Ask any car enthusiast to think of the greatest American sports cars and there are a few names that are sure to come up. The Corvette is an automotive icon that’s been in production since the ’50s, and the Mustang began production only a decade later. The Dodge Viper is well on its way to becoming a bonafide classic, and in recent years, halo cars like the new Ford GT have redefined what American performance can look like. But, those high-profile cars are just the tip of the iceberg, as there are lots of other sports cars that hail from the USA but slip under most enthusiasts’ radars.
The American sports car industry is a lot more diverse than most give it credit for, as it incorporates everything from BMW-powered kit cars to boutique track day specials and Ferrari-rivaling supercars. So, let’s take a look at ten competent American sports cars that most enthusiasts do not know exist.
Number 10…Rezvani Beast
Rezvani is a relative newcomer to the automotive world, having only been founded in 2014 by Iranian-American businessman Ferris Rezvani. But, the company has quickly found its feet, and now produces a range of low-volume sports cars and SUVs to order.
Their signature sports car is called the Beast, and it’s based on the chassis of the Ariel Atom. It borrows the Atom’s 2.4L supercharged inline-4 engine and many other parts like the brakes and suspension. But, it adds a completely new bodyshell to make it more practical (and arguably better looking) than the British car on which it’s based.
Number 09…Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus SCG 004
Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus is one of the most exciting up-and-coming manufacturers that most people haven’t heard of yet. The SCG 004 is their upcoming supercar that’s been developed on the Nurburgring, and promises an unusual three-seat layout, the same as the legendary McLaren F1.
The car will be fully road-legal in the US, and hand-built in Danbury, CT in limited numbers. Unlike many startup carmakers who promise big things with their cars and can’t back them up, SCG has proven they can actually deliver. They’ve already built a Le Mans Hypercar, the SCG 007, which currently races in the FIA World Endurance Championship. Plus, they also make the mad SCG Boot, which is possibly the weirdest-yet-coolest American SUV ever built.
Number 08…Falcon F7
Falcon Motorsports was founded in 2009, and its first car, the Falcon F7, was unveiled in production form in 2012. It featured a Lingenfelter-tuned LS V8 engine that delivered up to 680 horsepower to the rear wheels, and reportedly gave the car a 0-60 mph time of just 3.3 seconds.
Only seven examples of the car have been built, and one appeared for auction on Doug DeMuro’s Cars and Bids auction site in 2021. It didn’t reach its reserve price, but bids reached up to $122,000 by the time the auction closed. The company’s website is still alive, and it seems like they’re still taking orders, should anyone want to cough up the $250,000 it takes to commission a new F7.
Number 07…Superlite SL-C
Superlite’s SLC is a kit supercar that can either be built by the company or shipped in parts for the buyer to assemble themselves. It’s left up to the customer what engine they choose to power their car, and at least one buyer is known to have picked an S85 BMW V10.
The car’s reported power output was “over 650 horsepower,” and with a car that only weighs 2,500 lbs, that should translate to some terrifyingly quick performance figures. Buyers looking for a true all-American build could of course opt for an LS V8 instead.
Number 06…Sector 111 Drakan Spyder
Channeling the spirit of British racing heavyweights like the Ariel Atom and BAC Mono, the Sector 111 Drakan Spyder is a road-legal track toy that debuted in 2011. It’s powered by a 400-horsepower LS3 V8 and features the bare minimum bodywork to help keep it as light as possible.
It weighs just 2,000 lbs, and according to Yahoo Autos, has a similar power-to-weight ratio to a Bugatti Veyron. Despite its bare-bones construction, Yahoo reports that it’s a surprisingly comfortable car to drive, and can be bought for as little as $100,000 new.
