine, and a body by Bertone from Italy to create a comfortable and fast sports car. The Z-250 had one exciting feature (via Motor Authority).

The whole body can be replaced with a lightweight fiberglass body. The reason for this was to make two cars for the price of one. When owners wanted to go driving on the street, they would use the regular metal body. But if they wanted to go racing, they would put the light fiberglass body and have even better performance and handling. Unfortunately, despite the advantages and fantastic design of the Z-250, Chrysler decided that it would be too costly for production and scrapped the idea. Zeder Jr. produced around nine examples and sold them to his friends.

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Cheetah

The global success of the Shelby Cobra inspired many American race car builders to build a similar car that could compete on an international level. From this perspective, nobody came close to beating the Cobra. But Bill Thomas, a famous Chevrolet tuner and race car builder, was a serious candidate. Unfortunately, the Cheetah was never given a fair chance due to various circumstances (via Car and Driver). Chevrolet and GM pulled out of racing in 1963. Still, several independent race shops worked for GM’s backdoor programs where the company supported private racing teams.

Bill Thomas’ shop was one of those outfits, and he decided to build a Cobra competitor with Chevrolet power. That’s how the Cheetah was born. Made on a unique lightweight chassis with a small-block V8 moved as far back as possible, the Cheetah looked and performed like a race car. Despite some overheating problems, the Cheetah was a remarkable performer. It won some lower-rank races and even the 1968 SCCA championship. Unfortunately, lack of support, mechanical issues, and even a fire at the shop in California stopped production after only roughly 20 cars were built.

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2020 Chevrolet Corvette - Sports car — Photo Credit: Auto WP

Chevrolet Corvette C8

The 2021+ Corvette C8 is one of the most controversial cars of our era. It’s the long-awaited eighth-generation model and the freshest Corvette ever. That’s not just for its design but also for a host of technical solutions and advancements. First of all, the C8 is a mid-engined sports car that some consider sacrilegious. The Corvette was a front-engined sports car since 1953. Still, GM’s engineers realized they needed to switch the positioning of the engine if they wanted to keep the Corvette competitive and give it the handling it deserved (via Chevrolet).

Apart from the all-new chassis and design, C8 kept the small-block V8 engine in the form of a modern LT2 6.2-liter V8 with 490 HP. This engine comes only with automatic transmission, which is controversial as well. But the results are astonishing. The stock C8 can accelerate to 60 mph in less than three seconds and top 200 mph. Customers recognized how historically significant this model is, and C8 is a hot commodity in the auto world at the moment.

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Vector W8

The legendary Vector W8 is a wedge-shaped, V8-powered monster presented in 1990. It was an ambitious project by the Vector Aeromotive Corporation. They wanted to produce the most advanced supercar in the world by using aeronautical technology and materials in production. The W8 had space frame chassis with a Kevlar body reinforced with a special plastic (via Road and Track).

Under the engine cover was a typical American powerhouse in the form of a Chevrolet small-block V8. They paired it up with twin turbochargers to produce 625 HP. The company claimed that the 6.0-liter twin-turbo engine was capable of 1200 HP at full power. However, they suggested drivers not use full boost for extended periods since it would affect the engine’s durability. The Vector W2 cost $450,000, an enormous sum for the day. Despite being featured in numerous movies, TV shows, and video games, it failed to translate that into sales success. When production ended in 1993, the Vector Aeromotive Company managed to produce only 22 examples of this fantastic American supercar.

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Hennessey Venom GT

If you’re into domestic performance cars, then you certainly know about Hennessey. In the last few decades, they have been one of the biggest names in aftermarket muscle and performance car parts, conversion kits, engines, etc. Since 2011, they are also supercar manufacturers with the Venom GT (via Supercars). The Venom GT is not a 100% American car but a kind of British-American hybrid.

It’s based on the Lotus Elise but significantly modified, widened, and stretched with different suspensions, brakes, designs, and drivetrain. Practically everything is new and separate from the original car. The power comes from a 7.0-liter LS2 V8 engine with three power levels – 800 HP, 1000 HP, and 1200 HP. The Venom GT was available as a coupe or convertible and held the world record for the fastest production car from 0-186 mph (0-300 km/h) with an average of 13.63 seconds. Production stopped in 2017 after only 13 vehicles left the factory.

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Panoz Roadster

Younger enthusiasts don’t remember the name Panoz. But back in the ’90s, this company was one of the best-known limited-production American brands. Successful in racing, Panoz was offered a lot of racing technologies in street-legal vehicles. Which made them favorites with fans of performance driving. The Roadster model was introduced in the early ’90s and represented the modern-day version of the legendary Shelby Cobra (via Panoz).

It was a stripped-down, open-top two-seater built of aluminum which kept the weight down. Panoz used a lot of Mustang components, including the engine, drivetrain, and suspension, which meant that the Roadster had 300 HP and brutal performance. Panoz received a lot of criticism for copying the layout of the legendary Shelby Cobra. However, its determination to make this car and sell it to power-hungry clients remained the same.

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Shelby Series 1

After the success of the Viper, Carroll decided to return to the sports car manufacturing business with a new project. His idea was to introduce a retro-styled car, a power roadster with sharper handling, more direct driving dynamics, and a modern drivetrain. The idea materialized in the form of the Shelby Series 1. A world-class sports convertible and the only vehicle Shelby ever built from the ground up (via Car and Driver).

The Series 1 debuted in 1999 and featured a gorgeous roadster body, low silhouette, and design, which could be traced back to the mid-’60s. However, everything was brand new under the body, and the car had the Oldsmobile 4.0-liter V8 engine delivering 320 HP. Since the car was light, performance was great, and 0 to 60 mph times were around four seconds. That was fantastic for the late ’90s. Unfortunately, US regulations regarding car manufacturing forbade Shelby from producing the Series 1 as a regular model. They allowed it to be built only as a kit car, which Shelby refused. Due to its limited availability and high price, only about 250 examples left the factory until 2005.

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AMC AMX/3

Everybody knows about the heroic Javelin and two-seater AMX muscle cars introduced in 1968. In those days, AMC was known as an economy car brand with inexpensive models without any special features or thrills. When a pair of hot muscle cars hit the streets in the late ’60s, everybody paid attention. AMC executives noticed a significant bump in sales. Encouraged by the success of Javelin and AMX, AMC management wanted to go further and attack the sports car market. They had the funds to do so, but they didn’t have a starting point. So very soon, AMC hired renowned sports car creator and ex-Ferrari engineer Giotto Bizzarrini.

They asked him to build them a modern sports car with a rear engine, transaxle, and sleek body (via Auto Evolution). Bizzarrini did what he was asked and even more. The AMX/3 prototype was capable of 170 mph and had world-class handling and sexy Italian styling. AMC’s 390 V8 engine provided the power with 340 HP. Despite the promising start, AMC realized that the finished product would cost somewhere around $12,000, significantly more than a similarly-designed De Tomaso Pantera and almost double the price of the Corvette. Unfortunately, but understandably, they decided to kill the fantastic AMX/3 after just six pre-production cars were built in 1970.

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Chevrolet Aerovette Wankel

The mid-engine layout has been the obsession of Corvette engineers for decades. Between 1960 and 1977, there were around 10 fully functional Corvette prototypes with this drivetrain layout. But one, in particular, is a bit more interesting than others: the 1973 Aerovette Wankel concept. The most important feature of this car was the engine. It housed the advanced four-rotor Wankel unit with more than 400 HP from 390 CID. In the early ’70, all manufacturers experimented with Wankel rotary engines. They were looking for a cheaper, more powerful, and more efficient alternative to standard piston-type engines.

Chevrolet realized that its car retains the power level of a big-block V8 engine with a Wankel unit but in a much lighter, higher-revving package. So the green light was given for the development of the Wankel Corvette (via General Motors). The functional prototype was shown at the 1973 Paris Motor Show and received mixed reviews. The styling was good, and 420 HP was double the power of a regular 454 Corvette. Still, people were reluctant to accept the idea of a mid-engined Corvette. Drivers weren’t sure about the zooming sound of the engine instead of the recognizable V8 rumble. After Chevrolet realized the costs of introducing such a car, the project was shut down. But the legend of the Wankel Corvette is still alive among Chevrolet aficionados.

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Ford Mustang Boss 429 Rear Engine

This one is one of the most interesting Mustang prototypes. And despite the fact it didn’t appear on the show circuit back in the late ’60s, it caused a lot of controversy. This is the 1969 Boss 429 with the engine moved in the trunk and extensively tested by Ford to see if this conversion had significant advantages over the standard layout. The Mustang itself is a muscle car, not a sports car. However, this change turned it into an exotic, mid-engine sports coupe, which stunned engineers (via Motor Trend).

The engine was placed longitudinally in the trunk and connected to the rear wheels over a C6 automatic transmission unit. The rear glass was a hatchback door to access the engine, and the whole conversion was surprisingly trouble-free. This Boss 429 had a 40/60 weight balance, as added weight over the rear axle helped launch it off the line and reduced wheel spin. However, Ford realized that there weren’t any significant performance improvements and decided to kill the project.

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Chevrolet Corvette C8 E-Ray

If you thought that the standard C8 Corvette reached the maxim controversy for an American sports car, you’re mistaken. Chevrolet and Corvette team had only just begun shocking the traditional Corvette buyer by introducing new and advanced features. The 2024 Corvette C8 E-Ray is the first all-wheel-drive Corvette and the first American sports car with a hybrid powertrain. The E-Ray is a cross between the standard C8 and electric sports car with a 6.2-liter V8 in the back. It’s paired with an electric motor that powers the front wheels and helps with acceleration (via Chevrolet).

Of course, with an overall weight of almost 4000 pounds, the C8 E-Ray is heavy. But it has to be since it features a battery pack located between the seats. It also features a wider track, a different design, and a host of specific E-Ray options. All of that distinguishes this special model from the rest of the C8 Corvette range. Chevrolet claims that 0 to 60 mph is achievable in 2.5 seconds. The E-Ray also supposedly has driving dynamics equal to or better than the C8 Z06. However, despite being very advanced, this is a Corvette with a base price of over $100,000, another controversial thing about it.

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Saleen S7

Many Ford Mustang lovers recognize Steve Saleen as one of the most recognizable names in the business. Saleen was one of the best tuners of late-model Mustangs. Some say he is to ’80s or newer Mustangs what Carroll Shelby was to ’60s muscle cars. Either way, he is a legend of the American car scene. In the early 2000s, Steve Saleen decided to branch out and enter the supercar market with the S7. It was a fast, good-looking, and powerful exotic car which featured the latest technology and proven V8 power. Saleen invested a lot of time and money into constructing the S7. He even used companies that produced parts for Formula One to help him develop this car (via Saleen).

The result was a 550 HP Saleen S7 introduced in 2000. It immediately started drawing attention from the supercar crowd. The S7’s superb performance, looks, and technology were on par with the best European supercars at the time. In 2005, they debuted the even more powerful Twin Turbo version with 750 HP and a top speed of almost 250 mph. The car proved to be relatively successful, even on the race track, and Saleen produced a racing version as well.

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Panoz Esperante GTR-1

If you’re a ’90s kid, you probably remember the Panoz Esperante GTR-1 from popular racing games like Gran Turismo or Midtown Madness. This American supercar was the talk of the racing community in the late ’90s. However, despite its promising start, Panoz built only a few racing versions and one street-legal example (via Top Car Rating).

The technology behind the Esperante was clearly for racing purposes. It had a space-frame body structure, lightweight panels, two seats, and a front engine mounted towards the middle of the car for weight distribution. The characteristic front of the car was aerodynamically efficient, although it wasn’t that attractive. Under the hood was a Roush-built, Ford-derived V8 with over 500 HP mated to a sequential gearbox. Panoz successfully raced the Esperante on numerous race tracks all over the world but managed to build only one street version. However, there is a rumor the company will make a new street-legal Esperante GTR-1 for approximately $1 million.

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