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Impress The Cars & Coffee Crowd With One Of These Unusual Cars

Vukasin Herbez June 2, 2019

In recent years, Cars & Coffee meets have become popular among car enthusiasts everywhere. If you have attended a local C&C meet, you know what it’s all about. But, if you haven’t checked one out yet, here’s what it is. They hold the typical C&C event in a big parking lot near a coffee shop. People gather on weekend mornings, enjoy some coffee and talk about cars. Although it may sound simple, this well-received concept has gained worldwide popularity.

Although some wealthy car enthusiasts use these meets to show off their newest, most expensive acquisitions, true car lovers go there to find some interesting, rare cars and gems of the car industry. So, if you are one of those people who want to impress others with something strange and uncommon, here is a selection of interesting yet obscure cars you can buy. So, read on to be the talk of your next Cars & Coffee meet without spending a fortune.

25. Oldsmobile Jetfire

The Oldsmobile Jetfire is an important model for automotive history that never got the respect it deserved. This was the first turbocharged passenger car alongside the Chevrolet Corvair Monza. However, the Oldsmobile system was more complex and powerful than the Chevrolet system. In those days, each GM division was in competition to present something better than their competitors. So Oldsmobile chose turbocharging as the new technology to perfect. GM added a special “Turbo Rocket Fuel” tank consisting of distilled water, methanol, and a corrosion inhibitor mixture they injected into a fuel-air mixture to prevent detonation. This was necessary since turbochargers were prone to detonation in those days, which could ruin the engine.

The Jetfire V8 was state-of-the-art technology and initially, the market was interested. The V8 delivered 215 HP, one HP per cubic inch, making it one of the best performance cars of the day. With the 0 to 60 mph time of eight seconds, it was almost as fast as the Corvette. However, the Jetfire had problems from the beginning, most owner-related. People praised the power delivery, but they weren’t used to maintaining a turbo engine. Many owners forgot to fill up the “Turbo Rocket Fuel” tank. This caused a loss of power and even engine failure. Soon the Jetfire developed a bad reputation despite the praises of automotive magazines.

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24. Ford Mustang McLaren M81

The late ’70s and early ’80s were bad times for muscle cars, but there were still a few unique versions Detroit released in that period. One of those is the famous M81 McLaren Mustang. This interesting car was built with the help of the well-known McLaren racing team from Michigan.

The idea behind the project was to take the 2.3-liter turbo engine from the regular Mustang and transform it into a street racing beast. It would include a race-tuned suspension and a lightweight body. McLaren and Ford installed a tuned turbo engine with 190 HP, which was a big number coming from 2.3 liters. They also changed the looks of the Ford Mustang. The result was a good performance and driving dynamics, but also a high price tag. Ford offered the McLaren M81 for $25,000, which was roughly three times the price of a regular Ford. Even though they installed lots of improvements in the M81, it was a tough seller.

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23. Apollo 3500

This car goes under several names including the Vetta Ventura and Griffith GT, but the project started as the Apollo 3500. It was the brainchild of Californian engineer Milt Brown who wanted to build a proper sports car to rival the European exotics. With the help of Intermeccanica founder Frank Reisner, the Apollo project started to take shape as a handsome coupe with a 3.5-liter Buick V8.

They later moved the production to Texas and renamed the car the Vetta Ventura, but it stayed the same. However, they gave it an upgraded engine in the form of the 4.9-liter Buick V8. Production started in 1962 and lasted until 1965, but there are some reports that they completed the last examples in the early ’70s. In the end, they only built 90 cars. The Apollo 3500 delivered 240 HP from its V8 engine and thanks to its lightweight, it was a capable coupe. But, the production problems, high prices, and unknown company were problems that were too big to overcome.

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22. Bradley GT

The Bradley GT was the typical 1970s kit car company. They built cars on VW Beetle floor plans with flat-four air-cooled engines and updated suspensions. Even though it didn’t count as a sports car configuration, the Bradley GT was fast since it was light. And some owners decided to tune the engine. Some even installed the Porsche flat-six units, giving the Bradley GT a vivid performance.

The Bradley GT was an interesting-looking sports coupe they sold as a kit or as a fully built car, customized to customer’s specifications. It was a typical ’70s DIY model with metallic paint, chrome wheels, and gullwing doors, adding to its appeal. For those who invested in a more powerful engine, updated suspension, and drivetrain, the Bradley GT was a sports coupe, but most owners only wanted a show car.

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21. GAZ 24 Volga

Russia was behind the Iron Curtain back in the ’60s, so the car industry concentrated on domestic needs. However, there were still many interesting cars from this country that viewed car ownership as a step away from capitalism. So GAZ, the producer of family cars and trucks, introduced a new, modern model they called the GAZ 24 or the Volga.

In the late ’60s, the Volga was a modern car, even by Western standards. It was a large sedan, almost the size of a full-size American model with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and 95 HP. The performance wasn’t great, but by Russian standards, this was a prestigious automobile. In fact, you could only own one if you were a perspective or respected member of the Communist Party or a KGB operative. Even so, the design of the new Volga was American. It reminded people of the 1962 to 1964 Chevrolet Impala sedan. The bumpers, the boxy shape, chromed front grille, and trim were all extremely reminiscent of Chevrolet’s design. But, the Volga came with two headlights less than the Impala. The Volga stayed in production, although with extensive modifications, until the late ’90s.

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20. UAZ 469

All Eastern Bloc countries paid attention to the military, investing lots of money in equipment and vehicles. Soviet Russia was the largest producer of all military vehicles and sold its models to fellow communist countries all around the globe. Apart from dozens of specialty designs, the Russians produced simple, affordable off-road models for wide use, and one of the most successful is the UAZ 469.

The model is still part of the Russian military and a successful export model. They introduced the UAZ 469 in 1971, as the successor to the GAZ 69. It was a simple and rugged military jeep-like vehicle. And they improved the 469 with an all-new chassis and live axles in the front and rear. It also came with a more powerful engine in the form of the 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline unit. But despite the improvements, it was still a crude car. However, it was extremely durable making it perfect for the toughest off-road courses as well as for military use. It was uncomfortable and simple, but effective. This off-roader is still in production in Russia and in use all around the world.

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19. Lancia Delta HF Integrale

Lancia was always big in rallying. So, after the banning of their Group B model, the S4, they wanted something that could work well on the street and on the track. And that’s how the HF Integrale was born. The main features of this model were the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with, at first, 185 HP, and later up to 220 HP.

Also, it had a permanent and well-balanced all-wheel-drive system. The Delta HF Integrale is an important hot hatch because it was the first with AWD. That marked the beginning of the transition from the front-wheel drive, simple hot hatches, to the high-tech, all-wheel-drive performance monsters of today. The combination of a powerful engine, sharp handling, great traction, and low weight was intoxicating for magazine testers of the day. In fact, the Delta HF Integrale received nothing but praises. Over the years, the Delta HF Integrale proved to be a successful concept, and not only on the rally stages but all over the world.

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18. Citroen 2CV

After the Second World War, France was faced with a different economic reality, because the enthusiasm of the fantastic 1930s was gone. The market couldn’t afford those luxury models, so manufacturers were forced to design basic transportation and inexpensive cars. But in typical French fashion, inexpensive cars didn’t have to be dull and boring vehicles. One of the best examples was the legendary Citroen 2CV. The idea behind the Citroen 2CV was to present the most affordable family car possible. It would be totally minimalistic and utilitarian, but it would still have a certain level of comfort. It also would provide enough space for four occupants and their luggage. The construction was extremely simple and durable, and all 2CVs had canvas tops.

They presented the first Citroen 2CV in 1948. It soon became a bestseller, not only in France but also in the rest of Europe. Early models had a diminutive flat twin engine with only 375 ccm or 21cid. They only delivered nine HP, but later versions grew to 600 ccm or 40cid and 29 HP. Despite its diminutive power and performance, the Citroen 2 CV was immensely popular in the whole world and they sold almost four million copies. They also briefly sold it in the U.S., but it didn’t attract a lot of attention from car buyers. They ended production in 1990, which was late for a car like this.

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17. Renault R4

By the early ’60s, the French and European markets had recovered from the Second World War. The average customer needed a bigger, more capable machine than the Citroen 2CV. Renault realized that buyers loved the utilitarian character of the 2CV, but they wanted more space and power. After a string of successful but ordinary economy cars, Renault decided to introduce a modern, bigger, and more practical model.

They gave it an unusual station wagon-like body in the form of the Renault 4, which they presented in 1961. Immediately, the car was a success and buyers loved it since it was more capable and modern than the Citroen 2CV. It also offered more space and practicality. The power was diminutive with a base 700 ccm or 45 cid four-cylinder engine powering the front wheels. Eventually, the power grew to 1.1-liter or 67cid, but still, the performance was weak. The Renault 4 was a globally-successful car they sold and assembled all over the world. Production ended in 1994 after 33 years and over eight million R4s.

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16. Simca Matra Rancho

If you are familiar with Matra Rancho, then you are one of the few who remembers this brave model and the innovative concept it presented. The Rancho was ahead of its time. Today it is one of the first true SUVs with a rough appearance, but car-like technology and interior features. They introduced it in 1977, and the Rancho was a product of Matra.

It was a French car company famous for developing concepts and producing cars for Renault, Simca, and Talbot. The Rancho looked like it meant business. However, with its front-wheel drive and a 1.4-liter engine, it didn’t have significant off-road capabilities. But it was good enough to serve as a camping or leisure vehicle. After the release, the Rancho proved to be popular, selling over 50.000 copies during its eight years of production. Unfortunately, the Simca was experiencing financial difficulties, so they didn’t want to keep producing the Rancho despite the fact it was profitable.

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15. Skoda 110 R

During the ‘60s, Skoda’s main sedan model was the 110, a basic four-door car with a rear-mounted four-cylinder engine. In Eastern Europe in those days, sports cars were almost nonexistent, so Skoda wanted to introduce a sports coupe to widen its appeal and export sales. The result was the Skoda 110 R, a true sports coupe with a dynamic fastback design and more power.

They introduced the 110 R in 1970 and immediately, it became a highly sought-after model in all of Eastern Europe. It retained the basic technical layout but had an upgraded engine producing 62 HP. Of course, the performance was diminutive by today’s standards. However, back in the early ‘70s in Czechoslovakia, this was a proper sports coupe. Skoda even entered it in rally championships and won a few events. The production lasted until 1980 and they made over 56,000 110 Rs.

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14. Honda Beat

The spiritual successor of the classic Honda S600 roadster is the ‘90s Honda Beat. They presented it in 1991, selling it until 1996. The Beat was a small and nimble roadster with just 660 ccm of displacement and 63 HP.

But in the typical Honda fashion, they naturally aspirated and equipped the car with a five-speed manual transmission. At just 1,656 pounds, it was immensely fun to drive. They produced over 33,000 in its five-year production run.

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13. Fiat Dino Coupe

Back in 1967, Fiat introduced the Dino, a coupe and a convertible sports car featuring a Ferrari V6 engine straight from the 246 GT Dino. Bertone designed the convertible, while Pininfarina styled it. The two cars shared the mechanics, engine, and performance, but the design was totally different.

They officially sold the Fiat Dino Coupe in America, so you can find one in the classified ads for as little as $15,000. And that is the most affordable way to own a piece of Ferrari magic at Ford Fiesta prices. If you are budget-minded, look for the Dino Coupe since it is more common and affordable than the convertible. Also, look for the later 2.4-liter V6 version since it is better and faster than the early 2.0-liter model.

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12. Nissan Figaro

Nissan debuted the Figaro in 1991 and immediately, it caused a stir among Japanese car fans. They announced it would be a limited-edition car based on the Nissan Micra platform. However, it came with a bespoke interior, automatic transmission, a full options list, and a stylish new body with a big sunroof as standard.

When the Figaro arrived, the buyers lined up so Nissan couldn’t keep up with the demand. The company even organized a lottery for interested buyers for a chance to buy the car. The unique aspects of the vehicle were visible, even under the metal. They powered the Figaro was with the diminutive 987 cc turbocharged engine delivering 77 HP as well as a lively performance thanks to its small weight.

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11. Matra Bagheera

The French company, Matra, is one of the most interesting automotive design and development outfits. For decades, this firm has delivered innovative solutions, new technologies, and works for some of the biggest names in the industry. In the early ‘70s, in cooperation with Simca, Matra decided to produce a small sports car for the European market. They named it the Bagheera, introducing this cool-looking three-seater in 1973.

Yes, you read that right. The Bagheera had three seats up front, and even though it was compact and small, three people could sit comfortably next to each other. Unfortunately, the power came from a quite diminutive 1.2 or 1.4-liter engine, which didn’t provide exhilarating performance. However, with three seats and French charm, the little Matra Bagheera was a moderate success.

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10. Opel GT

In the late ‘60s, the German brand Opel was one of the most popular economy car manufacturers in Europe. Since General Motors owned it, they had to approve the design of all Opel models. And that meant that most Opel models looked like scaled-down versions of Chevrolets or Buicks. This was exactly the case with the Opel GT, a sporty affordable coupe they presented in 1968. Opel needed a sports car, based on its entry-level model, the Kadett. So in the mid-60s, they got the go-ahead from GM to introduce such a vehicle. The Corvette and GM concepts from the mid-60s heavily introduced the design.

With its covered headlights, curvy Coke bottle design, twin round taillights, and similar silhouette, the Opel GT looked like a scaled-down version of the Corvette. It even appeared on the market at the same time as the Vette’s third generation. Of course, with its slow 1.3 and 1.9-liter four-cylinder engines, the Opel GT didn’t have any of the Corvette’s power or performance but it had the looks. They sold it in America through the Buick dealership network and, interestingly, it sold well. In fact, they sold more Opel GTs in the U.S. than in Europe during its five-year production run.

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9. Fiat Coupe

Fiat never imported this interesting car to the USA, but now is eligible for import since it is older than 25 years. They presented the Fiat Coupe in 1993 and it stayed in production until 2000, selling in Europe and select markets around the globe. At one point, it was the fastest and most powerful Fiat product with the biggest potential to become a classic and highly sought-after model. The engine lineup started with some rather anemic four-cylinder engines.

However, it ended with a potent 2.0-liter turbocharged five-cylinder unit producing 220 HP. And that was quite the power output for the early ‘90s. In turbo guise, the Fiat Coupe was a fast car and with its unique styling, it was a real head-turner wherever it appeared. With a 0 to 60 mph acceleration time of 6.3 seconds, it is quick by today’s standards. The prices are not high right now. So, you should jump at the opportunity to own a rare car in the states. This is a gorgeous Italian coupe with all the modern features like air conditioning, ABS brakes, and airbags.

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8. Lancia Thema 8.32

Ferrari never officially built a four-door sedan, but Lancia did, so in 1986, they presented the Thema 8.32. This was a top-of-the-range Lancia model at the time featuring a transversally mounted Ferrari 3.0-liter V8 engine from the 308 GTB Quattrovalvole; hence, the name. It had eight cylinders with 32 valves. But this wasn’t the first time Ferrari lent its engine to Lancia.

In fact, some 10 years before the Thema 8.32, Lancia Stratos received a 2.4-liter V6 from the Ferrari Dino. But, it was the first time a Ferrari engine powered a luxury sedan. The Thema 8.32 delivered 212 HP with a seven-second 0 to 60 mph time. And that was fast for the day, especially for a front-wheel-drive sedan. To call the 8.32 a BMW M5 competitor would be a stretch, but the Thema Ferrari was a comfortable cruiser with lots of style. But best of all, Lancia offered a high level of standard equipment and a long list of luxury options. Sadly, they discontinued the Thema 8.32 in 1992, selling just over 3,000 examples.

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7. Puma GTB

Back in the early ‘70s, the Brazilian government imposed high import taxes on foreign cars, so owning a European or American vehicle was extremely expensive. As a result, the majority of buyers turned to locally built cars and trucks. However, if you wanted a proper sports/muscle car coupe with a modern design and a great performance there was only one Brazilian car that could fulfill your needs: the Puma GTB.

The Puma GTB was a muscle coupe they built on the Chevrolet Opala SS base, which meant it had the same 169 HP engine and drivetrain. But, the Puma GTB had a fiberglass body, which meant it was much lighter and aerodynamically efficient than the Opala SS. Translated in performance numbers, the GTB had better acceleration figures and top speeds. The downside of the GTB was that it was expensive by Brazilian standards. So, in 11 years of its production from 1973 to 1984, they built only around 1,700 cars in two series they differentiated by a few design details.

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6. Volkswagen SP2

The biggest car company in Brazil was Volkswagen. They produced all of their products there, including the Beetle, T2 Van, and 1600 TL. The combination of air-cooled quality, usability, and low price made Volkswagens the most popular cars in Brazil by far. However, Volkswagen didn’t have any performance credentials or a sports model. So, in the early ‘70s, Volkswagen wanted a piece of the action. The problem was that Volkswagen had no powerful engines or performance drivetrain components to turn any of its models into anything close to a performance car.

In an effort to produce a muscle/performance car, Volkswagen took the Beetle floorplan, a 1.7-liter flat-four engine, and tuned it to 75 HP, which wasn’t much, but it was far more than stock. They named the finished product the SP2, debuting it in 1972. It looked modern with a long front end, low profile, and sporty silhouette. However, the car cost more than any other Volkswagen product although it did deliver some performance. Unfortunately, it failed to meet the expectations of performance-oriented car fans. The SP2 was in production for four years until 1976. During that period Volkswagen made over 11,000 examples.

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5. Ford OSI 20M TS

Back in the ‘60s, Italy was full of small design houses that built some interesting variants of regular production cars. Most of those small body shops looked for lucrative contracts with big companies that would provide them with financial security and the chance to present their creations to a worldwide audience. And one of those small firms was OSI, which concentrated on producing bodies based on the Fiat chassis. However, their best-known model was, in fact, a Ford.

Back in the mid-60s, OSI teamed with European Ford to produce a limited run of sports cars they based on a mid-size Taunus chassis. They called the car the Ford OSI 20M TS. It had a gorgeous and elegant coupe body and a 2.3-liter V6 engine delivering around 110 HP. That may not sound like much, but since it was light, the performance was satisfying to most customers.

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4. Marcos GT

Produced from 1964 to 1971, and again from 1981 to 1990, the Marcos GT was the most popular and interesting model from this company. Basically, it was a kit car they built on a custom chassis with a choice of engines. The Marcos GT was a relatively affordable, but capable sports car with aggressive styling, a low weight, and decent performance.

Customers could get the GT with numerous engines, mostly by Ford. The lineup started with small 1.5 or 1.6-liter four-cylinder engines. However, if you wanted to experience its full potential, you could opt for the 3.0-liter V6 from a Ford or Volvo. For a brief period, they offered the Marcos GT on the American market with Volvo’s straight six, but they didn’t sell many of them.

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3. SAAB Sonett

Even though SAAB was always known for their sedans and convertibles with turbo engines, during the ‘60s and early ‘70s, they produced a sports coupe. As expected, it was strange, obscure, and quirky, just like the rest of the range. In fact, there were three generations of the SAAB Sonett sports car. The first one was a racing prototype from the ‘50s, but the second and third ones were regular production models. They designed the Sonett on a box chassis and fitted it with a fiberglass body.

Initially, they equipped the Sonett with tiny SAAB’s three-cylinder two-stroke engine producing just 60 HP. As you can expect, most customers were disappointed with the poor performance. But soon the company fitted a 1.7-liter V4 they borrowed from Ford’s European division. The power grew slightly, but the V4 had much more torque. However, the small Sonett still wasn’t a record-breaker. They ceased production in 1974 after building less than 15,000 Sonetts over three generations.

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2. Chrysler Valiant Charger VH

The Chrysler Motor Company wanted to participate in the Australian muscle car class, so in 1971, they introduced the Valiant Charger. Based on the regular Valiant platform but with a sporty new two-door body, the Charger got its name from its American cousin, the Dodge Charger. To be able to keep up with mighty Falcon GTs, Monaros, and Toranos, the Valiant Charger could be had with several performance engines. They including a hot version of Chrysler’s six-cylinder engine featuring new cylinder heads and better intake systems.

In the R/T version, the 4.3-liter six delivered over 240 HP, but the most powerful version was the Charger 770 SE E55. Under the hood was a well-known Mopar 340 V8 with 285 HP and a three-speed automatic. In fact, they commonly installed this engine in the Dodge Challenger and Plymouth Barracuda in America.

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1. Chevrolet Opala SS

The Chevrolet Opala SS is the typical example of a Brazilian muscle car they produced at the height of the muscle car craze. They presented this handsome fastback coupe in 1969. They offered it in a wide arrange of formal body styles as Chevrolet’s main mid-size model for the Brazilian market. The name, Opala, was a bit controversial since most customers thought it represented a mix between the Opel and Impala. But while Germany’s Opel was a part of GM and they produced a model they called the Rekord, which was visually the same, the U.S.-made Chevrolet had the Impala, which used the 250 CID, 4.1-liter straight-six. And that was the same one as the engine for the Brazilian Opala. Either way, Chevrolet decided to offer the performance version of the Opala, which used the same 4.1-liter straight six they tuned to produce 169 HP.

Despite the fact that was not much by today’s standards, it was good enough to give the Opala SS decent performance figures and attract many customers. The Opala SS was even successful on the racetrack, winning many events in Brazil during the ‘70s. Interestingly, the Opala SS had a distinctive appearance package including a vinyl roof, racing stripes, graphics, and sporty wheels to differentiate it from its lesser cousins. You can impress the Cars & Coffee crowd with one of these rare cars. Which one was your favorite of them all? Be sure to hurry and buy it now before the prices go sky-high.

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Impress The Cars & Coffee Crowd With One Of These Unusual Cars

25. Oldsmobile Jetfire

24. Ford Mustang McLaren M81

23. Apollo 3500

22. Bradley GT

21. GAZ 24 Volga

20. UAZ 469

19. Lancia Delta HF Integrale

18. Citroen 2CV

17. Renault R4

16. Simca Matra Rancho

15. Skoda 110 R

14. Honda Beat

13. Fiat Dino Coupe

12. Nissan Figaro

11. Matra Bagheera

10. Opel GT

9. Fiat Coupe

8. Lancia Thema 8.32

7. Puma GTB

6. Volkswagen SP2

5. Ford OSI 20M TS

4. Marcos GT

3. SAAB Sonett

2. Chrysler Valiant Charger VH

1. Chevrolet Opala SS

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