Cars of the ’70s that were downright embarrassing to be seen in
For the automotive industry, this decade was a tough one. What made it even worse were the oil crisis and quality-control issues, which resulted in some unforgettable models.
1970 AMC Gremlin
This 70’s Gremlin was cheap to make and served the rough times of the oil crisis.
manufactured and marketed in a single, two-door body style by American Motors Corporation (AMC). The design reduced the wheelbase from 108 to 96 inches and the overall length from 179 to 161 inches, making the Gremlin two inches longer than the Volkswagen Beetle and giving it the look of two-thirds of a car.
1973 Reliant Robin
This three-wheeled Robin looks like the car you would buy when you can’t afford to buy an actual car.
The Robin was powered by a water-cooled four-cylinder 750 cc engine, with a fiberglass body attached to a box steel chassis. It was the first 3-wheeler to be fitted with an anti-roll bar to give increased stability when cornering.
1974 Sebring-Vanguard CitiCar
Here comes another 3-wheeler. This small wedge-shaped electric vehicle was produced by Sebring-Vanguard, Inc and it was inspired by Club Car’s golf cart.
And yes, it was electric. It ran on lead-acid batteries and featured a small, 2.5 to 3.5-horsepower DC electric motor.
1974 Volkswagen Thing
The Volkswagen Thing, or Type 181, is a military-inspired, open-air convertible. With removable doors and a folding windshield.
Because of increasingly strict U.S. safety regulations, the car was pulled from the American market after the 1974 model year.
Only 14,733 units were imported into the United States for 1974.
1975 Mercury Bobcat
Based on the Ford Pinto, the Bobcat was a series of compact cars available as sedans, station wagons, and hatchbacks.
Engine options included inline four and V6 units.
The car’s boxy, mismatched proportions and the disproportionately large, upright chrome grille made it look like a cheap subcompact.
1976 Aston Martin Lagonda
This wedge-shaped design by William Towns is known for its folded paper styling. It has a 5.3-liter V8 engine, pop-up headlights, and the automotive world’s first fully digital dashboard and touch-sensitive controls, but still, the profile looks harshly linear with a low front grille leaving it looking visually unbalanced.
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