Under The Radar: 15 Unassuming Performance Cars

2. Chevrolet Bel Air 427

At one time, the Bel Air was a top-of-the-line Chevrolet. But in the mid to late ’60s, it was an entry-level model in a full-size lineup. So most performance-oriented buyers looked for Impala SS cars. However, those in the know bought the Bel Air with the optional 427 V8 under the hood.

The Bel Air 427 was the definition of a sleeper muscle car. Although it had plain looks, a two-door body with B-pillars and dog dish hubcaps, it got 390 or 425 HP from a thumping seven-liters of American muscle. From the outside, the 427 looked like any other Chevrolet with more of a rental car appearance than anything else.

3. Mazdaspeed6

When it debuted in 2006, the Mazdaspeed6 was the perfect affordable performance car they disguised as an economy family four-door. But, Mazda designed it to be the perfect driver’s machine in sheep’s clothing. Under the hood was a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that pumped out 270 HP. Better still, it sent its power to all four wheels over an intelligent AWD system and six-speed manual transmission.

Best of all, they hid the advanced hardware under the regular body style with just a different grille and few subtle modifications. In fact, even the best car enthusiasts had trouble telling which was a regular Mazda 6 and which one was the crazy Mazdaspeed6. The performance was outstanding even by today’s standards since the Mazdaspeed6 was capable of a 5.5 second 0 to 60 mph time and a top speed of 150 mph. Also, with all-wheel drive, it was surefooted in difficult driving conditions.

4. Mercedes 500E

Back in the early ’90s, Mercedes produced the successful yet docile W124 E-Class. The elegant sedan was famous for its comfort and refinement rather than its performance and speed. But soon, a team of crazy German engineers changed that. In 1991, they presented the mighty 500E model. This was a high-performance version of their main sedan featuring a different drivetrain, suspension, brakes and engine.

However, the 500E was so demanding to produce, Mercedes asked Porsche to assemble this car. The main feature of the 500E was the 5.0-liter V8 engine pumping out a whopping 326 HP. That was a crazy figure for early ’90s, especially in a formal sedan. The 500 E could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just six seconds, making it almost as fast as a Ferrari 348.

5. Chevrolet SS

Unfortunately, the Chevrolet SS is out of production, but dealers have enough unsold cars that you can still buy one right now. It could be argued the SS is one of the best affordable performance sedans on the market today. With a 6.2-liter V8, 412 HP, precise steering, and neutral handling, this car rivals Europe’s finest sports sedans. Did you know this is Holden from Australia they rebadged as a Chevy finely tuned for U.S. customers?

The performance numbers are respectable, so a 0 to 60 mph sprint is possible in just 4.7 seconds and the top speed is over 150 mph. The Chevrolet SS is a good proposition for people who need a practical sedan but want a sports car. The styling is elegant and unassuming, which is a good thing since this car can surprise many sports models with its performance. One of the best sleepers on the market, it can blend with traffic so nobody can tell you have 400 HP under your right foot ready to jump in a second’s notice.

6. Rambler Rebel V8

This early muscle car was born by chance. Squeezing a 327 V8 engine from a Nash Ambassador into a small, compact and light Rambler body created one seriously fast, yet unassuming muscle machine. The 327 V8 delivered 255 HP, which wasn’t that much. In the compact Rambler body, it was enough for 0 to 60 mph times of just seven seconds.

To make things even more interesting, only the expensive, fuel-injected Chevrolet Corvette could beat the small Rambler in 1957. However, the powerful engine option raised the price of the once-affordable Rambler. Unfortunately, there were just a few buyers who were ready to pay extra for the privilege of outrunning anything else on the road. So as a result, they only produced 1,500 of them.

7. Ford 7-Litre

Ford introduced a new full-size model for 1966, the named the 7-Litre. The “7” stood for displacement and the “Litre” spelling gave the otherwise ordinary Galaxie more charm. Under the hood was a 428 V8 with a respectable 345 HP that delivered a convincing performance. However, the 7-Litre had some interesting equipment because Ford put everything they had into this car.

The buyers could get A/C and bucket seats were standard. There also came with a heavy-duty suspension and power everything. Also, buyers could choose special colors and the 7-Litre badges on the sides to identify this model. This was a one year only model, but in 1967 the 428 was back. However, it was only as an option on the Galaxie and not a standalone model.

8. Mercedes 300 SEL 6.3

Back in the late ’60s, Mercedes took a big leap forward by introducing the 300 SEL 6.3 version of their luxury sedan, the W109. This was arguably the first power sedan for the company since a mighty 6.3-liter V8 engine with 250 HP and 434 lb-ft of torque sat under the hood.

But from the outside, the formal Mercedes sedan looked ordinary except for the twin tailpipes. However, when you kicked the accelerator pedal you could leave a Porsche 911 in the dust. Mercedes designed this Benz to cruise the Autobahn at speeds of around 140 mph for hours.

9. Audi RS6

The first RS model that came to the U.S. was the 2003 Audi RS6 Sedan. It brought the RS performance and philosophy to the American market in a perfect manner. It was 450 HP strong with a twin-turbo. This was a super sedan with unmistakable style, brutal performance and unbelievable handling from its signature Quattro all-wheel drive train.

The top speed of this beast was electronically limited to 155 mph. But if you want, you can achieve a top speed of 170 mph if you remove the limiter, which many owners did.

10. GMC Typhoon

From the outside, the Typhoon looks like an ordinary early ’90s GMC Jimmy or Chevrolet Blazer. And that’s because they based it on the same platform and body style. But, under the metal, nothing is the same. GMC equipped its Typhoons with a 4.3-liter V6 engine with a turbocharger and intercooler.

The power output was 280 HP, which is not that impressive today, but back in 1991, it was a nice number. It came with an automatic transmission, performance-oriented all-wheel-drive system and suspension, which helped the performance. The Typhoon could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.7 seconds, surprising many of the Porsche owners back in the day.

11. Omega Lotus/Lotus Carlton

In the late ’80s, Opel and Vauxhall, GM’s European subsidiaries, presented a full-size family sedan they aimed at comfort and effortless cruising. However, then Lotus decided to turn it into a hot rod and one of the fastest sedans on the planet. And the first step was the engine.

The 3.6-liter six delivered 377 HP, which was massive for the standards of the day and the performance was thrilling, as well. A 0 to 60 mph run was over in just 5.2 seconds and the top speed was a record-breaking 177 mph. But they sold the car in just one color, which they called Imperial Green, a shade of dark green.

12. 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 that will be a collector’s item in the near future. This is the 1998 5.9 Limited, a one year, top of the line model. In fact, Jeep equipped with every luxury item they had to offer as well as the 5.9-liter Magnum V8 with 245 HP.

Although 245 HP doesn’t sound like much today, it was a lofty number for the late ’90s SUV standards. The Grand Cherokee 5.9 could be considered as a kind of Jeep hot rod before those modern SRT versions with powerful Hemi engines. They built only about 15,000 so the 5.9 Limited is a definite future classic.

13. Pontiac Grand Prix GXP

Despite the name, the Pontiac Grand Prix wasn’t a performance car so by the early 2000s, it was just an ordinary GM sedan. However, when they presented the GXP package, all of a sudden the front-wheel-drive Grand Prix became a hot performance car.

The GXP package consisted of 5.3-liter V8 with 303 HP going to the front axle, as well as a revised suspension and gearbox. That transformed this family sedan into a highway missile. The GM engineers invested a lot of time to make this front-wheel-drive car perform and handle like a European performance sedan.

14. Toyota Camry V6

No one considered the Toyota Camry to be a performance car. Sadly, it has always been a boring sedan for family-oriented buyers. But for some drivers, it is perfect since a dull Camry will never attract unwanted attention.

However, just look at the stats of the 2019 model. Toyota equipped it with a 3.5-liter V6 engine delivering 301 HP. And it shoots its power to the front wheels over an intelligent eight-speed automatic. Amazingly, the new Camry can achieve a 0 to 60 mph time in 5.7 seconds.

15. Subaru Legacy GT

Produced for a short time, the Legacy GT was always in the shadow of its more popular sibling, the Impreza STI. However, the Legacy GT offered more refinement and interior space, along with stealth looks and comfort. The GT part of the name suggests this is no ordinary Legacy.

The 2.5-liter flat-four engine produces 250 HP and 240 lb-ft of torque sending it to all four wheels. And that makes this ordinary sedan quite capable in the right hands. It may look like a family sedan, but this is almost as fast as a racer Impreza STI.

These are 15 of the most unassuming performance cars ever made. Which did you like the best? Get one of these, and you could even fly under the radar.