Many people seem to think Italian sports cars are exotic and gorgeous one-of-a-kind cars. And it's true that some of the most appreciated sports cars in the world have been designed and produced in the boot-shaped country.
However, some Italian sports cars flopped spectacularly. While a handful of cool Italian sports cars should've sold better, there are several legit reasons why some seemingly promising models crashed and burned when released on the market. The manufacturer's reputation usually took a beating in the process as well. These Italian sports cars can be picked up for pocket change these days, but you might want to think twice about getting one!
8 1976 Fiat X1/9 Bertone - $7,100
The Fiat X1/9 was a mid-engined targa model produced by the Italian car manufacturer FIAT between 1972 and 1989. The design is by the pen of the Italian styling house, Bertone, responsible for many successful models, such as the Lancia Stratos, Lamborghini Countach, and the Miura.
The Fiat X1/9 came in two versions: the 1.3-liter with 75HP and the 1.5-liter with 85HP. Not much power, but in only weighed in at low something like 1700lbs as well. These cars, equipped with a 5-speed transmission, were particularly enjoyable in quick turns and for countryside drives. The fact that it's practically impossible to load a bag in it, and the geometrical design make this car great among the FIAT enthusiasts, but also a flop among the other gear-heads, particularly due to the severe reliability and rust issues.
7 2008 Maserati Granturismo - $22,000
Maserati has given birth to some of the most elegant sports cars ever, and the 2008 Granturismo fully embraces the Trident style. The lines of the body highlight the broad fenders and gently swoop to the '50s-race-cars-inspired front grille.
It's a matter of fact: the car itself doesn't present any relevant problem. The engine is a Ferrari block, 4.2-liter with more than 400HP. Mechanics is great, and the car offers luxury and fun when driving it. The prices of these cars are currently decreasing because they have been going through that unavoidable period where they're neither brand new, nor they're classics. They're just old, and the maintenance costs and parts are so expensive and rare, it'll cost a small fortune to run and maintain one.
6 1990 Alfa Romeo Duetto Spider - $22,000
Old-school Italian roadsters are so cool, and despite their tiny dimensions could give the driver some awesome vibes. We've got to be honest: there are way more appealing cars than this 1990 Alfa Romeo Duetto Spider.
The design of this small Italian spider is unsure and clumsy. That feeling of awkwardness is highlighted by the front lights which somehow resemble those of a Porsche. Also, the front grille and bumpers are bent down, and it looks like they point towards the road, probably a sign of submission to more bossy sports cars.
5 2004 Maserati Cambiocorsa Coupe - $19,000
Here is another Maserati Coupe that has a ridiculous price tag if you consider this must be one of the Italian Excellencies in terms of luxury and performance. Also for this coupe, although the design is still pleasant, there is that in-between dilemma; it's not a modern car, not a classic, just an old Italian luxury sports car with the typical problems associated with this type of car.
The car is packing a 4.2-liter V8 that delivers 400HP and a grumbling sound. The engine is mated to a dual-clutch transmission, which grants some awesome feelings while driving. However, it's also extremely fragile, and most of the Cambiocorsa drivers reported having issues with the dual-clutch gearbox.
4 1984 Maserati Bi-Turbo Coupe - $3,200
The Maserati Biturbo is one of the biggest flops the Italian car industry has ever witnessed. The Biturbo was supposed to be a best-seller thanks to a competitive price. They expected production of at least 5,000 units per year. That objective was never achieved! In order to accelerate its launch to the market, there were a number of reliability problems caused by the incomplete development of the car.
In North America, there were cases of the Biturbo catching fire due to the synthetic rubber rings that supported the exhaust system. In addition to this, a sudden increase in the list price, led to a drop in sales. Finally, the interior finishes were not exactly of excellent quality.
3 Alfa Romeo Brera - $11,000
The Alfa Romeo Brera is a front-wheel-drive car that has one of the weirdest designs — we're not sure whether it's a coupe or a hatchback. The Brera was launched to the market as a game-changing car, but unfortunately, it was distinguishable for its awkwardness.
Despite the promising 3.2-liter V6 engine that produced 260HP, the Brera is a quite unstable car, and a handful to handle. Lately, Alfa Romeo has been disappointing when it comes to the reliability and customer satisfaction of its mid-prize range cars.
2 1991 Ferrari Mondial T - $32,000
Even the super-blazoned Ferrari is not flop-free. The Mondial was Ferrari’s replacement for the successful 308/208 GT4 coupe and, until the California arrived in 2008, it was the last 2+2 V8 model produced by the Maranello-based brand. But the car turned out to be a real flop.
Not only was it relatively heavy at 3,459 lbs (1,570 kilograms), but its V8 engine with 214HP is dramatically underpowered. Some tests showed 0-62 miles per hour (0-100 kilometers per hour) acceleration of more than 9.5 seconds. Also, with a price tag of $64,000, the car wasn't cheap. In 1991, you could get a 300HP Porsche 930 Turbo for $26,000 less. Finally, drivers reported a bunch of problems, many of them related to the Bosch injection system. This car had a Ferrari price tag combined with FIAT performance and reliability.
1 2004 Lamborghini Gallardo - $83,000
The Lamborghini Gallardo is one of the most produced Italian supercars ever. There have been a huge number of variants made, and it totally sold 14,022 units during its production run.
There's no actually a real problem with this car, also because the huge V10 engine proved to be reliable enough on this car. Also, the overall mechanics are in line with the expectation of the drivers. What really made the price of this car drop is simply the huge number of units made, which makes the car's appeal and exclusivity decrease exponentially. Of course, this is great news for those wanting a Lambo. However, maintenance is still expensive, and chances are the previous owner skimped on that department, making the car a potential ticking time bomb.