What Was The First AWD Sports Car?

"472CID" (472CID)
02/06/2015 at 11:41 • Filed to: None

It seems like every other performance car nowadays is all wheel drive, but who started it? who is the grandfather 4x4 sports cars?

You might think Nissan with their old Skyline GT-R, that's been around along time (1989 in fact). Well that's a good guess, accept it's WRONG

What about the Porsche 959? That was awd way back in 1986! Wrong again dumb dumb.

Alright I've got it now, how about the Audi Quattro. Surely Audi, the grand master of awd cars, is responsible for starting this way back in 1980? Haha isn't that cuute, but it's WRONG

Alright I've got you this time mr Smartypants, how about the Jensen FF? An awd sports car waaay back in 1966, beat that tough guy! Nice try but you've got to go deeeeper.

Nope the correct answer is.... 1903 Spyker 60HP

That's right the same Dutch company (sort of) that brought you this

was the the first to made a performance car with all four wheels driven. Not only that, it was the first to have a six cylinder (8.8 liters no less) and the first with four wheel brakes. Pretty freakin' impressive. Also note those bonkers headlamps. It had a claimed speed of 80mph which would be INSANE in 1903. To be fair it was more of a racecar than a road car, but in those days there wasn't really any distinction between the two.