From the Shelby Cobra to the eight generations of the Corvette, America has developed several fascinating sports cars that gained worldwide recognition. However, there are several other fascinating American sports cars that few have ever heard of, such as the following five.
The Corvette might be America’s favorite sports car, but it isn’t the only one. For decades, US carmakers have developed many impressive models.
Some, like the Shelby Cobra, became legendary, while others, such as the Apollo GT or Consulier GTP, only rose to nationwide fame for a very short period.
In more recent times, small American companies have shot their sports car shot with low-volume models that never rose to prominence, despite being captivating.
N2A Motors Anteros
During the 2000s, California-based N2A Motors sought to bring back the lost art of traditional coachbuilding by developing an elegant model known as Anteros.
Based on the C6 Corvette, this beautiful model, available at the time in either coupe or convertible form, received a completely redesigned body that resembled one developed in Italy by a historic coachbuilder.
Each body reportedly took around 800 hours to put together, sharing no parts with the Corvette.
Apart from the body, the Anteros also received an interior makeover, but here, many components were just dressed-up Corvette parts.
Under the beautifully sculpted hood, the car hid either an LS3 or an LS7, which could be had in stock Corvette spec or, with Lingenfelter performance packages, could boost output to around 600-1,000 hp (depending on the exact package).
Each car was tailored-made for its customer, and we don’t know exactly how many were built. Seeing one in the metal is an ultra-rare occurrence, so don’t blame yourself if you have never heard about the Anteros.
Vanderhall Venice
Certainly more well-known than N2A Motors and its Anteros, Vanderhall Motor Works was established in Provo, Utah, in 2010, and since then, it has been manufacturing some cool three-wheeled vehicles.
Among those, the most successful is the Venice, which, like the more famous Polaris Slingshot, is classified as a motorcycle, autocycle, or car, depending on the state it’s registered in.
First introduced in 2017, the Venice received a minimal, retro-modern exterior, an upscale interior, and hardware such as power steering and ABS disc brakes.
Throughout its lifespan, the three-wheeler was available with either a 1.4 or a 1.5-liter inline-four.
The GM turbocharged engines, mated to an automatic transmission, could produce either 180 or 194 hp.
Fitted with the most powerful of the two motors, the FWD Venice could sprint from 0 to 60 mph (97 kph) in 4.5 seconds.
Apart from its speed, the three-wheeler is often praised for its handling, which many have called more predictable and crisper than that of the Polaris Slingshot.
Lucra LC470
Founded in San Marcos, California, by British-born Luke Richards back in 2006, Lucra Cars has built two impressive models over the last decade.
The most impressive, without a doubt, is the Lucra LC470, a retro-inspired, two-seat roadster.
Developed around Colin Chapman’s famous philosophy of “simplifying, then adding lightness,” the LC470 tipped the scales at 2,000 pounds (907 kg).
Featured in the Fast and Furious 6 movie, this impressive sports car was available with several powerful V8 engines, ranging from Chevy LS small-blocks to a Mercedes-AMG motor.
When equipped with the 650-hp LS7 V8, the car could sprint to 60 mph (97 kph) from a standstill in just 2.5 seconds.
The model was produced from 2010 to 2019 in a little over 60 units, so it’s extremely rare.
Rossion Q1
The Noble M400 is one of the best European sports cars from the 2000s, which few have ever heard about.
Therefore, the M400-based Rossion Q1, which was developed in the US, is even more obscure.
Produced from 2008 to 2018 in Florida, the Q1 was based on a Noble M400 chassis licensed and manufactured by Rossion.
The chassis was covered by a new body that loosely resembles the M400, and the whole package was sold as a kit. Thus, owners could choose their own mid-mounted powerplant.
Still, a company called American Speed Factory offered complete, ready-to-run cars with rebuilt and tuned Ford Duratec V6 engines rated at over 500 hp.
Like the Noble M400, the Rossion Q1 impressed with its near-flawless handling, but never managed to become truly famous due to its initial kit car status and the lack of a proper marketing campaign.
Drakan Spyder
Maybe you haven’t heard about the Drakan Spyder, but there’s a better chance that you’ve heard about the BAC Mono or Ariel Atom.
The Drakan Spyder falls into the same open-wheel, ultra-lightweight category, but unlike the Mono and all but a special-edition Atom, it’s powered by a V8.
Developed by Sector111 and based on the Palatov Motorsport D2, the Spyder features a 430-hp LS3 V8 mated to a Porsche six-speed manual transaxle.
This amazing car was last updated in 2024, and as far as the official websites state, it’s still available in select dealerships.
Like the BAC Mono and Ariel Atom I mentioned earlier, the Drakan Spyder is one of the very few road-legal cars that look and feel like a Formula 1 or Indy Car racer.
However, the car never achieved the greatness it deserves, partially because of its price and partially because there isn’t a huge market for such vehicles in the US.
