Worst cars, by decade
Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2014 9:49 am
I propose a series of threads where we discuss the "worst" cars of each decade. Pick whatever decade you like. Explain your criteria. Suggested criteria examples:
- Worst car in its timeframe, in its day, or within its genre (could involve aesthetic or functionality considerations)
- Worst car by today's standards (any and all factors, including desirability)
For me, given my age, I think that I automatically zero in on the 70s and 80s. In the 70s, cars I think were objectively not that good, but were still interesting (to me). In the 80s, I think cars got better but are less interesting and desirable. I blame that squarely on practicality (fuel economy) driving the cars' design characteristics. The first cut were lame as hell. As an example, I'll pick two cars to illustrate my thesis:
1983 Toyota Camry
Objectively a pretty good family car, and cars like this were commonly exciting to baby boomers who were happy to throw away all of the gas guzzling but interesting cars of their era. But there is absolutely zero desirability today. And without the perspective of the baby boomers who would have fallen all over it, I'm not sure I would have wanted to drive it in the 80s, either, had I been old enough.
I think the thing that draws me to the 70s is the large Cadillacs. There are other interesting choices, of course. On the low end of the spectrum, look at a Chevy Monza V8. In the case of a Cadillac, especially by the mid 70s, interest was waning due to the oil embargo stuff, so it probably wasn't that desirable by most people outside of the very old (or other stereotypes that you may enjoy). A V8 Monza was kind of interesting but I think it went down in history as not that good of a car. But today, it's interesting in that it was sort of an early 60s concept revived for the 70s (big engine in a small car platform).
Each decade should have its own thread. Each poster can set his own criteria within each thread.
- Worst car in its timeframe, in its day, or within its genre (could involve aesthetic or functionality considerations)
- Worst car by today's standards (any and all factors, including desirability)
For me, given my age, I think that I automatically zero in on the 70s and 80s. In the 70s, cars I think were objectively not that good, but were still interesting (to me). In the 80s, I think cars got better but are less interesting and desirable. I blame that squarely on practicality (fuel economy) driving the cars' design characteristics. The first cut were lame as hell. As an example, I'll pick two cars to illustrate my thesis:
1983 Toyota Camry
Objectively a pretty good family car, and cars like this were commonly exciting to baby boomers who were happy to throw away all of the gas guzzling but interesting cars of their era. But there is absolutely zero desirability today. And without the perspective of the baby boomers who would have fallen all over it, I'm not sure I would have wanted to drive it in the 80s, either, had I been old enough.
I think the thing that draws me to the 70s is the large Cadillacs. There are other interesting choices, of course. On the low end of the spectrum, look at a Chevy Monza V8. In the case of a Cadillac, especially by the mid 70s, interest was waning due to the oil embargo stuff, so it probably wasn't that desirable by most people outside of the very old (or other stereotypes that you may enjoy). A V8 Monza was kind of interesting but I think it went down in history as not that good of a car. But today, it's interesting in that it was sort of an early 60s concept revived for the 70s (big engine in a small car platform).
Each decade should have its own thread. Each poster can set his own criteria within each thread.