Whether by design or defect, some cars have only lasted for a single year in the new car sales list in the US.
Those lucky enough to buy a Camaro ZL-1 found themselves in possession of a car with 425bhp on hand. It could tick off the quarter mile drag run in 11.6 seconds at 122mph, and it could go even faster with some light modifications that upped power to 550bhp. The engine for each Camaro ZL-1 tookThere are plenty of rare and low-volume Chevrolet Corvettes, but the ZL1 enjoys near mythical status. It’s helped in this by only being available during 1969 and only.
It came with the illustrious Hurst name attached and all were finished in white with gold for the hood and side edging. There was also an integrated rear spoiler. What let the car down, however, was its weight as it tipped the scales at nearly and that blunted performance. As a consequence, the planned 2000-car production run didn’t even scrape its way to a quarter of that.Despite the name, this junior muscle car had a 310bhp V8 motor and not a 350bhp unit.
Power for the Monza Wagon came from either the base 2.5-liter ‘Iron Duke’ four-cylinder engine or a 3.2-liter V6. Production ceased at the end of 1978 for this wagon, along with the hatchback and coupe models, and fewer thanThe Li’l Red Express was a mid-year addition to the Dodge truck range to take advantage of a loophole that meant trucks did not need performance-strangling catalytic convertors.
These numbers made the Cherokee Limited 5.9 the fastest SUV ever sold in the US up to that point, yet to most onlookers it appeared just like any other Grand Cherokee. The keen-eyed would spot the hood vents, unique five-spoke alloy wheel design, and larger exhaust, but that was it other than some discreet ‘Limited 5.9’ badges. The new WJ model arrived in mid-1998 and that was it for this 5.9 car after just a year on sale.