10 Sleeper Cars That Will Wake You The Hell Up!
A sleeper is a car that looks unassuming but packs impressive engine power, originating with Chrysler's 300 Series in the 1950s with up to 375 horsepower. Today, sleeper cars are created through engine swaps and maintaining a stock appearance, hiding top performance under a plain exterior.
1. Dodge Omni GLH
2. Mercury Marauder
The 2003 Mercury Marauder, with its 4.6-liter V8 engine producing over 300 horsepower, is a sleeper sedan despite its 4,328-pound weight. Rare with only 11,000 units produced, a modified Marauder has been shown to go from 0-60 mph in 5.1 seconds, proving its tuning potential.
3. Ford Flex EcoBoost
The Ford wagon, powered by a turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 from the Taurus SHO, accelerates from 0-60 mph in 5.8 seconds. With 4,500 pounds of towing capacity and plenty of tuning potential, this sleeper can outpace many performance cars while maintaining its unassuming look.
4. Volkswagen Phaeton W12
The Volkswagen Phaeton W12, with a 6-liter W12 engine producing 440 horsepower, offers Bentley-level performance at a fraction of the price. With only 2,253 units sold in the U.S., it can be found for under $20,000, though potential repair costs should be considered.
5. GMC Syclone
This GMC pickup, designed to haul tools, is the fastest car GMC has ever produced, accelerating from 0-60 mph in just 4.3 seconds. Powered by a 4.3-liter turbocharged V6 with 280 horsepower, only 2,995 units were made in 1991, making it an extremely rare find.
6. Ford Taurus SHO
The Ford Taurus SHO, produced from 1988 to 1999, offered engine options ranging from a 3.0L V6 to a 3.5L EcoBoost V6, with horsepower from 220 to 365. Despite its plain look, the SHO is a sleeper, with early models accelerating from 0-60 mph in 6.6 seconds, improving over time.
7. Buick Grand National
The Buick Grand National GNX, with a 3.8-liter turbo V6 engine, produced up to 300 horsepower and could go from 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds, outrunning even Ferrari models of the time. Only 547 were made, making it one of the rarest sleepers, with one selling for $165,000 in 2015.
8. Volvo 240
The Volvo 240, produced from 1974 to 1993, is a turbocharged rear-wheel-drive sleeper car capable of reaching up to 350 horsepower when tuned. Known for its reliability, it even won the British Touring Car Championship in 1985 and was used in the British Drift Championships in the 2010s.
9. Audi RS2
The Audi RS2, a collaboration with Porsche, is a sleeper family wagon with a 2.2L turbocharged engine producing 311 horsepower, reaching 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds. Only 2,891 units were produced, making it a rare performance car with a top speed of over 160 mph.
10. Mercedes-Benz R63 AMG
The Mercedes R63, a 6-seater minivan with a 500 horsepower V6 engine from the CLK63 AMG, can go 0-60 mph in just 4.6 seconds and reach a top speed of 155 mph. With limited production and never officially marketed in the U.S., it remains a rare and sought-after sleeper.
