Too Bad These Automakers Don't Exist Anymore
It's always a sad day when an automaker becomes defunct. Whether it's down to bad business decisions or plain rotten luck, it's terrible news for everyone! But that's got us wondering — what are the best cars ever made by these extinct companies? Well, let's find out. Yep, we'll be taking a deep-dive look at a selection of vehicles right here. And you might recognize a few of the names, folks...
Vector W8
The Vector W8 is a car that just oozes cool. The wedge design is spectacular! Under the hood sits a twin-turbo V8 engine capable of producing 625 horsepower. It can also hit 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds. Impressed? We don't blame you. Despite getting a bad reception, this motor still fetches a lot of money on the used market.
1970 Mercury Cougar Eliminator
Good luck tearing your eyes away from the 1970 Mercury Cougar Eliminator. What a stunning motor! It isn't just a pretty face, though. This car has some serious power to it. The V8 engine can crank out 290 horsepower. But the Cobra Jet option is even more impressive — that can produce 335 horsepower.
AMC Eagle
Arguably AMC's most famous car, the Eagle is a fabulous effort. With its four-wheel drive setup and high ground clearance, it can handle all kinds of conditions on the road. It's something of trailblazer, too. Before the Eagle was introduced in the summer of 1979, mass-produced crossover vehicles weren't a thing in America.
Austin-Healey 3000
It's fair to say that the Austin-Healey 3000 turned a lot of heads upon its release in 1959. Boasting front disc brakes and a 3.0-liter engine, it dominated rallying circuits around Europe. If you're reeling off a list of the greatest sports cars to come out of Britain, this has to be near the top!
Fisker Karma
As a plug-in hybrid, the Fisker Karma ticks a bunch of boxes. It looks great, has powerful motors capable of producing 403 horsepower, and offers solid perfomance. But the car couldn't save Fisker from going under. What a shame! If more vehicles like the Karma were in the offing, we've all missed out.
2008 Saab 9 7X Aero
The 2008 Saab 9 7X Aero still has the power to grab your attention. It's a very stylish SUV. But the real story is under the hood, folks. Equipped with a 6.0-liter SL2 V8 engine, this beast can produce 390 horsepower on the road. Wow! That's some effort.
Saturn Sky Red Line
The Saturn Sky Red Line had so much going for it when it came out in 2008. This car had a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine capable of producing 260 horsepower. It could also hit 60 mph in 5.2 seconds. But the recession of that time ruined its chances of success, contributing to Saturn's downfall.
Autobianchi A112 Abarth
The Autobianchi A112 Abarth was making waves long before the Volkswagen Golf GTI became a household name. This little pocket rocket was a massive pioneer in the hot hatch market, showing what smaller cars could do on the road. But even so, it still feels somewhat underrated!
1971 Jensen Interceptor MkII
Is the Interceptor Jensen's masterpiece? It has a strong case! The 1971 Interceptor MkII is a particular standout from the defunct company. This gorgeous monster can crank out 350 horsepower and hit 60 mph in six seconds-flat. The top speed isn't anything to be sniffed at, either, at 144 mph.
AMC Javelin AMX
We won't beat around the bush here, folks — the AMC Javelin AMX is a hugely underrated vehicle. For our money, it was one of the coolest muscle cars of the 1970s. Those that came with a 6.6-liter 401 V8 engine were exceptionally powerful on the road.
Saab 900 Turbo
You could never accuse the Saab 900 Turbo of being too flashy. It's a very understated vehicle. But having said that, it's still pretty stylish! The 900 Turbo makes for a refined drive and produces excellent performances. On top of that, the car's safety record is fantastic as well.
Geo Storm
Not to be confused with the Gerard Butler movie of the same name, the Geo Storm made its bow in 1990. Was it a decent car? Certainly! It handled excellently and produced some nice performances. It looked cool, too. Meanwhile, the price was quite welcoming at around $10,390.
Pontiac G8 GXP
Making its debut near the end of Pontiac's run, the G8 GXP is still a fabulous vehicle. This stylish motor is both muscular and athletic, boasting a 6.2-liter LS3 V8 engine. It can produce a whopping 415 horsepower and hit 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds. The top speed is around 155 mph.
Eagle Talon TSi
Cool name aside, is the Eagle Talon TSi a good vehicle? You bet! This eye-catching car has a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine that packs quite a punch. With an all-wheel drive setup, it can crank out 210 horsepower. It's fairly nippy on the road as well, which is another plus.
Facel Vega Excellence
One of the finest cars to come out of France, the Facel Vega Excellence was exactly that. What a motor! Its luxurious styling could match anything put out by the likes of Rolls-Royce in the late 1950s. But just six years after the Excellence's release, Facel Vega closed its doors in 1964.
1968 International Harvester Scout 800A
The 1968 International Harvester Scout 800A is a highly coveted vehicle today. Car collectors absolutely love it! Across the model's 19-year lifespan, this one is seen as the standout. It still looks fantastic and comes with an optional 302 V8 engine. Fully deserving of its classic status, then? Most definitely.
Hudson Hornet
The Hudson Hornet is a very easy car to like. Its styling screams 1950s in a lot of ways, but it does have some unique design touches. The most noticeable is the sloping roof, which flows perfectly into the rear-end. Sadly for Hudson fans, the company became defunct six years after the Hornet's release in 1957.
Matra Rancho
The Matra Rancho is something of a Frankenstein's monster — and that's not meant as an insult! Its main components all came from different vehicles. We're talking the engine, brakes, and transmission here. But it worked out. The Rancho was a real innovator in the crossover market back in the late 1970s.
Morris Minor
Is the Morris Minor a high-performance vehicle? Not at all. But don't let that fool you, folks. This car is still a classic! The handling and steering are second to none, making it fun to drive. Over the course of its 23-year lifespan, 1.4 million Minors were built by Morris.
1968 Oldsmobile Hurst/Olds 4-4-2
It's fair to say that Oldsmobile made some iconic muscle cars. The results were often unreal! But this might be the best of them. Yes, the 1968 Hurst/Olds 4-4-2 was one of the most menancing muscle cars from that era. Its 455 V8 engine could produce a jaw-dropping 390 horsepower.
1969 Pontiac GTO Judge
Here's a question for you — in your opinion, what's the best Pontiac GTO? The 1969 Judge has to be in the running, right! This beast looks amazing and boasts a monstrous Ram Air IV 400 V8 engine. It can produce 370 horsepower on the road.
Panhard 24 BT/CT
The Panhard 24-series produced some very nice cars in the shape of the BT and the CT. The former was the bigger of the two, offering additional space to passengers. But both vehicles shared the same flat-twin engine option, which performed brilliantly on open stretches of road.
1972 Holden HQ Monaro GTS 350
The 1972 Holden HQ Monaro GTS 350 is a real feast for the eyes. It might be the most beautiful muscle car to come out of Australia! It's certainly one of the quickest — and that's down to its fearsome engine. Yep, the big-block Chevy 350 V8 is no joke, folks.
1970 AMC Rebel Machine
Another stunning muscle car to come from AMC, the 1970 Rebel Machine is an awesome motor. It looks so cool! On the spec-front, it has a very solid 390 V8 engine that's capable of reaching 340 horsepower. It can also hit 60 mph in just 6.3 seconds.
1969 Plymouth Barracuda
Did Plymouth ever top the 1969 Barracuda before leaving the stage in 2001? Probaby not! It's arguably one of the best muscle cars in history. The '69 Barracuda is both fast and powerful, capable of producing a blistering 390 horsepower in full-flight.
1972 De Tomaso Pantera L
The 1972 De Tomaso Pantera L is a visual treat. It's hard to take your eyes off it, right! But how does it perform? Quite well, actually. Thanks to its 5.8-liter V8 engine, this car packs a serious punch. It can reach 330 horsepower.
Pontiac Firebird
Known as the "Screaming Chicken," the Pontiac Firebird made quite a splash upon its release in 1967. It came with five different engine options at the time, which included a fearsome 400 V8. That beast could produce 325 horsepower. The Firebird is still seen as an iconic model today.
Studebaker Avanti
How did Studebaker intend to compete against the Chevrolet Corvette in 1962? Simple — it released this beauty! Yep, the Avanti is a very nice motor, sporting a strong 289 V8 engine under the hood. Unfortunately for Studebaker, the car couldn't stave off the company's demise, which came just a few years later.
Sunbeam Tiger
With the help of Carroll Shelby, Sunbeam introduced the Tiger in 1964. And boy, is it as fearsome as its name suggests! This car has a 4.3-liter Ford V8 engine under the hood, which is capable of hitting 60 mph in 8.6 seconds. It was a big hit upon its release.
Triumph Stag
While the car was beset by reliability problems upon its release, the Triumph Stag gets a lot of love today. It's a beautiful motor that provides a fun drive thanks to its V8 engine. As for Triumph, it went defunct 14 years after the Stag came out in 1984.
DeSoto Model K
To call the DeSoto Model K a success feels like an understatement. This car was a massive hit in the late 1920s. 81,065 units were shifted in the first year alone. That was a record number for the time!
Duesenberg Model J
Elegance seems to ooze from every pour of the Duesenberg Model J. It's a spectacular motor! 481 Model Js were built between 1928 and 1937, but production abruptly stopped that year when Duesenberg went out of business.
Nash Metropolitan
Is the Nash Metropolitan the most powerful car in the world? Nope — its engine can only produce 42 horsepower. Does that stop folks from loving it, though? No chance! The Metropolitan's eye-catching style is a big draw for fans of smaller vehicles.
Saturn SL
Sporting a unique look when compared to other GM cars of that time, the Saturn SL is a '90s delight. It's covered in plastic body panels to aid performance. Folks liked what they saw back then, leading to a period of commercial success for the SL.
Through: Mr.choppers