The Volvo 780 can be called a “comeback kid” of sorts for Volvo. Why? Because its release brought about the return of the two door 2+2 seater coupe after it was last seen in 1981. Of course, there’s more to the 780 than this notable design. Here are just some of the things that made this coupe popular back then.

Produced from 1986 to 1990, the Volvo 380 carried a sleek and low profile minus the sharp corner. Compared to the earlier 700 series, this car had lower trunk, hood, and roof lines. It was also given a wider C-pillar, more headroom, window frames that came with a mix of matte black and chrome. And as a final touch, the car sported chrome door handles, bumpers, and side mouldings. In case you’re wondering who decided to add all this to the car, you’ll have to thank its designer, Carrozzeria Bertone of Italy.

Aside from having a unique set of accessories, it also sported a powerful set of engine as well. First was the B280F V6 engine, which produced 150 hp. However, since most drivers found it too weak to power the car’s 3,400 lbs frame, Volvo shifted to a B230FT engine with the company’s boost controller. This gave it a jump in power to 175 lbs. The succeeding years also saw an improvement in the car’s horsepower output due to engine upgrades. From 175, it jumped to 188 hp and finally to 200 hp.

Although Volvo has ceased to produce this car, the Volvo 780 still manages to hold a soft spot for some drivers out there. So don’t be surprised if you manage to see one going down the road next time you’re on the street.

Sources: Wikipedia

If you’re looking to add a rare, high performance vintage coupe to your automobile collection, here’s one that you shouldn’t miss out on. It’s one of the six Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupes that was produced in 1965. Yes, you’re reading it right. Only six of these gorgeous cars were produced. And you now have the opportunity to get your hands on one.

The 1965 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe (which carries a chassis no. CSX2601) will be auctioned of by Mecum at the 22nd Dana Mecum Original Spring Classic Auction. The auction will take place at Indianapolis, Indiana from May 13 to 17. The car itself will be held up for auction exactly on the 15^th of May and will be broadcast live on national TV when it appears Discovery Communication’s “Mecum Auto Auction: Muscle Cars & More.”

As a brief backgrounder, the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe was built by Carroll Shelby. The coupe was built for the purpose of defeating Ferrari at the GT class division of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) World Manufacturers Championship. Ferrari at that was considered the dominant team on the race track. With the help of designer Pete Brock, the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe was given an experimental coupe body which was combined with a Cobra Chassis. This gave the car an increase of 25 mph in speed. Thanks to these modifications, the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe was able to win the 1964 Daytona Continental. This win prompted Shelby to create five more of these coupes.

After the ’64 Daytona Continental, Shelby notched another win when the CSX2601 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe represented the United States and grabbed the 1965 World Manufacturers Championship on July 4 at Reims, France. The car was driven by none other than legendary race car driver Bob Bondurant.

Because of its rarity and its rich history, this 1965 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe is one of the cars bound to fetch a very high price at the upcoming Mecum auction. So if you’ve got the money to bid for this car, grab a seat at the upcoming Dana Mecum Original Spring Classic Auction. Who knows, this vintage rarity could be yours.

Source: Topspeed

Italian car makers carry with them a distinct reputation of being able to produce sleek and stylish automobiles that can perform well on the road. That’s why they’re considered to be the most sought after among automobile designers. Lucky for Isuzu, one of these renowned Italian artists decided to take a break and help them come up with a unique automobile. This led to the development of the Isuzu 117 Coupe.

The Isuzu 117 Coupe is a mid-sized Gran Turismo coupe that enjoyed a production run from 1968 to 1981. The car first appeared in the 1966 Geneva Motor Show and then later, at the Tokyo Motor Show. The coupe carried a number of distinctions during the time was released. One of the distinctions it carries is being the first Japanese car to be designed by an Italian designer. The designer in question is Giorgetto Giugiaro. In case you don’t know who he is, here’s a brief backgrounder for you.

Giorgetto Giugiaro is one of the most influential designers of our time, since he’s practically responsible for building most of the popular cars we see and use today. This includes cars like the Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GT, Lotus Esprit S1, Alfa Romeo 159, VW Golf I, 1988 AMC/Eagle Premier, the DeLorean DMC-12, the Polish FSO Polonez, and the 2008 Ford Mustang Giugiaro Concept, just to name a few. In 1999, he was awarded the Car Designer of the Century and was inducted in the Automotive Hall of Fame in 2002. Yep, that’s how great a designer he is. Makes you wonder how Isuzu was able to convince him to do a design for them, huh?

Aside from being conceptualized by a legendary designer, Isuzu 117 Coupe also holds the distinction of being the first Japanese car to sport a DOHC engine (a 1.6 L DOHC I4), the first to be equipped with electronic fuel injection, and the first to have a diesel engine. Lastly, the Isuzu 117 Coupe is known for its lavish interior. The sports car came with leather seats, a dashboard trim made from Taiwanese camphor laurel wood, and a headrest. These components made the vehicle very, very expensive.

Because of these distinctions, the Isuzu 117 Coupe became quite popular. This prompted Isuzu to give the go signal to mass produce the sports car. For its mass produced version, Isuzu shifted from the use of a 1.6-liter engine to a 1.8-liter engine. Fuel injection became optional as well. Aside from its engine, the Isuzu 117 Coupe also got a facelift, which occurred in 1977. This resulted in Isuzu equipping the car with a modern, rectangular-shaped set of headlights, setting aside its previous round shape.

Even though more than 86,000 units of these sports car was produced, the Isuzu 117 Coupe is considered to be a very rare collectible nowadays. So if you happen to own one or you’ve managed to see one being sold, keep its distinctions in mind. It’s these features that have helped make the Isuzu 117 Coupe one of Japan’s iconic cars.

Source: Wikipedia