10 supercars that just didn’t deliver the goods
The result of underwhelming performance or poor timing
PHOTO: MITSUOKA
CAR BRANDS IN THIS ARTICLE
Jaguar
Ferrari
Lamborghini
Weber Faster One (2008)
PHOTO BY MANUFACTURER PRESS
This Swiss monstrosity promised 900hp and a top speed in excess of 400kph. Just two problems: no one’s ever actually driven one, and it looks like a nightmarish Tim Burton interpretation of a BMW Z4. The horror!
DeLorean DMC-12 (1981)
PHOTO BY DELOREAN MOTOR COMPANY
Looked like a supercar, but nowhere near fast as one. With a 130hp Peugeot V6 instead of the optional flux capacitor, the DMC-12 was woefully slow: catalytic converted models took 10 seconds to crack 100kph. And couldn't fly.
OTHER STORIES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED:
Ford pays tribute to Sabine Schmitz by setting a ’Ring record with the SuperVan 4.2
This 1,000hp remastered 993-spec Porsche 911 is called ‘Project F-26’
Vector M12 (1995)
PHOTO BY MANUFACTURER PRESS
Once decried as “the worst car in the entire world”, the M12 was a rebodied Diablo with the sophistication of a mastodon and the build quality of a Glastonbury tent. Made the Lambo look like a sensible, reliable choice.
Caparo T1 (2007)
PHOTO BY MANUFACTURER PRESS
Billed as an ‘F1 Car For The Road', the 575hp Caparo could do 0-160kph in five seconds flat. Problem is, most of the time it wouldn't, preferring to be broken or substantially on fire. Or both. Scorching performance at its worst.
Panther 6 (1977)
PHOTO BY MANUFACTURER PRESS
Inspired by the Tyrrell P34 (the F1 car that Jody Scheckter called 'a piece of junk') the Panther had an 8.2-liter twin-turbo V8 and a claimed top speed in excess of 320kph, a claim never substantiated. Difficult to understand why.
Ferrari 400 (1976)
PHOTO BY FERRARI
Not to be confused with the 400 Superamerica of the 1950s (which was ace), the 400 was a bog-awful pretend GT and the first Ferrari with an auto' box. Designed to woo lazy Americans, it never went on sale in the States. Oops.
Aston Martin Virage (1989)
PHOTO BY ASTON MARTIN
Conceived in the booming mid-80s but released in the depression of the early 1990s, the Virage was average to drive, shoddily built and, despite costing £120,000 (approx. £320,000 or P24.5-M today) when new, had headlights borrowed from an Audi 200.
Mitsuoka Orochi (2005)
PHOTO BY MITSUOKA
Inspired by the Honda NSX but nowhere near as fast, attractive or acceptable, the 230hp Orochi resembled an aroused bottom feeder trying to suppress wind.
Lamborghini Jalpa (1981)
PHOTO BY LAMBORGHINI
Not an awful car in its own right, but suffered from its billing as the useable, affordable alternative to the Countach. That's like trying to make a living as a friendly, vegetarian mako shark. Or a prudish porn star. Or Nickelback.
Jaguar XJ220 (1992)
PHOTO BY JAGUAR
This 350kph monster was the world's fastest in its day, but the XJ220 could have been so much more. Customers put down deposits for an all-wheel drive V12 hypercar. They ended up with a rear-wheel drive-only twin-turbo V6. Safe to say, some were a bit peeved about this.
The result of underwhelming performance or poor timing
PHOTO: MITSUOKA
CAR BRANDS IN THIS ARTICLE
Jaguar
Ferrari
Lamborghini
Weber Faster One (2008)
PHOTO BY MANUFACTURER PRESS
This Swiss monstrosity promised 900hp and a top speed in excess of 400kph. Just two problems: no one’s ever actually driven one, and it looks like a nightmarish Tim Burton interpretation of a BMW Z4. The horror!
DeLorean DMC-12 (1981)
PHOTO BY DELOREAN MOTOR COMPANY
Looked like a supercar, but nowhere near fast as one. With a 130hp Peugeot V6 instead of the optional flux capacitor, the DMC-12 was woefully slow: catalytic converted models took 10 seconds to crack 100kph. And couldn't fly.
OTHER STORIES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED:
Ford pays tribute to Sabine Schmitz by setting a ’Ring record with the SuperVan 4.2
This 1,000hp remastered 993-spec Porsche 911 is called ‘Project F-26’
Vector M12 (1995)
PHOTO BY MANUFACTURER PRESS
Once decried as “the worst car in the entire world”, the M12 was a rebodied Diablo with the sophistication of a mastodon and the build quality of a Glastonbury tent. Made the Lambo look like a sensible, reliable choice.
Caparo T1 (2007)
PHOTO BY MANUFACTURER PRESS
Billed as an ‘F1 Car For The Road', the 575hp Caparo could do 0-160kph in five seconds flat. Problem is, most of the time it wouldn't, preferring to be broken or substantially on fire. Or both. Scorching performance at its worst.
Panther 6 (1977)
PHOTO BY MANUFACTURER PRESS
Inspired by the Tyrrell P34 (the F1 car that Jody Scheckter called 'a piece of junk') the Panther had an 8.2-liter twin-turbo V8 and a claimed top speed in excess of 320kph, a claim never substantiated. Difficult to understand why.
Ferrari 400 (1976)
PHOTO BY FERRARI
Not to be confused with the 400 Superamerica of the 1950s (which was ace), the 400 was a bog-awful pretend GT and the first Ferrari with an auto' box. Designed to woo lazy Americans, it never went on sale in the States. Oops.
Aston Martin Virage (1989)
PHOTO BY ASTON MARTIN
Conceived in the booming mid-80s but released in the depression of the early 1990s, the Virage was average to drive, shoddily built and, despite costing £120,000 (approx. £320,000 or P24.5-M today) when new, had headlights borrowed from an Audi 200.
Mitsuoka Orochi (2005)
PHOTO BY MITSUOKA
Inspired by the Honda NSX but nowhere near as fast, attractive or acceptable, the 230hp Orochi resembled an aroused bottom feeder trying to suppress wind.
Lamborghini Jalpa (1981)
PHOTO BY LAMBORGHINI
Not an awful car in its own right, but suffered from its billing as the useable, affordable alternative to the Countach. That's like trying to make a living as a friendly, vegetarian mako shark. Or a prudish porn star. Or Nickelback.
Jaguar XJ220 (1992)
PHOTO BY JAGUAR
This 350kph monster was the world's fastest in its day, but the XJ220 could have been so much more. Customers put down deposits for an all-wheel drive V12 hypercar. They ended up with a rear-wheel drive-only twin-turbo V6. Safe to say, some were a bit peeved about this.
