Land of the free, home of the brave, America is one of the best countries on the planet. However, despite being on top of the automobile industry food chain, some American-made cars were not all that attractive.
Some American cars are ugly as sin, but people would still buy them right away. This is when things do not go too bad. Sometimes, domestically made vehicles are the kind of cars that never should have left the assembly line. Cars that would make your eyes bleed may sometimes cost a fortune though.
10 1948 Davis Divan
A lot of people had a go at engineering and producing cars. A lot of them became legendary over time. The DeLorean is the perfect example. However, some cars are just really mind-boggling. Despite their age and peculiarity, they just are not making the cut. The Divan is one of them.
Produced only between 1947 and 1949, the Divan was originally created to participate in racing events. The car was eventually never used for racing. The Divan is equipped with a 2.6L 4-cylinder engine developing 63hp. Though the performance of the car is not bad for the era, its looks are simply horrendous.
9 1952 Studebaker Manta Ray
The 1950s were an astonishing decade. Following World War 2 and the economic boom in America, families nationwide were longing for the next innovation. With people having more disposable income, it became a priority for inventors to come up with the right product in order to strike cold. The same process was taking place in the automotive industry.
The number of concept cars released in the US during the economic boom is staggering. Not all of them were great-looking though. The Manta Ray is another oddity of the 1950s. The dual-quad Cadillac lodged under the hood does not make up for the fact that the car is an abomination. However, since it is a very one of a kind vehicle, it is impossible to get it for less than $200,000.
8 1974 Ford Mustang II
During the second part of the 60s, Ford Motors released some of the most legendary muscle cars ever made. The several limited-edition Mustangs out there are amongst the most sought after vehicles. Unfortunately, mistakes do happen and Ford sacrificed a once iconic car.
The Mustang II does not even look like a Mustang. At best, the car looks like a poorly made Honda from the early 1960s. The Mustang is a beacon of sportiness. This car is the materialization of depression and loneliness. Its design is so bland and engine so slow that even Ford would like to forget about this edition of the Mustang.
7 1975 AMC Pacer
American Motors Corporation, or AMC, is a defunct car company that manufactured some very interesting cars, including the Javelin AMX and the Hornet. There however reasons why the company went belly up. Cars such as the Gremlin and the Pacer were atrocious.
The Pacer is one of the ugliest cars made in the 1970s, and that is saying something, given the fact that the 1970s were an era that witnessed a very weird transition in the automotive industry. The egg-shaped Pacer is as attractive as a portable blender. There is absolutely nothing about this car that would anyone go "Wow!"
6 1980 Dodge Challenger
During the 1960s and 1970s, Dodge manufactured some of the best muscle cars ever made. From the Coronet to the Challenger, the company's muscle cars were nothing to frown upon. The Charger and Challenger are very popular today, as they are perfect restomod-project material. The same does not apply to the Challenger built in the 1980s.
This edition of Challenger should be among the ugliest cars of the 1980s. The car neither looks nor feels anything like a Challenger. If anything, the car looks like a low-end Mitsubishi, which isn't a coincidence as the Challenger really is a rebadged Mitsubishi Galant. On top of being ugly, the car was as fast as a bar of soap, with the most powerful engine, a 2.6L 4-cylinder, producing 105hp.
5 1993 Chevrolet Camaro
The Chevrolet Camaro is the go-to car for Mustang haters. From 1967 onwards, the Camaro became one of the most legendary pony cars for obvious reasons. The 1968 Camaro ZL1 L88 is one of the most expensive collectibles, it's a true muscle car that really embodies American muscle cars.
The Camaro of this era should be amongst the ugliest cars of the 1990s. The 1990s were a weird era for muscle cars. However, a company like Chevrolet should have never destroyed a legendary car. The one depicted in the pictures above is the Z28. There is absolutely nothing about this Camaro that screams speed.
4 1995 Ford Aspire
The 1990s witnessed the rise of environmentally friendly movements. As these movements grew stronger, policies and laws were enacted and as a result, carmakers developed that were both fuel-efficient and less-polluting. Unfortunately, the vast majority of those cars were complete jokes.
The Ford Aspire, produced by the same company that created the Mustang boss 427, is a disgrace. The car is hideous. Sure, it is very practical in an urban environment. However, it is not the car that may help in specific social interactions. Now valued at about $1,000, the 63hp magic bullet is not a very memorable vehicle.
3 1996 General Motors EV1
As the environment was put at the center of decision-making, carmakers understood that the EV market was something to explore. They were not wrong, just too early, much like Toyota and its Prius.
It is also fair to say that the oil lobby played a great part in preventing EVs from ever becoming popular. Chevrolet's design team certainly didn't make things easier, as the 1970 Star Trek-inspired EV1 is an abomination.
2 2002 Pontiac Aztek
People often wonder how a carmaker like Pontiac can go out of business. After all, Pontiac released the monstrous Trans Am and the popular GTO. Over an extended period of time, the car manufacturer was looked upon as a serious contender in the muscle car scene. Sadly, Pontiac was not able to maintain its reputation, which led to the brand's demise.
This Aztek is the sort of car that companies did nothing but waste time on. The Aztek was meant to surf the crossover wave, but it majestically wiped out and got crushed by the competition. There is absolutely nothing on the Aztek that was actually thought out. From the front to the back end, the Aztek has nothing that would motivate someone to actually purchase this car.
1 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser
The Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles group is one of the biggest car conglomerates in the world. The group will merge with Groupe PSA in the near future, and form Stellantis. The mega-conglomerate is likely to release some insane vehicles in both the North American and European markets. Hopefully, both groups have learned from the PT Cruiser fiasco.
The PT Cruiser is the kind of car that failed simply because it was very ugly. Willing to bring an old school look to a modern car can be tricky. Dodge pulled it off with its Challenger. Chrysler completely failed with the PT Cruiser. It is a very confusing vehicle that is nothing but ugly and sluggish.