Porsche 944
This list already featured one small Porsche that singlehandedly saved the company. However, the 944 was the original savior from the early ’80s. Porsche was always a top name in the sports car world. For a long time, they were just the manufacturer of the 911. During the ’70s changing economic climate, Porsche introduced the smaller, more affordable 924 (via Your Radio).
So, in late 1982, Porsche introduced the 944. With a bigger 2.5-liter four-cylinder and 170 HP, the 944 had decent performance. As a result, it reached a whole new group of Porsche buyers. Porsche introduced many upgraded, more powerful versions during its nine-year run. One was the Turbo, or S2, which transformed the small 944 into a serious driving machine. So while the 928 and 911 were losing money for the company, the smaller 944 earned enough to keep Porsche alive during the ’80s and the early ’90s.