People, places, and things tend to earn a reputation over time. And the same principle can be applied to cars. Most gearheads can name at least three vehicles with a reputation that would make anyone want to become a hermit.

RELATED: 10 Worst Cars Luxury Brands Tried To Sell

There were times when carmakers released vehicles that were far from being satisfactory. Surprisingly, some of the worst sports cars sold like hotcakes. That is something most gearheads cannot wrap their minds around. On the other hand, some sports cars were tainted from the get go for legitimate reasons. However, when taking a second look at them, they are not as bad as they initially seemed.

10 1977 Mustang II

The Malaise Era was one of the most destructive and significant period of the American automotive industry. It has been said that 1976 was in fact the worst year for American carmakers. This tumultuous period spanned over two decades, and started decreasing in intensity around the mid 1990s. The iconic Mustang was not spared from being watered down.

RELATED: 8 Of The Worst V8-Powered Sports Cars Ever Made

The Mustang II Mach 1 is the worst version of an otherwise great car. In fact, the Mustang II is considered to be the worst Mustang ever made. Instead of looking at the car for what it is, it would be wiser to look at its potential. The 302 ci Windsor V8 can be modified to produce far more power. As far the look of the car is concerned, it has a very retro feel that most classic car fans will appreciate.

9 2001 Jaguar S-Type

Jaguar underwent several changes over the last two decades. The company was sold to Ford, before being sold again to Tata Motors. When looking at Jaguars made between 2000 and 2008, it is fair to say that most of them are lukewarm Ford cars.

The Jaguar S-Type looks like a wannabe luxury car. It is looks like a facelifted 1999 Ford Taurus and is poorly powered. The base model comes with a 3.0L V6 that pumps out a lousy 240 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque. As the base model basically deterred most people from buying the S-Type, the more powerful 4.0L V8 trim ended up being overlooked as well, which it shouldn't be, as it's actually surprisingly good.

8 2004 Pontiac GTO

Via mecum.com

Pontiac is one of those American brands that was once perceived as promising. However, as the Malaise Era ravaged the domestic car industry, domestic carmakers simply could not keep up. The very last sports cars made by the now defunct brand were far from being as attractive as their predecessors.

The last Pontiac GTO was shunned by critics upon its release. The muscle car was considered bland and unattractive. However, the 2004 Pontiac GTO is on par with some of the most powerful muscle cars released during that time. A 5.7L Gen III LS1 that produces 350 hp and 365 lb-ft of torque.

7 2004 Volvo S60 R

Volvo is always perceived as a suburban mom or college girl car brand. Though it is fair to admit that stereotypes tend to have some substance, Volvo is far from being the boring carmaker you may think it is. A skillfully modified Volvo can crank out far more power and torque than some high-end muscle cars.

The Volvo S60R is a wolf in sheep disguise. It looks like the typical grocery getter. It is the sort of car one would expect to see at an art event. Looks can be deceiving. Very deceiving. Underneath the hood sits a turbocharged 2.5L five-cylinder that makes 300 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque.

6 2005 Toyota Celica

Toyota is the most successful carmaker in the world. The Japanese car manufacturer sold a total of 40 million Corollas a couple of years ago, and generated a net revenue of $260 million. That is impressive, given the fact that Toyota was originally involved in the textile industry. Not all of Toyota's cars have reached the same success as the Corolla.

RELATED: 10 Things We Just Learned About The Toyota Celica

The very last Toyota Celica was a true let-down in comparison to previous editions. The mid-90s Toyota Celica GT-Four is fitted with a turbocharged 2.0L 3S-GTE four-cylinder engine that cranks out 239 hp. Then came this, the last Celica, which was equipped with a 1.8L 2ZZ-GE inline-four engine that produces 187 hp. At least, the seventh and last generation looks cool.

5 2006 Chrysler Crossfire SRT-6

Chrysler, now Stellantis, has released a large number of great vehicles over the decades. In the most recent years, the SRT-Series has shown that the American muscle was far from dead. In fact, the American muscle is a phoenix that rose from its ashes. While Chrysler was looking into making the best American-made sports cars, it also created some truly puzzling cars.

The Crossfire is known for being one of the worst American performance cars ever. First of all, most American gearheads will agree that a domestic sports car should not come equipped with a V6. On top of that, the said V6 only produces 330 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. With all that being said, that is quite some power for such a small car. Moreover, less than 1,500 Crossfire SRT-6s were ever built.

4 2007 Saab 9-3 Aero

Saab is the other Scandinavian carmaker that has created cars that would surprise most seasoned gearheads out there. Unlike companies like BMW or Jaguar, Saab has limited the size of its engines and focused on getting the most out of its truly European powerplants.

Saab released quite a few amazing cars in the past. The Saab 9-3 Viggen is a prime example. Years later, its incredible vehicles completely went under the radar. This 2007 Saab 9-3 Aero is no laughing matter. The turbocharged and intercooled 2.8L V6 produces 247 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Even if the power output could have increased a bit, this 9-3 Aero V6 is a great base for a project.

3 2008 Porsche Boxster S

Porsche is Germany's most respected carmaker. Endorsed by James Dean back in the 1950s, the carmaker has had gearheads dreaming for several decades. When looking at the 1988 Porsche 959 or the 2005 Carrera GT, no one can claim that Porsche is not producing some of the coolest and most exclusive sports cars.

The Porsche Boxster is allegedly the vehicle that saved Porsche from bankruptcy. The earlier versions were simply boring and underpowered. From that point onwards, it became difficult for Porsche to convince true car fans that the Boxster was worth anything. The 2008 edition of the Boxster S includes a 3.4L V6 that develops 295 hp and 251 lb-ft of torque.

2 2012 Mini Cooper S

HotCars

The Mini Cooper must be the most British car that has ever been made. Featured in several movies and TV shows, including Mr. Bean starring the funniest gearhead, Rowan Atkinson, the Mini Cooper became the favorite car of somewhat eccentric individuals.

RELATED: 8 Of The Worst Sports Cars To Come Out Of Europe

HotCars

The Mini Cooper does not have a bad reputation per se. However, the car's quality dramatically decreased over the course of the last 20 years. Several Mini owners have complained about repetitive and costly repairs. Repairs aside, the Mini Cooper S still a great urban vehicle to own.

1 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe

Originally, Hyundai released its sporty coupe under the Tiburon nameplate. The car was anything but a sports car. It was slow, ugly, and worth as much as a low-end Honda Civic. Hyundai quickly realized that no one would take its cars seriously if they were to be branded as Hyundai cars. As a result, the company developed Genesis.

Nobody wants to be seen in a Hyundai. In fact, Hyundai has become the new Honda. As the Korean carmaker wanted to move away from a laughable carmaker, it started releasing terrific vehicles under the Genesis brand. The 2013 Genesis Coupe is a monster. The 3,8L V6 churns out a mean 348 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque.

NEXT: We'd Love To Own These Underrated Japanese Cars