1970 Ford Torino King Cobra

When Ford wanted to tackle Dodge and Plymouth, reclaiming the “King of Speed” title from the Daytona and the Superbird, it opted to tweak a base Torino coupe. A select team of engineers added an aero kit—one seamless piece instead of just a nose cone—and fabricated a larger grille, which was closer to the ground to increase airflow.

Unfortunately, what the engineers omitted—a honking rear spoiler—ended up leaving the King Cobra difficult to drive, particularly at 200 mph. The car’s hindquarters kept lifting in high-speed turns, making it unpredictable. Instead of diving back into development, Ford scrapped the project and only three King Cobras were produced.