Car models come and go, but some leave a lasting impression decades after the manufacturer discontinues them.
We regularly hear that some cars should return, but which cars deserve it the most?
We will attempt to answer that question in this list, which contains 14 of the best classic cars that need to return in the 2020s. We will define a classic as a car from decades ago that has become a classic due to its prowess.
Honda S2000
The Honda S2000 is a much-missed sports car, and its revival has bubbled away more than once since Honda discontinued it. Most recently, rumors have surfaced that Honda will revive the S2000 as an electric sports car.
The S2000 was in production from 1999 to 2009. The F20C and F22C1 inline-four engines are some of the best to grace a sports car, producing up to 239-hp. However, the highlight of the S2000 was its six-speed manual transmission, which was smooth, crisp, and a joy to operate as the revs built.
Chevrolet Chevelle SS
It has been some time since Chevrolet last produced a Chevelle SS. The first debuted in 1966, marking Chevrolet’s entry into the muscle car segment, and it would remain in production until the late 1970s.
The muscle car would have various engines under the hood. The L79 V8 engine, producing 350 hp, was in the early versions of the Chevelle SS, and bigger and better engines became available in the 1970s. With the Camaro no longer part of Chevrolet’s range, a new Chevelle SS could be the perfect way for the Bow Tie to fight the 2024 Ford Mustang.
Audi A2
The often-forgotten Audi A2 might seem boring for a comeback car, but hear us out. The A2 was much more advanced than looks would have you believe. Its all-aluminum construction, for example, meant it weighed less than 2,000 lbs.
The A2 was also incredibly eco-friendly—the 74 hp 1.4-liter engine under the hood was exceptionally efficient. The A2 also shared the same Audi Space Frame Technology as the D2-generation Audi A8. The A2 was fun to drive thanks to its lightness, and the 1.4-liter engine produced 50 MPG combined, which was more than the Toyota Prius of its time.
Honda NSX
While the second-generation NSX has just gone out of production, we need an NSX closer to the first-generation. The sleek, smooth, clean design is timeless, and the V6 engines under the hood are some of the best to grace a supercar.
The second-generation NSX was a great car, but plenty of people felt it diverted too far from the ethos and philosophy of the original NSX. It was too easy, too comfortable to drive for many. A more raw NSX is the comeback the supercar deserves.
Honda S660
While not a classic in terms of age, the Honda S660 is a classic for Kei Cars. Honda produced the S660 from 2015 to 2022, and it is the spiritual successor to the equally brilliant Honda Beat.
The S07A turbocharged inline-three under the hood produced 63 hp and was the definition of a sports Kei Car. With so few tiny cars on the market, a revived S660 would be most welcome. Plus, it would inject some life into the Kei Car market, which needs another sports car in the mix.
Pontiac Firebird
The American muscle car segment looks bare, with only the 2024 Ford Mustang currently available. The Chevrolet Camaro is no more, and the next iteration of the Dodge Charger will be an all-electric affair. It makes perfect sense for General Motors to revive Pontiac and bring back the Firebird.
The first Firebird appeared in February 1967, and Pontiac produced the last one in 2002. That previous generation was a sleek, aerodynamic, modern-looking muscle car. Thanks to the 5.7-liter SLP Firehawk LS1 V8, power rose to 350 hp. A more elegant, streamlined muscle car would be the perfect rival to the 2024 Mustang.
Volkswagen XL1
The Volkswagen XL1 is the king of fuel economy. The German manufacturer produced just 250 XL1s, but they all had an astronomical fuel economy of 260 MPG. This was thanks to its 47 hp 800 cc mid-mounted two-cylinder diesel engine, 25 hp electric motor, and highly aerodynamic body.
Lightweight materials meant the XL1 weighed just 1,753 lbs, and the combined power of the engine and electric motor was more than enough to shift it down the road. An efficient streamliner like the XL1 would be a breath of fresh air in a world full of dull, gas-guzzling SUVs.
Lancia 037
As a brand, Lancia is now a shadow of its former self. So what better way to return it to glory than by bringing back one of its most iconic cars? The 037 is the Lancia that took on the four-wheel drive Audi Quattro in the 1983 WRC season and somehow won against the odds.
Road-going versions of the 037 are scarce. They also sell for big money at auctions. So a new one makes perfect sense, and Kimera Automobili has shown us that a new Lancia 037 is possible thanks to their exceptional restomods, the EVO37s. A name as iconic as Lancia deserves a proper comeback.
Toyota MR2
While the return of the Toyota Supra has been most welcome, rumors have rained over the last couple of years about a return for the MR2. The most recent is that the Toyota sports car will return as an EV.
Toyota produced the original MR2 from 1984 to 2007. The first generation became famous for its short, boxy design and the supercharged inline-four under the hood of the AW11. Japanese sports cars are rare, so what better way to change that than by bringing back one of the best?
Mazda RX-7 FD
Many view the Mazda RX-7 FD, the third-generation RX-7, as one of the finest rotary sports cars ever. The FD was a great-looking car with its sleek shape, smooth and curvy lines, and pop-up headlights. It also had one of the best Mazda rotaries, the 1,308 cc 13B-REW twin-turbocharged twin-rotary under the hood.
When the car launched in 1992, its power was 252 hp, which rose to 276 hp in 2002 when production ended in Japan. Mazda would produce another rotary sports car, the RX-8, but it has not left the same legacy as its predecessor. Mazda has no performance car in its lineup aside from the MX-5 Miata. A new RX-7 could quickly change that.
Fiat Multipla
It might not be genuinely classic, but the Fiat Multipla is a car that deserves a comeback more than most. The only thing that let the Multipla down was the controversial styling of the first generation, which caused a redesign in 2004.
Underneath that design was a practical, spacious, and highly competent family car. The two rows of three seats worked brilliantly. Plus, the unusual styling added something extra to the Multipla. Fiat’s MPV never had a proper chance to make a name for itself, but it is time that changed.
Lotus Elise
In the late 1990s, Lotus was in severe financial trouble. However, the arrival of the Elise Series 1 turned things around for the British sports car manufacturer. Lotus stuck to the philosophy of founder Colin Chapman, creating a light and agile sports car with a low center of gravity.
Lotus set to leave the world of internal combustion power with the Emira, the last Lotus to have an ICE. Whatever your feelings towards EVs, having no Lotus sports car with ICE power is a big blow. They should hang fire a bit longer and give us one more version of the Elise.
Lola Mk6
The Lola Mk6 is the car that led to the Ford GT40, which would dominate the Le Mans 24 Hours in the 1960s. The Lola Mk6 only won one race, but it played its part in the development of the Ford, yet it is often forgotten about in the story.
Lola is currently enjoying a revival, albeit without producing a new car. So, why not remind the world how great the Mk6 was and bring it back? It would undoubtedly be a significant boost for British sports cars, particularly as the new TVR Griffith is yet to enter production.
Original Fiat 500
Yes, a Fiat 500 is already in production. However, we think the world needs to return the original Fiat 500 to its modern form.
Tiny, compact city cars are scarce. Even the modern Fiat 500 has grown, and its reputation could be better. But a genuinely modern city car, with tiny proportions and available at an affordable price, is just what the automotive world needs. With so many huge SUVs on our roads, a revived city car would be a welcome change.