Forbidden Fruit: Coolest Cars That Were Never Sold Here in the US
While in the US we can lay claim to hundreds of amazing cars, across the globe there are dozens of manufacturers new and old who produce cars that never cross the United States border.
The cars on this list range from classic cars to supercars and everything in between. Even some popular brands in the US such as Ford, Chevrolet, and Honda have select models and cars that are only sold across seas. Here is a list of cool cars that were never sold in the US.
TVR Griffith
The TVR Griffith is a lightweight, fiberglass 2-door luxury coupe designed by TVR and assembled in Blackpool, England. The Griffith has been in production since 1991 and has picked back up most recently in 2019 with a new second generation model and design.
The 2019 TVR Griffith model has a Ford Coyote 5.0-liter V8 engine, can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4 seconds and has a top speed of 200 mph.
Nissan R33-R34 Skyline GT-R
Originally produced in 1969 under the name KPGC10, the Nissan Skyline GT-R is a Japanese performance car.
The Skyline is Nissan's flagship performance entry and is most popularly used in drag racing across the world including the US. It was never manufactured outside of Japan and is considered a supercar and one of the best cars in the world by Top Gear. In 2008, Nissan introduced the GT-R model; designed separately from Skyline and made it available to the North American and US market.
TVR Sagaris
Designed by Graham Browne in the early 2000s, the TVR Sagaris is a 2-door fiberglass British sports car manufactured in Lancashire.
The car’s name comes from the Greeks and it refers to a lightweight battle-ax used in war to destroy enemy armor and shields. It was produced from 2005-2006 with the TVR Sagaris 2 being unveiled in 2008. The Sagaris has a top speed of 185 mph and can go from 0 to 60 in 3.7 seconds.
Chrysler Valiant Charger
In 1971, Chrysler Australia wanted to create a muscle car that could compete and race and they came up with the Valiant Charger. The Valiant was incredibly popular during its production run from 1971-1978 and won Wheels Car of the Year Award in their first production year.
Buyers could choose between a Hemi-Than6 Engine or the Chrysler LA Engine V8. During 1971 and 1972, the Valiant was exclusively raced in the annual Bathurst 500-mile touring car event held in Australia.
Land Rover Defender
The Land Rover Defender is a British 4-wheel off-road vehicle produced in the UK and Malaysia from 1983-2016. The Defender went by other names such as the Land Rover 90, 110, 127, and 130 which were named after the height of the wheelbase.
Due to poor build quality, the sales took a nosedive globally during the 1980s and only recovered in the 1990s after modifications were made to increase safety and update its appearance.
Citroen C3
Manufactured by Citroen since 2002, the C3 is a popular supermini fuel-efficient hatchback. It was unveiled to the public at the Frankfurt Motor and Bologna Motor Shows in 2001 and has been getting new body styles and modifications since then every few years as more generations are being designed and produced.
It is attractive to buyers because of its size and affordability with almost 4,000,000 units produced over the course of its over 17-year cycle.
Wiesmann Roadster MF3
A very rare car, the Weismann Roadster MF3 is a British sports car. The car has been in design and production since 1993 in North-East Germany.
It resembles a British sports car in its appearance but is powerful enough to compete with some of the faster cars on the road. Sold in the UK, its starting price is £60,000 making it more affordable and appealing to buyers than some of its other competitors on the market.
Chevrolet Opala SS
The Chevrolet Opala SS was a Brazilian 2-door muscle car produced by Chevrolet Brazil as a part of the Chevrolet Opala lineup from the 1960s to the 1990s. Named after the precious stone, Opal, the Opala was exclusively sold in South America from 1969-1992.
The Opala was one of General Motor’s first passenger cars in Brazil and the Opala was similar to other popular GM cars during that time such as the Impala, Kadett, Olympia, Rekord, and Commodore.
Noble M600
Hand built and made with stainless steel and carbon fiber, the Noble M600 is a beautifully designed British sports car. Equipped with twin-turbocharged V8 engines, the M600 has 558 hp and can go from 0 to 60 mph in 3.0 seconds.
Manufactured by Noble Automotive in the United Kingdom, Leicestershire, the Noble M600 is lightweight and low to the ground. On the track, the M600 can beat out the likes of the Pagani Zonda F Roadster and the Bugatti Veyron.
Chevrolet Calibra
This retro-futuristic two-door car went by many different names during its 11 year production time including the Opel Calibra, Vauxhall Calibra, and Olden Calibra depending on which part of the globe you were on.
There were over 200,000 units made and it became quite popular in Europe before being outsold by the Rover 200 Coupe. The Calibra had a 2.0 liter-engine, six-speed manual transmission and a top speed of 152 mph. A newer concept Calibra was talked about in the late 2000s but none have been made since 1997.
Renault Sport Spider
The Renault Spider is a French 2-door roadster built between 1996-1999. It is a 5-speed low weight manual made mostly of aluminum and plastic.
The Spider's engine was a 2-liter engine that pushed out 148 horsepower and it ran a quarter mile in 14.1 seconds and had a top speed of 165 mph. Jason Plato went on to race the spider in the UK Spider Cup and racked up over 10 wins.
Ford Falcon
The Ford Falcon is an Australian 4-door sedan first produced in the late 1960s that resurfaced in the 2000s. The Falcon went through different series and phases during its production including the XR, XT and XW Series and the GT-HO Phases.
Inspired by American models, the Falcon was Ford’s Australian entry to a smaller sport sedan that could compete on the race track but could also be easily modified and was affordable and dependable for the mass market.
BMW M3 GTS
The BMW M3 is a 2-door coupe, developed by BMW M GmBH from 1986-2018. The M3 is a considered a high-performance vehicle in BMW's lineup from the BMW 3-series. It initially was a rear-wheel-drive 2-door coupe with upgrades in later models that included lighter materials and technological interior upgrades.
There were some BMW M3 separate lineups that eventually were made for the North American market for sale.
Ford Capri Perana
Basil Green Motors is the manufacturer behind the Ford Capri creation in the 1960s. Perana Capri’s were rare and mostly used as a race car.
It could be considered as a cross between the Ford Falcon and Ford Mustang although the Capri was sold and marketed exclusively in South Africa. During the South African Saloon Car Championship, the Ford Capri Perana won 13 out of the 14 races that it competed in and is still sometimes driven today by collectors.
Volkswagen Amarok
This turbocharged pick-up truck designed by Volkswagen is a force to be reckoned with. It has been produced since 2010 and is marketed as an off-road family vehicle. Volkswagen decided against bringing a pick-up to the US market but it is available in Australia, Mexico, New Zealand and some parts of Europe and South America.
Buyers can choose between three different Amarok models including the Base, Trendline and Highline and some other variants such as the XXL, Amarok Polar Expedition and Amarok Sochi Special Edition.
Pagani Zonda
No stranger to car shows, the Pagani Zonda was originally debuted at the 1999 Geneva International Motor Show as a mid-engine Italian sportscar.
The car gets it name "Zonda" from a regional term used to describe hot air currents. Since its debut, the Zonda has undergone numerous body and style changes with unique names like Zonda Roadster F, Zonda Cinque, Zonda Tricolore, and Zonda Zun. One of the most recent models, the Zonda HP Barchetta had a top speed of 221 mph.
Ford F-1000
A rarity to see on the streets, the Ford F-1000 is a huge diesel 4x4 truck with a second row of seats but only 2 doors.
It was mostly sold in South America and came in some crazy colors and variations like the F-1000 GB Special Fly. Since so few were produced, it is considered a hidden gem that only collectors will have today. Oftentimes, the F-1000 was used to go off-roading or tow other cars and trucks.
Honda S660
A small mid-engine car, the Honda S660 is currently only sold in Japan. The car itself is regulated by the government as an extremely basic and efficient vehicle.
As part of the regulation, the S660 can't be longer than 137 inches, wider than 59 inches and the engine can’t be any larger than 660ccs, where the car gets its name. In close competition with the Daihatsu Copen, the Honda S660 falls close in second.
Toyota Hilux
The Toyota Hilux is a Japanese light commercial truck produced by Toyota from 1968 and is still being produced today. The first generation of the Hilux was a smaller, more efficient model with a short wheelbase and 1.5L engine.
In the Hilux's most current generation, the eighth, the chassis adopted a similar headlight style to that of Toyota’s other lineups including the popular American Toyota Corolla. The Hilux is popular in Thailand, Malaysia, and Japan although one is rarely seen in North America.
Chevrolet Veraneio
This Brazilian built truck was based solely off of the Chevrolet Suburban and was produced in South America over 30 years from 1964 to 1994.
The name Veraneio comes from the Portuguese language and means "summertime". Buyers could choose to get the Veraneio with a 6-cylinder engine and 4-speed transmission though the Veraneio wasn't built for speed or to go very fast. The Veraneio was typically painted in two tones and is a rarity today to be seen driving on the road.
Ford Escort Mk1
Manufactured by Ford from 1968 to 2004, the Ford Escort was a European family car based on the American Ford Focus. It replaced the Anglia and represented Ford's European car lineup. The Escort was most successfully sold in the UK, though it was also sold in Germany and Western Europe.
The sixth-generation, which ran from 1994-2004, had few upgrades and modifications made to it compared to previous models but it still claimed its title as being one of the most popular cars throughout Europe in the 1980s and 1990s.
Toyota Century
Considered an ultra-luxury vehicle, the Toyota Century designers created the Century to rival with the likes of Rolls-Royce. Its production start spans all the way back to 1967 where it was sold exclusively in Japan and it wasn't until the second generation of Centurys that it was sold outside of Japan in Germany, Austria, Great Britian, Australia and some Middle Eastern countries.
The Century is sold in limited production and is only driven by the most elite, including members of the Japanese royal family.
Peugeot RCZ Coupe
The Peugeot RCZ is a highly awarded 2-door sports coupe manufactured between 2009 and 2015. Its official last year on the market was in 2017 with only 10 RCZs sold worldwide. The Peugeot RCZ has been modified for racing and competed in Racing Cup Italy and 24 Hours of Nurburgring.
Compared to the Audi TT, the RCZ can be described as an agile, quiet and sleek with easy handling. Although production stopped in 2015, there are rumors that suggest a new Peugeot RCZ could make its way back to the car scene.
Ford Sierra Cosworth
Built by Ford Europe in the 1980s and 1990s, the Ford Sierra Cosworth was a high-performance vehicle originally intended for racing. The 1960s and 1970s brought Ford dozens of race wins and even 12 world championships.
Eventually, Ford came out with a turbocharged edition that had 300 horsepower in a race. Though Ford requested this faster model, they only allowed 15,000 to be made in total. At its peak production, the Ford Sierra Cosworth went from 0 to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds and had a top speed of 149 mph.
Alpine A110
This French 2-door sports car was introduced to the world in 2017 at the Geneva International Motor Show. It is available in three trims; the Pure, Premiere and the Legende.
The most recent model, the A110S is a variant of the A110 and is equipped with a larger turbocharger and has a top speed of 155 mph and outputs 288 horsepower. In order to grip the road, the A110S has to have Michelin Pilot Sport tires which are specially made for high-speed performance cars.
Aston Martin Lagonda Taraf
Dating all the way back to 1906, the Lagonda Taraf is a full-size luxury car manufactured in the United Kingdom.
The car has been featured on television and in car shows and is listed as one of the most expensive cars in the world coming in at over $1,000,000 apiece. Aston Martin kept the production of the Lagonda Taraf to a minimum with only 100 cars made at a time and sold in exclusive markets such as the Middle East.
Vauxhall Firenza
The Vauxhall Firenza was a 2-door coupe sold in England and South Africa from 1970 to 1975. All of the models had a four-cylinder engine and double-wishbone suspension.
The Firenza was replaced by the Chevrolet 1300/1900 in 1975 ending its production. At its peak, the Vauxhall Firenza had a top speed of 120 mph and could go from 0-60 mph in 8 seconds. For a short stint buyers could get a limited version of the Firenze in South Africa known as the Chevrolet Can-Am or "Little Chev".
Holden Ute
Still in production today, the Holden Ute is an Australian 2-door coupe utility car manufactured by Holden, under General Motors. At one point the Ute was intended to be sold in the US as the Pontiac G8 but because of the 2008 financial crisis, that plan was put on hold indefinitely.
The Ute has gone through 2 generations since 2000 and has had numerous variants that you can choose from in between major model changes.
Artega GT
The Artega GT is a 2-door sports car produced in Germany from the manufacturer Artega. The GT has an aluminum frame but is carbon fiber reinforced to give it a lighter weight and make it more aerodynamic.
The engine that powers it is made by Volkswagen and pushes out over 168 mph at its top speed and can go from 0 to 60 in 4.8 seconds. Buyers interested in the Artega GT can expect to pay around €75,000.
Chevrolet Niva
The Chevrolet Niva is a 5-door SUV wagon manufactured in Russia since 1998. During a safety rating in 2003, the Chevrolet Niva was rated a 0 out of four making it an incredibly unsafe vehicle to drive.
The most recent generation of the Niva was unveiled to the public at the 2014 Moscow International Automobile Salon and had added safety features including anti-lock brakes and dual front airbags as well a new 1.8-liter engine.
Nissan Patrol
In production since 1951, the Nissan Patrol is one of the most common cars across the world. It is available in Australia, Central and South America, South Africa and Europe.
The most recent generation of the Patrol included the Y62 series, which were luxury sportier models. Nissan confirmed that they would release a brand new model in 2020 that will come with enhancements including red seats, chrome detailing and a black matte exterior paint.
Ford Landau
An Australian 2-door hardtop coupe, the Ford Landau was produced from 1973 to 1976. While most cars come with a number of available options that the buyer can choose from, the Australian Ford Landau only had a cassette player or full leather interior trim as additional add-ons.
The driver did have the option of manual or automatic gear changing and the Landau also had four-wheel disc brakes fitted onto it making it one of the first Australian-built cars that had that equipped.
Audi RS2 Avant
Made in conduction with Porsche, this rarity was never sold in the US and most will never see one in person. During its popularity peak in the 1990s, it was faster than the McLaren F1 thanks to its 315 horsepower and 302 lb-ft of torque.
Surprisingly, even with the impressive numbers it could produce on a race track, the RS2 Avant got up to 31 mpg and Audi was extremely efficient with the space on the inside designing the RS2 to have 13 cubic feet of trunk space.
Lotus Exige
The original Exige was released in 2000 by Lotus Cars as a 2-door, 2-seat sports car. The most powerful Exile to date was released in November 2017 called the Lotus Exige Cup 430. Its engine has 1 3.5 liter Toyota DOHC V^ VVT-i, and produces 430 horsepower.
On the track, the Exige Cup 430 has a top speed of 180 mph and can go from 0 to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds. In 2014 and 2015, the Exige raced and competed in the Bathurst 12 Hour race and won multiple class prizes.
Ford Falcon Sprint Argentina
From Ford's Falcon model, the Ford Falcon Argentina was created in 1962. It’s different body types included a 2-door coupe, 4-door sedan, and 5-door station wagon.
The difference between the Ford Falcon and Ford Falcon Argentina was body style with the Argentina Falcon sporting a horizontal aluminum grill, bucket seats, and a vinyl roof. Over the course of the Falcon’s production, almost 500,000 units were sold making it extremely popular across the globe.
Lynk & Co 01
The Lynk & Co 01 is a Chinese 5-door SUV designed by Peter Horbury and Volvo since 2017. It is considered a compact crossover luxury SUV and even has an electric model that was released in 2018.
During safety rating tests, the Lynk & Co was rated highly and is considered a very safe car to drive on the road. One unique fact about Lynk & Co vehicles is that they all have a digital key that allows the owners to not only access to their vehicle, but it allows them to have access to other Lynk & Co's as well.
Chevrolet Montana
Similar to a modern day El Camino, the Chevrolet Montana is a four-cylinder compact pickup truck. Its smaller frame makes it more marketable to a larger group of people because it's small and efficient compared to some of its much larger gas-guzzling competitors.
The Montana is most popular in South Africa and some parts of South America and has been in production since 2003. With the Montana sales dwindling in some markets, it may eventually disappear altogether.
Fiat Toro
The Fiat Toro is an Italian SUV pickup truck released in 2016. The Toro gets it unique shape from the Jeep Renegade, Compass and Fiat 500X since they are all under the same manufacturer Fiat.
An incredibly popular and well-received car, the Toro has sold over 100,00 units since it was released to the public and is still being massively produced with feature and body updates currently in the works. While in the Brazilian market, it goes under the name Fiat Toro, in Columbia, the Toro is a part of Ram Truck and is called the Ram 1000.
Daihatsu Copen
The Diahatsu Copen made its debut as a concept car during the 1999 Tokyo International Motor Show and was officially released to the public in 2002.
The Copen is a 2-door compact roadster and is also a kei car meaning that it is one of the smallest highway-legal passenger cars available in Japan where it is sold and manufactured. The most recent model released in 2014 comes with a 3-cylinder turbocharged engine and 63 horsepower.
Lada 4x4
The Lada 4x4 is an off-road compact SUV designed to be driven in the city and more adventurous terrain. Pretty popular globally outside of the US, the Lada 4x4 formerly known as the Lada Niva, has been in production since 1977 with new models still being made today.
One of the unique features of the Lada 4x4 is its suspension which was a coil spring that was completely independent making it the first mass-production off-road vehicle to combine that with a unibody architecture. The Lada 4x4 is so popular that it is driven by high governing officials and professional athletes.
