The Ugliest Cars Ever Made

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, but sometimes things cannot be explained away so simply and compassionately. In the case of the ten ugliest cars ever made there is no doubt they are all visually unappealing. Notwithstanding they are beautiful enough to be bought for people’s private collections.

AMC Pacer

Taking a shot at something new, the American Motor Corporation released what they knew would be a controversial new step in the history of auto design. The Pacer aimed to be both a practical and economical choice for families looking for a new car. With over a third of the body made of glass, Car And Driver dubbed the Pacer the “Flying Fishbowl”. The fishbowl effect was made even more prevalent by AMC’s choice to use the width of a full-bodied vehicle for their eco-car. This short and squat design choice gave the Pacer a wide, sturdy stance, but highlighted the unusually wide body and greenhouse-like feel of the cabin. While AMC’s bold new direction was applauded at the time - the Pacer received generally good reviews - the design was more functional than stylish.

Edsel Corsair

Edsel Bryant Ford was Ford Motor Company’s president from 1919 until his death in 1943. His son, Henry Ford II manufactured a car in 1958 and named it in memory of his father. Ford spent millions in the Corsair’s design, but it did not roll off the factory floor as an attractive piece of machinery according to the consumers meant to buy it. The Edsel, although a high-end car, was only in production until 1959, and was abandoned part way through production of the 1960 model year.

Aston Martin Lagonda

The Aston Martin was in financial straits so they developed a car they thought would help them rake in more money. The Lagonda was born in 1976, but it never did hold a candle to James Bond’s 007 Aston Martin DBS V12. It was considered innovative and fresh, but the design was found to be lacking in sophistication and curb appeal. Due to its lackluster reception the company put out the last model in 1990.

AMC Marlin

The Marlin was a midsize fastback made by American Motors Company, and it was in production from 1965 until 1968. The company wanted something distinctive and different, and that was definitely accomplished. Designer Dick Teague was commissioned by the automobile manufacturer to make it somewhat like the popular Ford Mustang. The finished product was a 6-passenger car touted as a ‘swingers’ car to attract the youth market, but consumers did not take to its bulky look.

Pontiac Aztek

The Aztek hit the marketplace in 2001 as a drastic swing away from the ‘safe’ styling that GM had been producing through the 1990s. Designed to be "quite possibly the most versatile vehicle on the planet”, as claimed by the marketing tagline, the Aztek was one of the first crossovers on lots. Optional features included a built-in tent system that could turn the vehicle into a camper van, a center console that doubled as a removable cooler, and a myriad of cargo kits and rails for bikes, snowboards, and pretty much every other outdoor sport you could want. Unfortunately, this feat of versatility was wrapped in one of the most derided body stylings of modern automotive design. The overly aggressive front end, which was meant to pay homage to Pontiac’s earlier vehicles such as the GTO, came off as cheesy, while the squared-off fenders looked empty and ineffectual. Unfortunately, for everything the Aztek did right, its terrible curb appeal landed it on several ‘worst of’ lists, including both of Time’s “50 Worst Vehicles” and “50 Worst Inventions” lists.

Nissan Cube

Nissan has built very attractive automobiles but when they made the Cube in 2009 they were way off the mark. Because of its boxy style it had little to no appeal to any of the markets. Canada discontinued this model and a couple of months afterward the States also decided not to continue production. The last production of the Cube was in 2014 because its sales were not enough to warrant building more in the future.

Davis Divan

The handmade three-wheeler looks more like it came out of the mind of science fiction book writer Isaac Asimov rather than an American automaker company. Used car salesman Gary Davis started the Davis Motorcar Company in 1948 using a pilfered auto body design from another vehicle to build nine of these automobiles. As a result of him not paying his employees and being charged with fraud, the plant shut down after a year in 1948.

AMC Gremlin

This compact monster was the brainchild of American Motors Company who wanted to be in direct competition with the popular Volkswagen Beetle. It never did achieve the success the company hoped for because it was awkward looking. It looked like someone chopped off the rear end of a longer car. The front was still lengthy, but the inside was too cramped. The overall visual look of the Gremlin, many noted, was suspiciously similar to the shape of a shoe.

Stout Scarab

The designer of this futuristic art deco 1936 minivan was brought to life by aircraft engineer William Stout. He is considered the first artist to combine luxury and leisure in vehicles. The autos were all handmade and were reminiscent of bathtubs on wheels. Only nine were produced before the car was discontinued. It never did attract a following of admirers because of how strange it looked and the fact its price point was too high.

Suzuki X-90

This unique car masquerading as an SUV from 1995 to 1997 was a risky venture for Suzuki. The manufacturer invented it for the ‘young at heart.' It was a two door, two seats, overgrown sports car more than it was an adventurous all-terrain utility vehicle. The oddly shaped compact was an impractical investment as it did not hold much in the storage area. After two years of slow sales, the X90 was laid to rest.

BMW M Series

BMW made a questionable design choice when it produced the M Coupe from 1998 to 2002. The speed was acceptable, and the price point was well within the average car fancier’s reach, but it did not have the pizzazz that higher end Beemers possessed. It looked like a ‘clown shoe’ or a ‘bread van’ on wheels because of its odd shape – wider at the front than at the back which gave it an ugly look.

1948 Tasco

Tasco is an acronym for ‘The American Sports Car Company .' German designer Bordon Buehrig was inspired by WWII fighter planes and he boldly produced a prototype which ended up looking like half plane and half car. He claimed the auto manufacturer Chevrolet stole his patented T-Top roof idea and adopted it as their Corvette sports cars’ signature feature. The only Tasco ever made can be viewed at Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum in Illinois.

Fiat Multipla

This entry shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone reading this list. The Multipla has been the butt of more jokes than units sold, and for good reason. The ridiculous beltline looks as if the top and bottom halves were designed for two different vehicles, then mashed together by a child trying to jam a square top through a less than square hole. The goofy little headlights that bookend the bar that runs below the windscreen are ineffectual and highlight the already awkward transition point. While it’s hard to argue with the Multipla’s versatility and cargo room, no amount of interior space can justify what I hope was a miscommunication in the design department.