For decades, America has inspired enthusiasts with sports cars that bring tears to the eyes at the gas station but raw emotion and rich sound on the streets.
Historically influential, race-winning, luxurious on the outside, and riotous on the inside, here are six iconic sports cars from the United States of America.
Ford Mustang: The Original Stallion
The Ford Mustang is an icon of American car culture. This stallion resulted from a marketing campaign: Ford sold well in the 1960s but lacked a model appealing to younger buyers. In 1964, production of the Mustang began, and since then, it has been one of the most balanced sports cars to buy pre-owned, as confirmed by the Indy Auto Man used car experts from Indiana. With a horse on the grille, Ford founded a new class of vehicle: the Pony car. The term describes cars with a relatively small chassis by American standards that use mighty six or eight-cylinders.
The sports car fan community is growing, and Ford produces many outstanding models, such as the Ford Mustang Shelby Super Snake or the Ford Mustang SVT Cobra.
Currently, the most powerful stallion in the racing team is the Ford Mustang Shelby GT 500 with a 5.2-liter V8 engine and a supercharger producing 770 hp and 556 kW.
Chevrolet Camaro: The Eternal Contender
When it comes to the Mustang, the Camaro isn’t far behind. In 1966, production of an American sports car began, which, like the Mustang, belonged to the pony car class.
After many special edition variants, such as the Camaro SS, the Camaro ZL1 LE is the strongest today. It is powered by a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 motor that produces 650 hp and 485 kW. Additionally, the Camaro ZL1 LE features an aggressive body kit that includes a front splitter, air vents, a rear spoiler, and several other carbon parts.
Dodge Challenger: A Modern Muscle Car of the ’60s
In the pony car class, the Dodge Challenger was launched as Dodge’s answer to the Camaro and Mustang in 1970. Even if, at the time, the American sports car was several years behind its competitors, now it remains true to its line.
Today’s Challenger modernizes the design lines of the ’60s with precise measurements, values, and scans of its original shape. This makes the Challenger different from other American sports cars, which have seen significant exterior changes. Under the hood, the Challenger is anything but old, whether it is the ScatPack car or especially the top model – Dodge Challenger SRT Demon.
This devil of a muscle car makes an absurd 852 hp. and 627kW with the 6.2-litre supercharged V8 engine. The Demon is so powerful from the factory that it can run on its rear wheels (the front wheels lift off when you accelerate hard).
Ford GT: A Legendary Winner
Like other American sports cars, the Ford GT has a rich history. In 1964, the American supercar was born out of the need to knock Ferrari off the podium at the famous Le Mans race. Unfortunately, the first version of the Ford GT fails to satisfy this desire. It wasn’t until 1966 that Ford managed to break Ferrari’s long dominance with the Ford GT40 Mk.II and take all 3 top positions. This makes this 7.0-litre V8 version of the GT particularly iconic in Ford’s racing history.
The current Ford GT has evolved while remaining true to its character. The monocoque body gives the car stability and rigidity, while carbon-ceramic brakes allow you to stop quickly and effectively.
The steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters and 8-speed dual-clutch transmission deliver sharp, clean shifts, enhancing the genuine racing car feel that the GT conveys.
The V8 may not have survived the ravages of time, but that’s no reason to be sad: as of 2017, the Ford GT is powered by a 3.5-liter bi-turbocharged V6. It develops the power of 655 hp / 483 kW and propels this tribute to Ford’s racing department to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds.
Dodge Viper: Project of the Heart
Chrysler’s then-CEO was so delighted with his Shelby Cobra—a British roadster with the heart of a Ford V8—that he wanted to embody the spirit of the legend in a new American sports car. The concept remained the same: just one chassis with a powerful naturally aspirated engine to provide a pure connection between man and machine. In 1991, production of the 1st generation began, and the series continued until 2010 with several modifications.
Following the announcement of the series’ discontinuation in 2010, the Viper was produced from 2013 to 2017 with its fifth and final generation. The 8.4-liter V10 engine in the Viper VX produces 649 hp and 477 kW.
Chevrolet Corvette: The Astronaut’s Favorite
The first Corvette entered production in 1953, beating all other American sports cars on this list. In the truest sense of the word, it is alienated, especially since 1960, as the favorite car of astronauts. America’s first astronauts and successors have a soft spot for the Corvette. Jim Rathmann strengthens this connection: as a well-known racer and Chevrolet salesman close to the astronauts, he came up with the clever idea of offering Corvettes for rent to astronauts for the unbeatable price of one dollar. After that, it was impossible to imagine the American automobile paradise without it.
The Chevrolet Corvette is one of the few new sports cars in the United States that meets current emissions regulations.
The condition of the new Corvette C8 remains the same despite being very different from its predecessors. A mid-engine layout is used today where the front-engine design has always dominated since the beginning of the series. The iconic look with a long front end and two round taillights on each side has given way to a look more reminiscent of a supercar like a Lamborghini or Ferrari. The car has a 6.2-liter V8 engine producing 482 hp and 354 kW. If you want even more, check out the Launch Edition, which squeezes an additional 20 hp from the engine.