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It's mid-July. You know what that means: Shark Week! Celebrate accordingly by taking a look at some of the best shark-inspired cars ever made!
Sharks of the Land
Way back in July 1988, the Discovery Channel broadcast 10 episodes of a show called Caged in Fear. That same week they aired three other shark-themed programs. Enough viewers tuned into this special dubbed week of shark-themed television shows that Discovery continued it every summer since. Each year Discovery draws millions of viewers eager to learn more about these majestic and ominous creatures roaming the oceans.
Sharks may not be land-bearing creatures and cars may not be made for water adventures, but there are a lot of crossovers between the two. For decades now, designers have been inspired by aquatic life, and, as you’ll see on this list, sharks in particular. Some of these stellar cars really do resemble the shapes and attitude of a shark. As you’re waiting for the next episode of Shark Week programming to air, take a look at all these impressive shark-inspired cars!
The Chevrolet Mako Shark I/ XP-755
The designers of the second-generation Chevy Corvette already had their plans in place for the 1962 model, but Chevy wanted a car specifically for the auto show circuit, so they contrived the 1961 Chevrolet Mako Shark. Not a first-generation Corvette and not quite a second-generation Stingray, the Mako Shark featured a pointed snout, split bumpers, side-exit exhausts, and ‘gills’ placed in front of the fenders. With features like that, this car was aptly named.
The Mako Shark, technically named the XP-755 concept car, served as a teaser of sorts for what was to come with the Sting Ray. The Shark adopted its colors from a fish that was mounted to the wall of General Motors Styling and Design head Bill Mitchell. It’s blue-gray on the top and transitions to white near the bottom. The vehicle was used in a 1961 episode of Route 66, an action-adventure drama that was airing on CBS at the time.
The Chevrolet Mako Shark II
Before Jaws was even an idea, Chevrolet delivered the original sequel (and better) shark sequel in 1965: the Mako Shark II! It was used to tease the upcoming 1968 Corvette. It had a similar paint job as the original, with blue-gray on top that faded into silver and white at the rockers, but this sequel also had some differences. The Mako Shark II was nine inches longer than the C2 Corvette and three inches lower. Quartz-iodine headlamps were retractable at the front of the low, flat hood. The nose was lower and more pointed than the original Shark. The power flip-top roof, retractable rear spoiler, and hide-away headlamps were all a big hit with spectators on the auto show circuit.
The first Mako Shark II was replaced with an operational version by October 1965 that was powered by a 425-horsepower turbo-Jet 396 V8 engine. The 1968 Corvette, which was heavily influenced by the Mako Shark II, was then released and is still considered one of the coolest Corvettes there’s ever been. You can look at the C3 and every other generation of the Vette in our Chevy Corvette Through the Years feature. When it comes to sequels, the Mako Shark II may be better than the original. One thing is for sure: it’s a concept car legend.
The Graham-Paige Sharknose
One of the first vehicles with any kind of connection to the shark was Graham-Paige’s 1938 model. It was introduced with the slogan, “Spirit of Motion.” It was in production for three years, selling between 6,000 and 12,000 units. However, a decade and a half later, sometime in the 1950s, the 1938 Graham-Paige earned its nickname as the, ‘Sharknose.’
The nickname stems from the fact that the lines come to a point at the center of the cut-back grille, resembling a shark’s nose. The undercut portions of the front fenders and radiator grille really did look like the snout of a shark, so the name makes sense. Other cars with similar front styling at the time included the 1939 Ford Deluxe, 1940 Chevrolet Master Deluxe, and 1941 Plymouth Deluxe, but it was the Graham-Paige that snagged the Sharknose name. Even though Graham-Paige didn’t advertise any shark connections, the nickname stuck and the 1938 model is commonly called the Sharknose to this day.
The Porsche 928
Next up on this shark-inspired list is the Porsche 928, also known as the Land Shark. Porsche owners have debated about the origins of that name, some claiming it’s because a journalist once said it reminded him of a shark. Others say it’s because older Cadillac, Lincoln and Mercury models were land yachts, larger and slower than the Porsche 928 Or, maybe it’s called the Land Shark because it just flat-out resembles a shark with pop-up headlights, a rounded fastback, and pointy nose.
The 1978 Porsche 928 did have speed, making 240 horsepower and 254 lb-ft of torque at the time. This came from the water-cooled 4.5-liter V8 engine. When designing the 928, Porsche focused on lightweight construction. That’s why the doors, front wings, and bonnet were made of aluminum. Aluminum profiles were also used for the 1978 928. Plastic bumpers helped bring the weight down. By the end of its run, the Porsche 928 was making 320 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque with a 5.0-liter engine. The 928 mostly maintained the same rounded look throughout the evolution of the car. Like a shark of the sea, this Land Shark was quick and powerful, no matter what generation you’re talking about!
Hyundai Tiburon
From 1998 to 2009, Hyundai had a shark of its own. Tiburon means ‘shark’ in Spanish. Hyundai touted the power, agility, and sleek, muscular shape of the 1998 Hyundai Tiburon. It had a peppy 140-horsepower 2.0-liter engine. The original 1998 Tiburon was loosely based on the popular Elantra, but had more style to it. The first-generation Tiburon did look more like a shark than competitors like the Pontiac Sunfire GT Coupe. Still, that first generation was more boxy than muscular.
As the car evolved into the final 2008 version with facelifts and a second generation, it more closely resembled a shark. The 2007 Tiburon had a revamped front and rear fascia with new taillights, headlights, exhaust tips, and hood designs. Just look at the profile of that car. It looks like a shark, especially with the silver paint job. Unfortunately, the Tiburon had a pretty steady decline in sales in every geographic region and, many times, in the automotive industry it’s sink or swim.
The Monteverdi Hai
Long before Hyundai used the word ‘shark’ with the Tiburon, Monteverdi was using it. ‘Hai’ means ‘shark’ in German. The Swiss automobile brand produced the Monteverdi Hai in 1970, which designer Peter Monteverdi designed as a rear-mid-engine sports car. The car debuted at the 1970 Geneva Motor Show with a distinct nose that helped inspire the name. Though Monteverdi was a man known for his connection to Formula One cars throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the Hai escalated the Monteverdi brand onto an even bigger stage. This little GT coupe, with its slender curves, quickly caught the attention of sports car enthusiasts around the globe.
After the success of his 1970 model, Monteverdi unleashed the 1973 Hai 450 GTS. This version had five additional centimeters in the wheelbase and utilized a Chrysler 426 Hemi V8 engine. Peter Monteverdi died in 1998, but he put out a few more Hai models before he passed away. In 1992, he unveiled the Monteverdi Hai 650 F1. His goal with the car was to create a F1-worthy supercar. To do that, Monteverdi used the chassis from his Monteverdi-Onyx and a Ford DFR V8 F1 engine. This renovated vehicle paid homage to the original 1970 Hai 450 SS with its design.
The Ginetta Akula
Guess what the word ’Akula’ means? It’s the Russian word for ‘shark.’ Noticing a trend? It’s an easy way to show your shark credibility. When talking about aggressive, shark-like styling, the Akula may take first place. It was revealed at the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show.
The Akula has a top speed of 200 miles per hour and a 6.0-liter V8 engine with a front/mid-engine layout. It puts out 600 horsepower with 516 lb-ft of torque. There’s a bit of bite there! Even though the Akula has impressed the press and spectators at auto shows, it’s not available to the public. Their plans for production have been delayed over the past couple of years. Ginetta recently reaffirmed its commitment to making the Akula a reality. If you want one of these, if it’s ever successfully released, it’ll cost 283,333 Euros.
The Chevrolet Blazer ZR2 Shark
It’s not just coupes and sedans that jumped into the water with the Shark moniker. Chevy used it again, this time with the 1999 Chevrolet ZR2 Shark Edition Blazer Convertible. This concept definitely wasn’t any 1999 Chevy Blazer. The SUV was designed using Greg “The Shark” Norman, a legendary professional golfer, as inspiration. The two-door, four-passenger convertible Blazer even featured Norman’s colorful shark logo on the rear pillar. This Blazer was unique with the fold-down top, giving rear-seat passengers a bit of wind and sunshine for their ride.
It featured a Vortec 4300 V6 engine mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. Geared for sport, this special edition ZR2 Shark Edition Blazer attacked life with 16-inch Goodyear tires, 4-wheel disk brakes, a leaf-spring rear suspension, and coil-spring front suspension. Chevy added custom wheel flares, a custom side-assist step, a custom front grille, a custom front fascia, and a custom rear bumper to enhance the aggressive styling. This concept never made it into full production, but at least we know of a certain golfer who may have a version of it.
Volkswagen Shark Cage Beetle
This vehicle isn’t available to purchase, but it’s a pretty impressive automotive feat. When Volkswagen sponsored Discovery’s Shark Week in 2013, the two companies decided it was the perfect time for a team up. Not only did they team up, they filmed a show for it. Volkswagen and Discovery joined in 2013 to document the construction of a drivable Volkswagen Beetle-shaped underwater shark cage.
It took a team of Volkswagen engineers and a marine biologist three weeks to build the rolling underwater shark cage. They used a Volkswagen chassis and a body built out of strong, lightweight aluminum. The Shark Cage Beetle was outfitted with two rear propellers and thrusters, allowing the car to propel forward on the ocean floor. This Beetle had an instrument panel and an onboard air tank for divers to utilize. No doubt, this is the most innovative shark-related vehicle on this list!
The Chevy Super Nova
Just like the Mako Shark I and Mako Shark II have roots in the auto show circuit of the 1960s, so, too, does the Chevy Super Nova, or, as some nicknamed it, ‘The Shark.’ When Chevrolet tasked car designers to offer their take on a compact, sporty, forward-looking vehicle, the Super Nova is what they came up with. It was unveiled at the New York Auto Show in April 1964. This coupe was made of fiberglass. It was seven inches longer than the Chevy II Nova. It was also six inches lower, but it rode on the same 110-inch wheelbase chassis. A 60-degree angle windshield helped provide a shark-like look. Of course, the fire frost silver paint didn’t hurt either. It was topped with a special high metallic finish usually reserved for Cadillacs.
Those design choices were popular with the 1960s audience. It was bad timing for the Super Nova, though. Ford unveiled the Mustang at the same time, and the Super Nova was quickly overshadowed. Chevy moved toward a sportier look with the Camaro. The same Super Nova lines were recognizable, however, on the four-door 1966 Chevy II Nova. It may not have taken off the way other concepts did, but Chevy’s Shark is now looked back upon with fondness.
Other Vehicles Inspired by Sealife
BMW had their own sharks. Several of their models, including the BMW 6 Series and the BMW Z4 roadster. The BMW 6 Series two-door coupes made between 1976 and 1989 are particularly remembered as sharks because of the shark nose-like styling. That’s a feature BMW brought back with the 2009 BMW Z4.
The Corvette Stingray has to be considered one of the best-looking vehicles ever, but, alas, a Stingray is not a shark. Stingrays are related to sharks, but they are technically fish. Still, I take advantage of any chance I can to mention the Stingray.
Another creature of the ocean that has inspired a vehicle is the Plymouth Barracuda. Although not related to a shark, barracudas are known for their large size and intimidating appearance. Some exceed five feet long and weigh more than 100 lbs. If you’re a fan of the Barracuda, check out this Cool Car Find: 1967 Plymouth Barracuda!
One more animal that is biologically related to the shark, but isn’t actually a shark is the manta ray, which inspired the Bizzarrini Manta. This 1968 concept car was one of the first cars built by Italian automotive designer Giorgetto Giugiaro. It was based on the chassis of the Bizzarrini 538 with the goal of being able to handle the intensity of a Le Mans race. It featured a Chevy 5.4-liter V8 engine that made 400 horsepower. The arced design took a careful geometric approach when creating the vehicle. There is no backseat in this vehicle. Instead, the driver sits in the middle seat with two accompanying passenger seats on either side. In the rear is a large, sloped rectangular window.
You can always learn even more about unique cars like these and the innovators who designed them by reading our other content like Harley Earl: The Father of Automotive Design, Karl Benz: An Automobile Pioneer, and Form Over Function: Volkswagen Karmann Ghia.
