Special models that are leagues above there counterparts.

All this talk of rally and nobody mentions 323 GTX? I am disappoint!

That was pretty different- stiffer chassis, awd, b6t, lots of stuff.

Mitsubishi Galante VR4.

BMW e28 chassis. I drove 528e, 535i(modded turbo) back to back vs. the M5. the 528e was so different from the M5 if I didn't know better I would have thought it was a different automaker. The 535i was more similar to the M5 but it had extensive suspension mods. As a whole though, no comparison.

One a lot of people will never know about: 1996 - 1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

It was essentially a "1.5 Gen", between the Sidekick, and the Vitara; Taking the Sidekick Body, and putting it on the new frame. Had a wider frame, some different suspension mounts, and used the J18 engine, vs the G16. In other markets, they could be optioned with the H20A 2.0L V6. I think it also used the different third members of the Vitara...

Thus, if you get a Sport? Don't expect much from the aftermarket to actually fit, without modification.

Z06...ZR1...Caddy V series...MB AMG...Black...BMW M anything...Lexus ISF...this is gonna take a while...

Knurled wrote:

JtspellS wrote: Anything with a polestar badge? Evo to the lancer would be the ultimate of this.

You want ultimate? I'll give you ultimate. 1984 Lancia Delta. 1984 Lancia Delta Stradale. One was a front drive unibody econobox, the other was a monocoque/tube frame mid engined AWD homologation special, from back when they had to actually sell what they rallied.

Also need to include these two if we're talking ridiculous rally cars:

I remember seeing the Quattro side by side with a Coupe in 1982 (I think) at the Boston auto show. My 12 year old self couldn't understand why anyone would buy the FWD version, and was even more baffled that my dad didn't want to buy a Quattro period.

Javelin mentioned the Thunderbird Turbo Coupe, I'll add the 89-95 Super Coupe to that.

Supercharged, LSD, 16X7 wheels, Tokico adjustable shocks, better sways and springs, 5 speed, 4 wheel disks with standard ABS, variable assist power steering.

MattGent wrote: Typhoon / Syclone Grand National

along those lines, 89-90 turbo grand prix.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evo.

Any Lancer I have seen was/is a turd.

The EVO = FUN!

XLR99 wrote: I remember seeing the Quattro side by side with a Coupe in 1982 (I think) at the Boston auto show. My 12 year old self couldn't understand why anyone would buy the FWD version, and was even more baffled that my dad didn't want to buy a Quattro period.

The neat thing is, the ur-quattro was a parts bin special. 5000 Turbo engine with a few minor tweaks (mainly an intercooler and more boost), front suspension in the rear, and of course the special 016 transmission.

The 4000 quattro is essentially a nonturbo ur-q, with small-chassis 4 lug strut housings instead of the ur-q's 5000-based struts. The Sport Quattro uses a 2-door 4000's A-pillars, doors, and roof, to get the sedan's more upright windshield. (And this is how you tell a bad imitation from an original Sport. Or at least a bad imitation from a good replica. Some people just shorten the wheelbase and leave the windshield alone because 2-door 4000s are rarer than hen's teeth, but the end result looks really dumb. A good replica requires sacrificing an ur-q AND a 4-door 4000. Also, all Sports were left hand drive!)

Then a few years later they made a NONturbo all wheel drive version on the FRONT drive floorpan, with a Transporter-looking rear suspension to fit where the beam axle goes. And so was threated the Quantum syncro, the ultimate B2 chassis. If only they bothered to put the turbo engine in it, which would have been rad as all hell. (It was the 80s, it would have been RAD) A great chassis that only needs an additional 200hp to be just right.

Mercedes 190E vs 190E 2.3-16 (or later 2.5-16). Dang near a completely different car.

There is always the Corolla SR5 vs Corolla GT-S. No chassis difference, but most of the parts are different.

The Mosler TwinStar almost definitely shouldn't count:

Knurled wrote:

mndsm wrote: What's really funny is the viper motor started out as the truck v10!

No it did not. The Viper V10 was made expressly for the Viper and can be thought of as a stroked 360 with an additional pair of cylinders. The truck V10 has pedestal rockers like a 351C (not shaft rockers) and is a Magnum engine, not an LA engine. Besides, the truck didn't get the V10 until well after the Viper was around.

Yeah, literally nothing interchanges between the truck V10 and the Viper engine. The Viper V10 was also fine-tuned by Lamborghini.

Surprised no one said F-150 vs. SVT Raptor.

XLR99 wrote:

Knurled wrote:

JtspellS wrote: Anything with a polestar badge? Evo to the lancer would be the ultimate of this.

You want ultimate? I'll give you ultimate. 1984 Lancia Delta. 1984 Lancia Delta Stradale. One was a front drive unibody econobox, the other was a monocoque/tube frame mid engined AWD homologation special, from back when they had to actually sell what they rallied.

Also need to include these two if we're talking ridiculous rally cars: I remember seeing the Quattro side by side with a Coupe in 1982 (I think) at the Boston auto show. My 12 year old self couldn't understand why anyone would buy the FWD version, and was even more baffled that my dad didn't want to buy a Quattro period.

then how about just the plain jane Lancia Delta vs the Lancia Delta Integrale? While one is the basis for the rally homogulation special, it is still a road car first and foremost