1939 ZIS-101 Sport Coupe
Soviet engineers definitely had their way of designing some wacky inventions. One of these creations was the ZIS-101, a 1936 vehicle with a 5.8-liter I8 engine that produced 90 horsepower and a top speed of 71 miles per hour. The car was a two-seat limousine, one of the only ones in the world.
The ZIS-101 quickly became a standard vehicle in Soviet Russia and was produced in many variants, from an upgraded convertible version to a literal ambulance build. The Soviet car was produced from 1936 up to 1941 and even had a sports model, the 1939 ZIS-101 Sport Coupe, but only two of these were ever made.
Mercedes-Benz SSK
Mercedes is known as one of the world’s most advanced and luxurious automakers. This reputation dates back a long time and followed the German automaker even during the ‘20s and ‘30s. The Mercedes-Benz SSK was one of the company’s most famous and prestigious vehicles. It was one of the prides of the German nation and was built from 1928 up to 1932.
The SSK was built on the foundations of the Model K, a similar Mercedes vehicle that was more suitable for racing due to its shorter body. It was a two-door beast and managed to reach some impressive performance milestones for its time. Mercedes only built about forty of these in the four years it was sold, and only a handful of them are left today.
Volvo PV 36 Carioca
It's about time that we involve Volvo on the list because this automaker is currently one of the world's most successful; however, it took time before it reached its peak. The Volvo PV 36 Carioca was basically a slightly improved copy of the Chrysler Airflow, which was a revolutionary car that pioneered the luxury vehicle industry.
The PV 36 Carioca was Volvo's first attempt at a luxury everyday car with an independent front suspension. It was quite expensive and was priced at 8,500 kronor at the time. Only 500 of these were sold from 1935 to 1938 before Volvo quickly continued to other, better-selling vehicles.
1954 Buick Wildcat II
Buick originally opened its doors in 1899 as a subsidiary of General Motors. The company was founded by David Buick and helped establish GM as a major force in the United States during the start of the 20th century. The WildCat was one of Buick's most successful cars and ended up running from 1963 to 1970.
The WildCat was based on a 1954 concept car called the WildCat II, which was so successful that the company decided to keep a few units to itself. It was described as a dream car and featured a radical new design and a powerful V8 engine that produced 220 horsepower. It’s really no wonder that Buick decided to own a few of these masterpieces.
1952 Maverick Sportster
The 1952 Maverick Sportster was promoted as the "world's largest fiberglass-bodied car." It was designed by H. Sterling "Smoke" Gladwin Jr., a retired aeronautical engineer who previously worked at Boeing, NASA, and Lockheed. The car was built using a 1940 LaSalle chassis and was fitted with a flathead Cadillac V8 engine.
The Maverick Sportster’s engine produced 210 horsepower, which made it one of the strongest vehicles of the time. One promotional ad described the car as an “all-Western long-range commuter for Western highways." Its beautiful build, both inside and outside, has been admired more and more over time.