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Feeling a little nostalgic? This is a list of the most famous discontinued cars ever:
DELOREAN DMC-12
Discontinued: 1982
The DeLorean DMC-12 (1981-1982) featured unpainted stainless steel bodywork and iconic gull-wing doors.
This short-lived sports car became famous after being featured as the time machine in “Back to the Future.”
Every DMC-12 left the factory with its raw metal exterior untouched—the only mass-produced car with a bare stainless steel finish.
PONTIAC FIREBIRD
Discontinued: 2002
The Pontiac Firebird (1967-2002) rivaled the Mustang with distinctive styling. You probably remember it for its “screaming chicken” hood decal on Trans Am models.
The black and gold 1977 Trans Am from “Smokey and the Bandit” created such demand that Pontiac continued the color scheme for years after its discontinuation.
SAAB 900
Discontinued: 1998
The SAAB 900 (1978-1998) blended Swedish luxury with aircraft-inspired design. It had a curved windshield and a distinctive side-hinged hood.
The Saab engineers placed the engine backward with the transmission in the front.
PLYMOUTH BARRACUDA
Discontinued: 1974
The Plymouth Barracuda (1964-1974) competed against the Ford Mustang, evolving from Valiant-based origins to muscle car status with its 426 Hemi V8 option.
Despite its unique wraparound rear window—it never matched competitors’ sales success. It was launched two weeks before the Mustang, making it technically the first American pony car.
VOLKSWAGEN TYPE 2
Discontinued: 2013
The Volkswagen Type 2 was introduced in 1950, and survived many decades before this iconic VW was discontinued.
It recreated utility transportation with its versatile “Microbus” design, becoming the defining symbol of 1960s counterculture with psychedelic paint schemes.
Early split-windshield models now fetch over $150,000 from collectors.
CHEVROLET SS
Discontinued: 2017
The Chevrolet SS by General Motors (2014-2017) was a high-performance sedan with a 415-horsepower V8 engine hiding beneath styling.
Despite wearing an American badge, it was actually a rebadged Holden Commodore from Australia—as one of the last vehicles imported from Holden.
MAZDA RX-8
Discontinued: 2012
The Mazda RX-8 (2003-2012) featured the distinctive Renesis rotary engine producing 238 horsepower while weighing only 122 pounds.
However, it consumed a lot of oil by design—approximately one quart per 3,000 miles—to help seal and lubricate the unique rotary chamber.
JAGUAR XK
Discontinued: 2015
The Jaguar XK (1948-1961) was a revolutionary sports car that was known for its powerful 3.4-liter engine. Which Propelled the XK120 to become the world’s fastest production car at launch, achieving speeds over 120 mph.
DODGE VIPER
Discontinued: 2017
The Dodge Viper (1991-2017) delivered raw American performance through five generations.
It was launched with the RT/10 roadster’s massive V10 engine and minimal electronics.
Early models featured side exhaust pipes that frequently burned drivers’ legs when exiting.
WILLYS CJ-2A “UNIVERSAL JEEP”
Discontinued: 1949
The Willys CJ-2A, produced from 1945 to 1949, transformed the military Jeep into the world’s first mass-produced civilian off-road vehicle.
This “Universal Jeep” established the foundation for modern 4x4 culture with its distinctive seven-slot grille and proved that rugged utility could serve peacetime needs.
Thought the Jeep is now discontinued it still inspires adventurers everywhere.
HONDA S2000
Discontinued: 2009
The Honda S2000 (1999-2009) was a high-performance roadster that celebrated Honda’s 50th anniversary.
Launching with a 2.0-liter VTEC engine with a remarkable 9,000 RPM redline—achieving the highest horsepower-per-liter ratio of any naturally aspirated production engine at launch.
MERCURY MARAUDER
Discontinued: 2004
The Mercury Marauder (1963-1970, 2003-2004) was Ford’s luxury muscle car. It came out of Mercury’s racing division with powerful V8 engines reaching 425 horsepower.
The rare 1969 X-100 featured an innovative “rim-blow” steering wheel that sounded the horn when drivers squeezed its edge.
TOYOTA FJ CRUISER
Discontinued: 2014
The Toyota FJ Cruiser (2006-2014) revived the FJ40 Land Cruiser’s rugged design with modern capability.
Its round headlights, white roof, and suicide doors created instant recognition.
After discontinuation, used FJ Cruisers actually increased in value.
