Everyone knows of the Porsche 911, Ferari Enzo, and Ford Mustang GT500 NextGen Cup Car, but if you bother to walk on the path less taken, a world of wonder and surprise awaits you. Here are some of the best sports cars YOU have forgotten about (but we haven’t).

12. Fiat 124 Spider

We all know about the Mazda Miata. But did you know, that in the late 2010’s, a deal was made between Mazda and Fiat? The at the time new 124 spider shares the same platform as the ND Miata. Have always liked the little car, maybe cause I’m a shill for Italian crap. Did it sell? Uh no. It came and went in a few years, doomed in the US of A to fall into the footnotes of automotive history, just like the original 124 spider. But it was a fun little car to drive (Thanks Tony!).

11. Lancia Delta

*Editors note: To the writer, please STOP talking about the integrale or the rally car. This is about the BASE model. NO they are NOT the same, especially the race cars. Please, fix this and try again, you mongrel*

10. The non-911 Porsches

We all know Porsche for the 911. But Porsche does currently offer more than just the 911. Some might know about the Panamera, Cayman, and Boxter. The true Porsche-nut might even know that Porsche sells the Taycan, Macau, and Cayenne. However, you need not look far to uncover a plethora of non-911 Porsches that has been built along side the famed and storied 911. You may not have heard of these, but they are out there: 959, 910, 906, 912, 944, 924. 928, 962, 956, 718, 917, 917-can am, 917 but it’s the flat 16, 930, 918, 550, 907, 904, 991, 908, 905 evo 2, 992, 993, 997, 919, RS Spyder (pick one), 964…

9. ER05

You know what truly makes a car forgotten? When it gets cannibalized for parts. RIP to the OG. Gone but not forgotten. You was a real one 05 😤

8. Peugeot 207 THP Spider

It’s track day toy styled and powered by Peugeot and built my MyGale. Thing weighs under 1000kg, there are like 50 in existence, it has a 207 engine, F1 StYlE pushrod suspension, and looks like a blast. They where made for a one make series that no longer exists. It’s weird, doesn’t make much sense, and I love it.

7. Nike One

Is it a shoe? Is it a car? What the fuck it this? Who cares? THIS beauty of a car debuted back in Gran Turismo 4, as a 259 horsepower electric sports car, theoretically capable of hitting 230 mph, but only when the driver is in “peak physical condition”. According to the wiki, it actually tops out at 160mph, which might sound lame, but that just means the car is actively calling you a fat ass. Much time has progressed since the release of GT4, a whole 4 new gran turismo games as well as the creation of the VisionGT cars, relegating the Nike Car humble to the pages of history. Which is a shame. I guess. I never played GT4.

6. Jaguar XJR-19

Our author meant to write about the XJR-15, an early 90’s sport car that was essentially a v12 jag group C prototype (XJR-9) with a road car body on top. Instead, we have this! The XJR-19 concept, an abomination that lives in the deep recesses of my subconscious. Modeled by one Mark Hostler (yeah me neither), it this hybrid lmp1 car of the future, sports a 2.8L diesel v8, with a turbo and supercharger, and does away batteries by utilizing energy storing carbon-Kevlar. It’s about on-par with a child’s idea of a group C car mixed with an FSAE freshman’s idea of what aerodynamics are all about. In theory, it’s a monster of a car! I hope you forget about this thing soon.

5. McLaren F1

Birthed from the greatest mind in engineering to have ever graced the planet earth, from the top of the Motorsports food chain (that’s Formula 1 for the homo-habilis in the audience), this is a McLaren you’ve probably never heard of, and a real shame too. This car is a hidden real gem, sporting a 6.2L bmw v12 from the 8 series, the first car to use a carbon monocoque, the first to go over 200 mph (all the way to 241 mph! IN THE 90’s!), and the car won its Le Mans debut, proving that is really was a thoroughbred racer all along, despite what Gordon Murray claims. Find one, buy one while they’re still unknown, you won’t be disappointed. Expect very few “Car Guys” to know what you’ve got, but for those who do, they really get it.

4. Honda Civic SI

Yes yes, we all know the Civic SI. But do you really KNOW the Civic SI? Gather around, because I have a bit of knowledge for you.

It has a nice shifter and seats. Go buy one from Rick Case Honda. According to the salesman (and for once I’m dead ass serious here), every engineer who works on the SI (or any civic for that matter) must first work on a “formula Indy”. Not only that, but they must, from the ground up, design a Formula Indy, before they are allowed to progress to designing the SI seats. I had a friend who worked for HPD with me that day, he worked on Formula Indy, but he must’ve been shit, since instead of designing seats, he went off to LMDH land. Poor lad. For this secret revelation alone, the SI earns a spot on this list.

3. Ford Focus

Ford is known as an American brand through and through, however what some may not know is how popular Ford is over the seas.

In the late 90’s, Ford’s European division released something that would change our British buddies forever. The Ford Focus was a smash success, however you may not have ever heard of it (being an American). It was in fact sold in the colonies, even the performance version of the Mk.1 got a rebadge called the SVT Focus. However, the Mk.2 never came and it turned out the Focus just didn’t work as well in America as it did in the UK. Now, finding a Ford Focus on the road is a rarity, and if you see a Focus ST, consider yourself lucky!

2. Autozam AZ-1

This is a Kei car (not a K-Car). You’ve never seen one before. You’ve never seen any information about one before, especially the Autozam AZ-1. Look how cute it is! Pay no attention to the failing economy. Cute little mid-engined Japanese sports car! Uh oh, too tall to fit in it! How silly! There are 32 confirmed broken arrow incidents. What’s an Autozam? It’s a MAZDA! Like the Miata! How cute, they can be friends! Import one from Japan and fail to pay your health insurance, you now have depression. Only 64 turbocharged horses! Awww little itwy-bitwy goody wedge car tryina go fast! (There is a void in my chest that cannot be filled).

Honorable mention: Maserati BiTurbo

1. Toyota Camry Solara

Do you remember this abomination? It’s 2007, life is good. Everyone have a convertible. VW, audi, fuck it, even Toyota. New MR2 spyder? No! The people want a two door drop top Camry to understeer their fat asses straight into 2008 for great time! I can’t recall the last time I’ve seen one of these, let alone thought about it. Someone should make racing series outta these, that would give me immense pleasure.