Ugly Legends?!
Some of the most beautiful cars ever created have come out of America. But there's been more than a few stinkers, too! In fact, certain U.S. motors are so ugly that they've actually taken on a legendary status today. Don't believe us? Well, we're about to run through a rather infamous selection of them right here. Prepare your eyes, folks.
2001 Pontiac Aztek
While it might've boasted plenty of interior space, that didn't save the 2001 Pontiac Aztek from ridicule. The incompatible body panels? The weird angular design? The horrible rear-end? Ugh! It was a feast for the eyes for all the wrong reasons. But this motor has since become a cult favorite thanks to its bizarre look. Its starring role in Breaking Bad didn't hurt, either.
1982 Cadillac Cimarron
When the 1982 Cadillac Cimarron first rolled out, motorists were left in a state of confusion. This was meant to be a Cadillac? Why did it look like a rebadged Chevrolet Cavalier with a leather interior? Because that's exactly what it was! To top it off, the Cimarron didn't earn much praise for its performance, either. But the car's now seen as something of an infamous classic in America.
1986 Zimmer Quicksilver
We'll be blunt here, folks — the 1986 Zimmer Quicksilver is one of the weirdest vehicles to ever come out of America. Just look at this thing! It's a mish-mash of retro and futuristic styling, boasting some truly baffling proportions. But the Quicksilver's sheer boldness has won people over as the years have gone on. It's a hard car to forget.
1970 AMC Gremlin
To call the 1970 AMC Gremlin an oddball would be a major understatement. How many other cars have a rear-end like this? Its overall design still creates bafflement and confusion. But the Gremlin's bizarre appearance has won a lot of people over in the decades since. Now, it's revered as an ugly classic.
1975 Ford Mustang II
The 1975 Ford Mustang II is a muscle car without much muscle. It lacks the power of its predecessor and arguably looks a lot worse. So you can understand why folks were disappointed with it back then! As the years have gone on, though, the Mustang II has gained cult status due to its obvious shortcomings.
1996 Ford Taurus
Often derided as a jellybean on wheels, the 1996 Ford Taurus was never the best-looking car. But ugly or not, it proved to be a big hit at the time. And it's since found plenty of love from motor enthusiasts today. There's something weirdly appealing about that design!
1978 Chrysler LeBaron Town & Country Wagon
You'd be forgiven for thinking that the 1978 Chrysler LeBaron Town & Country Wagon is a wooden car. After all, it's covered in wood accents! Coupled with the unattractive body, it's a bit of a mess. Yet that hasn't stopped the LeBaron Wagon from becoming a cult classic today. Folks are drawn to the excessive design.
1974 AMC Matador Coupe
Is the 1974 AMC Matador Coupe an attractive vehicle? Certainly not! The body looks like it's been stung by a giant bee. And don't get us started on that grille. But the car's ugliness has slowly won people over. It's seen as something of a weird legend now.
1980 Chevrolet Citation
Boring design? Check. Odd propotions? Check. A dull as dishwater interior? Unfortunately! Yep, the 1980 Chevrolet Citation has always had its problems. Yet this motor is appreciated today. Don't forget, it opened the door for smaller vehicles that boasted better fuel economy in the American car market back then.
1958 Ford Edsel
Is the 1958 Ford Edsel the ugliest car to ever come out of America? It's certainly in the running! From the toilet-shaped grille to the weird body, it's a true oddity. But this disastrous effort from Ford has become an undeniable cult classic in recent times. Folks have found charm in its ugliness.
2002 Lincoln Blackwood
Looking for a luxury utility vehicle that's neither luxurious nor practical? Well, say hello to the 2002 Lincoln Blackwood! It's often described as a motor with an identity crisis, which is hard to disagree with. Yet that's actually contributed to the Blackwood's rise as a cult favorite over the years.
1971 Buick Riviera ‘Boattail’
The front-end of the 1971 Buick Riviera ‘Boattail’ is actually pretty nice. The rear-end, though? Oh boy. It's so tiny! It looks like it belongs to an entirely different car. But vehicle enthusiasts have really taken to this odd design in the decades since. It's seen as weirdly stylish today.
1990 Chevrolet Lumina APV
Essentially a wedge on wheels, the 1990 Chevrolet Lumina APV was a proper headscratcher when it first rolled out. Have you ever seen such a sloped windshield before?! It's still super weird, even by modern standards. But the Lumina APV has its fans today. If nothing else, it isn't boring.
1973 Chevrolet El Camino SS
It's hard to think of another muscle car that looks like the 1973 Chevrolet El Camino SS. And we don't mean that as a compliment, folks! This thing is cumbersome, bloated, and boasts an ugly grille. But its bizarre appearance has helped it become a weird legend today.
2006 Chevrolet SSR
Combining a pickup truck with a convertible, the 2006 Chevrolet SSR is unapologetically bold. But the execution leaves a lot to be desired. Bulbous is the word that comes to mind when looking at that ugly body! But the SSR's out-there design has helped its reputation recently.
1976 Cadillac Seville
A vehicle that's small, awkward, and chunky, the 1976 Cadillac Seville disappointed a lot of motorists back in the day. They expected elegance and splendor from this effort — they didn't get it, though! Yet despite the frustration, the Seville did open the door for similar-sized luxury sedans during that period, giving them a chance to thrive.
1987 Dodge Daytona Shelby Z
Under the hood, the 1987 Dodge Daytona Shelby Z is a pretty impressive motor. Everything else, though? Oof! The exterior is far too boxy for its own good. But the car's '80s aesthetic has helped it gain more fans today. Folks just can't get enough of that decade.
2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser
Don't hold a mirror up to the 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser, folks. It might just shatter! With its nightmarish headlights and hideous fenders, this is one ugly motor. But people have found charm in the PT Cruiser's awful appearance over the years. Now, it's considered a cult classic among car fans.
1989 Pontiac Trans Sport
Not to be confused with the Lumina APV that we looked at earlier, the 1989 Pontiac Trans Sport is another ugly minivan from that period. Among other things, its sloped windshield is utterly ridiculous! Having said that, this weird effort is something of a cult favorite now.
1975 Bricklin SV-1
For a vehicle that promised so much, the 1975 Bricklin SV-1 unfortunately fell flat on its face at launch. From the strange paneling to the bloated body, sports cars didn't get much uglier than this. Yet the SV-1's weirdness has certainly contributed to its cult status today.
1977 Dodge Aspen
The 1977 Dodge Aspen was anything but exciting when it first came out. To call it boring feels like an insult to boring cars! But folks have really taken to the vehicle's blandness in recent times. It's become a classic against all odds.
1990 Cadillac Allanté
Can a car be both bulky and full of flair? The 1990 Cadillac Allanté suggests otherwise! The fusion of the two styles just didn't work here, creating an awkward-looking beast. Mind you, the sheer boldness of the design has drawn people to it as the years have progressed.
1985 Oldsmobile Calais
The 1985 Oldsmobile Calais doesn't have much in its favor. It lacks muscle, flair, and style. That's bad news for a sporty compact! Yet car enthusiasts have found some charm in the Calais' overall dullness, raising it to cult status now.
2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
While it might be over 20 years old now, it's still hard to tell what kind of car the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx wanted to be. Was it a hatchback? A station wagon? A weird combination of the two? Whatever the answer, one thing's for sure — this is an ugly motor. It does have its fans, though. We're serious!
1979 Lincoln Continental Mark V
To say that the 1979 Lincoln Continental Mark V is a big car would be underselling it. This beast is absolutely huge! The hood alone is the size of a small car. Despite its massive, somewhat impractial frame, though, the Mark V is a cult favorite today.
1975 AMC Pacer
The 1975 AMC Pacer is both horribly ugly and underpowered. Talk about an unwanted combo! But it does stand out compared to other cars from that period. And thanks to its starring role in Wayne's World, its place in pop culture is assured.
1962 Dodge Dart
Is the 1962 Dodge Dart a powerful car? Most definitely. Good-looking, though? No way! This vehicle has a ton of questionable design choices. The weirdly-placed headlights and ugly grille are just a couple of examples. But the Dart's unique appearance has helped it become a cult classic today.
1993 Chevrolet Camaro
When it comes to the 1993 Chevrolet Camaro, the engine does a lot of heavy lifting. Visually, this car pales in comparison to the beautiful Camaros of previous decades. But people have grown to love this ugly effort in recent times.
1995 Ford Aspire
While compact cars can be quite stylish, the same can't be said about the 1995 Ford Aspire. This ugly little vehicle has a design that only a mother could love! Yet the Aspire's reliability and practical features have earned it some leeway recently.
1995 Pontiac Sunfire GT Coupe
Did the 1995 Pontiac Sunfire GT Coupe live up to the likes of the Firebird and the GTO when it first came out? Nope! In addition to its ugly appearance, this car didn't tick many boxes back then. It does have its fans now, though.
1999 Oldsmobile Aurora
It's hard to believe there's a V8 engine sitting beneath that bland body. That's about the only thing the 1999 Oldsmobile Aurora has going for it! Despite its boring design, car enthusiasts have grown a real appreciation for its performance.
1996 General Motors EV1
At first glance, we wouldn't blame anyone for thinking that the 1996 General Motors EV1 is a toy car. But it isn't! Despite its rather unflattering appearance, this motor is seen as a pioneer for electric vehicles. It helped pave the way back then.
1965 AMC Rambler Marlin
A strange mish-mash of straight lines and curves, the 1965 AMC Rambler Marlin baffled plenty of people back in the day. Yet folks seem to be more open to its weird design now. A cult classic? You bet!
1968 Oldsmobile Toronado
Is the 1968 Oldsmobile Toronado a good-looking car? It's hard to make a case for it. This thing is bulbous in all the wrong ways! But thanks to a strong V8 engine that packs a heck of a punch, it's found plenty of love in the decades since its release.
