Legendary Cars That Came Back With A Blast – We’re So Glad They Did
In a perfect world, good cars should be produced indefinitely. But, unfortunately, the world we live in is not like that. More often than not, economics and corporate finance get involved, and some of our most beloved cars end up being discontinued. In fact, there are so many examples that it would take an age to count them all.
However, luckily for us, there are also times when some of these discontinued cars are brought back from the dead. This means massive redesigns and changes in everything from the bodywork to the engine. These are the timeless cars that came back with a blast.
Dodge Challenger First-Gen - The Pioneering Muscle Car
The Challenger was announced in 1969 and came out as the 1970 model year for the first time. It was aimed to target the upper end of the pony car market. Designed by the same man as the Charger, this car was ahead of its time in a good way.
The engine options on this car were plentiful with the smallest being a 3.2-L I6 and the largest being a 7.2-L V8. The first generation was made in 1974 and the second was introduced in 1978. Dodge stopped making this car in 1983.
Dodge Challenger Third-Gen - Reminiscent of the 1970s
The third-gen Challenger was announced in November 2005 and orders for the car were started in December 2007. The car, which came out in 2008, lived up to the reputation of the original Challenger from the 1970s. This mid-size muscle car is a 2-door notchback coupe just like the initial Challenger.
You can get the new Challenger with a number of different engines, the smallest one of the lot being a 3.5-L SOHC V6 and the biggest one being a 6.2-L OHC Hemi V8. That kind of power gets you from zero to 60mph in 3.4 seconds and can take the car up to a maximum of 203mph.
Dodge Viper - The Car that's Continuously Trying to Kill You
When it came out in 1991, the Viper was meant for just one thing; SPEED. The car had nothing that did not help it go fast. No roof, no stability control, no ABS, and even NO DOOR HANDLES. Safety was not even a second thought for this car's designers.
Under the hood was a V-10, that did not even have to rely on forced induction. It simply had so much displacement that it could put out enormous numbers without any issue. The car got updated in 1996, 2003, and 2008, before being discontinued in 2010.
Jeep Gladiator Then - The Classic Pickup
The Gladiator was introduced as a pickup truck by the Jeep, one of the pioneers of SUVs. At the time when the Gladiator was released, trucks were used as utilitarian vehicles and were built to be practical and capable with no attention to safety or luxury.
The Gladiator, which was a 2-door front-engine rear-wheel-drive truck, was offered with a range of different engines with the smallest being a 3.8-L V6 and the largest being a 6.6-L V8. The Gladiator remained in production despite the Jeep name being sold multiple times. It was finally discontinued in 1988 when Chrysler owned Jeep.
Jeep Gladiator 2020 - The Modern-Classic Jeep Pickup
The Gladiator was brought back to life in 2018 when Stillantis North America displayed it at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show. The new Gladiator is a 4-door 4-seater pickup truck. The front and the cab of the new Gladiator have design hints from the Wrangler.
This modern version of the Gladiator comes with two powerplant options You can either go for a 3.6-L Pentastar V6 or a 3.0-L TurboDiesel V6. Aerodynamics has never been the strongest suit for Jeep vehicles so that's not an issue. However, the 4WD system and the powerful engines make the Gladiator unstoppable off-road.
Dodge Viper Now - The Flame Spitting Monster
After killing the Viper badge in 2010, Dodge brought this legend back in 2013. This fifth-generation Viper remained true to the roots by having a V-10 under the hood and relying on nothing else than displacement to make power, lots and lots of it.
This time they gave it front lips and a 1776mm rear spoiler for downforce. Stability control and ABS were also added in addition to roof and door handles. The new Viper was, again, discontinued in 2017 to "preserve the value of the car by not making any more of them." If you ask us, that's just like saying: "I love you so much, I'm going to stop dating you."
Toyota Supra Then - A Tuner's Dream Car
The original Toyota Supra debuted as the Toyota Celica XX in 1978 and was an instant hit. This 2-door liftback became famous due to the Japanese reliability it offered, as most of the sports cars were notorious for frequent breakdowns at the time.
Subsequent generations were released in 1981, 1986, and 1993. The 2JZ engine in this car was one of the main reasons for it being such a popular sports car. This 6-cylinder engine had a very strong block that could handle three or four times the stock power output making it the favorite of tuners. It was discontinued in 2002.
Toyota Supra 2020 - Is that a BMW Z4?
The 2020 Toyota Supra is hardly a Toyota. It is more of a BMW Z4 under the skin. To live up to the reputation of the legend it succeeds, the 2020 Supra also has an inline 6-cylinder engine. This motor is comparable to the 2JZ in tuning potential. Originally rated for 382 horsepower at the crank, there are examples of these cars reaching 1000 horsepower.
To make the Supra accessible for all and to continue its reputation of being the economical sports car, Toyota is also offering a smaller I-4 engine in this car that puts out 197 horsepower.
Ford Ranger Then - The Compact American Pickup
The Ranger was Ford's mid-size truck that was introduced in the North American market in 1983. It replaced the Ford Courier, a truck made for Ford by Mazda. Three new generations of the truck were introduced in North America, all of them based on the same chassis.
The last Ford Ranger rolled off the assembly line in 2011 and its sales ended in 2012. Its name disappeared, even though the chassis continued to be used for a bunch of other Ford trucks and SUVs. In all the years it was produced, the Ranger remained among the best-selling models by Ford.
Ford Ranger 2019 - The Mid-Size Pickup
After an 8-year hiatus, Ford returned with the Ranger name in 2019. This truck is derived from the Ford Ranger T that was designed by Ford Australia. This new truck is available as a 2+2 door pickup with a 6-foot bed and a 4-door pickup with a 5-foot cab. The Raptor model and the 2-door model are not being offered right now.
Under the hood of the new Ranger is Ford's 2.3-L I-4 EcoBoost engine that is twin-turbocharged. Ford has opted for a 10-speed automatic transmission for this truck for smoother power delivery and better engine performance over a broad RPM range.
Mustang Shelby GT 500 Then - A Powerful Option
The GT500 trim was added to Ford's Mustang model in 1967. Under the hood of this classic legend was the Ford Cobra, a 7.0-L V8 that had two 4-barrel carburetors and a modified aluminum intake manifold. This engine was capable of putting out 650 horsepower, which was too much for that time.
The Shelby GT500 was capable of over 150mph and Carroll Shelby (the designer) himself demonstrated the car achieving 174mph. And that was mind-boggling back in the late 1960s. The GT500 nameplate went dormant in 1970 due to some undisclosed reasons.
Ford Mustang Shelby GT 500 2020 - The Most Capable Mustang
The third-generation Shelby 500 debuted in January 2019 at the North American International Auto Show. This car is powered by a 5.2-L hand-built V8 that has a 2.65-L roots-type supercharger sitting on top of it. Its setup is good for a formidable 760 horsepower and 625 lb-ft of torque.
In fact, this Mustang is the most powerful production Mustang to ever be. We are talking about a top speed of 180mph and a zero to 60 time of just over 3 seconds. The new GT500 is available in some amazing colors, like Rabber Yellow, Carbonized Gray, and Antimatter Blue, all of which are exclusive to it.
Tesla Roadster First-Gen - A Lotus Elise, Actually
Tesla adopted the Lotus Elise in 2008 to make the first-gen Roadster. This car was the first in a number of things. It was the first production electric car to have a Lithium-ion battery, the first electric car to drive more than 200 miles on a single charge and the first car to be carried to space.
It was launched into space by Falcon Heavy, the test flight of SpaceX's rocket bound for outer space. As a limited production model, Tesla made 2,450 examples of this car, which were sold in 30 countries.
Tesla Roadster Second-Gen - A Promising Car
The second-gen Roadster, when released, will be the pinnacle of electric vehicles. The numbers associated with this car are ungodly. It will have zero to 60 times of 1.9 seconds and will have enough battery capacity to travel as far as 620 miles (1000km) on a single charge.
The Roadster is not a concept car, it has already begun production and pre-orders are being entertained. It can be booked for $50,000 and the unit price of this vehicle will be $200,000. Once released, this car will change the very way we think about electric vehicles.
Ford GT Then - The Best a Ford Can Get
The GT was a 2-door mid-engine supercar introduced by Ford in 2005. The purpose of this car was to show the world that Ford was on top of the game when it came to making highly capable cars. The GT has a distinctly recognizable design and is still the most easily identified Ford model.
The engine used to power this supercar was the Ford Modular V8, a 5.4-L supercharged monster that produced 550 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque. The GT did zero to 60 in 3.8 seconds and could zip across the quarter-mile drag strip in just over 11 seconds.
Ford GT 2017 - The Best A Car Can Get
After an 11-year hiatus, the second generation of the GT was introduced in 2017. It retained the same design as the original 2005 Ford GT with the same butterfly doors and the engine mounted behind the driver. The headlights and taillights are modernized but still have the same design.
The supercharged V8 is replaced with a more efficient 3.5-L twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 that puts out 700 horsepower and 680 lb-ft of torque. This GT has a zero-to-60 time of just 3.0 seconds and the top speed of the new GT is 216mph.
Acura NSX Then - The Japanese Supercar
With the styling and aerodynamics carried over from an F16 fighter jet and design input from the decorated F1 driver Ayrton Senna, the NSX was the most advanced and capable sports car to come from Japan in that era. This car was the first production vehicle to use an all-aluminum body.
Under the hood was a 3.5-L all-aluminum V6 which was equipped with Honda's VTEC (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control). It was sold from 1990 to 2007 and the reason for the discontinuation of this car was that only 2 units were sold in North America in 2007.
Acura NSX Now - The Car that Eats GT-Rs (No Hard Feelings)
Honda, the parent company of Acura, announced the NSX's second generation in 2010, and the first production model was displayed in 2015. This new NSX is everything that the previous one was not and is regarded to be one of the most technically advanced sports cars in the market.
The new BSX has a 3.5-L twin-turbocharged V6 under the hood which is complemented by three electric motors, two in the back and one in the front. The combined output of this hybrid powertrain is 650 horsepower and the instant torque from the electric motors makes this car perform better than any other with the same power.
Chevorlet Camaro Then - The Ignored Pony Car
The Camaro was introduced in 1966 as a 2-door 2+2 coupe and convertible. The base engine for this car was a 3.5-L V6 and the biggest engine offered for this car was a 6.5-L V8. The Camaro was released as a competitor in the pony car market to rival the likes of Mustang and Challenger.
Subsequent generations of the Camaro were released in 1970, 1982, and 1983 before the name was killed by Chevy in 2002. The main reason for discontinuing the Camaro was Chevy focusing more on the likes of Corvette which is a higher-end supercar from the company.
Chevy Camaro Now - One of the Best American Cars
The Camaro made a comeback in 2010 and the latest (6th) generation was released in 2016. The latest Camaro is available as a coupe and a convertible, and the most powerful engine option offered in this car is a 650 horsepower LT4 V8 coupled with a 6-speed transmission equipped with active rev-matching.
This new Camaro is not only more powerful but also more comfortable and luxurious on the inside as compared to the older models. It has retained some of the design of the 4th generation but if you see both these generations face-to-face, you can notice that the newer one has a more aggressive stance.
Chevy Blazer Then - The Forgotten SUV
The Chevy Blazer, officially known as the K5, was a short-wheelbase truck introduced by Chevy in 1969. It was offered as a 4-wheel-drive vehicle and only one 2-wheel-drive variant was offered in 1970. It was available with a 4.1-L I6 engine that could be upgraded to a 5.7-L V8.
The second generation of the Blazer was introduced in 1973 and the third in 1993. Chevy discontinued making this truck in 1994 due to diminishing sales and Chevy's focus on making the Colorado and sports cars. Despite the name being discontinued, the Blazer remained a popular Chevy vehicle over the years.
Chevy Blazer 2019 - Back with a Blast
Chevy revived the Blazer name in 2019 in the form of a mid-size crossover SUV. The new Blazer is one of the very few Chevy models to be launched in China. The Chinese variant of the Blazer is slightly bigger and comes in a 7-seat configuration.
It can be safely said that name is the only thing that Chevy has taken from the old Blazer, otherwise, this new one is a completely different vehicle. The base engine on this model is a 2.5-L I4 that produces 195 horsepower and you can upgrade it to a 3.6-L V6 that produces 305 horsepower.
Aston Martin Lagonda - The 1990s Luxury Car
British Automaker Aston Martin released the Lagonda back in 1976 as a luxury car. The full-size 4-door sedan had a front-engine rear-wheel-drive setup. The design of the car was like any other car from the 1970s with the long hood, boxy body, and a chisel-like form factor.
The Lagonda, being the flagship offering of Aston Martin, was powered by a 5.3-L V8. It was such a success that just the announcement of the first generation brought a lot of money to Aston Martin's cash reserves as initial deposits for the car. The Lagonda got new generations in 1976, 1986, and 1987, before being discontinued in 1990.
Lagonda Taraf - The Modern Luxury Car
Aston Martin did not only revive the name Lagonda but also made it a separate brand of its own by releasing the new iteration of this car under the name Lagonda Taraf. This new car has Lagonda badging all over it instead of Aston Martin. The word Taraf means luxury and extravagance in Arabic.
This car made the world record for being the most expensive sedan in the world. Only 120 of these things were made by Aston Martin and each of them was sold for a starting price of $1 million. The majority of these cars were bought by Middle Eastern billionaires.
Porsche 911 R - The Legendary 1960s Sports Car
Porsche 911 R is famous for being based on the sketches drawn by Ferdinand Porsche himself in 1959. This 2-door car had a 2.0-L flat 6-cylinder engine that used the 'boxer' layout to maximize cooling as this motor was air-cooled. The power output of this motor was 105 horses.
The car was made until 2005. As a matter of fact, the 911 lineup from Porsche probably had the most variants of any car lineup ever. The 911 R variant was offered as a separate trim of the 911 until 2005.
Porsche 911 Now - A Legend Ressurrected
The Porsche 911 R returned in 2012. It came with 3.4-L and 3.8-L engines that produce 350hp and 400hp respectively. Even though this 911 R was based on an entirely new platform, its design carried forward the same features from the original 911 R.
It is a 2-door car just like the original one, but this time a convertible version was also being offered. If you are concerned about it, the new 911 comes with a water-cooled engine and Porsche has long ditched the air-cooled ones.
Honda Civic TypeR - The Japanese Budget Sports Car
The Civic Type-R is the best entry-level sports car for people who want to drive the car to the office all week and to the track on weekends. Honda offered reliability and dependability coupled with practicality which made the Type-R an instant hit in the world.
The formula for the Type-R cars was to strap a turbo on the engine, tweak the tuning and give it a better exhaust. Though this car was not discontinued, Honda started making the Type-Rs as compact sedans instead of originally-offered hatchbacks.
Honda Civic X TypeR - The Most Practical Sports Car
The Civic Type-R became a second priority for Honda after the release of the 9th generation Civic. It was mainly because of certain engine issues that were detected in the 9th generation Civic which needed the cars to be recalled and fixed.
For the Civic X (the 10th-gen), Honda offered a Type-R model that was really worthy of being named Type-R. Larger wheels, a tuned engine, and better handling made this car the same Type-R everyone loved. And it soon became the number one choice of people looking for a dependable sports car that does not break the bank.
Fiat 500 1975 - Iconically Cute
The Fiat 500 was a small car made from 1957 to 1975. A total of 3.89 million units of this car were sold during this period. It was offered as a rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive car and was available as a sedan or a convertible. The very purpose of this car was to provide the means of cheap personal transportation just like the VW Beetle.
The car was updated in 1960, 1965, and 1967, before being discontinued in 1975. The main formula of this car always remained the same; make a car that is affordable to buy, drive, and maintain.
Fiat 500E - The Electric Economy Car
This is probably the first electric car made for people with a tight budget. This new electric Fiat 500 is offered as a 3-door hatchback, 3-door convertible, and 4-door hatchback. It carries forward the same design language as the original Fiat 500.
The power output of the new Fiat 500 EV is 94 horsepower. It comes with a 24 or 42 kWh battery. The range of this car is up to 200 miles and it offers DC fast-charging of up to 85 kW from a regular wall socket.
Ford Bronco Then - The Bare-Bones Utilitarian SUV
The Ford Bronco was the brainchild of Donald Frey, the same man who conceived the Mustang. It was meant to be a utilitarian vehicle as SUVs at that time were used by people on farms and far-off locations as a capable way of getting to places inaccessible by cars.
Ford used an I6 engine for this SUV but made a few tweaks like a larger oil pan and solid valve lifters to make it more reliable. A better and more efficient fuel delivery system was also developed for this car to further add to its reliability. After some substantial changes over several generations, this SUV was killed by Ford in 1996.
Ford Bronco 2021 - Luxury and Capability
The Bronco is available for the 2021 model year in its sixth generation. The SUV is now tuned to the market trends of this era where SUVs need to be capable and comfortable. This time, Ford has used a softer suspension and is giving a better ride quality.
And that's not all. The Bronco, powered by a twin-turbocharged EcoBoost I6, is as capable as any SUV can get. The sophisticated AWD system and the innovative new crawl gear make it possible for this SUV to tackle any terrain you put it through and be comfortable on the inside while it's at it.
VW Beetle - The People's Car
Hardly any car can be as easily recognizable as the Beetle. It debuted in 1938 and was aimed at making personal travel possible for the people of Germany. The rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout of this car made it possible to have more room inside the car without having to make it larger.
The car was made in various German cities and after WWII, its production was extended to many locations outside Germany. The Beetle was produced until 2003 after which VW ended the name. The use of this car in classic movies and TV shows immortalized it.
VW Beetle 2012 - Where's The Flower Vase?
The Beetle was revived by VW in 2011 when the Beetle A5 was announced. Though the styling and technology have been modernized vastly, the Beetle still retains the same shape from 1938. It still has the same 2-door design but the rear-engine layout has been replaced with a newer front-engine front-wheel-drive setup.
The new Beetle was offered between 2012 and 2019 and came with an option of I5 gasoline and I4 diesel engines. Just like the original Beetle from 1938, the new Beetle is also offered as a cabriolet variant where you can put the roof down.
Hummer H3 - The Civilian Humvee
The Hummer H3 was announced in 2005 and released in 2006. It was the smallest of the Hummer lineup and was the only Hummer till that time to not be based on the military Humvee platform. GM adopted the Chevy Colorado Chesis to make this truck.
The H3 was available as a 5-door SUV or a 4-door pickup truck. It had a 5.3-L V8 under the hood that could be coupled with a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic transmission. The sales of H3 declined steadily each year after it was released. Around 33,000 of these trucks were sold in the first year and just 7,000 in 2010. This was the main reason for its discontinuation in 2010.
Hummer EV - The Modern Hummer
The Hummer EV is probably being released to compensate for the harm done to the environment by the gas-guzzling Humvees that got 5 miles to a gallon on a good day. The upcoming Hummer EV will compete against the likes of Cyber Truck.
Though it is not yet released, the Hummer EV is reported to have up to 1000 horsepower, extracted from a 200kWh Li-ion battery. The range of this luxury off-roader is estimated to be 350 miles. If all those things turn out to be true, Hummer EV will be the most impressive electric truck on the market.
Nissan Z - The Predecessor of GT-R
This was Nissan's (and some even say Japan's) debut into the North American sports car market. The 240Z, or the Nissan Fairlady, was the first one of this series that came out in 1969. It had an inline 6-cylinder engine with Hitachi SU-type carburetors that gave the car 151 horsepower.
The Z series continued evolving with time and 5 more generations of the car were released. The latest of them was the Nissan 370Z that came out in 2008. The Nissan Z series cars, especially the ones that got the Nismo badge, were so special cars that no Japanese car could surpass them at the time.
Nissan Z - The Legacy Lives On
The seventh generation of the Nissan Z series was confirmed by the President of International Design at Nissan, Alfonso Abaisa. The car will be on the market by 2023. The reports from the company so far indicate that it will be 5.6-inch longer than the current 370Z and will be almost of the same width.
The powerplant inside this car will be the same twin-turbocharged V6 that Nissan is currently using for the GT-R. This motor is capable of more than 400 horsepower but the actual stats are still to be revealed.
Alfa Romeo Giulia - The Old Luxury Sports Car
The Giulia was introduced by the Italian Automaker Alfa Romeo in 1962 as a 4-door 4-seater notchback executive car. Even though this car had a rather humble 1.8-L I4 engine, it was equipped with a 5-speed manual gearbox and a rear-wheel-drive assembly, which made it fun to drive.
The Giulia name was given to a lot of models, some of which were even minivans. A total of 14 different models of this car were released during its 14-year production run that culminated with the last car rolling off the assembly line in 1978.
Alfa Romeo Guilia - A Touch of Genius
Alfa Romeo revived the Giulia name after 37 years in 2015 with the release of the new Giulia executive car in 2015. This is a compact car with the same front-engine rear-wheel-drive layout just like the original Giulia from 1962. However, an optional all-wheel-drive upgrade is also available.
The latest models of the Giulia are being offered with a 2.9-L V6 that produces 533 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. This powerful yet small engine takes this car from 0 to 60mph in just over 3.5 seconds and can hit a top speed of 191mph.
