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Overconfidence can be a dangerous thing, even when it’s mixed with talent and skill. Add a car with a scary tendency to unexpectedly break traction or rollover, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster. So, even if you’re a good driver, you might want to think twice about disrespecting these off-roaders, and even three-wheeled cars, and performance vehicles, like the Dodge Viper.

Even a good driver might have their hands full with any of these unruly vehicles

Today’s supercars include helpful features like all-wheel drive (AWD), industry-leading tire technology, and driver-aid suites. However, some vehicles take an old-school, even dangerous approach to driving and off-roading.  

  • Dodge Viper
  • Suzuki Samurai
  • Shelby Cobra
  • Lancia Stratos
  • Reliant Robin

What do you get when you drop a 400-horsepower V10 in a lightweight, rear-wheel drive (RWD) performance car? You get a first-generation Dodge Viper. However, its unruly formula is multiplied by a lack of driver aids and airbags. Yes, the Dodge Viper’s airbags got the axe in favor of lightness. 

I know, I know. A Suzuki Samurai is a scary car? Well, don’t dismiss it. Sure, it’s, let’s say, cute. However, its narrow footprint and relatively tall center of gravity made the Samurai a serious rollover risk. In fact, several lawsuits over the years named the Samurai for its propensity to go end-over-end. As such, the little Suzuki off-roader qualifies as a scary, albeit adorable, car.

A blue Shelby Cobra replica car shows off its scary small platform and powerful V8 engine.
Shelby Cobra | falun via iStock

Granted, a true Shelby Cobra is a rarity. However, it’s an extremely popular replica and continuation model choice for enthusiasts. What’s more, fans will often drop big-block V8s producing well over 400 or 500 horsepower into their light, top-less roadster. As for the real deal, the supercharged CSX3303 that once belonged to Bill Cosby killed its subsequent owner after he drove it off a cliff. Anything short of a good driver could find stabbing the throttle to be deadly. 

320 horsepower might not sound like an overabundance of grunt. However, when it’s wrapped up in a lightweight Lancia Stratos package, you get an eager, even scary little car with an appetite for oversteer. Even the new Lancia Stratos rides on a super short wheelbase, albeit with more modern brakes and tires. However, with a Ferrari-sourced 4.3L V8 pumping out 533 horsepower, the new Stratos is a handful.

If you’re a Top Gear fan, you’ve likely conjured an image of Jeremy Clarkson rolling a Reliant Robin onto its roof repeatedly. The culprit is a naturally unstable platform, namely one wheel up front and two to the rear.

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Staff Writer

Erik Sherman

Erik Sherman joined the MotorBiscuit team as an Autos Writer in 2022. An admitted petrolhead and an avid motorcyclist, Erik has owned everything from classic cars to motorcycles to modern driver’s cars. Erik also has extensive experience with military and emergency vehicles, ranging from ambulances and fire engines to MRAPs and M-ATVs. Erik is an eager car and motorcycle reviewer with experience covering everything from sports cars to pontoon boats and jet skis.

Erik holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations (IRG) from the University of Texas at Austin and has studied Chinese, Energy, and European Politics at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. Erik’s background is unorthodox; he is a United States Marine Corps (USMC) combat veteran, water survival practitioner, and a former firefighter/EMT. Additionally, Erik is a regular volunteer and former instructor with the American Red Cross (ARC).