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5 American Sports Cars That Deserved A Better Legacy
Born In The U.S.A.
Words by Christian Parodi
The untouchable trio that has always defined the image of stars and stripes sports cars answer to the names of Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro and Corvette. Add a mandatory honorable mention for the iconic Cobra and you will find the excellence that made American sports car admired in the whole world – at least the most popular ones. Personally I have always had a soft spot for the Viper, in particular the very first GTS, a black widow capable of moving your stomach even kilometers away, but for the vast majority it is easier to come across monotonous sedans indistinguishable from each other and a plethora of 4X4s, in some cases essential to facilitate long-distance travels, especially when a few hundred kilometers of desert stand between point A and B.
Through the encyclopedia of the American automobile, hundreds of names have simply made a brief appearance and disappeared like dust in the wind, a real shame because who knows what would have been of them today, with the engineering innovation that we have achieved and with a constructive philosophy that finally manages to satisfy the ever demanding requests of the old continent from this part of the ocean. The 5 models we present are undoubtedly unusual, none of them have achieved great success and it will be extremely difficult that you will meet one during your next trip to San Francisco, but each of these has something that cannot and must not continue to remain unnoticed. We like to mention them, hoping that they will collect a bit more acclaim than the one relegating them being missed promises.
Bricklin SV-1
Made in Canada, but mainly sold in the States from ’74 to ’76, Malcolm Bricklin’s creature was an unfortunate example of how in some cases it would be better to remain more cautious when promising performances and numbers ready to shake the world. The SV-1, despite recalling the equally unfortunate but cinematically acclaimed DMC DeLorean, came almost ten years before the famous time machine. Squared lines, gull-wing doors and remarkable peculiarities in terms of safety, however did not remedy the performance deficit of the 220 horsepower V8, which placed under a heavy frame and an architecture more suited to a random sedan turned the Bricklin to become a missed promise, at least on the performance side. Sad.
Cheetah
As a race car developer, Bill Thomas had one goal: to create a car that could beat the mighty Cobra. On the basis of a small car body, a front V8 outputting 380 hp and a look very similar to that of the muttering American legend, the Cheetah also managed to please from a dynamic point of view, albeit with differences due to the more restricted possibility of developing the project itself. The downside, however, was the almost total lack of customer support, the numerous mechanical problems and a fire that almost forced Thomas to give up his dream. In the end only 20 units were produced but I can hardly believe that there could be anyone capable of criticizing the violent beauty of this hard and pure sports car.
Panoz Roadster
The Georgia-based automaker is certainly not an unknown name for a car enthusiast, especially if you chew a bit of motorsport. Panoz has indeed taken part in numerous international competitions with his LMP racers, including the Spyder which should not be confused with the Roadster. This is a road model produced between ’92 and ’99, a two-seater with partially-covered wheels that stylistically settles halfway between a Cobra (here it is always as a reference, ed) and a more bulky and heavy Caterham. The Panoz Roadster is one of those cars that do not know any compromise, in fact it doesn’t feature radio, air conditioning or manual transmission, while ahead of the two occupants there is room for a 300 horsepower V8. Very few were sold – just 176 – and this made clear to Panoz that it would be better to use money and resources in the racing world.
Devon GTX
You might all remember the Devon GTX, but it’s equally safe that no one has ever seen one in real life. Presented in 2009 as the illegitimate heir of the Viper, the GTX should have been a very powerful GT capable of tattooing the asphalt thanks to its 8.4 cc V10 capable of producing 650 horsepower. The assumptions were also valid, the feasibility of the project too, but the costs took on too high figures thus convincing the property to abandon this warmongering coupe. Too bad, part two.
Lucra LC470
With the hope that it will remain unnoticed for no more than 60 seconds from now, the Lucra LC470 is in my opinion one of the most interesting cars of the last decade. Each specimen is assembled by hand in that of San Marcos, California. This means that the lucky customers will not only bring home a stylistically beautiful car, but also an object that in every single detail reflects what an enthusiast expects to find once on board this two-seater barchetta with a 430 or 505 hp V8, depending on whether you opt for the LS3 or the LS7. 5-speed manual transmission to guarantee a total driving experience and a look that manages to blend the image of American power with the timeless elegance typical of Maseratis and Ferraris of the golden age of cars. The Lucra LC470 reminds us of what a beautiful daydream with wind in your hair looks like.
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