The Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap is a stretch of US 129 that runs 11 miles from Tennessee into North Carolina. It has 318 curves, no driveways, no intersections, and no mercy. On a rainy Wednesday morning, a handful of cars is gathered at the overlook. They are not Ferraris or Lamborghinis. They are something more interesting. They are the supercars that everyone forgot.
Some supercars are celebrated. Others are ignored. They are not bad cars. They are not ugly cars. They are simply overlooked. Perhaps they were too expensive. Perhaps they arrived at the wrong time. Perhaps they were overshadowed by a flashier rival.
This article lists five supercars that deserve far more attention than they receive. They are brilliant, fast, and the car community ignores them completely.
The Criteria: What Makes a Supercar Underrated?
An underrated supercar:
- Is rarely discussed in enthusiast forums or publications
- Has excellent performance that is not widely recognized
- Can be purchased for less than its true value
- Was overshadowed by rivals or circumstances
The cars on this list meet these criteria.
The Location: Tail of the Dragon, Deals Gap
The Tail of the Dragon is a challenging road. The curves are tight, the pavement is rough, and the weather is unpredictable. A car that performs well here is a car that can handle anything.
The List
1. Dodge Viper ACR (2016 to 2017)
The Viper ACR is one of the fastest track cars ever built. It set lap records at 13 tracks, including Laguna Seca and Road Atlanta. It has an 8.4 liter V10 producing 645 horsepower. The aerodynamics generate over 1,200 pounds of downforce. The car is brutal, demanding, and brilliant.
Why it is underrated: The Viper ACR was killed by safety regulations and changing tastes. It is a raw, analog machine in a world of digital supercars. It is not comfortable. It is not luxurious. It is not easy to drive. But it is brilliant.
Why you should care: The Viper ACR is a legend. It is the last of the analog supercars. It is a reminder of what performance used to be.
2. Maserati MC20 (2021 to present)
The MC20 is Maserati’s first mid engine supercar in decades. It has a 3.0 liter twin turbo V6 producing 621 horsepower. The chassis is carbon fiber. The design is beautiful. The performance is exceptional.
Why it is underrated: The MC20 was overshadowed by the Ferrari 296 GTB and the McLaren Artura. It is not a hybrid, and it does not have a famous badge. But it is a brilliant car. The engine is responsive, the chassis is balanced, and the design is stunning.
Why you should care: The MC20 is a genuine supercar. It is fast, beautiful, and relatively rare. It deserves more attention.
3. Alpine A110 (2017 to present)
The Alpine A110 is a lightweight, mid engine sports car. It has a 1.8 liter turbo four cylinder producing 252 horsepower. It weighs just 2,400 pounds. It is not powerful, but it is brilliant. The handling is sublime, the steering is hydraulic, and the car is pure joy.
Why it is underrated: The A110 was not sold in the United States. American enthusiasts have never had the chance to drive one. It is a car that defies the horsepower wars. It proves that lightness matters.
Why you should care: The A110 is a reminder of what sports cars used to be. It is light, simple, and engaging. It is a hidden gem.
4. Lexus LFA (2010 to 2012)
The LFA is not underrated in the sense of being unknown. Enthusiasts know about the LFA. They know about the V10, the 9,000 rpm redline, and the Yamaha tuned exhaust. But the car is still underappreciated. It was dismissed as overpriced when new. Now it is a million dollar collector car.
Why it is underrated: The LFA was ahead of its time. The carbon fiber construction was expensive. The V10 was exotic. The car was not the fastest in its class. But time has vindicated it. The sound is unforgettable. The engineering is remarkable.
Why you should care: The LFA is one of the greatest supercars ever made. It deserves to be remembered.
5. Toyota GR Super Sport (Cancelled, but the GT One exists)
The GR Super Sport was supposed to be Toyota’s hypercar. It was based on the TS050 Le Mans winner. It had a 2.4 liter twin turbo V6 hybrid producing over 1,000 horsepower. It was cancelled due to cost.
But the GT One, a track only version, was built. It is a Le Mans hypercar with a road legal version that never came. The car is a reminder of what could have been.
Why it is underrated: The GR Super Sport was never built. But the GT One is a masterpiece. It is a racing car with headlights. It deserves more attention than it receives.
Why you should care: The GT One is a glimpse of a supercar that never was. It is a reminder of Toyota’s racing heritage.
The Dragon Runs: Putting Them to the Test
The Tail of the Dragon is not a racetrack. It is a public road. Speeding is illegal and dangerous. But the owners are here to drive their cars briskly, not recklessly.
The Viper ACR is first. The V10 roars, the tires grip, and the car powers through the corners. The driver is focused, but not tense. The car is planted.
The MC20 follows. The V6 is responsive, the chassis is balanced, and the car is fast. The driver is smooth.
The A110 glides through the corners. The steering is hydraulic, the car is light, and the driver is smiling.
The LFA is last. The V10 wails, the sound echoing off the trees. The driver is listening.
The Rainy Evening
The rain starts again. The cars are parked at the overlook. The drivers are talking.
They are not comparing lap times. They are sharing stories.
The Viper owner talks about track days. The MC20 owner talks about road trips. The A110 owner talks about mountain passes. The LFA owner talks about the sound.
They are all smiling.

What These Cars Teach Us
The cars on this list teach us that attention is not the same as quality. The Viper ACR is brilliant, but it is ignored. The MC20 is beautiful, but it is overshadowed. The A110 is joyful, but it is forgotten. The LFA is legendary, but it is underappreciated. The GT One is a masterpiece, but it is unknown.
The market is not always right. The enthusiasts are not always paying attention.
The Ranking Summary
| Rank | Car | Why It Is Underrated | What It Deserves |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dodge Viper ACR | Raw, analog, overshadowed by tech | Recognition as a track legend |
| 2 | Maserati MC20 | Overshadowed by Ferrari, McLaren | Attention for its design and performance |
| 3 | Alpine A110 | Not sold in the US, lightness ignored | Global recognition |
| 4 | Lexus LFA | Dismissed as overpriced, now a legend | Remembrance as a masterpiece |
| 5 | Toyota GT One | Never built as a road car | Recognition as a racing icon |
Conclusion
The supercars on this list are brilliant. They are fast, engaging, and deserving of attention. But they are ignored. They are overshadowed by flashier rivals, killed by regulations, or simply forgotten.
The Tail of the Dragon is quiet now. The cars are gone. The rain has stopped.
But the drivers will remember. They will talk about these cars. They will share their stories.
That is the fate of the underrated supercar. It is not celebrated. It is not remembered. But it is loved.
And that is enough.
















