Ugly cars

I had a few of those when I lived in Vänersborg. You could get them for a couple hundred Kronor, back then. The ones with manual transaxles were not bad cars. The interiors were cheap-looking. However, they were thrifty and reliable. The ones with the rubber band CVTs posed problems and consumed more fuel than the standard transmission types, contrary to the claim that they were supposed to be efficient

That's supposed to be a retro for a stretched-out Fiat 600. If it didn't have headlights, it would be difficult to tell which was front.
It was so ugly that Fiat ended up building them with suicide doors, so that depressed owners and passengers could bail out into oncoming traffic.
The early ones were equipped with a whopping 22hp 4-cylinder which later grew to 700 cubes for the Fiat 700 (of course) and was later enlarged for the Panda. The 700 was an uncomfortable cheap car with an engine which sounded like it was always running without oil. It was unpleasant and I wondered if only die-hard Fiat fans bought those things:

 

Okay, that last one is a clear winner in my book. I see what you mean about needing the headlights to know which end was which. this MIGHT make it a little better!!

 

Ahuh,,, who makes that car called the ECHO,,,, they owe AMC an apology, they had 39 years to do better and they come up with this!! OH wait! that Co. cant do no wrong!!

 

I agree about the Juke. It looks like a frog. EVERYONE made fun of the Aztek, but these Juke's are selling. Crazy....

That said, the new Nissan Leaf is no looker either.

I'd also like to throw out the Honda Ridgeline and Element. They may be made really well, but both look like they were designed by lawn shed companies....

 

Exactly!

Some used car place around here had one of those little Fiat minivans for sale a couple of years ago, completely refurbished with a nice 2-tone paint job. Went for more than $10k......... I think they're kinda cute. Dangerous, but cute.

 

some of these new cars seem to be testing the edges of uglyness vs people's willingness to buy/own/drive these ugly boxes.

point was made with the honda element, the nissan cube/juke, aztek, that fiat. people will buy and drive anything, and be happy with their ugly vehicles.....

even some of the recent "retro" styled cars where not all that attractive

so the days of elegant lines, tasteful styles, beautiful symmetry, elegant chrome trim, warm wood accents are long gone replaced with simplistic dribble that's cheap to produce

 

Man, love to get one of those Fiat death vans and make it a mid-motor with a Toro/Eldo drivetrain.

 

Who do you intend on buckling into that hotrod death van, before sending them on their last joyride?

 

Around here with something like that, you wouldn't even need to drive it fast to get looks from people. Have it at a car show and everyone will wonder what it is.

I'd drive it, why not? Can't be worse than some of the "poorly engineered or built" rat-rods or tuner cars that are already on the road.

Apologies to those who do correctly build their rat-rods or tuner cars. I know there are a few.

 

Guess I'm in the minority; I LIKE Pacer wagons and I thought the Aztek was OK after they started painting the cladding in 2002.

I REALLY liked this version of the Aztek:


That got shown all over the place by GM, but never made it out of the "what-if", one-of-a-kind stage.



I've heard people say these were ugly, but I think they are really cool:




But I think these are ugly cars:

In our family, this is not so affectionately known as the Honda Elephant.



And though this might owe some style ideas to the Aztek, I think it's quite ugly:

 

That is a cool looking Aztek. I think it would look better with slightly smaller wheels and a little more tire.

I always thought the 59/60 Buicks were really great looking cars.

 

Yes, Like the original beetle that 600 has character to go along with its ugliness. If I could fit in one I wouldn't mind having it as a "something completely different" car.

mike

 

Some should wonder if it would have attained a higher top speed if driven backwards.
What's interesting is the independent suspension. The way it was set up, looks like it could have delivered a comfortable ride, despite the seats. There was plenty of wasted space under the driver's seat which could house a boxer engine and front-drive transaxle, in a modern version of such a vehicle. Pictured is one of these with a block which is 400cc's larger and who knows how many more horsepower. Now, it should be able to go uphill:

http://bringatrailer.com/2011/04/27/one-whole-liter-1962-fiat-multipla/

Don't be surprized, if BMW were to re-introduce the Isetta based on a similar platform.
Time to visit your neighbor 3 doors down, again:

 

Ohh that's ok, you dont have to say "odd" if you want say ugly in Australia. I know yours is an old request for ugly wagons from Australia but after reading through all of the next pages up until current, I am kind of surprised that no one from Oz managed to fill your request, so here goes. And BTW we don't have Vauxhalls in Australia, except some remnants left over from imports from the 60's.

As most of you may know, Australia is split down the middle when it comes to our local cars, you are either red GM-H or blue FoMoCo, but it has not always been that way. In the 60's and 70's there was a time that the Mopar boys had something to sing about as well. The 70's actually produced the best looking wagons locally from all the three car makers imho and I will post my choices in the good looking cars later, but for now, here are my pics for perhaps the most ugliest or oddest wagons made in Australia. Please note that these just my opinion, but they represent most of people thought of them at the time as well.

At number 3
The Holden EJ model
This was Holden's ugly duckling and it did not help the EJ's cause either when with a few tweaks and changes, the following EH model became one of Holden's greatest success stories as well.


At number 2
The Chrysler Valiant VE Model
This model Valiant is not too bad really, but it is not the prettiest of the 3 models of its generation imho. The funny protruding head lamp positions and quirky side sheet metal treatment (which looked worse on the sedan) kind of missed the mark a bit as well. On the plus side, the tail lights were nicely integrated into the tail gate which turned out to be a very rare style in Australia. I am also aware that these 60's Valiant's just like the 60's Falcon's did not differ much from their US cousins at the time as well.


And at Number 1 The very ugly Ford Falcon AU Model. This was worst one with the waterfall grill, but really the chunky tail gate with the odd glass is not pretty either, This car happens to be bullet proof (except for some head problems) and I would have no hesitation driving one around Australia though.



Anyway these wagons where considered ugly and or a bit odd in Oz in their day.

The
Premier

 

The Holden has charachter. I can't imagine getting bored driving it. Nice color too. But that Valiant would be unthinkable to own