Sports cars are built to thrill, but not every model gets the love it deserves. Some get overshadowed by flashier rivals, misunderstood by buyers, or written off because of quirks that, in hindsight, make them even more special.
Hidden among these overlooked machines are serious performance bargains: cars that deliver style, excitement, and driving joy despite never getting their due.
This list highlights sports cars that were underappreciated in their time, considering factors like market reception versus actual performance, critical reviews versus owner experiences, and branding or marketing missteps. Some were dismissed too quickly, others were overshadowed by bigger names, and a few have only recently started getting the respect they deserve. But each one is definitely worth a second look.
Lancia Thema 8.32
The Thema 8.32 was a sports sedan, yet its performance was on par with some sports cars of the era, mainly because it had a 3.0-liter Ferrari F105L V8 under the hood. It was the sportier version of the regular Thema 8.32. It was Lancia’s answer to the BMW M5.
Lancia modified the Ferrari V8. It had a cross-plane to change the firing order of the smaller valves. This would make it better suited for long-distance driving. Because of its high asking price of $40,000, sales were slow — hard to convince the general public to pay that much for such a bland-looking vehicle. Yet now, people will tell you that it was worth every cent and one of the best performance cars of the 1980s — don’t judge a car by its front-wheel drive.
Porsche 914
Many view the 914 as a failed experiment by Porsche and a departure from the 911 that is too radical. Yet the 914 is an excellent mid-engine sports car and a perfect entry-level vehicle for the segment.
The boxy and angular car had minimal straight lines. It was small, low-slung to the ground, yet also quite wide, creating a modern and refreshing appearance. But it was also practical thanks to its relatively large trunk. Under the hood, the range-topping 914/6 had a 2.0-liter Porsche 901/3 flat-six with 109 hp. The standard 914/4 engine was a 1.7-liter Beetle-derived Type 4 with 79 hp.
BMW Z8
Despite its appearance in a James Bond film, people need clarification on the BMW Z8. Is it a sports car, or is it a GT car? Well, it is a sports car. The Z8 was a retro-inspired tribute to the gorgeous BMW 507, with BMW previously pursuing the idea with the Z07 concept.
Under the hood was the vast 395 hp 4.9-liter V8 engine from the E34 M5, giving the Z8 all the power of a sports car. It was also quick, with 0-62 mph taking just 4.7 seconds. It is a bold and brilliant-looking sports car that needs some reflection to understand its greatness. It is one of the very best BMWs ever manufactured but its crazy price tag kept many buyers away — it could have been worth it if it came with the side missiles it had in The World Is Not Enough.
Alfa Romeo 4C
When Alfa Romeo unveiled the 4C at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, it immediately turned heads. With its sleek Italian styling, lightweight carbon-fiber chassis, and mid-engine layout, it looked like a dream come true for driving purists. Initially launched as a coupe, followed by the open-top Spider in 2015, the 4C had all the makings of an icon. But from day one, it raised a question: Was this a true driver’s car, or just a stunning showpiece?
The lack of a manual transmission hasn’t helped its reputation. But the Alfa Romeo 4C has plenty of power thanks to its 1.75-liter 1750 TBi turbocharged inline-four that produces 240 hp. The 4C is light, weighing just 2,315 lbs dry weight and up to 2,337 lbs dry weight for the Spider. It is a blast in the corners, and its punchy characteristics mean it can accelerate rapidly out of those corners.
Mazda RX-8
The last (so far) rotary-powered Mazda sports car was the RX-8. Yet it has always had the reputation of being unreliable, slow, and a big letdown compared to its predecessor, the RX-7. Imagine saying all those mean things about a car with a wholesome smile like that. What a tragedy.
In reality, the only major issue with the RX-8 was the failure of the ignition coils. This caused Mazda to throw away good engines, which were in otherwise excellent condition, needlessly. Yet the RX-8 produced 277 hp thanks to its 1.3-liter Renesis twin-rotor engine, had a top speed of 149 mph, and cost just $26,645 when it was new. Careful nurturing of the RX-8’s engine can ensure reliable performance for years to come.
TVR Tuscan Speed Six
TVR forged a reputation in the UK for doing things very differently. Wild dashboards, no airbags, and controls in unusual places were all traits of their cars. Why? Because TVR. Yet, away from all that, they could produce some remarkable machines.
The Tuscan Speed Six is a perfect example. Its range of Speed Six inline-six engines could produce up to 380 hp. It had a bold and dramatic exterior to match and a radical interior. The rear indicators were also at the top of the rear window! It was a sleek, stylish, and potent sports car, sadly overlooked because of TVR’s reputation and the alternatives offered by rivals like Lotus. Also, not everyone drives their cars in hopes of careening out of control, no offense.
Mitsubishi 3000GT/GTO
The 3000GT was a sleek, smooth, clean sports car that would also become the Dodge Stealth. But it was in its Mitsubishi guise where it earned the most fame. The Mitsubishi 3000GT had the unfortunate timing of appearing just as the Mazda RX-7 really hit its peak. Yet the 3000GT was a comfortable and potent sports car with all the prowess of a fully-fledged GT racer.
The 3000GT earned a reputation for being “heavy,” but that label doesn’t quite do it justice. This car wasn’t built to be a lightweight track weapon—it was designed for high-speed, long-distance cruising with power to spare. It prioritized stability and comfort over razor-sharp handling, making it a grand tourer in the truest sense. That said, when pushed, the 3000GT could absolutely hold its own against the competition, proving that weight wasn’t the only factor in performance.
Porsche 928
The Porsche 928 was the first Porsche to build a sports car from a clean sheet in years. But even Porsche seemed confused about it. They saw it as more of a GT car than a sports car, yet everyone else viewed it as a bonafide sports car.
In the end, the misunderstanding didn’t matter. The 928 came dangerously close to replacing the 911 as Porsche’s flagship model, providing comfort, performance, and practicality rarely found in a sports car package. Its range of V8s, from the 4.5-liter to the 5.4-liter, helped the 928 achieve remarkable top speeds, putting it in supercar territory.
Volvo P1800 Cyan
Some view the P1800 Cyan as a modern version of one of Volvo’s best models. Yet Cyan Racing has done more than that. The Cyan P1800 is a track-focused, modern restomod of the classic P1800 from the 1960s, all coming from the works of the legendary Swedish touring car team, Cyan Racing.
What started as a 1964 Volvo P1800 now has a reinforced high-strength steel and carbon fiber body, a wider track, bigger wheels, and a repositioned greenhouse. Under the hood, Cyan opted for a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. That same engine is in their Volvo S60 TC1 race car that won the 2017 World Touring Car Championship. That engine produces 414 hp and 336 lb-ft of torque, redlining at 7,700 rpm. So, this is more than just a slightly updated Volvo P1800. Cyan has recently revealed the more practical and calming P1800 Cyan GT if you want more comfort.
While there’s nothing really wrong with the P1800 Cyan’s performance, not everyone is on the market for a car that is purposefully designed to look old.
Plymouth Prowler
Thanks to the 3.5-liter EGG V6 engine under the hood, it is easy to see why many view the Plymouth Prowler as a dud. Chief designer Chip Foose had intended to have a big V8 under the hood of his retro-styled modern hot rod.
However, that EGG V6 still provided 214 hp, and the four-speed 42LE automatic transmission wasn’t as fun as a manual, but it was still good enough. There is no denying that the Prowler looks utterly insane, yet that was the whole point of the car. Plymouth and Foose nailed it, and the Prowler deserves way more attention than it gets.
Ford Mustang SVO
When Ford’s Special Vehicle Operations team got their hands on the Mustang GT in the early 1980s, they created one of the best all-American sports cars. They replaced the V8 under the hood with a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder, which shaved 150 lbs off the car’s weight.
The V6 also improved the car’s weight distribution, while Koni dampers and sticky Goodyear Eagle NCT tires massively improved the car in the corners. This created the 1984 1/2 Mustang SVO, a vehicle much closer to European sports cars than the all-American muscle car. Still, it’s hard to convince the Mustang crowd to buy a more expensive version without a V8. Maybe even impossible.
Ferrari 612 Scaglietti
Many needed help understanding what the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti was. It had enough seating for four people, but was it still about going as fast as possible, not being as practical as possible?
It doesn’t matter. The 612 Scalgietti had a screaming 5.7-liter Ferrari F133 F/H V12 under the hood, producing 533 hp and matched up to a six-speed manual transmission. It would form the basis of the 599 GTB, which had a top speed of 198.8 mph and was the star of one of Top Gear’s epic long-distance races. Need we say more than that?
2024 Nissan Z
The 2024 Nissan Z is officially a sports car, of course. But the ingredients create the recipe for both that and a superb GT car. Under the hood, a 400 hp 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged Infiniti V6 sits, and it has a very smooth and satisfying six-speed manual transmission.
But it is also comfortable inside. It is full of technology, such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It has a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, climate control, gorgeous retro touches, and comfortable seats—the perfect ingredients for a GT car. Yet throw the car around a race track and let that V6 and handling shine, and you then realize this is one of the best sports cars of the modern era. During the era of the SUV, it’s just hard to convince drivers to invest in a car with a pretty high price tag yet only two seats.
