Savoy Automobile Museum, Cartersville (Georgia), USA
Until March 2, 2025
The Savoy Automobile Museum is presenting a new temporary exhibition, sure to make extreme sports car enthusiasts salivate. While there is no formal definition of a supercar, we can agree that they are sports cars for which the quest for performance takes precedence over the Grand Touring aspect. They are necessarily powerful and fast, their production is (relatively) limited, and their styling is often extreme.
The Lamborghini Countach (1983), for example, contrasts with the pure lines of the Miura, and defines the inimitable Lamborghini style to this day. Developed for Group B homologation, the Ferrari 288 GTO (1985) gave birth to the Ferrari Supercar line, which stands out from Maranello’s more “classic” models.
Ten years later, the Ferrari F50 (1995) implemented racing-derived solutions (carbon hull, load-bearing engine, suspension, no electronic aids, etc.), with production limited to 349 examples to guarantee rarity. Introduced in 1988, the Jaguar XJ220 underwent a complicated gestation period and numerous technical changes between its presentation and the first deliveries in 1992. It may not have been as successful as expected, but it remains an exceptional Jaguar with sublime lines.
We leap forward in time for the Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 (2009), presented in a rarer Roadster version and fully restored by the factory. The V12 powering it develops 640 hp.
The 2 “youngest” in the selection are American. When Dodge presented the Viper, it was a shock. The Viper’s distinctive line is aggressive, with a huge front hood. The engine is a V10 derived from a pickup truck engine, comfort is spartan and the absence of driving aids makes it a tricky car to drive. But it’s this strong character that will make it a commercial success. The Dodge Viper ACR Extreme (2017) on display is a track-escaped road car, with a huge rear spoiler, carbon-ceramic brakes, adjustable dampers, leather and carbon interior.
The Ford GT was launched by Ford to commemorate its victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and its lines take up the general styling of the GT 40, modernized with extensive aerodynamic study. Closely resembling a racing car, the Ford GT scored numerous successes on race tracks over the world, including its class win at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The photos on this page belong to the Savoy Automobile Museum, no right of reproduction without the express permission of the museum.