15 nostalgic (& ugly) ’70s cars
The 1970s brought us disco, bell-bottoms, and automotive abominations. Between fuel crises and emissions regulations, automakers unleashed vehicles that were equal parts nostalgic charm and aesthetic disaster.
AMC Gremlin
The Gremlin sold for two-thirds the cost of most small cars, which made sense because it looked like two-thirds of a car. Design chief Dick Teague reportedly sketched it on an airsickness bag.
AMC Pacer
The Pacer’s fishbowl-like glass area made drivers feel like goldfish being boiled. Its asymmetric doors meant that when converted to right-hand drive, the long door ended up on the wrong side.
Ford Pinto
Beyond its infamous exploding fuel tank design flaw, the Pinto’s bland styling made it a vehicle that blended into the background. At least 27 deaths occurred due to the fuel tank.
Chevrolet Vega
Consumer advocate Ralph Nader sent GM’s chairman a 12-page letter calling the Vega “sloppily crafted, unreliable, and unsafe.” The aluminum engine buckled and leaked. Rust appeared everywhere. Engine fires plagued owners.
Chevrolet Chevette
Road & Track described driving a Chevette as “an exercise in lowered expectations.” With 60-63 horsepower, highway merges required careful planning and a bit of luck. The suspension turned potholes into theatrical events.
AMC Matador
The Matador Coupe’s massive front grille looked like a gaping mouth, giving it a perpetually surprised expression. Even James Bond’s flying version in The Man with the Golden Gun couldn’t save its bloated appearance.
Ford Mustang II
Traditional Mustang owners were repelled by this downsized disaster. The four-cylinder engine produced 88 horsepower, barely enough to power a lawnmower.
Dodge Aspen/Plymouth Volare
Straight from the factory, these twins were plagued by premature rust, carburetor troubles, and stalling issues. Some owners received more recall notices than holiday cards.
Triumph TR7
The wedge-shaped TR7’s tagline was “The Shape of Things to Come.” What came was mostly serious reliability problems and an underpowered 92-horsepower engine.
Volkswagen Thing
The Type 181 borrowed styling from military vehicles, making it beloved by hippies despite looking like a rolling cardboard box on wheels.
Chevrolet Monza
Based on the troubled Vega platform, the Monza inherited its many problems. The small-block V8 required dropping the entire motor to change rear spark plugs.
1970 Buick Riviera
The skirted rear fenders grew over wheels like runaway mold. The whole body looked like a drowning victim.
Chevrolet Laguna
The Laguna’s rough aesthetics featured no curvy lines. Pink interiors made it one of the ugliest places to spend time.
Oldsmobile Omega
Badge engineering meant the Omega shared platforms with the Chevy Nova, but cost significantly more. Vinyl wood grain accents felt purely decorative.
Subaru BRAT
The Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter featured rear-facing jump seats in the pickup bed. Its peculiar design made it instantly recognizable but rarely beautiful.
These oddities remind us that Detroit’s darkest design decade produced cars worth remembering, if only as cautionary tales. Survivors have achieved cult status among collectors who appreciate their wonderfully awkward charm.
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