Lazarus

In 1954, Stevens Automotive launched the start of the most prolific sports-supercar nameplate of all time: The Grand Touring. Created as a competitor to foreign sports cars that were gaining popularity in Sword Island, the first generation Grand Touring was not a worthy adversary to the powerful and sleek sports cars of the '50s and early '60s. Its wimpy 3-speed automatic transmission woefully cut down the potential of its 250 horsepower MK.I engine, and its design was outdated to say the least. So when in 1964 Stevens announced the second generation of the GT, fans had a fragile hope that this car would be better. And in the middle of the 1965 model year, Stevens delivered, introducing the Mark II platform, Gone was the boxy steel bodywork, replaced by a sleeker, more streamlined fiberglass body. The engine received a much-needed tune as the MK.I was replaced by the infinitely more capable SL1, which produced 340 horsepower and 266 pounds per foot of torque at 6700 RPM. The car also went through one other significant change: the car was lowered from being 6 inches off the ground to a mere 2 inches. That small change of a few inches is what gave this car its hyper-sporty feel. The transmission also helped bring the feeling of sportiness to the GT as the despised 3-speed automatic was replaced by a much better received 7-speed manual. The tires went from 15 inches in diameter to beefy 18-inch racing slicks from the factory. In fact, if you ever blew a tire you had to order a new one from the dealership itself. This car's preposition for speed and large engine bay made it a hit with amateur racers, that is if they could afford it because the Mark II did not come cheap. At around 11,640 dollars or about 96,000 adjusted for inflation, it was out of the price range of most. But if you could afford it, it was a driving experience like no other. The car wanted, no needed to go fast, every corner pulled you out of your seat and forcefully pushed you into it again as you accelerated. This car was the quintessential sports car. Speed, handling, power, looks, it was all there in spades.

Up until now if you wanted to get your hands on one of these original masterpieces you would have had to track one done and pay anywhere from 190,000 to 530,000 dollars depending on the condition of the car. Now with the new continuation model, all you have to have is 80 thousand dollars. The base model is true to the original, the engine, brakes, bodywork, and suspension all built to the exact specifications of the Mark II. As a fan of the GT, this is a must-have.