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Better to burn out than fade away, or so Neil Young told us on his 1979 song, My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue).
Four decades later Young is alive and kicking, unlike the 10 icons in this gallery.
Each was produced for just one year, but left a legacy many longer-lived cars have failed to match.
1. BMW M535i
Before the M5, there was the M535i. Based on the first-generation E12 5 series, it was BMW’s second production car after the mid-engined M1, and was produced at the Motorsport department’s plant for a year from the spring of 1980.
1. BMW M535i (cont.)
Although it used the 635CSi’s 12-valve 3.5-litre straight-six instead of the 24-valve version in the M1, it was still good for 140mph – and it helped pave the way for a long line of hot four-door BMWs.
Just 1410 cars were hand-assembled at BMW’s Garching facility before production ended in May 1981.
2. Chevrolet Corvette
GM stylist Bill Mitchell’s split-rear window design helped the second-generation Corvette cause a sensation when it appeared in 1962 for the ’63 model year.
Sadly, that would be the only year in which this iconic design feature appeared.
2. Chevrolet Corvette (cont.)
Though adored now, not everyone was keen then, including Corvette godfather, Zora Arkus-Duntov, who hated the way it spoiled rear visibility from the driver’s seat, so the Corvette arrived for 1964 with a single pane of rear glass.
3. Ford Focus RS
Ford’s RS badge had been absent from showrooms for four years when the first truly hot Focus arrived in 2002.
A total of 4501 were produced between October 2002 and November 2003.
3. Ford Focus RS (cont.)
Unlike its Escort Cosworth predecessor, the Focus RS was front-wheel drive, but an aggressive limited-slip differential helped deliver huge cornering speeds – and gave drivers’ shoulders a serious workout.
4. Jaguar E-type Lightweight
Keen for the E-type to create as much of a stir on the track as it had on the road, Jaguar cooked up something special.
The E-type Lightweights swapped steel panels for aluminium, and were powered by a special fuel-injected version of Jaguar’s 3.8-litre XK engine, which featured an alloy block.
4. Jaguar E-type Lightweight (cont.)
Production started in February 1963, but only 12 of the planned 18 cars were completed. Which makes it eligible for our list of one-year wonders…
Or it would do if Jaguar hadn’t finished the remaining six cars in 2014, selling the continuation examples for £1m+ each.
5. Mini Cooper ‘S’ Mk3
The Mini Cooper story contains several one-year models, including the rare short-stroke 970 S built to compete in sub-1.0-litre saloon-car racing.
But since that looked almost identical to a regular Mk1 1071 or 1275 S, we’ll go for the plain-Jane Mk3 1275.
5. Mini Cooper ‘S’ Mk3 (cont.)
Mk3 Cooper Minis lost the Austin and Morris branding, the external door hinges and contrasting roof colour. In fact the basic Cooper disappeared altogether (it was effectively replaced by the new flat-front 1275GT), leaving only the ‘S’.
Production ended in June 1971 after fewer than 1600 units had been produced, when British Leyland boss Donald Stokes refused to renew the licence to use the Cooper name.
6. Dodge Charger Daytona
By the end of the 1960s, Chrysler was losing to Ford in stock-car racing and knew improving aerodynamic efficiency was the key to kicking Henry where it hurt.
But its first attempt, the Charger 500, a Dodge Charger with a flush grille and rear window, still wasn’t fast enough. Enter the Charger Daytona, 503 of which were built over the summer of 1969.
6. Dodge Charger Daytona (cont.)
With its huge nose cone and stabilising rear wing the Daytona hit 199mph during qualifying at the Talladega 500, a new record.
It still couldn’t stop Ford winning the title in 1969, but campaigned again for the 1970 season, this time alongside its new, and better known, Plymouth Superbird sister, it finally helped Chrysler beat Ford.
7. Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7
Porsche has been making cars for over 70 years, but one of its most loved cars was available for just one of them: the Carrera RS.
7. Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 (cont.)
Built to homologate Porsche’s racing 911s, the RS was based on the already rapid 911 2.4 S.
But with wider rear arches to accommodate fat racing rubber, that distinctive ducktail spoiler, and a stretch to 2.7 litres and 210bhp, a legend was born. Fewer than 1600 were made between November 1972 and July ’73.
8. Tucker 48
Having already made his name with a WW2 gun turret, Preston Tucker dreamed of building a revolutionary rear-engined car packed full of modern safety features like seatbelts.
Known as the Tucker Torpedo during development, the name was changed to 48 by the time production started in 1948. But Tucker didn’t get the chance to make a production 49…
8. Tucker 48 (cont.)
Unfortunately for Preston Tucker, his dream turned into a nightmare. The complicated cars went through endless teething troubles, and the company was stung by media attacks and accusations of mail fraud by the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
Tucker was acquitted, but the company was obliterated, having built just 51 cars.
9. Triumph TR5
The rarest of Triumph’s TR series looked much like the earlier TR4, but was packing some seriously upgraded firepower under the bonnet.
Instead of the TR4’s ancient 2.1-litre ‘four’, there was a 2.5-litre straight-six fuelled by mechanical Lucas injection, and producing a solid 150bhp.
9. Triumph TR5 (cont.)
Sadly, new emissions laws meant Triumph had to ditch the injection for twin Stromberg carbs in the US, meaning the federalised TR250 made do with just 104bhp.
Triumph built 2947 of both models in the 12 months from August 1967.
10. 1959 Cadillacs
Unlike modern cars, which only get a styling update every three or four years, classic Detroit tin evolved every model year to keep interest high.
So the 1959 Cadillacs ought to be no more or less interesting than any other collectable American car – but those iconic tail fins say otherwise.
10. 1959 Cadillacs (cont.)
Cadillac’s fin obsession had begun in 1948, inspired by the twin tails of Lockheed’s P38 Lightning fighter, and reached its zenith on the company’s 1959 models built between 1958 and 1959.
Toned down for 1960, they’d almost disappeared altogether by the middle of the decade.
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