Every now and then, the automotive industry gifts us with creations so visually challenging that they make you wonder how they ever got approved in the first place. These cars serve as a reminder that beauty isn’t always in the eye of the beholder but rather an evasive concept lost somewhere in translation from idea to production. Buckle up, as we take you through a list of cars that have, unfortunately, been immortalized in the halls of automotive infamy.
1. **Fiat Multipla**: This six-seater MPV was genuinely spacious and versatile on the inside, a real family-friendly vehicle. However, its exterior was so off-putting that it seemed like Fiat took a regular car model and forgot to finish the design. Its bulging headlamps and bizarrely wide body made it the butt of many jokes.
2. **Volkswagen Type 181 (aka Trekker/Thing)**: Originally crafted for the German military, the VW Type 181’s utilitarian design made it look like something cobbled together from spare parts. Its no-frills, boxy appearance made it look less like a car and more like a mobile biscuit tin.
3. **Nissan Cube**: True to its name, the Cube is essentially a box on wheels. While some might appreciate its practicality and spaciousness — perfect for urban living — its asymmetric rear design and peculiar window placement made it a divisive sight on the road.
4. **Cadillac Seville**: The 1980 Seville brought with it a design that seemed to melt as it reached the rear. Some collectors have seen beauty in its unique shape, but for most, it remains a reminder of Cadillac’s more daring, yet questionable, design decisions.
5. **Sbarro Autobau Concept**: Debuting at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, this was a failed attempt to blend supercar performance with unique styling. Powered by a Ferrari engine, the Autobau looked like an awkward blend between a batmobile and a concept car from the 80s, with styling that didn’t quite capture the imagination of the public.
6. **Chrysler PT Cruiser**: Chrysler’s venture into retro design took a detour with the PT Cruiser. Intended to evoke 1950s hot rod charm, it instead served as a lesson in how not to execute nostalgia, combining retro cues with impractical proportions.
7. **Aston Martin Lagonda**: Nowadays a collector’s item, the Lagonda of the 1980s is a wedge-shaped oddball that remains Aston Martin’s most controversial design. Futuristic at the time, it featured digital instruments and a minimalist interior, but its exterior left much to be desired.
8. **Nissan S-Cargo**: A play on words from ‘escargot’ or snail, this van’s design clearly took inspiration from the culinary delight, albeit with less charm. Its snail-like shape combined with a quirky interior made it a novelty rather than a practical vehicle.
9. **Fiat 600 Multipla Marinella**: This classic from 1958 was more of a curiosity than a practical car. Its diminutive size and quirky design made it look more like a fairground ride than a roadworthy vehicle.
10. **Plymouth Prowler**: With a design harking back to the hot rods of yesteryear, the Prowler was an experiment that didn’t quite hit the mark. Its attempt to marry old school cool with new school technology resulted in a car that looked more awkward than alluring.
Let’s delve even deeper into the hall of “what-were-they-thinking” automotive designs, and explore some additional eyesores that made us cringe and giggle at the same time. Ready? Let’s roll!
11. **Tesla Cybertruck**: Ah, the Cybertruck, which seems like it was sketched out by Elon Musk himself in the midst of a fever dream. While it boasts some impressive tech under the hood, its design is something you’d expect to see on a 1980s sci-fi movie set rather than on a modern driveway. Those straight, angular lines make it look more like a prop than a car, leaving many to wonder if someone left a giant ruler in the design studio by mistake.
12. **SsangYong Rodius**: You might think MPVs have a built-in excuse to be ugly, but even they can look halfway decent. Unfortunately, the Rodius didn’t get the memo. Designers aimed for luxury yacht vibes, but instead delivered what looks like an art project gone wrong. We suspect it’s been the subject of countless design schools’ “what not to do” curriculum.
13. **Rolls-Royce Camargue**: When you pair Rolls-Royce with Pininfarina, you’d expect fireworks. Instead, we got the Camargue—a car that looks like it was made by stitching together mismatched refrigerator panels. With a price tag that could make your wallet sob, it’s a surprise anyone wanted to see this in their garage.
14. **Ford Scorpio Mk2**: Sometimes, even a solid car can fall victim to unfortunate styling choices. The Scorpio Mk2, with its frog-like front end, exemplifies this perfectly. A wide-mouthed grille that could swallow smaller cars whole was clearly not what Ford intended, yet here we are, scratching our heads.
15. **Sin S1**: Sin Cars’ S1 is what happens when you let a Lego enthusiast loose in a car factory. While it may perform well on the track, its design leaves much to be desired, making it a cautionary tale for those who dare to think outside the box and perhaps a little too far away from what actually looks good.
16. **Marcos Mantis**: The Mantis is one of those cars that proves aerodynamics and beauty don’t always go hand in hand. Intended for young executives, it instead became the car nobody wanted. Its bizarre wedge shape left potential buyers running in the opposite direction.
17. **Saab 9-5 (2006 facelift)**: Even the most iconic brands can have their missteps, and Saab’s 2006 facelift of the 9-5 is a perfect example. With its headlight surrounds that resembled overzealous makeup, it’s no wonder it became the butt of many jokes among car enthusiasts.
18. **Triumph Mayflower**: Hailing from a time when Britain sought to export its own unique brand of luxury, the Mayflower ended up being more of a visual lament than a triumph. Its uninspiring design made it an odd choice for anyone looking for that British charm abroad.
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