Beauty may only be skin deep, but gearheads are not easily taken over by beautifully crafted bodywork, cars need to perform as well as they look, if not better. Take a step into collector car territory, where all common sense logic can, and often does, go out the window in favor of a cult classic that errs on the side of the ugly. The original Volkswagen Beetle fits this description well, older specimens, which are undeniably uglier, are hot property and share much of its powertrain with several Porsche cars that somehow miss the mark.

Even with a stunning design, generational changes can take an iconic car from hero to zero in seconds, the Mercury Cougar and Mustangs to name a few that went down as Ford reinvented the model lineup, Mustang IIs served as an example, what not to do, progressing onto the ill-advised Fox body platform. However, collectors don’t always get it right, these beautiful ones sports car deserve more attention.

9
Dodge Viper T&C (Gen 5)

Big, bold and, to be honest, fairly basic, the Viper, aimed at gearheads looking for a modern Cobra-style affair, got what they hoped for, big engines and not much more. Over time, the Viper evolved and became a bit more civilized, while Dodge upgraded its V10 engine to a higher level of performance.

So more is certainly better, the 5th generation, launched in 2013, featured an enlarged 8.4-liter V10 engine producing 645 hp, backed by a whopping 600 lbs-ft of torque, enough to to crack 200 miles per hour. Curiously, despite supercar performance, few found homes and sales figures struggled to reach 500 units per year on average.

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8th
Jaguar E Type S3 V12

The most beautiful car of all time? Ask this question around any group of gearheads and few will disagree, ask the same question Jaguar diehards and it will divide opinion faster than Apple vs. Android users. When Jaguar launched the E-Type, the sports car recipe was in a nutshell: fast, elegant and affordable.

The stylistically sophisticated S2 also delighted fans on both sides of the Atlantic. However, everything changed with the introduction of the S3 in 1971, while the E-Type looked like its earlier siblings, Jaguar had fitted a 5.3-litre V12, adding little extra power and much more weight. Still beautiful to look at but less to drive, which is attested by the prices collectors are willing to pay. A mint S1 that easily fetches $300,000 or more, S3s hover around the $100,000 mark on a good day.

7
Chevrolet Corvette C3

The early 1980s were arguably the worst years for Chevrolet’s Corvette, year-on-year weight gains coupled with tighter emissions regulations meant fewer horses under the hood, even more so if you were a California-based gearhead. Instead of the Vettes’ usual compliment of big-block V8 performance, Chevrolet released a 5-liter model that produced a measly 180 horsepower.

Around the same time, federal laws dictated that speedometers maxed out at 85 miles per hour, regardless of real-world performance. The 305 California would surpass that number, but not by far, regular sedans at the time more than a match for the C3.

6
Porsche 912

The least-loved Porsche of all time is widely regarded as the German automaker’s first entry-level budget model, the 914, which was developed in partnership with Volkswagen. After the 914’s flop and poor reception, Porsche launched another “cheap” model that was very similar to the 911.

Under the skin, which owes much of its powertrain to the 914, 1.6-liter flat-fours sourced from VW push a measly 102 hp. Produced in reasonable numbers with over 30,000 cars sold, the 912 Gearheads offered a cheaper 911 alternative. However, when you think about it today, it’s the much despised 914 that commands higher prices, proving collectors are a fickle bunch.

5
Peugeot 406 coupe

Most gearheads find Peugeot’s lineup a little plain and conservative, the only minor outliers being the 205 GTi and the underrated RCZ. It wasn’t always the case that in 1997 the otherwise forgotten 406 was handed over to Pininfarina to give it a little oomph.

RELATED: 10 Awesome Pininfarina Designs That Weren’t Ferraris

The 406 coupe, which becomes a media frenzy, critics and gearheads immediately comparing the Peugeot to Ferraris or the tag, despite the huge difference in price and performance. Under the skin, 3-litre V6 engines produced a peak output of 204 hp and propelled the rear-wheel drive coupe to a top speed of 240 km/h. Unfortunately, the 406 coupe bubble has long since burst, and you can even get a decent copy for under $1,000.

4
Fiat / Bertone X1/9

Another run-of-the-mill automaker turned into a sports car maker with added wow appeal thanks to Bertone. The X1/9 comes at an affordable price amidst a glut of ’70s wedges. Cost cutting unfortunately reared its ugly head with poor build and reliability, if the X/19 didn’t disintegrate in a pile of rust then electric goblins would often take their toll.

By 1982 Fiat had abandoned the US market, the X1/9 falling largely unchanged under the Bertone brand, complete with a 1.5-litre mid-engine developing 74 hp. Cheaply made, now even cheaper than used classics, the X1/9 still has a certain charm.

3
TVR Griffith

On a good day, nothing comes close to the Griffith’s heady mix of curves, raw power and performance, TVR is famous for its lightweight fiberglass bodywork on tubular steel chassis and big Rover V8 engines. As beautiful as this monster is, owning one is a compromise in almost every area, driving aids, unfathomable controls that barely scratch the surface of what makes the Griffith so alluring in the first place.

On a bad day, which is probably most days, it would make more sense to burn loads of money. TVR’s shocking electrical problems and poor anti-corrosion protection make owning one enough to have even the most sane gearbox locked up in a padded cell. Grab a good song and the Rover V8 engines will deliver a roaring soundtrack as you zoom toward the horizon at insane speeds, reaching the summit at over 160 mph.

2
Maserati Shamal

De Tomaso, Gandini and Maserati, with such a creative lineup behind the Shamal, it should have been a huge hit, only to fall flat on its face thanks to a close relationship with the bi-turbo range. Maserati was heavily in debt at the time and commissioned Gandini to give the bi-turbo a makeover, adding a more muscular body and an improved chassis.

Maserati’s 3.2-litre AM479 engine, with the now standard twin-turbocharger setup, produced 322 hp, the most powerful of any turbocharged Maserati, resulting in a top speed of 168 mph. Despite impressive performance figures, the Shamal flopped, only 369 cars finding a home in a six-year production run.

RELATED: 10 cheap Italian cars that will eventually bankrupt you

1
Plymouth Prowler

Recreating the classic ’30s hot-rod look, Plymouth’s 1999 Prowler looked good, even if the sum of its parts didn’t live up to the expected V8 hot-rod hype. Designed and built in-house with a custom lightweight body and aluminum chassis, Prowlers tips the scales at 2800 lbs.

Beyond its modern retro bodywork, things start to go wrong, outfitted with a 3.5-liter V6 that pays for the scorching performance of the tarmac, made worse by a single automatic transmission option that puts the brakes on performance and accelerates to 126 mph. It’s hard to place the Prowler, too underpowered for a hot-rod and too slow for a serious sports car, only 12,000 were produced.

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