Nowadays, there’s a broad array of great, high-performing sports cars on our roads that offer compelling driving experiences. Think of the 2021 Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series, Porsche 911 GT3 RS, C8 Corvette Z06, and even the 1,025-hp Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170, which would pass into history as the swan song of the immaculate, muscular Challenger we all love. However, the exceptional performances being witnessed today would not have been possible without some serious legends who pushed back performance limits and redefined the boundaries of what’s possible behind the wheel.
While some may not be able to compete with modern sports cars when it comes to performance, they are real game changers that were great for their time and helped get the ball rolling. So, whether you’re nostalgic for the solid sports cars from older times or are just curious to see what some of the best sports cars of yesteryear are, you’ll be happy to know we’ve compiled a list of 10 iconic sports cars that redefined performance, ranked based on their stock horsepower rating.
10 Acura NSX (First Generation) – 270 HP
The first production car to feature an all-aluminum body, the Acura NSX redefined what a daily driver sports car can be. It was sleek, comfortable, practical, and easy to drive. It had a mid-mounted 3.0-liter naturally aspirated V6 with up to 270 horsepower at 7,100 rpm and 210 lb-ft of torque at 6,500 rpm (with five-speed manual transmission). Models with the four-speed automatic make 252 horsepower. This would become the first vehicle (1991 Acura NSX) to offer Honda’s VTEC variable valve timing in North America.
The NSX’s all-aluminum unibody construction meant it was lightweight, at just 3,020 lbs. This, combined with a strong suspension that uses double wishbones, forged control arms, and anti-roll bars, made the first-gen NSX a thrilling car to drive.
9 R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R – 276 HP
The car that earned the GT-R its legendary “Godzilla” nickname, the R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R is an iconic race car that wiped the floor with its competitors and brought glory to the brand by winning 29/29 Group A Japanese Touring Car races between 1990 and 1993. The Godzilla added to its tally of wins by claiming two consecutive Bathurst 1000 victories before the governing body in Australia banned it for being too fast for the competition.
The R32 Skyline GT-R’s dominance was thanks to an RB26DETT 2.6-liter inline-six DOHC twin-turbo engine that gave it a fierce character. In stock form, the powertrain makes 276 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, but can reliably make more than 1,000 horsepower with the right modifications. Nissan’s ATTESA E-TS all-wheel drive system, which sends torque to the wheels that need it most, slick five-speed manual transmission, and Super HICAS four-wheel steering system also played a part, allowing the R32 GT-R to stand head and shoulders above the rest of the competition. These combine to produce a 0 to 60 mph time of 5.6 ticks and a top speed of 156 mph.
8 Toyota Supra Turbo MKIV – 321 HP
Like the R32 Skyline GT-R, the MkIV Toyota Supra Turbo is an exciting car with an enhanced driving experience. The Supra’s legend is largely thanks to its 2JZ-GTE inline-six engine. The 3.0-liter sequential turbo straight-six makes up to 321 horses and 315 lb-ft of torque in stock form. But like Nissan’s RB26DETT, the 2JZ has a balanced inline configuration and can deliver ferocious power with the right kind of tuning.
Two automatic transmissions were available for the turbocharged MK4 Supra – a four-speed automatic transmission and a six-speed manual Getrag gearbox. In stock form, the MkIV Supra’s 0-60 mph sprint time was as low as 4.7 seconds, and the quarter-mile was 13.1 seconds at 109 mph.
7 BMW E46 M3 CSL – 360 HP
Having pushed the limit within the Bavarian giant, the E46 M3 CSL represents the top echelon of BMW’s M car lineup. It was the first BMW M car to feature a carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) roof, which reduced weight and imbued it with a low center of gravity. This special weight-saving and other measures allow the BMW E46 M3 CSL to have a lightweight construction, with its curb weight coming in at 3,053 lbs – about 243 lbs lighter than a ‘regular’ BMW E46 M3.
Under the hood, you’ll find an S54B32HP engine, a high-performance variant of the standard M3’s S54B32. It is a 3.2-liter naturally aspirated six-cylinder that’s been tweaked to generate a massive 360 horsepower at 7,900 rpm and 273 lb-ft of torque at 4,900 rpm. Contributing further to the exciting behavior of the engine is a carbon fiber airbox that shaves off weight and delivers a much larger amount of air to the combustion chamber, while producing a richer-sounding exhaust note. Shifting duties are handled by the brand’s Sequential M Gearbox with Drivelogic, a Formula 1-based six-speed transmission capable of shifting gears in just 0.08 seconds.
6 Dodge Viper (First Generation) – 400 HP
The first-generation Dodge Viper was the most insane sports car of its time, with a revolutionary spirit. It had a reworked Chrysler V8 engine blown by Lamborghini to 10 massive cylinders. The 8.0-liter V10 makes a whopping 400 horsepower at 4,600 rpm and has 450 lb-ft of torque at 3,600 rpm, with that power sent to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission that provides an emotive shift.
It’s 0-60 mph acceleration time took 4.5 seconds, and the Viper achieved quarter-mile times as quick as 13.2 seconds, making it faster than the V8-powered Chevrolet C4 Corvette ZR1 (even the improved 1993 ZR1 accelerates to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds and the quarter mile in 13.4 ticks). Massive numbers for 1992. That high torque, though, made the first-gen Viper really quite tricky to drive.
5 Ford GT40 – 380 HP
Built to compete with and crush Ferrari in endurance racing, the Ford GT40 remains one of the most iconic sports cars – an all-conquering endurance racing car that made clear its intentions when it became the first American car to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966. It would go on to dominate the prestigious competition, winning it four times on the trot between 1966 and 1969. Ford only ever made 105 examples of the GT40 between 1964 and 1969, giving it an exalted status. These include six race car versions, a few road-legal models, and some prototypes.
Early variants of the GT40 (MkI) first featured 4.2-liter alloy V8 engines with 350 hp. Unsatisfied with the original engine’s performance, Carroll Shelby’s Shelby-American team, having recently taken over the project, replaced the 4.2-liter engine with a 4.7-liter V8 engine lifted from the Shelby Cobra. The new powertrain made around 380 hp and earned the GT40 its first win at Daytona. Street-legal versions of the GT40 had the 4.7-liter V8.
To effectively compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Ford developed a 7-liter V8 with 485 hp for the race-spec MkII, which can reach speeds of 205 mph. Other variants of the GT40 include the MkIII, a one-off X1 Roadster made in 1964, and the J-Car GT 40, another race-spec version of the GT40 built in 1974.
4 2016 Porsche 911 R – 500 HP
What makes the 2016 Porsche 911 R so special is its ferocious performance and unerring build quality. Based on the 991.1 series, the 911 R perfectly combines a lightweight construction with an aerodynamically efficient design and a robust naturally aspirated mill, resulting in a plain sports car that is a prime example of purist driving dynamics. In an effort to make it lighter and more nimble, Porsche equipped the 911 R with a double-bubble magnesium roof, carbon fiber hood, and carbon fiber front wings. The automaker also stripped the interior of luxuries such as air conditioning, navigation, stereo, and sound deadening. The result is a car that weighs 3,020 lbs and delivers a unique driving experience.
Although the 911 R is 22 lbs heavier than the equally compelling Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0, reviewers claim it has better weight distribution than the GT3 RS 4.0. This allowed it to offer superior driving dynamics. The engine is a 4.0-liter naturally aspirated flat-six paired with a six-speed manual gearbox to put a whopping 500 horsepower to the ground while delivering a delightful exhaust note. As far as driving thrills go, this machine sets the bar quite high.
3 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series (C197) – 631 HP
The SLS AMG Black Series is an SLS AMG GT3 race car built for the road. It is Mercedes-AMG’s fifth Black Series installment and one of the most dynamic cars to ever come out of Affalterbach. It features a free-breathing 6.2-liter M159 V8 engine with 631 horsepower on tap, making this the most powerful naturally aspirated V8 until it was dethroned by the Corvette C8-based Z06’s DOHC 5.5-liter LT6 engine. That output was enough to catapult the AMG C197 SLS Black Series to 60 mph in 3.2 ticks and onto a top speed of 196 mph. The powertrain is mated to an AMG SpeedShift DCT seven-speed sports transmission that delivers crisp shifts.
Its mighty power and acceleration aside, the AMG C197 SLS Black Series also raised the bar further in terms of handling. Its low center of gravity, low weight (3,417 lbs), sophisticated AMG Ride Control performance suspension, precise AMG speed-sensitive steering, and sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 sports tires allow the SLS AMG Black Series to deliver thrilling driving dynamics.
2 Porsche 911 GT2 RS – 700 HP
The 991.2 GT2 RS is the pinnacle of Porsche 911 performance. It is the most powerful Porsche 911 ever and was the fastest road car around the Nürburgring Nordschleife racetrack in its day, with a time of 6:47.3. The engine is the same 3.8-liter flat-six offered in the Turbo S. However, the variant here featured bigger turbos, a water-cooled intercooler, a titanium exhaust and was subjected to a remap. The result is a potent powertrain with 700 horsepower on tap. The performance gains allow the GT2 RS to scoot to 60 mph in 2.7 seconds and, where space allows, reach a limited top speed of 211 mph.
1 Chevrolet C7 Corvette ZR1 – 755 HP
As far as the best sports cars are concerned, the C7 Corvette ZR1 is perennial and cannot go out of style. In terms of sheer power, this car raised the Corvette performance bar so high that even the sophisticated C8-based Z06 couldn’t keep up. Equipped with an LT5 6.2-liter supercharged V8, the C7 ZR1 was the best Corvette ever, generating an astounding 755 hp at 6,400 rpm and 715 lb-ft of torque at 3,600 rpm – the most of any production Corvette in history. This produces a 0-60 mph time of 2.85 seconds and a quarter-mile run in 10.6 seconds at 134 mph. The 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1’s top speed is 212 mph.
Impressive output aside, the C7-based ZR1 is also the world’s shortest-stopping car, according to a Car and Driver test. That is thanks to its massive carbon-ceramic brakes and the optional ZTK Track Performance Package, which offers enhanced aerodynamics and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires instead of the standard Michelin Pilot Super Sport run-flat rubbers. With this specification, the 2019 Chevrolet Corvette stopped from 70 mph in an astonishing 127 feet. Throw in its civil suspension, and you’re looking at a compelling package that will soon be worth a fortune.