See over 50 once beloved cars that have been discontinued

  • Many once-beloved vehicles car enthusiasts know and love are sadly, no longer being manufactured.

  • Automakers have discontinued popular models from Chevrolet, Lotus, and more over the years.

  • Here are more than 50 cars that will never be seen brand new again.

Some car models aren't going anywhere any time soon.

Take the Ford Mustang: since its first production year back in 1965, new 'Stangs have rolled off the factory line ever since.

So too have mainstay family cars like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, both of which have enjoyed several decades of production with no end in sight.

Other cars experience the occasional production hiatus, such as the Chevrolet Camaro, only to return redesigned and re-released a few years later.

Still, other cars go out of production for good. And for every Pinto or El Camino that was rightly mothballed due to performance woes or wretched aesthetics, dozens of once-beloved cars have also been discontinued.

Here are more than 50 cars that aren't being made anymore:

Acura NSX

Acura NSX
The Acura NSX.Acura

The two-seater NSX started production in 2016, but the automaker said it would be discontinued after the 2023 model year.

The impressive coupe sports car was not very profitable, unlike its first-generation predecessor, and Acura plans to focus on more popular and new models in the future.

Acura TL

Acura TL
The Acura TL.Michael Kovac/Getty Images

Considered a luxury/sports car hybrid priced just in range of the average consumer, the Acura TL was a flagship vehicle for the automaker. It was considered safe, capable, and it retained its value well over the years. The company took a chance nonetheless, blending their lower end TSX and higher end TL into the mid-price TXL.

AMC Eagle

amc eagle
The AMC Eagle.YouTube/Cool Stuff in Weird Cars

The unique AMC Eagle merged the convenience of a compact sedan with the capabilities of a four-wheeler vehicle. At the time of its release in 1979, it was the only 4WD passenger car, and its off-road capabilities matched that of a Jeep or other smaller four-wheel drive automobile.

AMC Javelin

amc javelin
The AMC Javelin.Allan Hamilton/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

Produced between 1967 and 1974, the AMC Javelin was a sleek, powerful-looking pony car that matched many other muscle cars of its day in looks and performance. The carmaker itself, the American Motor Company, would fold a little more than a decade after Javelin production ceased.

Austin-Healy 3000

Austin-Healy 3000
The Austin-Healy 3000.Richard Bord/Getty Images

The gorgeous Austin-Healy 3000 was a British sports car sold for almost a decade, with the first model released in 1959. A winning road racer in its day, these classic cars remain popular with collectors today.

BMW Z8

bmw z8
The BMW Z8.BMW

Released in the year 2000, the BWM Z8 seemed to finally be the successful roadster the company had been trying to make for years, starting with the much smaller Z3. Though only produced for the years, the capable Z8 outperformed many much more expensive supercars in terms of acceleration, braking, and handling.

Chevrolet SS

Chevrolet SS
The Chevrolet SS.Chevrolet

Celebrated by its drivers but never a top-seller, the surprisingly capable Chevy SS saw its last production year in 2017. Though styled more like a luxury sedan, the car was powered more like a sports car, what with its 415 HP V8 engine.

Chevy Nova

chevy nova
The Chevy Nova.YouTube/Lost & Found Classic Car Company

Produced between 1968 and 1979 and then again between 1983 and 1985, the Chevy Nova was one of the most popular compact pony cars on the road, at least in its earlier iterations. The 1980s models were considerably less powerful than their predecessors.

Chevrolet Volt

Chevrolet Volt 2013
The Chevrolet Volt.Chevrolet

The Volt is considered one of the first effective mass-market electric vehicles, though it is technically a hybrid owing to an internal combustion engine that kicks in when the battery power nears draining. It debuted in 2011, but 2019 was the last model year for the Chevy Volt.

Cord 812

1936 Cord 810/812 Jay Leno
The Cord 812.NBC Universal/ Walker Dalton

Though today both the Cord 812 luxury touring car and the Cord Automobile company itself are largely forgotten, the stunning 812, with its long hood, sloping wheel covers, and domed cabin was perfectly representative of the tastes of the Gangster Era of the 1930s.

Datsun 510

Datsun 510
The Datsun 510.Rick Loomis/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

The Datsun 510 was small, lightweight, nimble and quick. While hardly a luxury car inside or out, its looks were elegantly simple and its low price and ease of repair made it quite desirable among cost-conscious consumers.

Dodge Dart

Dodge Dart
The Dodge Dart.Alexis Toureau/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images

The first car called a Dodge Dart was sold throughout the 1960s and well into the 70s — the original Darts were reliable, affordable, came in hot rod models popular with auto enthusiast. Dodge revived the name for a more compact sedan released in 2012, but the latter model never caught on and was produced for just half a decade.

Cadillac ATS

2018 Cadillac ATS Sedan
The Cadillac ATS.Cadillac

The 2018 model year was the swan song for the Cadillac ATS, a sad fact for car lovers everywhere who consider this compact luxury sedan dynamic and capable. Sold for half a decade, the ATS was popular with many critics and with owners, but it failed to gain enough foothold in the sector dominated by cars like the BMW 3-Series.

Cadillac Coupe DeVille

Cadillac Coupe DeVille
The Cadillac Coupe DeVille.Altan Gocher / Barcroft Media/Getty Images / Barcroft Media/Getty Images

This big, beautiful vehicle was produced for nearly half a century, with the first iconic Cadillac DeVille cars sold in 1958. With a number of changes, the model remained in production until 2005.

Cadillac El Dorado

Cadillac El Dorado
The Cadillac El Dorado.Bill Greene/The Boston Globe/Getty Images

This large, luxurious vehicle came in both hardtop and convertible configurations and was for years the best selling luxury two-door car in America. The coupe was produced from 1953 until 2002.

Chrysler Town & Country

Chrysler Town & Country
The Chrysler Town & Country.FCA

While minivans are aspirational vehicles for few, the Town & Country was a staple automobile for families across America and beyond during its 27-year run. From the faux-wood paneled editions of the 1990s to the sleeker makes of the 2000s, the Town & Country was never thrilling, but always safe and reliable.

Ferrari 308 GTS

ferrari
The Ferrari 308 GTS.ermess/Shutterstock

Though perhaps dated in looks now, the Ferrari 308 GTS was an iconic flagship of the Italian automaker from the mid 1970s well into the 1980s. You likely recognize it as the car from Magnum P.I.

Fiat 850

fiat
The Fiat 850.Arno van Dulmen/Shutterstock

The Fiat 850, manufactured between the mid-1960s and the mid-1970s, was the antithesis of the pony cars of the same era. Compact and affordable, more than 2 million of these cars were sold in myriad variations, including a convertible and even a small camper.

Ford Focus

2016 Ford Focus
The Ford Focus.Ford Media

For almost exactly two decades, a new Ford Focus was a common sight on roads around the globe, often the proud first new car of the driver behind the wheel. Safe, fuel-efficient, and priced to sell, the first Focus was sold in the midsummer of 1998, the last ever produced in the late spring of 2018.

Ford GT

The Ford GT.
The Ford GT.Ford

Ford ended production of the $500,000 supercar in late 2022 with the special LM Edition.

Only 1,350 of the third-generation GTs were built, according to CNBC.

Ford Thunderbird

1955 Ford Thunderbird
The 1955 Ford Thunderbird.Ford

The Thunderbird was one of the most famous cars of the 20th century and was produced for several years into the 21st. T-Birds saw 11 distinct generations, with some of the 1950s, 60s, and 70s models beloved, while the Thunderbirds of the 2000s were nearly universally reviled.

Geo Metro

geo metro
The Geo Metro.YouTube/Geo Jeff

While hardly an icon of style or power or performance, the Geo Metro was nonetheless a popular vehicle for many years, made by two different carmakers from 1989 until 2001. Affordable, fuel-efficient, and relatively reliable, it was the perfect car for many consumers.

Honda Del Sol

Honda Civic Del Sol 1995
The Honda Del Sol.Honda

Built on a Honda Civic chassis, the compact, maneuverable semi-convertible Del Sol was mocked by some, but loved by many. Available with options for engines rated from 102 to 160 horsepower, some Del Sol models were quite fast and capable. The car was nonetheless cut from the lineup in 1998.

Honda Prelude

Honda Prelude
The Honda Prelude.Honda

The four-seat, two-door Honda Prelude was produced from 1978 until 2001 and went through five different generations. Beloved by its drivers, the Prelude ultimately succumbed to competition from cars like the Mitsubishi Eclipse, the Toyota Celica, and even Honda's own Accord Coupe.

Honda S2000

Honda S2000
The Honda S2000.Honda

During its decade-long production life, from 1999 to 2009, the Honda S2000 was one of the most popular entry-level roadsters sold. It earned awards such as "Best Affordable Sports Car" (twice) and was on top 10 lists in almost every year of its production. The auto industry crisis that began in 2008 would kill off the S2000.

Hummer H2

Hummer
The Hummer H2.shutterstock/walterericsy

The gas-guzzling and less-than-logical Hummer H2 was a beloved behemoth to many, an aspirational achievement for others, and an object of ire for many more. As revered as it was reviled, this massive machine was sold from 2002 to 2009.

Imperial

Jay Leno Chrysler Imperial Crown Coupe
The Imperial.Facebook/Jay Leno's Garage

Imperial was Chrysler's luxury division for a number of years in the middle of the 20th century. The brand released several makes called simply Imperial as well as makes like the Imperial Crown Convertible and the Imperial Southampton. The 1957-to-1966 makes of Imperial were the widest production cars ever made, spanning more than 81.5 inches across.

Jaguar XJ220

1993 Jaguar XJ220 _0
The Jaguar XJ220.Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

For a time, the Jaguar XJ220 supercar was the world's fastest production car, with a reported top speed of 217 miles per hour. Fewer than 300 of this celebrated halo car were ever produced.

Lamborghini Aventador

Lamborghini Aventador
The Lamborghini Aventador.Newspress

The Aventador was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 2011. Throughout its decade-long reign, the sports car was far more popular than the brand's other V12 models combined. It was discontinued with the Ultimae variant.

Lamborghini Countach

1982 Lamborghini Countach 5000S_18
The Lamborghini Countach.RM Sotheby's

This classic sports car was produced between 1974 and 1990; its aggressive styling would become emblematic of the excesses of the 1980s. The Countach was the first mainstream production vehicle to use scissor doors, the type that rotate upward from a fixed hinge.

Lotus Esprit

Lotus Esprit
The Lotus Esprit.National Motor Museum/Heritage Images/Getty Images

Seen in a James Bond movie, "Pretty Woman," and many other films and shows, the Lotus Esprit was a symbol of the 1970s and '80s, and was in fact produced until 2004. Angular, sleek, and low, the Esprit looked as fast as it was.

Mazda RX-7

Mazda RX7 1995
The Mazda RX-7.Mazda

The Mazda RX-7 was beloved of auto enthusiasts for its handling, its style, and for the rare rotary engine that powered the vehicle. Eschewing typical piston engines, the lightweight rotary engine delivered an exceptional power-to-weight ratio.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Mercedes A-Class
The Mercedes-Benz A-Class sedan.Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz decided to discontinue the A-Class sedan, but aficionados can still get the vehicle until its production ends in 2025.

Mercury Mountaineer

Mercury Mountaineer
The Mercury Mountaineer.Ford Motors/Getty Images

Though identical to the Ford Explorer in many ways, the Mercury Mountaineer was an upscale SUV perfectly suited to the boom in bigger cars and trucks that began in the 1990s. Sold for 14 years, from 1996 to 2010, the Mountaineer disappeared along with the Mercury brand itself.

Mitsubishi Eclipse

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
The Mitsubishi Eclipse.Mitsubishi

The Eclipse was produced over four generations, its production lasting from 1990 to 2012. The sporty, compact car was popular with young drivers and also with rally and road racers, though most car enthusiasts preferred the earlier generation Eclipses and were critical of the cars produced in the 2000s.

Nash Airflyte

nash airflyte
The Nash Airflyte.YouTube/Viva Las Vegas Autos, Inc.

While decidedly — though charmingly — dated looking today, the Nash Motors Airflyte was a cutting-edge vehicle when it was produced in 1949. Developed with extensive wind tunnel testing, the car was highly aerodynamic, with everything from the shape of the windshield to the fenders calculated to reduce drag.

Nissan 370Z

The Nissan 370Z.
The Nissan 370Z.Nissan

The 370Z came in both coupe and convertible versions before being discontinued, and was known for having a low center of gravity and short wheelbase, according to Nissan.

Car enthusiasts who miss the 370Z should consider the all-new Nissan Z.

Oldsmobile 442

Oldsmobile 442
The Oldsmobile 442.Youtube/RK Motors

This big, powerful muscle car came with a variety of engine packages over the years, including a make that had 160 horses under the hood all the way to an option packing a 400 horsepower motor.

Packard Eight

packard eight
The Packard Eight.John Keeble/Getty Images

For nearly 60 years, the Packard Motor Car Company produced some of the finest-looking automobiles in America. The company merged with (soon-to-be-defunct) Studebaker in 1953, but not before producing cars including the stunning Packard Eight, one of the most celebrated touring cars of the 1930s.

Pierce-Arrow

piece arrow
The Pierce-Arrow.Mike Moore/Getty Images

For the first few decades of the 20th century, a Pierce-Arrow car was the height of luxury, used by movie stars, politicians, and the super rich. It's little surprise, then, that the Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company folded in 1938 having failed to gain sales among the general populace.

Plymouth Duster

plymouth duster
The Plymouth Duster.National Motor Museum/Heritage Images/Getty Images

The affordable Plymouth Duster was produced for six years during the 1970s. It came in multiple varieties with names such as Gold Duster, Feather Duster, and Space Duster. While emblematic of a set of compact sporty coupes of its day, it ultimately could not compete with more popular models like the Mustang.

Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am

pontiac firebrid trans am
The Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am.Bob D'Olivo|Gerry Stiles/The Enthusiast Network/Getty Images

Perhaps best known from the TV show "Smokey and the Bandit," the Pontiac Firebird was a classic American sports car produced from the late 1960s through the early 2000s. The best known Firebird model was the Trans-Am, a specialty package created expressly for this Pontiac car.

Porsche 928

porsche
The Porsche 928.National Motor Museum/Heritage Images/Getty Images

The luxurious, speedy grand touring car called the Porsche 928 was sold from 1978 through 1995. It had a powerful V8 engine under the hood and a 2+2 seating arrangement, thus able to accommodate four people (though the rear seats were quite small), a marked departure from the rear engine, two-seat cars for which Porsche was known.

Rolls Royce Dawn

Rolls Royce Dawn
The Rolls Royce Dawn.Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

Rolls Royce discontinued the droptop Dawn and hardtop Wraith, two two-door vehicles.

Production ended for the two in the US in 2021.

 

Saab 900

saab
The Saab 900.National Motor Museum/Heritage Images/Getty Images

Though never considered a stunner in terms of looks, the Saab 900 was perennially considered a capable and comfortable car. Saab 900s were sold for 20 years and came in four-door, coupe, and convertible varieties.

Saturn Sky

Saturn Sky
The Saturn Sky.AP

The compact, relatively low-priced, and generally well-liked Saturn Sky was a roadster that punched above its price point, packing up to 290 HP under the hood with an optional upgrade kit. Though a respected car in its own right, the Sky went out of production after just three years when Saturn LLC folded in 2010.

Shelby AC Cobra

1965 Shelby Cobra CSX
1965 Shelby Cobra CSXBarry Smith

The Shelby Cobra roadster was intermittently produced for more than 50 years, with the first vehicles sold in 1962, and a limited release run of 50 cars produced to make the half-century celebration of the vehicle.

Studebaker Commander

studebaker commander
The Studebaker Commander.Prodip Guha/Hindustan Times/Getty Images

Now defunct US automaker Studebaker used the name Commander for a number of cars, but none would be so iconic of its era as the Studebaker Commander Custom Cruising Sedan released in the 1940s. These curvaceous art deco vehicles call the WWII era to mind at once.

Suzuki Samurai

suzuki samurai
The Suzuki Samurai.Aurelian Nedelcu/Shutterstock

Though long gone from the market today, the low-cost, lightweight, but highly capable Suzuki Samurai 4WD vehicle was for a time so popular it outsold the Jeep Wrangler by a two-to-one margin.

MTX Tatra V8

MTX Tatra V8
The MTX Tatra V8.MTX Tatra V8/Facebook

You've probably never heard of the MTX Tatra V8 if you've even heard of Tatra, the Czech automaker in business since the 19th century. While the company only built four of their MTX Tatra V8s back in the early 1990s, it remains the fastest car ever made by a Czech company.

Toyota Celica

Toyota Celica GT-S 2004
The Toyota Celica.Toyota

The Celica was produced for an exceptionally long run, spanning from 1970 to 2006. In that 35-plus year span, the coupe was continually upgraded to match the style of the times. Eventually, as SUVs ascended and compact sports cars waned in popularity, changing tastes led to the end of the line for the Celica.

Toyota MR2

toyota
The Toyota MR2.Sahlan Hayes/Fairfax Media/Getty Images

One of the more affordable compact sports car for sale between the mid-1980s and the early 2000s, the Toyota MR2 was popular based on its great handling and eye-catching looks. It was prized by a small core group of fans, but sales lagged over time.

Triumph Herald

triumph herald
The Triumph Herald.Arterra/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

More than half a million Triumph Heralds were sold during the compact car's 12-year production run, which spanned from 1959 to 1971. During that time, the Triumph Motor Company was absorbed by another carmaker, and its brand was retired in the early '80s.

VW Karmann Ghia

VW Karmann ghia
The VW Karmann Ghia.Manfred Segerer/ullstein bild via Getty Images

Odd name notwithstanding, the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia was for a time a beloved car thought of as a luxury vehicle at an affordable price. It was built between 1955 and 1974 and sold well in Europe and South America.

VW Type 2

vw type 2
The VW Type 2.D. Pimborough/Shutterstock

The VW Type 2 minibus, icon of the hippies, is technically still produced today, though the modern VW T vans look nothing like the bulbous buses you picture with surfboards on the roof, guitars in the rear, and hair flowing out the windows. That classic split windshield ride was sold between 1950 and 1967.

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