'Cars You've Never Heard Of' Thread

[KA24DESOneThree]

I'm probably going to make a series of posts in this thread about 1965-1973 911s, but before that, I'm going to start with something I'd never heard of.

Honda made an AWD, supercharged DC2 prototype. It was based on the GS-R and made 235hp through their Real-Time AWD system. Apparently, other markets got AWD Integras, but never with a performance-oriented engine.

AutoCar magazine tested it and loved it. Other AWD economy-car-derived platforms used turbocharged engines, but the supercharged B18 meant immediate power delivery. The automotive landscape would likely be a bit different if an Integra threw its hat in with Evos, WRXs, Delta Integrales, and Cossies.

Here's the link (https://tiremeetsroad.com/2019/04/22/hondas-forgotten-prototype-1994-acura-integra-gs-r-awd-supercharged-to-235-hp/).

Anyone is welcome to post a car they'd never heard of in this thread. Discussion is also cool, but please don't quote pictures unless you need to point something out.

[KA24DESOneThree]

Toyota made a 3S-powered, limited-slip-having tribute to their E100-chassis JGTC cars: https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/enthusiasts/the-ultra-rare-1994-toyota-corolla-trd2000-was-a-race-car-in-family-sedan-form/ar-BB17HfeP

They "made" 99 and "sold" 10 because they were more expensive than the Celica GT-Four ST205.

[KA24DESOneThree]

Peugeot in the '80s was trying to compete with Renault's 5 city car and came out with the 205 in 1983.

The standard 205 wasn't all that special- MacStrut front, torsion bar rear. Unvented discs front, drums rear. Choice of boring engines... unless you chose the Rallye or the GTi.

I'm ignoring the 205 GTi for now; it's fairly ubiquitous in the "hot hatch" rankings. I'm going to zero in on the 205 Rallye, specifically the Euro-spec 1.3L Rallye, not the anemic and unflared 1.4L UK-spec or the lard-ass 1.9L German-spec.

Why should you care? 1,750lb curb weight, 103hp 1.3L with sports camshaft and twin Webers, five-speed close-ratio gearbox, decontented interior, no sound deadening, special steel wheels, flared arches. It was a rally homologation model that was definitely not built for commuters.

It shared the 1.6GTi's front end and ran a drum version of the 1.6GTi's torsion rear. Chris Harris famously drove his 205 Rallye side-by-side with a 911R and the Rallye won the "fun to drive" award. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfDHULZZjpQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GZgI6D1zEs You can auto-translate to English for this one.

[Alex Mcknz]

I am not familiar with most of these cars and I find it interesting.

https://www.motor1.com/features/229074/american-cars-you-didnt-know-existed/

[snags]

Nissans Mid-4, the mid engine vg30 awd supercar that never was https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_MID4

[tromer9]

Looks like the Rezvani Tank is zombie apocalypse ready.