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Colin Wood
Colin Wood Associate Editor
7/9/21 8:18 a.m.
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Normally, a Toyota Camry really isn’t thought of as a rare car, unless it’s the predecessor to the Solara, the Camry Coupe.

The coupe version of the third-gen Camry was only sold in North America from 1994-1996, making at least somewhat of an unusual sight on the road.

What are some r…

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MadScientistMatt
MadScientistMatt UltimaDork
7/9/21 8:27 a.m.

The odd cases where somebody signed off on a performance minivan options package: The Dodge Caravan with the 2.5 Turbo / 5 speed manual option, and the AMG R63 are the only two I can think of.

Javelin (Forum Supporter)
Javelin (Forum Supporter) MegaDork
7/9/21 8:59 a.m.

Mazda6 hatchback (looks nearly identical to the sedan but has a rear wiper).

Any modern pickup in regular cab form, but especially with a short bed and 2wd.

 

Wicked93gs
Wicked93gs Reader
7/9/21 9:00 a.m.

For me it was always the Shelby CSX:

 

 

The Shelby version of the Dodge Shadow....I used to own a regular Shadow for awhile and loved the car...almost bought a CSX for $900 about 12 years ago, but backed out simply because it needed so many Shelby specific pieces to be restored.

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
7/9/21 9:05 a.m.

How about the Chevrolet Classic, the fleet/rental car version of the Malibu. 

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
7/9/21 9:09 a.m.

And one a bit more old school. Growing up, everyone had a 1977-'85 Impala/Caprice--including my grandparents. (We had the Malibu.)

The cool Impala from that time period? Those coupes.

Patrick (Forum Supporter)
Patrick (Forum Supporter) MegaDork
7/9/21 9:09 a.m.

Ian F (Forum Supporter)
Ian F (Forum Supporter) MegaDork
7/9/21 9:19 a.m.

I've always had a thing for the Mk IV R32.  

With bit over 10K built and almost half sent to the US, it's not quite a "unicorn" although it was a one-year only car. The "last-hurrah" for the Mk IV chassis Golf.  Love it or hate it, the Mk IV did set a standard for base level cars that rippled through the industry to this day - mainly in the interior.  

I'll have one in blue, please. (clipped from a BaT auction listing that sold for $62K - surprise ):

slowbird
slowbird UltraDork
7/9/21 9:23 a.m.

Everyone knows about the lowly Ford Escort. Most people know about the "sporty" GT hatchback.

Almost nobody knows about the LX-E, the less popular sedan equivalent of the GT.

Even fewer people have heard of the Mercury version, the Tracer LTS.

Colin Wood
Colin Wood Associate Editor
7/9/21 9:25 a.m.

I'm going to add the VW Toureg V10 TDI.

Nobody needs a diesel V10, but if I had nothing but money to burn, I'd pick one up in a heartbeat.

ProDarwin
ProDarwin MegaDork
7/9/21 9:26 a.m.

Yes, I know I have a problem:

1995 Saturn SW2.  Only year with the 1st gen body, and 2nd gen interior.

 

Not sure if this is considered normal, but:

Z32 Slicktop.  The lightest version of the Z32, and super rare.  I miss mine.

bobzilla
bobzilla MegaDork
7/9/21 9:26 a.m.
Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner MegaDork
7/9/21 9:28 a.m.
Ian F (Forum Supporter) said:

I've always had a thing for the Mk IV R32.  

With bit over 10K built and almost half sent to the US, it's not quite a "unicorn" although it was a one-year only car. The "last-hurrah" for the Mk IV chassis Golf.  Love it or hate it, the Mk IV did set a standard for base level cars that rippled through the industry to this day - mainly in the interior.  

I'll have one in blue, please. (clipped from a BaT auction listing that sold for $62K - surprise ):

I had a 1999.5 Golf GL in Jazz Blue - the same color as the R32 (and the Audi RS2). It was only available for that short model year and VW Vortex doesn't think it exists because they're so rare. I had to have mine brought in from Quebec. Wind up windows, the only option was AC. Then I put 225s on it and it ceased to have any handling, it just had grip and not enough power to do anything about it.

So there's a unicorn for you :)

And here's another. Regular cab short wheelbase Tundra. It's a cartoon!

ProDarwin
ProDarwin MegaDork
7/9/21 9:51 a.m.
Keith Tanner said:

And here's another. Regular cab short wheelbase Tundra. It's a cartoon!

I recall reading that these are quite sleeperish...  the shortbed, single cab, 2wd runs ~14 flat or something?

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
7/9/21 9:53 a.m.

In reply to ProDarwin :

Sort of related, I want to say that we once had a cool T100 in the press fleet: DOHC V6, five-speed manual, rear-drive and standard cab. It wasn't a TRD. 

bigeyedfish
bigeyedfish Reader
7/9/21 9:54 a.m.

Forester XT

Does the new Ram TRX count?  I know I'm still a little kid, but those things are cool.  Way too fancy, but very cool.

Appleseed
Appleseed MegaDork
7/9/21 9:57 a.m.

IS300 with a stick. They exist, but just barely. 

iansane
iansane HalfDork
7/9/21 9:59 a.m.

In reply to Patrick (Forum Supporter) :

When I was in highschool there was a kid running around with one of these. Looked super cool to me but I was always confused about that faux-grille. I just assumed it was custom.

eastsideTim
eastsideTim PowerDork
7/9/21 10:03 a.m.

Does the GMC Syclone count?

That'd be my favorite, or the 3rd gen Turbo Trans Am.

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
7/9/21 10:07 a.m.
eastsideTim said:

Does the GMC Syclone count?

That'd be my favorite, or the 3rd gen Turbo Trans Am.

To go even more rare, how about a Syclone Marlboro?

dean1484
dean1484 MegaDork
7/9/21 10:09 a.m.

SHO

SVT Countour

Lightning

Bullet Mustang (the 01 or the 08 and 19) 

Ford has a lot of these types of cars

 

  

eastsideTim
eastsideTim PowerDork
7/9/21 10:09 a.m.

In reply to David S. Wallens :

A Unicorn of a Unicorn!  Unicornception.

iansane
iansane HalfDork
7/9/21 10:09 a.m.

In reply to eastsideTim :

How long is your mullet?

I'm not disparaging. Those are two of my all time favorites.

iansane
iansane HalfDork
7/9/21 10:10 a.m.

In reply to David S. Wallens :

Whoever thought about putting t-tops in a minitruck was an absolute genius.

Cadman5
Cadman5 Reader
7/9/21 10:12 a.m.

geo Storm GSi. Engine designed by Lotus and built by Isuzu. Car built by Geo, a division of GM...

I raced one fir a bit. Pretty sporty, but not against the Integras. 

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