The sports car segment is understandably dominated by big-name players that have existed for numerous decades and built a wealth of experience, and more importantly, a generous stash of cash reserves.

However, within that space are also countless smaller names jostling for market share. They are usually one-man business concerns that lack resources for mass-production and only produce cars on demand. Still, this does not necessarily mean their cars are inferior to more established brands. Many of these obscure cars can put out performance that will rival comparable offerings from mainstream carmakers like Mercedes-Benz, Audi, or even Ferrari. Check out the cars here and see if any of them rings a bell.

10 Equus Throwback

Equus-Throwback
via motor1

You might have heard of the exclusive Equus Bass 770, the Dodge muscle car look-alike with a steroid overdose but how about the even rarer sibling, the Equus Throwback? This oddly named sports car is a tribute to classic Corvettes and incorporates many of the design cues in its bodywork albeit with a modern twist.

Equus-Throwback
via youtube

Details are sketchy about the power output but Equus Automotive offers an optional powertrain upgrade that gives the car a hefty 1,000hp, good enough for a wild 2.5-second sprint to 60mph. There’s nothing old-school about that performance.

9 Lister Storm

1993-lister-storm
via topcarrating

This car was an ambitious project embarked upon by a British automobile company and they actually made a few units, most of which are still in existence today. The Lister Storm was a record-setting car in its prime.

1993-lister-storm
via thetruthaboutcars

The Lister Storm was fitted with what was the largest V12 car engine since the end of the Second World War. That engine was not just for show. It could put out 600hp and at one point, the sports car was the fastest 4-seater Grand Tourer in the world with a top speed of about 210mph.

8 Lucra LC470

Lucra-LC470
via autoblog

Get this, this ludicrous Lucra LC470 can rocket from a standing start to 60mph in 2.5 seconds. That’s as fast as a Bugatti Veyron. The car is hand-built by a small company based in California.

Lucra-LC470.
via dirtyoldcars

There are three engine options on offer, with the most powerful one being a 7.0-liter GM sourced engine that can put out 670hp. The car takes about 8 weeks to build from start to finish and the owner has an extensive range of options to pick from.

7 Panoz Avezzano

Panoz-Avezzano
via Panoz

The Panoz Avezzano is a proper race car tucked within a road-legal frame. At its heart is a variety of American V8 engine options that produce 450hp, at the low end of the spectrum, to over 630hp for the most powerful variant.

Panoz-Avezzano.
via jalopnik

The car’s carbon-fiber bodywork shares more than a passing resemblance to the Panoz Esperante but that will probably not bother you too much as you settle in the driver’s position and bring the car to life. Get ready to part with a minimum of $160,000 if you want one in your garage though.

6 Wiesmann GT MF5

2008-Wiesmann-GTMF5
via supercars.net

This exclusive sports car is manufactured by a carmaker based out of Dulmen, Germany. The car is as unique as the company’s official logo, a gecko, proudly positioned on the car's hood. It is a perfect blend of nostalgic retro-styling and modern automotive engineering.

2008-Wiesmann-GTMF5.
via autoevolution

The car features a powertrain and gearbox sourced from BMW and in the top trim, can propel it to 60mph in about 4 seconds. The car is known for its crisp handling and even has a wing and specially designed diffuser to increase downforce during high-speed driving and cornering.

5 Gillet Vertigo .5 Spirit

Gillet-Vertigo-5Spirit
via pinterest

The Gillet Vertigo .5 Spirit is powered by a Ferrari-derived 4.2-liter V8 engine mated to a sequential 6-speed gearbox. It’s the same engine that powered the Maserati GranTurismo and its 420hp output may not seem like much at first.

Gillet-Vertigo-5Spirit.
via imgur

However, that number makes a lot more sense when you factor in the fact that at 950kg, the car is a real lightweight. It needs about 3 seconds to hit 60mph which is true sports car performance and offers an undiluted driving experience on the roads; just be careful, there are no airbags.

Related: 10 Car Models Most People Never Knew Existed

4 Anteros

Anteros-Sportscar
via barrett-jackson

This sports car is based on a Corvette C6 chassis however the carbon fiber body and interior are completely original designs. The idea was to fuse 1960s sports car ethos with modern supercar performance and judging by the end result, the design engineers were not far off the mark.

Anteros-Sportscar
via barrett-jackson

The Anteros is powered by a stock C6 Corvette V8 engine paired with a Magnus supercharger that boosts total engine output to an impressive 550hp, up from 400hp in the C6 Corvette.

3 Faralli & Mazzanti Antas V8 GT

2006-faralli-mazzanti-antas-v8-gt
via topcarrating

The car is as exotic as its name suggests. The car is built by an Italian firm that also specializes in restoring high-end classic automobiles. You can clearly see the elements of that classic car expertise in the design of this sports car.

Antas-V8
via autoblog

The bodywork is hand-built from aluminum and has styling cues lifted off 1930s Bugattis and Maseratis. There is a 310hp V8 engine under the hood that’s good for a 168mph top speed run. The company is secretive about the price but will have private discussions with serious prospective clients.

Related: Modern American Cars You Probably Never Knew Existed

2 Mega Track

Mega-Track
via carbase

The company’s name is Mega and they decided to name their sports car ‘Track’ hence the name, Mega Track. There was another reason for the name though. The car was massive and stretched measured almost 17 feet lengthwise and was only slightly narrower than a Hummer H1.

Mega-Track.
via carbase

Interestingly, this was also the first sports car factory designed to go off-road. In addition to 20-inch wheels, which were unheard of at the time, the car had an adjustable suspension that could be lifted to give the car 13 inches of ground clearance.

1 Rezvani Beast Alpha

Rezvani-Beast-Alpha
via Revzani

The California-based carmaker is famous for its imposing Rezvani Tank but what many people may not realize is that they also produce a sports car named the Beast Alpha.

rezvani+beast+alpha
via rezvanimotors

The car weighs under a ton and fully takes advantage of that lightweight with a 500hp engine that can get the car to 60mph in less than 4 seconds before powering on to a top speed of 175mph. The car comes with a host of available options for the customer but the stand out feature is, without doubt, those unique sidewinder doors.

Next: The 10 Coolest New Cars For Gearheads On A Budget