American carmakers have given us plenty of iconic performance models. While the icons are well-known and revered by many, there are those that come from humble beginnings. The U.S. car industry was not always at its peak and some of these cars came from the darker periods when performance was exorcised from American motoring like a demon. While not all the below-mentioned models were created because of the oil crisis, each of them attempted to take a rather unremarkable commuter car and give it performance. Some succeeded better than others.
1 Dodge Shelby CSX VNT
Carroll Shelby will go down in history as one of the greatest masterminds to make exciting performance models from boring cars. While not all his creations achieved the status of the Mustang Shelby GT500 or the Shelby Cobra, they each improved tremendously on the base car. The Shelby CSX VNT was based on the Dodge Shadow/Plymouth Sundance, which was a compact, three-box hatchback. Shelby took the slow, boxy model and gave it a 2.2-liter turbo-four engine, rated at 175 horsepower (130 kilowatts) and 205 pound-feet (278 Nm). The 1989 VNT was the final evolution of the CSX. It introduced a Garrett, variable-nozzle turbocharger, which reduced turbo-lag and provided a wide torque band. The 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) took 6.6 seconds and the car was, reportedly, tested to 156 mph (251 km/h).
2 Dodge Stratus R/T Coupe
Sometimes, making an exciting car out of a boring one just doesn’t work out even if some of the ingredients are just right. The Dodge Stratus R/T Coupe almost became a worthy performance proposition and it was no thanks to Chrysler. Underneath, it was essentially a Mitsubishi Gallant, but it wasn’t the VR4 model, so it was front-wheel-drive-only. After 2003, the R/T Coupe received a 6G72, 3.0-liter V-6 with 205 horsepower (153 kilowatts) and 205 pound-feet (278 Nm). This meant a 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) sprint in 7.2 seconds. The transmission was a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic. Dodge already had the Stealth, which was a technological twin to the Mitsubishi 3000 GT. As the Stratus sat below the Stealth, it never got the better bits from Mitsubishi’s parts bin.
3 Oldsmobile Calais Quad 442
There are few brands that live up to their name as well as Oldsmobile. Its target group is literally, embedded in the word. The Cutlass was something of a Muscle car, but by 1987, performance was all but a distant memory for the model. Nevertheless, in 1989, a performance version came in the form of the Calais Quad 442. There was no room for a big V-8, so engineers got clever. A 2.3-liter, normally-aspirated, inline-four with DOHC valvetrain was developed. With the optional W-41 package, it put out 190 horsepower (142 kilowatts) and 160 pound-feet (217 Nm). It also came with a close-ratio, five-speed manual, which allowed for a 7.3-second 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) time. The engine was a technological marvel and a 1,170-horsepower version of it, allowed the GM Aerotech to reach 268 mph (431 km/h), in 1987.
4 Buick GNX
Buick is another brand, normally, not associated with performance. Its Regal was mostly unremarkable, until 1987. In conjunction with McLaren Performance Technologies, the Grand National Experimental (GNX) was born. It was the second-generation Regal’s going out in a blaze of glory. Its 3.8-liter, turbocharged V-6 was modestly rated at 276 horsepower (206 kilowatts) at 4,400 RPM and 360 pound-feet (480 Nm) at 3,000 RPM. In reality, the GNX put out over 300 horsepower with peak torque being 420 pound-feet (569 Nm). Despite the lack of a V-8, it accelerated down the quarter-mile quicker than a C4 Corvette, Ferrari F40, and a Porsche 930. The 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) came in 4.6 seconds with the quarter-mile passing by after 121.7 seconds. It also got one of the coolest car nicknames – “Darth Vader’s Car”.
5 Ford Taurus SHO
The Ford Taurus dates back to 1985, but an exciting version did not arrive until 1989. The Taurus SHO (Super High Output) succeeded in making the unremarkable sedan more exciting. This was mainly due to the Yamaha-designed, 3.0-liter, DOHC, V-6 engine. Initially, a 3.0-liter unit with 220 horsepower and 200 pound-feet (272 Nm), it would evolve into a 3.2-liter V-6 and later a 3.4-liter V-8, for the third generation. The fourth-generation boasts a 3.5-liter, twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6 with 365 horsepower (272 kilowatts) and 350 pound-feet (475 Nm). Depending on the generation, the Taurus SHO could sprint to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 6.6 to 5.2 seconds.
6 Dodge Omni GLH-S
The Dodge Omni hatchback came as a direct result of the mid-1970s oil crisis. The Chrysler L-Body platform was loosely based on the Simca 1100 chassis. It was also sold as the Chrysler/Plymouth Horizon and as Talbot Horizon in Europe. Initially, it was powered by a variety of measly, inline-four engines, some of which came from Peugeot and Simca. In 1986, Carroll Shelby stepped in and a 2.2-liter turbo-four version dubbed the GLH came out. The last 500 examples were dubbed GLH-S (Goes Like Hell S’more) and legally sold as Shelby products. With 175 horsepower (130 kilowatts), 175 pound-feet (237 Nm), and a five-speed manual, the 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) came after 6.5 seconds and the quarter-mile, in 14.8 seconds.
7 Chevrolet Impala SS
In combination with the SS lettering, the Impala nameplate has had plenty of great performance models. One of the less-recognized ones is the ninth-generation Impala SS. After the previous two generations ditched the small-block Chevy V-8, the 2006 Impala SS returned with a 5.3-liter LS4 V-8, pumping out 303 horsepower (226 kilowatts) and 323 pound-feet (438 Nm). Luckily, police interceptors only came with a V-6. Despite the wrong (front) wheel drive, it reached 60 mph (97 km/h) after 5.6 seconds. Until the 2012 facelift, a four-speed automatic was the only option.
8 Mercury Marauder
As a brand, Mercury sat between Ford and its luxury arm, Lincoln. The Marauder name is one of the most recognized Mercury models and it dates back to 1963. The third and last generation came in 2002 and shared a platform with the ordinary Ford Crown Victoria. This included the 4.6-liter Ford Modular V-8. More specifically, it was the version featured in the SN95 Mustang Mach-1, and it produced 300 horsepower (224 kilowatts) and 300 pound-feet (407 Nm). A four-speed automatic was the only option, and it allowed the big sedan to sprint to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 6.7 seconds. Despite the upgraded suspension, the body-on-frame chassis meant lots of body roll and a relatively heavy curb weight of 4,078 pounds (1,850 kg).
9 Dodge Caliber SRT4
The Dodge Caliber is an odd one. It came out in 2006 as a replacement for both the Neon and PT Cruiser, and although it is classified as a compact hatchback, it can almost pass as a crossover. Despite the chunky proportions and exaggerated wheel arches you normally wouldn’t think twice about it. Even the Caliber SRT4 couldn’t change that despite its more aggressive design, lowered suspension, upgraded brakes, and 2.4-liter, turbocharged, inline-four. On paper, it had it all – up to 295 horsepower (213 kilowatts), 268 pound-feet (363 Nm), and a six-speed manual sending power to the front. The 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) took 6.4 seconds.
10 Chevrolet SS
The Chevy SS is the definition of a sleeper sedan and according to some, good enough to be referred to as the American BMW M5 E39. We are not here to argue that since it really is an impressive collection of figures. Its 6.2-liter, LS3 V-8 puts put 415 horsepower (309 kilowatts) and 415 pound-feet (563 Nm). It’s mated either to a six-speed manual or an automatic with the same number of gears. Get it right and the 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) sprint happens in as little as 4.5 seconds. More impressively, it didn’t cost a lot over $42,000, which was a steal. All that was accomplished through the humble underpinnings of the Australian, Holden Commodore VF, which was also available as a wagon and with a variety of V-6 engines.