The best cars from dead car companies

There have been many great cars produced by now-defunct automakers over the years. Here are some of the best from companies that are no longer in business:

American Brands:

1. Pontiac GTO (1964–1974, 2004–2006) – The original muscle car, revived in the 2000s with a modern V8 punch.

2. Pontiac Firebird Trans Am (1967–2002) – Iconic American muscle, especially the 1977 "Smokey and the Bandit" edition.

3. Oldsmobile 442 (1964–1971, 1985–1987, 1990–1991) – A high-performance classic from GM’s now-defunct division.

4. Plymouth Barracuda (1964–1974) – A fierce competitor to the Ford Mustang, especially the Hemi 'Cuda.

5. Saturn Sky Redline (2007–2009) – A turbocharged roadster that was one of Saturn’s best performance cars.

European Brands:

6. Saab 900 Turbo (1978–1998) – Quirky, turbocharged Swedish engineering at its finest.

7. Saab 9-3 Viggen (1999–2002) – A high-performance turbocharged sports sedan.

8. Humber Super Snipe (1938–1967) – A classic British luxury car with a distinctive style.

9. Rover SD1 Vitesse (1976–1986) – A fastback British sports sedan with a V8 engine.

10. Triumph TR6 (1969–1976) – A beloved British roadster with a straight-six engine.

Japanese Brands:

11. Datsun 240Z (1969–1973) – The car that put Japanese sports cars on the global map.

12. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (1992–2016) – Rally-bred AWD performance (Mitsubishi still exists but no longer makes cars in most markets).

13. Isuzu Impulse Turbo (1983–1992) – A sporty, Giugiaro-designed coupe with handling tuned by Lotus.

Other Notables:

14. DeLorean DMC-12 (1981–1983) – Stainless steel body, gullwing doors, and Back to the Future fame.

15. Studebaker Avanti (1962–1963, later revived by others) – A futuristic American GT with supercharged options.

16. Hudson Hornet (1951–1954) – Dominated NASCAR in the early 1950s with its low center of gravity.

17. AMC AMX (1968–1970) – A compact American muscle car with a big V8.