10 Underrated American Cars of the 1990s We'd Like to Own (12 Photos)

Despite their timeless looks and interesting execution, these gems of 1990s America never got the love they deserved.





Another car rating has been published on the Internet: this time the experts chose “the pearls of America in the 90s.” They recalled rare and often underrated models from the United States that “never managed to win people’s love,” unlike the popular Dodge Viper GTS-R, Ford Mustang SVT Cobra, Chevrolet C5 Corvette and Camaro SS. Among the sporty two-doors and convertibles that made the list, there were several SUVs and a couple of sedans.

Lincoln Mark VIII



The Lincoln Mark VIII, which HotCars placed in 10th place, opens the ranking. The coupe, which was produced between 1993 and 1998, was added to the list by the Canadians for its “ahead of its time design,” aerodynamics and performance. The Mark VIII was powered by a 4.6-liter Ford Modular V8 engine, which developed 280 horsepower and allowed the coupe to accelerate from zero to 60 mph (97 kilometers per hour) in 7.5 seconds.

Plymouth Prowler





In ninth place is the Plymouth Prowler, built in retro style. It was an open-wheel roadster that was still misunderstood by most.

Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited



Eighth place went to the Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited, which, according to journalists, was unfairly ignored by the public. When it was introduced, it was called "the world's fastest SUV," hitting 60 mph in just 6.8 seconds and hitting the quarter mile in 15.2 seconds.

Ford Taurus SHO



The first generation Ford Taurus SHO (Super High Output) was in seventh position. This is one of the most striking examples of misunderstood and underrated American cars of the 90s. The “charged” version of the Taurus differed from the standard model in its sportier design and was equipped with a 3.0-liter V6 engine from Yamaha with 220 horsepower coupled with a five-speed manual transmission. The sedan accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds and had a top speed of 145 mph (233 kph).

GMC Typhoon



Sixth place went to the GMC Typhoon. It lasted only a couple of years, from 1991 to 1993, but boasted excellent dynamic performance: despite its considerable weight, the SUV hit 60 mph in 5.3 seconds. Under the hood it had a 4.3-liter turbo-six with 285 horsepower.

Chevrolet Impala SS



In fifth place was the seventh generation Chevrolet Impala SS, which remained in the shadow of its predecessors. With its controversial design, the Impala SS drove comparatively briskly, hitting the quarter mile in 15.4 seconds and hitting the first 60 mph in seven seconds.

Dodge Daytona IROC R/T



Fourth place went to the Dodge Daytona IROC R/T, another underrated '90s American gem. This version had a lightweight chassis and an exceptional power-to-weight ratio.

Vector W8



The Daytona IROC R/T company in the ranking is the Vector W8, which opens the top three. The Californian company Vector intended to challenge European Ferrari, Porsche and Lamborghini: the result was the birth of the W8 model, which, however, could not become a breakthrough in the American supercar market. The W8 accelerated from zero to 60 mph in just 4.2 seconds, and covered the quarter mile in 12 seconds - this result is 1 second faster than the famous Ferrari Testarossa. Advertising brochures claimed a top speed of 390 kilometers per hour (241 mph).

Chevrolet Corvette C4 ZR-1



The leaders were the Chevrolet Corvette C4 ZR-1 and Panoz Esperante GTR-1. HotCars calls the former "one of the best sports cars ever built in America," but notes that the model has had many critics comparing it to more modern, high-performance Corvettes. The Corvette C4 ZR-1 was equipped with a 32-valve LT5 V8 engine producing 375 horsepower, which worked in tandem with a six-speed manual transmission. The performance of the sports car is impressive even now: it accelerated to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds, and the top speed was 290 kilometers per hour (180 mph).

Panoz Esperante GTR-1



First place went to the Panoz Esperante GTR-1, a supercar that was aimed at the FIA ​​GT, Le Mans and IMSA GT racing series. It was equipped with a 6.0-liter Ford V8 producing 600 horsepower, which Roush Racing was responsible for fine-tuning. The HotCars portal compares the design of the Esperante GTR-1 with the Batmobile, and notes the incomparable roar of the six-liter V8.