Discontinued Sports Cars Auto Fans Desperately Need Back

11. Mazdaspeed 3

The perfect example of an overpowered, brutal front-wheel-drive car is the legendary Mazdaspeed 3. Mazda based it on the plain old economy Mazda 3. However, the Mazdaspeed 3 was something quite different. Debuting in 2007, this hot hatch got its power from a 2.3-liter four-cylinder. It delivered 263 HP, which was considered a crazy number of horsepower to send to the front wheels.

However, despite the severe torque steer, the Mazdaspeed 3 was a capable, rapid car. Soon, it attracted many customers to the dealerships. That reintroduced Mazda as one of the prime affordable performance brands on the U.S. market, at least in that period.

12. Buick GNX

The ’80s are generally considered the dark age of muscle cars and American performance, but there were a few bright moments. One of the cars that restored faith in the muscle car movement in the ’80s was the mighty Buick GNX. The story of this model is an interesting one. As far back in 1982, Buick started experimenting with turbocharging its line of standard V6 engines.

Finally, the ultimate version they named the GNX, short for the Grand National Experimental, came out in 1987. It featured the same 3.8-liter turbocharged V6 but with 275 HP and a 0 to 60 mph time of 4.7 seconds. At that moment, the Buick GNX was the fastest accelerating production model in the world. At $29,000, it wasn`t economical. Of course, there’s a widespread legend that the owners paid for their cars just by street racing them for money. That could be a reason auto fans miss the GNX to this day.

13. Dodge Magnum R/T

Dodge never built a Charger station wagon or factory Charger convertible. In fact, this model was always a two or four-door car throughout its history. However, if you have an irresistible urge for a station wagon Charger, there’s a way to enjoy the power of the Hemi engine with the practicality of a long roof body. Just look for the Dodge Magnum R/T.

Equipped with a 6.1-liter V8 Hemi engine pumping out 425 HP and a glorious soundtrack running through its twin tailpipes, the SRT-8 was a fast, capable long roof. The design is typical Dodge. Since the rest of the mechanics are identical, you can consider it a station wagon Charger.

14. BMW 6-Series E24

When BMW introduced it in 1976, the new 6 Series was their offering in the Gran Turismo market. It was one of the most elegant coupes of the day. They gave it a recognizable design, four headlights, and a big BMW grille. Interestingly, they built the 6 Series on the 5 Series base featuring nothing but six-cylinder engines.

The 6 Series proved to be popular and spent over 13 years on the market. BMW managed to produce over 100,000 of them, which are still highly desirable on the classic car market. Better yet, they sold more than half of them in the USA.

15. Citroen SM

In the late ‘1960s, Citroen was flushed with cash. Through various stock market transactions, the company acquired famous Italian sports car manufacturer Maserati. The Citroen management thought it would be great if they could use Maserati`s powerful engines and sports car know-how to produce a luxurious, fast coupe. It would come with Citroen’s signature design and style.

That’s how the Citroen SM was born. The aesthetics were French with a hydro-pneumatic self-leveling suspension and front-wheel drive. However, instead of the underpowered four-cylinder engine, there was a 2.7-liter V6 from Maserati. It provided more than enough power for lively performance.

They marketed the Citroen SM in the USA, selling more there than in Europe. In America, the SM competed against the Mercedes SLC or Cadillac Eldorado in the personal luxury segment. Soon, the buyers praised its ride quality, smooth engine, and style. Unfortunately, the oil crisis and economic recession killed it, so they ceased production in 1974 after building more than 12,000 of them.

Which sports and performance car do we desperately need back the most? Hopefully, you’ll be able to find a model to satisfy your old-school sports car craving.