10 Classic Cars No Self-Respecting Collector Will Purchase
Newer cars are great. They, logically, have most of the features one would expect to find in a modern car. Power windows, bluetooth radio, and backup sensors have made driving a lot more comfortable for the average motorist. While modern cars have demonstrated that comfort and safety are the name of the game, nothing looks cooler than a classic car in mint condition.
Though classic cars are often turning heads, it is important to understand that they may not always turn heads for the right reasons. For example, the Ford Pinto became a classic because of its murderous gas tank. When looking at the automotive industry over the last 100 years, one will notice that there are several classic sports cars collectors steer clear of. Those cars are usually the cars that have failed to reach the “collectible” status.
10 1964 Chevrolet Corvair Monza
Chevrolet had quite an interesting lineup in the mid-60s. The Corvette had already been on the market for a decade. The Research and Development Department at General Motors was actively working on the Camaro. Things were looking great at GM. As smaller cars with rear engines from Europe were flooding the domestic market, Chevrolet worked on developing an affordable car that people would choose over Porsche, VW, and Fiat cars invading the States.
Dubbed “the poor’s man Porsche,” the Corvair Monza wasn’t as exciting as the Mustang released around the same time. When taking a detailed look back at the Chevrolet Corvair Monza, it is fair to admit that it can rival the Volkswagen Bug as far as performance is concerned. In 1964, the Corvair Monza inherited a 164 cu in flat-six engine that makes 110 hp. Price wise, the Corvair Monza is not as affordable as the Bug. One of the main reasons why the Corvair Monza was not popular is essentially due to its handling issues, which made it unsafe at any speed.
9 1974 Triumph Stag
British cars are, in some ways, very similar to British cuisine. They are not very memorable, but they do the trick. This previous statement does not apply to serious street-legal race cars such as the McLaren 720S or the Aston Martin DB11. Cars that do not fall in the race car category tend to be somewhat unreliable and borderline finicky.
The Triumph Stag would have been a great two-door sports coupe if it was not for one and only thing: its V8 engine. Usually, a car equipped with a V8 is great news. It implies that the car will be fast and fun to drive. The stag was the complete opposite. Dubbed “the worst V8 ever made,” the engine found in the Stag is the sort of units that will make you go bald in less than a year.
8 1975 Dodge Charger Daytona
The first generation Charger is not the most memorable, despite being quite attractive. Out of the nine generations, the second generation is the one that truly gave the nameplate value. Until today, Chargers made between 1968 and 1970 remain some of the most admirable muscle cars made by Dodge. Sadly, most chargers released between 1971 and 1987 were simply disappointing.
The ’75 Charger Daytona is one of the worst performance cars Dodge ever made. Six years before the release of the utterly disappointing Charger Daytona, Dodge released the only classic Daytona gearheads still dream of. In 1969, the Daytona was fitted at best with a 440 cu in V8 that cranks out 425 hp and 490 lb-ft of torque. In 1975, the Daytona came stock with a 400 cu in TorqueFlite V8 that develops a lousy 190 hp and 290 lb-ft of torque. That was in the best case scenario. A 360 cu in V8 was also available.
7 1977 Ford Mustang Mach 1
The 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 is simply brutal. It set the tone for a series of increasingly powerful Mustangs. However, things changed in the mid-70s, when the Oil Crisis and the adoption of stringent emissions regulations hit the automotive industry. Although most domestic muscle cars lost their appeal, some of them were hit harder than others.
The 1970 Ford Mustang Mach1 428 Cobra Jet is the sort of car that will make you want to refinance your mortgage. It churns out 335 hp and 440 lb-ft of torque. It is fast. Fast forward seven years, and the Mach 1 is as fast and attractive as a Prius. Underneath its hood sits a tear-inducing 302 cu in V8 that produces 139 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque.
6 1979 Porsche 928
When the Porsche is mentioned, the first things that come to mind are speed, luxury, and exclusiveness. In fact, Porsche cars are often perceived as a sign of social and financial success. While most Porsche cars have successfully transcended time, some of the least popular models are having a tough time retaining their value.
It is fair to admit that there is no such thing as an awful Porsche. In fact, the worst Porsche car is likely to be as good as an upper mid-range Ford. Sadly, the 928 has often been perceived as one of the dullest and most unreliable Porsche ever made. Despite being equipped with a 4.7L V8 that churns out 219 hp and 254 lb-ft of torque, the 928 is one of the Porsche cars that has very little value.
5 1980 Maserati Quattroporte III
Italian cars are some of the most respected in the world, thanks to several successes on and off the track. To most people, Italian cars are either Ferraris or Lamborghinis. Though it is fair to say that they are the most recognizable, brands such as Lancia, Pagani, or De Tomaso have shown that Italian carmakers know just how to make instant classics.
It is well-known throughout the industry that Maserati cars lose most of their value in a heartbeat. Models released 40 years ago such as the Quattroporte III is the perfect example why Maseratis lose value. The car looks bland and is somewhat unreliable. Even if it is fitted with a naturally aspirated 4.9L V8 that makes 276 hp and 289 lb-ft of torque. Nothing exciting when knowing what was available around that time in Europe.
4 1982 Ferrari Mondial
When it comes down to brand recognition, Ferrari has to be the most recognizable car brand out there. Thanks to a large amount of successes, the Italian carmaker was able to cement its reputation as a high-end car manufacturer. The automaker has been so successful that it never had to run a Superbowl ad. Let that sink in for a minute.
The Mondial is one of the worst Ferraris ever made. It is the cheapest and most produced Ferrari ever. For people looking to be unique, the Mondial is not the go-to Ferrari. Moreover, the power to weight ratio is abysmal for a Ferrari. There is nothing about the Mondial that would make it attractive. On a more positive note, the Mondial could be a great base for a restomod project.
3 1982 Pontiac Trans Am
Defunct carmaker Pontiac completely lost the plot during the last two decades preceding its demise. From the Aztek to the Solstice, 99{e3fa8c93bbc40c5a69d9feca38dfe7b99f2900dad9038a568cd0f4101441c3f9} of Pontiac cars were simply atrocious. It is hard to believe that the same brand once produced the legendary GTO and Trans Am. The only car that could have helped the brand is the last generation GTO. The car came with a potent 6.0L V8 that produced 400 hp. Nothing else could have saved the brand.
The 1982 Pontiac Trans Am, best known as KITT in the TV show The Knight Rider, is absolutely awful in real life. It does not speak, launch missiles, or go airborne without a scratch. On a more serious note, the 1982 Trans Am is fitted with a sluggish 5.0-liter V8 that produces only 165 hp and 240 lb-ft of torque. To turn a regular 1982 into KITT, one will have to invest a fair amount of money.
2 1988 Peugeot 405 Mi16
When it comes to their cars, the French essentially focus on manufacturing vehicles that can from point A to point B without breaking down more than twice in between. While most French cars are awful, brands such as Alpine and Bugatti have shown that when the French decide to build something nice, they do it well.
For a long period of time, the Peugeot 405 Mi16 was considered to be as admirable as the 205 T16. This is far from the truth, as the 205 T16 became a classic both in Europe and abroad, while the 405 Mi16 just ended up rotting in someone’s backyard. The 405 Mi16 comes with a 1.9L inline-four that develops 158 hp to the wheels and 130 lb-ft of torque.
1 1994 Reliant Robin
The British are known for being eccentric. When looking at artists such a Billy Idol or Elton John, anyone can easily notice that the Brits are a different breed. It is interesting to see how over the years the British eccentricity sort of became part of the country’s identity. While the States are known for oversized trucks and school shootings, the United Kingdom are known for a variety of different things.
It is still unclear why this three-wheeled car was produced in the United Kingdom for over 30 years. The Reliant Robin is, just like Mr. Bean’s green Mini Cooper, one of the most British things piston heads will see today. With a 850 cc engine, the Robin is far from being powerful, but surely, there must be a demented gearhead out there that decided to stuff a Hayabusa engine in this highly unbalanced vehicle.
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