Q-Cars – Five Super Sleepers - Car & Classic Magazine (2024)

Q-Cars – Five Super Sleepers - Car & Classic Magazine (1)

Dale Vinten

October 1, 2021

Q-Cars – Five Super Sleepers - Car & Classic Magazine (2)

First of all let’s address the name. What exactly are Q-cars and why are they called Q-cars? A Q-car, or ‘sleeper’ as it is more commonly known outside of the UK, particularly in the US, is a term used to describe a car that is inherently unassuming on the surface but packs a performance punch under the bonnet. Like a Mini Mayfair fitted with a Suzuki Hyabusa motorbike engine, for example.

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With regards to the nomenclature both epithets have their origins in military parlance. A Q-ship was a merchant vessel disguised as an attack ship used by the Royal Navy during the First and Second World Wars that was heavily equipped with concealed armaments designed to lure enemy submarines close enough to destroy. Nowadays, instead of a German U-boat popping up thinking it’s about to blow a sitting duck out of the water it’s a yuppie in a Porsche getting humiliated in a traffic light street race by an LS-swapped Volvo 240 with a big turbo and 20psi of boost pressure.

As for the term ‘sleeper’, this refers to a sleeper agent – a spy who is deployed to an enemy country or organisation to lay low and wait to be activated, hiding in plain sight but ready to wreak havoc when needed. Think Clive Owen’s character in The Bourne Identity. Get it?

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Owner-modified sleepers are a whole sub-culture unto themselves that one could easily get lost in but car makers have been producing these types of vehicles from the factory for decades. From the 1950s Chrysler C-300 with its 300bhp V8 to the Mercedes 300 SEL 6.3 in the late sixties, these original Q-cars had subtle looks combined with blistering performance.

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The trend continues to this day too with modern cars like the Volkswagen Golf R taking on the mantle so there is a rich history from which to pick five Q-cars that share that dichotomy and really stand out as true sleepers.

Lotus Carlton

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An absolute legend the Lotus Carlton is ostensibly an early 90s Vauxhall and that’s precisely what makes it so great and a worthy inclusion in this list. That’s not to say the original Carlton was a bad car, it just doesn’t associate with the term ‘performance’ and that’s kind of the point of this whole Q-cars thing. But with 377bhp and a whopping 419lb-ft of torque from its 3.6-litre, six-cylinder, twin-turbo engine the Lotus-bred version was, and still is, quite frankly ludicrous.

60mph arrives in five seconds and the car will easily push on to a top speed of nearly 180mph, enough to embarrass a fair few super cars of the era, not to mention a whole plethora of performance metal today. Although the underneath was majorly tweaked by Lotus, in keeping with the sleeper ethos the exterior of the car received only minor fettling. Flared wheel arches, bonnet vents and a rear spoiler are the only clues as to its rather impressive capabilities.

BMW E28 M5

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BMW have been building performance variants of their cars for a long time and it’s tradition nowadays to see these versions of their latest factory cars. Although most people are now more aware of that ‘M’ reputation it would be remiss of us not to mention where it all started for BMW with the E28 M5 and the genesis of the super saloon. It was the fastest production saloon in the world when it hit the scene in 1985 thanks to the huge 3.5-litre straight-six it had nestled under the bonnet, care of the 635CSi.

Faster than a Ferrari 328 at the time the M5 was unbelievably quick but the engineers at BMW didn’t just play with the engine, oh no. The chassis and drivetrain received a host of upgrades too from anti-roll bars to a limited slip differential all of which improved the handling and, combined with the 280bhp performance, instantly catapulted the E28 into ‘legendary’ territory. Much like the Lotus Carlton there are only subtle aesthetic indications that this is no ordinary 5-series – that revered M badge with its tricolour logo being the only real giveaway. The E28 M5 gave birth to a whole sub-division of cars and the M5 continues to evolve to this day but it will always have the E28 to thank for the esteemed position it currently enjoys.

Volvo 850R Estate

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Historically speaking the name Volvo has always been synonymous with safety and practicality – they’re the boring cars old people drive to bingo and back – and that is exactly why the 850R is one of the great Q-cars. It’s an estate for goodness sake! Released in 1996 the 850R was based on, and was a replacement for, the limited edition T-5R (although due to it’s success Volvo actually had to make more).

Available as a saloon as well it featured a turbocharged, five-cylinder engine producing 250bhp which would propel the car – nicknamed the turbo brick – to 60mph in around six and a half seconds. Not bad for a giant box on wheels. The 850 estate’s reputation had already been cemented thanks to a not unsuccessful stint in the British Touring Car Championship and seeing a Volvo estate going bumper-to-bumper around Brands Hatch is a sight to behold. The beauty of the 850R though was that it still looked like a boring estate car. The only upgrades it received to the outside were bigger wheels and a front splitter. Dr Jekyll, we’d like you to meet Mr Hyde.

Buick Grand National GNX

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Let’s not forget about the Americans, after all, they did help to kick-start this whole movement with that luxury Chrysler we mentioned earlier. So what other sleepers have they produced across the pond? Well, the Buick Grand National GNX is a prime example. But isn’t the Grand National just a Buick Regal painted black? Well no, not exactly, but that’s what people thought when they saw it, which makes it prime Q-car material.

Although technically based on the Regal, a rather uninspiring grocery-getter from the 80s, early Grand Nationals (named after the NASCAR race series of the same name – and therein lies a clue as to its heritage) were decent performers in their own right but it wasn’t until 1987 that the tarted-up Buick really made a name for itself when it morphed (thanks to ASC/McLaren – no, not that McLaren) into the GNX, with the X standing for ‘Experimental’, although that really should make it the GNE, but that doesn’t sound as cool.

Anyway, we digress, this limited edition version (GM only made 547 of them) was equipped with a turbocharged V6 churning out real world figures of around 300bhp and a whopping 420lb-ft of torque. That’s enough to make the planet spin in the opposite direction as well as get it to 60mph in under 5 seconds. That was Lamborghini Countach territory. It was so powerful that it needed an extra torque arm to keep the rear wheels planted to the ground under acceleration. You can keep your Corvettes and Camaros, we’ll take a GNX please.

Audi RS2 Avant

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If BMW are up to something then we can pretty much guarantee Audi will be in on the action and that goes for Q-cars too. Another estate, the Audi RS2 Avant was produced as a limited edition, performance version of the Audi 80 upon which it was based. Developed in conjunction with Porsche (who know a thing or two about building performance oriented cars) the RS2 was the first Audi to carry the ‘RS’ badge which has since gone on to define performance for the German manufacturer, establishing them as a force to be reckoned with in that particular corner of the market.

In keeping with the majority of cars on this list the 2.2-litre, in-line five-cylinder engine utilised forced induction to produce over 300bhp through a six speed manual gearbox to all four wheels via Audi’s famous Quattro all-wheel-drive system. With a 0-60mph time of under 5 seconds in an unassuming estate car body and with suspension and braking, as well as engine modifications by Porsche, the RS2 Avant defines what it means to be a Q-car.

We love them. There is something universally appealing about seeing an apparently ordinary-looking car embarrassing something way more expensive and ostentatious, and the attraction of the underdog emerging victorious will always remain timeless. Long live the Q-cars.

Read On

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By Dale Vinten

Q-Cars – Five Super Sleepers - Car & Classic Magazine (2024)

FAQs

Q-Cars – Five Super Sleepers - Car & Classic Magazine? ›

Some of the best sleeper cars in history include the 1996 Ford Taurus SHO, 2003 Subaru Forester XT 2.5, and 1969 Mercury Marauder X-100. You can also check out models like the 2012 Buick Regal GS, 2004 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG (W211), and 2008 Lexus GS460.

What is the best sleeper car ever made? ›

Some of the best sleeper cars in history include the 1996 Ford Taurus SHO, 2003 Subaru Forester XT 2.5, and 1969 Mercury Marauder X-100. You can also check out models like the 2012 Buick Regal GS, 2004 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG (W211), and 2008 Lexus GS460.

Why are they called Q cars? ›

Drivers wanted fast cars that looked slow. They were called sleepers, or more likely, Q-cars — the latter named after Q-ships from the First World War, which were armed merchant vessels that sailed undercover to get one over Germany's feared U-boats.

What is the best car to turn into a sleeper? ›

15 Best Used Sleeper Cars You Can Buy
  • BMW M760i. 601 Horsepower. ...
  • Buick Regal GS. 310 Horsepower. ...
  • Cadillac CT6 Platinum. 500 Horsepower. ...
  • Cadillac XTS V-Sport. 410 Horsepower. ...
  • Chevrolet Equinox 2.0T. 252 Horsepower. ...
  • Ford Taurus SHO. 365 Horsepower. ...
  • Kia Stinger GT. 368 Horsepower. ...
  • Lincoln MKZ. 400 Horsepower.
Mar 7, 2024

What is the point of a sleeper car? ›

Sleeper cars are easier and cheaper to maintain

You can create torque and speed but at a cheaper cost. Unlike performance cars that come with many aerodynamic parts, the exterior of the sleepers come with an ordinary looking exterior. They look like regular sedans, hatchbacks, station wagons or SUVs.

What is the most loved car ever? ›

The Toyota Corolla is the world's bestselling car with Toyota building over 50 million of them since 1966. This amazing achievement is just a testament to the effort Toyota put in this model. They have produced countless versions, generations, and models for many different markets.

What is the smoothest riding car made? ›

10 Cars with the Smoothest Ride
  • 2017 Buick LaCrosse. ...
  • 2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. ...
  • 2017 Audi A8 L. ...
  • 2017 BMW 7 Series. ...
  • 2017 Lexus LS. ...
  • 2017 Genesis G90. ...
  • 2017 Chevrolet Impala. ...
  • 2018 Ford Fusion Sport.
May 11, 2017

Why did Infiniti change to Q? ›

At the time, Infiniti said that the reason for the change was that the model names didn't make anybody think "Infiniti" and that "Q" was a largely unused number that would be possible to trademark.

Why are police cars called Z cars? ›

Where did the call signs Z Victor 1 and Victor 2 come from? – Z was the designation for Lancashire's Crime patrol vehicles, Victor was the letter of the phonetic alphabet for the Division where the crew/car operated, in this case V Division.

Why are Cadillacs called Cadillacs? ›

When Was Cadillac Founded? Henry Leland founded the Cadillac company in 1902. He named the company after the founder of Detroit, Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac. After only six years, Cadillac brought the idea of interchangeable parts to the industry, bringing a ground-breaking revelation to the future of car production.

What is considered a fast 0 to 60 time? ›

Generally speaking, a good 0-60 time falls within 5-7 seconds for most consumer cars, but performance models may offer lower times.

Is V8 faster than v6? ›

The power of eight cylinders allows for heavier hauls and higher towing capacity. More power also means quicker acceleration and speed. If you prefer a performance vehicle with more power, endurance, and an exceptional feeling off-road, the V8 engine is a great fit.

What is a sleeper classic car? ›

To put things simply, a sleeper is essentially a car that other drivers might not expect to perform in a certain way. You could even say other drivers might underestimate these vehicles. A sleeper vehicle is fast, powerful, and efficient, but not always flashy.

What car starts with Q? ›

Which Car Brands Start With 'Q'? The most popular car brands beginning with 'Q' are Quant and Qvick.

Why do people like sleeper cars? ›

Sleeper Cars Can Have Plenty of Appeal Despite Their Low-Key Looks. Sleeper cars offer enthusiasts the chance to drive a quick, fun car without attracting unwanted attention, whether that attention comes from other motorists or law-enforcement officials.

Do sleeper cars have private bathrooms? ›

Bedrooms have a toilet in an enclosed compartment which is also a shower. There is also a sink in the room itself. Roomettes have no sink or toilet facilities except on some cars on single level trains. Accessible rooms on single level sleeping cars have the same facilities as bedrooms, above.

Who is the best sleeper in the world? ›

New data reveals that the Netherlands has the lowest amount of “short sleepers.” In fact, it's managing to out-sleep every other country in the world, PlushCare reports.

What is the most relaxing car in the world? ›

10 Of The Most Comfortable Cars: Exploring The Peaks Of Automotive Luxury And Comfort
  • Audi A7. ...
  • Toyota Camry. ...
  • Bentley Flying Spur. ...
  • Mercedes-Maybach S 680. ...
  • BMW 7 Series/i7. ...
  • Lexus ES. ...
  • Honda Civic. ...
  • Genesis G80.
Dec 17, 2023

Who is the best freaky car? ›

50 of the sexiest cars of all time
  • 9 - Lamborghini Countach. 102. ...
  • 8 - Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. 102. ...
  • 7 - Porsche 911 turbo 3.3. 102. ...
  • 6 - Bizzarrini GT 5300. 102. ...
  • 5 - Ferrari 250 GT SWB. 102. ...
  • 4 - Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale. 102. ...
  • 3 - Ford GT40. 102. ...
  • 2 - Ferrari 250 GTO. 102.
Mar 14, 2024

What was the 1st sleeping car? ›

sleeping car

The first sleeping cars were put in service on American railroads as early as the 1830s, but these were makeshift; the first car designed for comfortable nighttime travel was the Pullman sleeper, which was commercially introduced by George M. Pullman and Ben Field in 1865.

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