10 Hidden Gems That Beat Ferrari on Speed
Reading Time: 11 minutesUncover 10 hidden gems that outperformed Ferrari on speed. Explore forgotten cars that shocked the world with power and performance beyond supercars.
Whenever someone mentions supercars and speed, Ferrari usually pops up as the gold standard. But, honestly, car history is full of surprises—some wild performance machines have slipped right through the cracks of mainstream car culture.
Back in the 1970s through the 1990s, a bunch of lesser-known rides actually left Ferraris eating dust. These came from unexpected places: think wild American muscle, obscure European prototypes, and even a few oddballs that looked more at home on a racetrack than a boulevard.
Some overlooked supercars managed to outrun Ferrari thanks to gutsy engineering and design choices that were, frankly, way ahead of their time.
1) 1980 Ford Mustang McLaren M81
The 1980 Ford Mustang McLaren M81 is one of those “blink and you missed it” performance cars. This rare beast came out of a wild partnership between Ford’s Special Vehicle Operations and McLaren Engines.
Ford planned to make 250 of them. In reality? Only 10 ever hit the road, mostly because the price was sky-high.
Under the hood, it packed a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine. McLaren Engines didn’t just tune it—they blueprinted, polished, and rebuilt it for every last drop of speed.
The payoff? Car and Driver clocked the M81 at 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds. That’s faster than the Ferrari 328 from the same era, which is honestly a bit wild.
The M81 was born for IMSA racing and didn’t disappoint. It even survived the brutal 24 Hours of Daytona race in 1981.
Seven of the ten cars wore Bittersweet Orange paint. The rest? One black, one white, and two Enduro variants—talk about rare.
This Ford-McLaren mashup just might be the rarest production Mustang ever. It’s proof that American muscle, with a little help from McLaren, could throw down with Europe’s best in a straight line.
2) 1990 Jaguar XJ220
The Jaguar XJ220 once wore the crown as the world’s fastest production car, at least until the McLaren F1 crashed the party. It left Ferrari’s top models in the dust—literally and figuratively.
Jaguar kicked off the XJ220 project in December 1987, led by engineering boss Jim Randle. The team drew inspiration from legends like the Porsche 956 and XJ13, building up wild concepts and clay models.
When Jaguar finally pulled the covers off in 1992, the XJ220 could hit 212 mph. Some folks say it managed 217 mph, making it the fastest Jaguar ever.
Back then, that was enough to outpace the Ferrari F40 and even the Lamborghini Diablo. The XJ220 held the fastest street-legal car title for a few years, which is no small feat.
Jaguar swapped the planned V12 for a turbocharged V6. Despite the engine switcheroo, it still shocked the industry with its performance.
Inside, the XJ220 mixed plush leather seats with a stripped-down, race-ready vibe. It wasn’t as flashy as some rivals, but it felt special in its own understated way.
Jaguar only built a handful from 1992 to 1994. So, spotting one today is like finding a four-leaf clover in a field of grass.
Despite its jaw-dropping speed and dramatic looks, the XJ220 faded into the background. Jaguar’s broken promises and a changing market didn’t help its case.
Still, the XJ220 showed the world that Jaguar could go toe-to-toe with anyone. It deserves a bit more love, honestly.
3) 1969 Chevrolet Kingswood 427
Station wagon? Muscle car? Why not both. The 1969 Chevrolet Kingswood 427 smashed the family-car stereotype into a million pieces.
This forgotten muscle wagon came with a monster 427 cubic-inch Turbo-Jet V8. In its top form, that meant up to 390 horsepower—enough to make sports car drivers sweat.
Chevy offered a buffet of V8s for the Kingswood Estate that year. The 327 was an option, but the 427 was the real showstopper.
With the big block, this wagon could run with the muscle car pack. It was a sleeper—practical on the outside, pure menace under the hood.
All 1969 Kingswood Estate wagons rolled out of the factory with V8s. Buyers just picked their flavor of power.
The Kingswood 427 was basically muscle in mom jeans. You could haul the kids to soccer and still smoke a Camaro at a stoplight.
It’s one of the weirdest, coolest muscle cars ever. Nobody expected a family hauler to have this much bite.
The mix of practicality and sheer power made the Kingswood 427 stand out. Imagine beating Ferraris off the line and still having room for groceries in the back—now that’s living.
Today, these wagons are rare collector gold. Most folks overlooked them for decades, but the secret’s out now.
4) 1997 Vector W8
The Vector W8 was America’s wild card answer to Ferrari and Lamborghini. It looked like a spaceship and had the attitude to match.
It packed a twin-turbo 6.0-liter V8. That engine cranked out 625 horsepower—no joke.
Vector boasted the W8 could reach a top speed of 242 mph. Zero to sixty? They claimed 3.9 seconds, which is just bonkers.
That meant the Vector W8 was potentially quicker than the Ferrari F40. For an American upstart, that’s a mic drop moment.
The body used high-tech stuff like Kevlar, fiberglass, and carbon fiber. Aerospace-level materials, really.
But the W8’s story is a bit tragic. Vector only managed to build fewer than 20 before money troubles hit hard.
Years of development costs drained the company’s wallet. By the time the W8 launched in 1990, Vector was already running on fumes.
The W8’s rarity and wild specs make it a forgotten legend. It’s one of the boldest supercar swings America ever took—too bad so few got to see it in action.
5) 1990 Toyota GT-One Road Car
The Toyota GT-One? Now that’s a unicorn. Toyota built this hypercar in 1998 just to sneak into Le Mans, and the street version is the stuff of legend.
Only two road-legal GT-Ones exist. That makes it absurdly rare among forgotten ’90s gems.
Underneath, it ran a 3.6-liter twin-turbo V8. Toyota squeezed out 600 horsepower—more than enough to give Ferrari drivers nightmares.
How fast? The GT-One topped out at 236 mph. Most Ferraris of the time couldn’t even see its taillights.
Toyota Team Europe and Dallara joined forces to make it happen. That’s a pretty wild combo, considering Toyota usually worked with Dome or SARD for its racers.
Styling-wise, ex-Peugeot designer Andrea de Cortanze went all out. The GT-One looked more like a spaceship than a car.
It was basically a Le Mans racer with license plates. Carbon fiber everywhere, wild aero—straight-up motorsport tech on the street.
Most enthusiasts have never even seen one in person. With such a tiny production run, it’s pretty much a myth on wheels.
The GT-One was Toyota’s boldest supercar move, hands down. It proved the company could hang with the big dogs in Europe, no question.
Today, the GT-One sits among Le Mans legends. Its mix of speed, rarity, and cutting-edge tech makes it a true masterpiece—even if most folks have never even heard of it.
6) 1991 Cizeta-Moroder V16T
The Cizeta-Moroder V16T was an Italian-American sports car that automotive engineer Claudio Zampolli dreamed up. He teamed up with legendary composer Giorgio Moroder—yeah, that Giorgio Moroder—to bring this wild supercar to life.
The car rocked a gigantic V16 engine set up at a 90-degree angle. Seriously, no one else has dared build a car with this engine configuration before or since.
Marcello Gandini penned the V16T’s sharp, almost menacing exterior. At first glance, it looks a lot like a Lamborghini Diablo—not a coincidence, since Gandini worked on both.
The company first showed off the car in 1988 at a flashy Beverly Hills event. Even so, production didn’t actually kick off until 1991.
The V16 engine block looked like two Ferrari V8s mashed together. They had to cast the block from scratch, which wasn’t cheap or easy.
Production ran in Italy from 1991 to 1995, then picked up again in California from 1999 to 2003. The Cizeta V16T didn’t just follow Ferrari and Lamborghini—it tried to leapfrog them.
Sales flopped, unfortunately. Only 9 cars ever left the factory, making it one of the rarest supercars on the planet. The Sultan of Brunei scooped up two of them because of course he did.
7) 1987 Ruf CTR “Yellowbird”
The 1987 Ruf CTR blew everyone’s minds when it outpaced the world’s best supercars. This Porsche-based monsterbecame the fastest production car on earth that year.
Ruf started with a Porsche 930 and then went wild. They widened each rear wing by 25mm and welded in extra reinforcements for stiffness—old-school, hands-on stuff.
The car got its “Yellowbird” nickname from journalists who couldn’t miss that bright yellow paint. CTR stands for “Group C Turbo Ruf,” by the way.
Back in 1987, the Yellowbird hit 342 km/h (213 mph) during a magazine test. It left Ferrari, Lamborghini, and AMG in the dust.
This beast ran a twin-turbo flat-six, cranking out serious power. The coupe was light and based on the Carrera, but Ruf turned it into something totally different.
Ruf went up against the big boys—and won. The little German tuner showed the world that brains sometimes beat budgets.
The Yellowbird stayed in production until 1993. Ruf only built a handful, so if you find one today, you’re looking at a six-figure unicorn.
This car proved a tuned Porsche could outrun supercars built from scratch. The CTR’s win put Ruf on the map as a true manufacturer, not just a tuner.
8) 1992 McLaren F1
The McLaren F1 showed up in 1992 as Gordon Murray’s no-limits vision of a road car. This thing flipped the supercar script, and honestly, it still feels ahead of its time.
It used a naturally aspirated 6.1-liter BMW V12. Depending on who you ask, it made somewhere between 618 and 627 horsepower—let’s just call it “a ton.”
The F1’s numbers were jaw-dropping. With a top speed of 240.1 mph, it held the world’s fastest production car title for years.
McLaren only built 106 of them between 1992 and 1998. So yeah, spotting one today is like seeing a unicorn at a gas station.
The car’s quirks made it special. It came with air conditioning and a Kenwood stereo, because why not have some tunes while you’re breaking speed records?
The F1 had a wild three-seat layout. The driver sat dead center, flanked by passengers on both sides. Talk about feeling like a fighter pilot.
McLaren didn’t bother with electronic aids or turbos here. They just focused on mechanical magic and sharp aerodynamics to hit those wild speeds.
This car ruled the 1990s supercar scene. Even now, the F1’s blend of speed, rarity, and engineering genius keeps it legendary.
It outpaced almost every Ferrari of its day. With 240 mph on tap, it basically redefined what a supercar could be.
9) 1986 Ferrari F40 LM (race version)
The Ferrari F40 LM didn’t actually roll out in 1986. Production ran from 1989 to 1994, with development kicking off in late 1988.
Ferrari wanted a pure racing version of the iconic F40, so they sent chassis to Michelotto for the full motorsport treatment.
Only 19 F40 LMs ever left the shop. That’s rarer than most people realize, making it one of Ferrari’s most elusive race cars.
The F40 LM got a beefier twin-turbo V8, plus upgraded suspension and wild aero tweaks. It was all about pure track performance—no frills, just speed.
Engineers put the LM on a diet, stripping away anything unnecessary. The result? Even lighter than the already barebones F40 road car.
Big wings and splitters amped up the downforce. The car stuck to the track like glue, cornering with serious aggression.
Testing started in late 1988 before the car’s racing debut. Ferrari built the LM specifically for GT racing, hoping to shake things up.
The F40 LM really showed Ferrari’s racing spirit, even when GT racing wasn’t exactly the hottest ticket. It became a track weapon that’s still revered today.
10) 1971 De Tomaso Pantera GT5-S
The De Tomaso Pantera was a mid-engine Italian sports car with a real bite. “Pantera” means “Panther,” and honestly, the name fits.
The GT5-S model had the kind of speed that let it run with Ferraris. De Tomaso kept the Pantera in the fight with Ferrari and Lamborghini for years.
It packed a burly Ford V8 under the hood. That American muscle turned the Italian chassis into a straight-line rocket.
Because of the mid-engine layout, the Pantera handled corners with surprising grace. Balance and power—what’s not to love?
They built over 7,000 Panteras during a two-decade run. Early models mostly landed in America, sold through Lincoln-Mercury dealers—imagine that!
The GT5-S was the Pantera turned up to eleven. It got sharper aerodynamics and even bolder looks to match its performance.
It cost about as much as a Porsche 911 Turbo, but less than a Ferrari or Lambo. So, for some, it was the savvy pick.
These days, a GT5-S averages around $216,551. That price tag tells you just how rare and loved these cars have become.
The Pantera proved that mixing Italian flair with American horsepower can make magic. It offered Ferrari-level thrills—without the Ferrari price.
Understanding Performance Benchmarks
Ferrari set the gold standard for performance—no one’s really arguing that. So, when any car beats Ferrari’s acceleration, it’s a big deal. Speed’s definition keeps shifting as tech and ambition keep pushing limits.
Defining ‘Faster Than a Ferrari’
How do we even compare cars to Ferrari? Most folks look at 0-60 mph times. It’s simple, it’s clear, and car nerds love it.
Ferraris from the ’80s and ’90s usually did 0-60 in 5.0 to 6.5 seconds. The Ferrari 348, for example, hit 60 in 5.6 seconds—pretty spicy for its day.
Modern Ferraris? They blew those numbers away. The F40 cracked 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds when it launched in 1987. The F50? Right there with it a few years later.
Quarter-mile times and top speed matter too, sure. But 0-60 is the stat everyone quotes. It’s the gut-check for a car’s launch and that all-important power-to-weight magic.
Honestly, any car that beats Ferrari’s 0-60 deserves a little respect. Some overlooked legends managed the feat—even if most people forgot them.
The Evolution of Automotive Speed
Automotive performance standards went through wild changes from the 1970s to the 2000s. Back in the day, early supercars could barely crack that elusive 5-second sprint to 60 mph.
The 1980s rolled in with turbocharging and wild new aerodynamic tricks. Suddenly, engineers squeezed more power from smaller engines, and all-wheel drive made launches feel like rocket science.
Key technological advances:
- Turbocharging and supercharging
- Electronic fuel injection
- Advanced transmission systems
- Lightweight materials like carbon fiber
- Sophisticated suspension designs
By the time the 1990s showed up, exotic cars started dipping under 4 seconds for 0-60 times. The McLaren F1? It set the bar sky-high with a 3.2-second dash in 1992. That was legendary.
Performance cars from this era constantly surprised everyone. They borrowed racing tech and somehow made it work on the street.
Honestly, if you showed today’s performance numbers to engineers from the ‘80s, they’d probably laugh—or faint. Electric motors now deliver instant torque, something old combustion engines could only dream about.
The Legacy of Forgotten High-Performance Cars
Plenty of high-performance cars that outpaced Ferraris slipped through the cracks. Why? Poor marketing, tiny production runs, and just plain bad timing. These forgotten machines still shaped how modern supercars look and feel. Their fingerprints are all over the industry.
Factors Leading to Obscurity
So, what sent these rocket ships into obscurity? First off, bad marketing meant most people never knew they existed, let alone what they could do.
When you only build a handful of cars, you create exclusivity but also limit who can actually buy one. A lot of these brands just didn’t have the muscle to go big or set up solid dealer networks.
Timing was another killer. Some of these cars launched during economic slumps, when nobody wanted to splurge on something flashy.
Brand reputation? It’s everything. If you’re not Ferrari or Lamborghini, good luck convincing buyers—no matter how quick your car is.
Sometimes, being too advanced backfires. Wild features that were ahead of their time often scared off buyers with high maintenance costs and reliability worries.
And then there’s pricing. Set it too high and nobody bites. Too low, and people wonder if it’s even a real supercar. It’s a weird, lonely spot to be in.
Influence on Modern Sports Cars
Let’s talk about these forgotten performance machines—honestly, they shaped modern automotive development more than most people realize. Their wild, ahead-of-their-time tech eventually trickled down into the cars we see on the road today.
Active aerodynamics—that’s right, those crazy adjustable wings and vents—first popped up on some obscure supercars. Now, you’ll spot them on Ferraris and McLarens like it’s no big deal.
Back in the day, early electronic stability systems and trick suspension tech from these underappreciated rides set the stage for today’s safety and handling wizardry. It’s almost poetic how the underdogs led the charge.
Engine tech? Oh, they went wild there too. Turbocharging tricks, direct injection, and using featherweight materials—these forgotten manufacturers cooked up the recipes that everyone follows now.
Even the way modern performance cars look owes a debt to these trailblazers. Those sharp angles, huge air intakes, and purpose-built aerodynamic touches—they started as bold statements on cars most people never heard of. Now they’re the face of speed.
Plenty of today’s engineers and designers actually studied these forgotten sports cars to wrap their heads around advanced performance concepts. You can see their fingerprints everywhere—from chassis magic to the brains behind electronic systems.
Final Words
At the end of the day, speed isn’t just about badges or price tags—it’s about the thrill that makes your pulse race. These forgotten legends remind us that greatness can hide in the shadows, waiting to roar louder than giants. Sometimes, the underdog writes the fastest story.
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