General Motors is one of America's largest and most successful automobile manufacturers. It has a rich and fascinating history that dates back to 1908 and thrives even now. GM began as a group of subsidiary automotive firms when William Durant, the company's founder, acquired thirty companies in the first two years of existence, including Buick, Cadillac, Oldsmobile, Oakland, Marquette, Ewing, and others. Furthermore, it also bought Chevrolet in 1918.
This is a company that has a long legacy of manufacturing speedy, powerful, and attractive cars. However, the GM umbrella has produced so many cars throughout the years that some have been overlooked and forgotten. It's a pity when truly exceptional cars fade into obscurity as a result of their numerous inferior counterparts. Let’s explore ten of the most underrated GM cars that never made it into the automotive hall of fame for various reasons.
10 1990 Chevrolet Corvette C4 ZR-1
The 1990 Chevy Corvette C4 ZR-1 has been wrongly mocked for years by all kinds of reviewers who favor the older, more attractive Corvettes or the modern, more potent Corvettes. Although those Corvettes may have certain advantages over the C4, the 1990 Corvette wasn't worthy of its terrible reputation; in fact, it completely revolutionized what performance originally intended for America's sports car.
The Corvette C4 was the most sophisticated and thrilling Corvette of the modern period, with a fully redesigned chassis and a sharper, more contemporary but yet evolutionary look. The C4 featured a Lotus-tuned dual-overhead-cam, 32-valve LT5 V8 engine that produced 375 horsepower, which made it a legitimate worldwide contender. It also had a 6-speed manual transmission, making it one of the first performance cars.
9 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP
In many aspects, the Pontiac G8 GXP was the most underappreciated performance car in recent American history. Since the Bonneville, it was Pontiac's first full-size car. It was a quick, athletic, and elegant car based on the Holden Commodore. However, it managed to sneak in amid the global economic slump, which kept sales to a bare minimum until the GXP, like every other Pontiac, perished.
The GXP was Pontiac's most powerful car, with a 6.2-liter V8 engine that made 415 horsepower and was mated with a 6-speed automatic transmission or a 6-speed manual transmission as an option. From a standstill, the GXP took 4.5 seconds to reach 60 mph. Despite its instant iconic status, a higher price tag and fears of Pontiac's impending doom deterred purchasers, and only around 2,000 GXPs were sold.
8 1974-76 Chevrolet Chevelle Laguna S3
Chevy has produced several outstanding cars throughout the years, but some of its nameplates, such as the Chevelle Laguna, were short-lived and underrated. This NASCAR track monster was thrilling not just because of its commanding position in the racing world, striking appearance, and high-quality safety systems, but also due to its sumptuous cabin, which promised comfort and elegance.
The car's rear-wheel-drive powertrain was driven by a 7.4-liter big-block V8 engine that generated 215 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque. Albeit with regulations attempting to limit the car's capabilities, it managed to cling on rather well. However, due to the fuel deficit, motorists switched to V6 engines as the more practical option.
7 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado
It's easy to forget that Olds once produced some incredible muscle cars, and the Toronado was one of their most daring muscle cars when it was introduced in 1966. This luxury 2-door coupe was famous for being General Motors' first front-wheel-drive car, which elicited mixed reactions from car enthusiasts.
The Toronado's fastback design marked it distinct from other typical three-box designs of the era, whereas the large wheel arches, horizontal grille, and concealed headlights gave it a menacing appearance. Additionally, the 1966 model came with a 425 cubic-inch Rocket V8 rated at a stunning 385 hp. It was a classic muscle car in the purest sense, with a blend of elegance, power, and innovation, but was mostly overlooked by gearheads and failed to meet sales expectations.
6 1994-96 Chevrolet Impala SS
Several prominent nameplates were revived and updated in the 1990s. The seventh-generation Chevy Impala SS was indeed the greatest example of this. It was a high-performance version of the Chevy Caprice based primarily on the Caprice 9C1 police package and was powered by a beefy 5.7-liter LT1 V8 engine paired to a 4-speed automatic transmission, exactly like the Corvettes of the time.
This badass sports sedan remains truly overlooked, yet it is unquestionably one of the ultimate performance cars that you probably wouldn't mind driving on a regular basis. Plus, the seventh-generation Impala SS's excellent performance, fun-to-drive character, and limited color options: black, cherry, and dark green practically assure that it will become a highly collectible car in the future.
5 1971 GMC Sprint SP
GMC has never been renowned for making muscle cars, but in 1971, they decided to give it a shot, and the Sprint was born. This car-based truck was a rebadged Chevrolet El Camino that shared the Chevelle's chassis. The Sprint SP was a performance trim that was basically equivalent to Chevy's SS but with substantially better weight distribution.
When the Sprint was introduced, lower-octane, unleaded fuel was used, and engine compression was reduced, resulting in lower power ratings. The top-of-the-line Sprint SP, however, still managed a robust 365 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque thanks to the massive 7.4-liter V8 engine
4 1974 Pontiac Ventura GTO
Pontiac has built some of the most spectacular muscle cars of its time, including the 1964 GTO, which is one of the classics that graced the streets. Things were different, however, when the Ventura GTO was released, in the mid-'70s, when new emission standards and the financial crisis had effectively killed the muscle car.
The Ventura GTO's 5.7-liter V8 engine generated 200 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. Despite having less power than its predecessors, it was still one of the most potent options in 1974, when the Ford Mustang struggled to reach 100 horsepower. In addition, it is a misunderstood Pontiac that, although being the most efficient, inexpensive, and superb-handling car of the time, remains underappreciated.
3 1966-68 Chevrolet Biscayne 427
The fourth-generation Biscayne was the simplest and least expensive full-size car in the Chevy lineup. Introduced at a time when the muscle-car craze was in full flow, this lightweight Chevy wasn't glamorous or crafted with high-end materials, but it was a sturdy and powerful beast capable of destroying rivals on the drag strip.
The Chevrolet Biscayne was undeniably a performance mammoth, with a Big-Block 427 cubic-inch V8 engine creating a gigantic 425 horsepower. It was so fast that racing enthusiasts coined the nickname "The Bisquick" for this overlooked moniker. Apart from its performance, this no-frills sedan was also reasonably simple to maintain and had a pleasant interior.
2 1970 Buick Wildcat
Another model from the early '70s that, although being a quintessential performance car, was understated by the consumer. The Wildcat was designed to compete with Ford's Thunderbird and Chevy's Impala SS, and was based on GM's full-size B-body platform.
The 1970 Buick Wildcat was a luxury-oriented large coupe with plenty of power to compete with sportier models, thanks to its massive 7.5-liter Buick V8 engine, which developed 370 horses and 510 lb-ft of torque. For this model year, it was only made available in Custom trim. These proportions made it a standout car, albeit it never received as much attention over its entire market run.
1 1965-67 Pontiac 2+2
The 2+2 was originally referred to be the iconic GTO's older sibling by Pontiac. That's a great way to sum up this overlooked muscle car. Twin round headlights, lighter door frames, upscale side panels, individual bucket seats, and additional “2+2” logos, notably on the bonnet and fenders, contrasted with the bodywork of this vintage brute. In addition, it was basically a cosmetic option for the Catalina.
The Pontiac 2+2 came standard with a powerful 421 cubic-inch V8 engine that made 338 horsepower. However, a formidable 376 hp 428 cubic-inch V8 engine was also offered as a top-of-the-line option. Pontiac's 2+2 was unquestionably the most flamboyantly styled muscle car. Regrettably, it was never given the respect it deserved despite the fact that it was admired by auto enthusiasts.