Fifty Ugliest Cars of Past 50 Years

[Dave]

Fifty Ugliest Cars of the Past 50 Years


They're here at:

images.businessweek.com/ss/09/10/1028_50_ugliest_cars_of_past_50_years/index.htm?chan=rss_topSlideShows_ssi_5

[keith]

I only owned one car from the list although I had both the sedan & station wagon versions. I did drive a Ford Contour (which foreshadowed the 3rd generation Taurus on the list) for 11 years which probably qualifies me for extra credit. But ... I considered at least a dozen of these and admired both the Bricklin & DeLorean even though they were out of my price range.

That may be why I never hear the phrase "Keith, want to go car shopping with me."

[Dave]

For as long as I remember Citroen has always looked like it was designed by a small clique of Left Bank engineers who were purposely trying to make something ugly.

Either that or I just don't get it, which is entirely possible.

[Dave]

Now I liked the PT Cruiser design, although maybe for it's nostalgia.
I wouldn't buy a Plymouth, so I never had to worry about it. In fact, after my wife's two Sebrings (the first was a LeBaron), I'd never buy another Chrysler product. Those were the only two I owned. Oops, I did own a Dodge Coronet back in the early 1970's. That car was actually OK, except that the body rusted out quickly, something every other make was doing at that time.

[keith]

I would agree that anything with a first name of Citroen should be on this list. Remember the 2CV?

I can't believe you put down Dodge. The first car I ever bought my wife (there is one person who actually seeks out my opinion on cars) was a 1970 Dart Swinger. Sure when we sold it you could see the pavement without opening the door but it was a great car.

They did go through a bad decade or two but doesn't everyone?

[Dave]

I'd say my '65 Dodge Coronet got in on the rest curve a bit early, because I remember most of the rust bucket cars a being seventies models. I bought my Coronet used in '71 to be a second car, so when I later got rid of it in '74 its last three years of life had almost been totally devoted to rusting itself away. I remember the afternoon the guy at the gas station helped me get the hood up so I could put some oil in it. when I closed the hood both he and I could hear a thump that sounded final.
"What are you going to do?" he asked.
"Drive it till the oil light comes on again," I answered, "and then junk it."

That's when I replaced it with a used '71 Ford Custom painted Army green. I'm not kidding, when we passed convoys on Route 81 in the summer on our way to Watertown, my wife's home town, soldiers would salute us!

Here's a maroon version of my '71 Ford Custom.

[keith]

I had the same car only '66 & blue with maroon rust patches.