Quiz: Who Made These Rare and Unusual Cars?

Rare and unusual cars have always captivated gearheads and automotive enthusiasts alike. Their odd designs and limited production runs make them true gems for collectors and aficionados. This article will provide background on rare cars’ history and technical features before detailing the rules of our quiz on identifying obscure auto manufacturers.

A History of Rare and Unusual Cars

Specialty automakers have existed since the early days of the car industry. Boutique manufacturers would construct bespoke vehicles for wealthy clients or niche audiences. Freed from mass market constraints, they incorporated innovative designs and technologies into low-volume models.

As early as the 1900s, brands like Locomobile and Mercer built potent, lavishly appointed cars for America’s elite.

Later, the 1960s and 70s saw a boom in eccentric sports cars from independent makers. Spiraling insurance rates and safety regulations had priced mainstream brands out of the sports car market, allowing upstarts to thrive.

Marques like TVR, Panoz, and Vector would craft lightweight performance cars with race-bred chassis and high-output engines. Their rarity and racing pedigree attracted well-heeled driving enthusiasts.

Today, boutique automakers persist in producing specialized cars for collectors and driving purists. Brands like SSC, Saleen, and Hennessey Engineering create ultra-high-performance vehicles by customizing production sports cars.

Meanwhile, revived heritage companies like Hispano Suiza build neo-classic grand tourers steeped in pre-war glory. Although novel technologies appear, the overriding emphasis remains driving excitement over practicality.

Technical Specifics of Rare and Unusual Cars

Beyond uniqueness, rare automobiles often boast advanced engineering and painstaking craftsmanship. As production constraints relax, manufacturers can experiment with new materials and radical mechanical layouts.

Weight savings and balance optimization become priorities, much like a race car. Common enhancements include:

• Exotic Chassis Materials – Incorporating composite materials or ultra-high-strength steel reduces weight while increasing structural rigidity. The Koenigsegg CCX supercar pioneered a flex-free carbon subframe years ahead of mainstream carbon tubs.
• Bespoke Coachbuilding – Custom body shapes get hand-formed from aluminum by expert panelsmiths. Brands like Aston Martin, Touring Superleggera, and Bertone produced one-offs and very limited production run automobiles with exceptionally beautiful coachbuilding true to each company’s distinctive styling.
• High-Output Powertrains – Boutique sports car makers optimize engine internals and install high-flow exhausts to extract maximum horsepower from stock blocks. The Saleen S7 twin-turbo pumped out 750 horsepower, while the SSC Ultimate Aero TT’s small-block V8 produces 1287 horses!
• Advanced Aerodynamics – Using wind tunnel testing, computational fluid dynamics software, and painstaking smoothing of body panels, specialty builders reduce drag for heightened top-end speed while retaining stability. The Vector W8 hit 242 mph thanks partly to its aircraft-grade aerodynamics.

Examples of Rare and Unusual Cars

While the list spans hundreds of obscurities, a few makers of rare performance cars stand out. Southern California’s De Tomaso produced a series of striking mid-engined sports cars culminating in the rip-snorting Pantera.

Just 7260 Panteras built between 1971 and 1992 made it to America to challenge Corvettes and Ferraris. Across the Atlantic, John Hennessey’s tuning company has upgraded factory supercars from Ferraris to McLarens using bespoke turbocharging and electronics for staggering performance gains.

Further east, Rimac’s electric Concept_One hypercar combined 1224 horsepower with Croatian flair. Just eight in existence, it presaged Rimac’s rise as a leader in high-performance EVs.

How the Quiz Works

With some context around rare automobiles’ history and upgrades, let’s see if enthusiasts can identify which manufacturer produced certain unusual models. Our illustrated quiz will describe 10 oddball cars spanning decades of specialty carmaking.

Simply choose between the multiple-choice options to select each vehicle’s originating company. Recall model names and brands from the article to score highly on accurately matching cars with their makers. See if friends can top your tally while testing their expertise regarding rare rides!

Conclusion

We hope gearheads enjoyed learning about some of the automotive world’s lost gems and brightest guiding stars. Obscure models let designers and engineers’ creativity run wild, advancing new technologies that eventually filter down to everyday cars.

Make sure to attempt our one-of-a-kind car quiz to show off niche auto knowledge and discover exciting forgotten marques. With renewed interest from collectors and electrification broadening possibilities, more distinctive machines will undoubtedly spark fascination down the road.