15 old cars we hated when they were new (but everyone wants today)
It is quite common to dislike a car when it is newly presented to consumers. Factors such as poor aesthetics, unimpressive performance, and even a high price tag are often responsible for such a reaction. Additionally, it has been repeatedly found that reviews and negative reviews from automotive journalists drive people away from a brand.
This obvious reality is a major dilemma plaguing this multibillion dollar industry, as it could result in millions of dollars of investment and years of hard work in the trash by uninspired customers. To mitigate this, companies are spending more time on market research and testing to ensure their product is right for customers while being innovative.
In contrast, most of these underrated cars end up becoming classics over time. The low sales or limitation that characterizes their production is always an advantage in the vintage car collection market. The tides have changed and these cars are among the most sought after cars today. Here are a few of them.
15
Chevrolet Corvair 1961
Priced at just under $ 2,000, the Corvair was the cheapest Chevrolet released in 1961. The car was criticized for everything it could be criticized for. From its design to its engine performance, the Corvair has received negative reviews overall. The 1961 Chevrolet Corvair was on Time Magazine’s 50 Worst Cars of All Time list. People called it the poor man’s Porsche.
14
1962 BMW Isetta 300
The Isetta is the result of a couple of engineers who work for a company specializing in the construction of refrigerators and scooters; therefore, we will give them a little slack. However, the car was fairly well received when it was launched in 1953, was acquired by BMW two years later, and carried its luck until about 1962, when people grew weary of its small size as consumers wanted “cars that look like cars” and also because of the price competition from the VW Beetle.
13
Tucker 48
The Tucker 48 is an example of a car that people hated because of negative reports. This 1948 automobile was named after its builder, Preston Tucker, and the year it was released – 1948. Everything looked good for Tucker 48, from its design to its powerful 166 hp engine. However, when a barrage of negative reports arrived, the entire company had to go bankrupt, declaring bankruptcy in 1949.
12
1969 Chevrolet Kingswood
In 1969, the Chevrolet Kingswood returned after its initial introduction for 1959 and 1960s models. These earlier models were criticized for not providing sufficient protection to passengers in a side crash. Although this error was corrected in the 1969 Kingswood, it was not enough to sway customers in the direction of Chevrolet.
11
1976 Aston Martin Lagonda
The 1976 Lagonda was ugly for a 1970s car. While its grand entry at the 1976 London Motor Show was impressive due to its somewhat innovative wedge shape, futuristic dashboard, and unique steering wheel, all this was not enough to change people’s unimpressive perception of the car. Fast forward to today; the 1976 Lagonda is a much sought after car.
ten
1978 Cadillac DeVille
There was a slight decline in sales of the 1978 Cadillac DeVille model compared to its previous 1977 model. Consumers weren’t as impressed with this model with a redesigned grille and hood as the first. Also, for context, the 1978 DeVille was selling for $ 10,444 for the coupe and $ 10,668 for the sedan, prompting consumers to go for a cheaper alternative.
9
1972 Dodge Challenger
The 1972 Dodge Challenger was a typical case of a successful car model. The 1970 model was a largely successful model built as a premium car to compete with the Mercury Cougar and Pontiac Firebird, however, the 1972 model was a scale model. That said, the 1972 Challenger is now a collector’s item.
8
1987 Porsche 924 S
When VW decided to stop production of 2.0L 924 engine blocks in 1984, it created a big puzzle for Porsche to solve, and the 1987 Porsche 924 S was one of those puzzles. Porsche needed to find a way to have an affordable entry option, which is why the company decided to fit the 163bhp engine from a detuned 944 into the 924S, but the original price was still too. as high as $ 20,000.
7
1991 GMC Syclone
The GMC Syclone is a truck with impressive performance, but it had a few drawbacks when it was introduced in 1991. Some believe the truck was unattractive, had limited passenger space to two people, and was only available in black. . It was not the type of automobile for a family day out and was not known for anything other than speed. However, this truck is currently a darling of truck enthusiasts.
6
1996 General Motors EV1
The General Motors EV1 was introduced in 1996 and it’s not that hard to see why it was hated back then. Externally, the EV1 looks like an automobile built by aliens for an invasion of earth. General Motors also had the idea that electric cars were an unprofitable business and ended up repossessing and destroying most of the cars. The EV1 is so rare today that an intact copy will cost more than a fortune.
5
Corvette 63
The 1963 Chevrolet Corvette is an original idea of ââGeneral Motors. The automaker, thanks to the expertise of stylist Bill Mitchell, must have thought it had pulled off a hit with the innovative split rear window that was one of the main highlights of the 1963 Corvette. complained that it interferes with the driver’s visibility. The design was abandoned, but its rarity makes it one of the most sorted after classic cars today.
4
Porsche 914
Collectors won’t agree, but the Porsche 914 doesn’t look like it lives up to its reputation. Therefore, it was understandable that many did not like the car at first. The base model of the 914 is fitted with a fuel-injected VW Type 4 flat-four engine that produces 80 hp.
3
1983 DeLorean DMC
There had been euphoria when the DMC DeLorean was launched in 1980. The car has an intriguing shape that sets it apart from any car ever produced at the time – this is largely due to its gullwing doors. Consumer bubbles quickly burst as the DeLorean was discovered to be extremely expensive and sorely lacking in power and performance.
2
1978 Concorde AMC
The 1978 AMC Concord was large and uninspiring. It certainly wasn’t the car people wanted, but it was the car they needed. The Concord is quiet, luxurious, and rolls easier than previous AMC models. The AMC Concord topped sales of three other passenger models in its first year, making it the best-selling AMC model of that year.
1
1989 Chrysler TC
The 1989 Chrysler TC came under huge criticism from some automotive journalists. They claimed it had so much in common with the cheaper Chrysler LeBaron GTC convertible. The TC’s lack of color choices, uninspiring performance, and unreasonable price tag forced sales well below expectations for the 1989 model.
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