American automakers occasionally take the brunt of the criticism for manufacturing models that are ugly, useless, or even downright perilous. Ford has had its share of beasts thru the years as well as many winners including the present Mustang for which demand can’t be met. For the joys of it let’s have a look at some of the Ford models that have been derided down thru the years.
Model T – What?! How can the car that introduced mass production make the list? Well, the vehicle was fine, but Mr. Henry Ford’s statement, “…you can have any color you would like so long as long as it is black” has been traced with the upward push of General Motors [who gave its clients a choice in colors] which ultimately unseaetd Ford as the top automaker in the world. No, the Model T was fine, but Mr. Ford’s advertising strategy was not.
Edsel – In September 1957, Ford launched a new division – Edsel – and introduced to America one of the weirdest looking vehicles. Carrying a “horse-collar” formed grille – some compared it with a toilet seat – the Edsel line was hyped by Ford and rejected by shoppers earnestly . Expecting to build 200,000 Edsels in its first year of production, only 63,000 were built. Other “radical” sides of the Edsel included a “floating” speedometer that glowed upon reaching a specific speed and an ungainly push button transmission with controls attached to the hub of the wheel. Even with a quick makeover finished in time for the next model year, the Edsel limped along only to be pulled one month after the 3rd model year cars were released.
Pinto – Hey, even I owned one! With a 2.3L inline four cylinder twinned with a 4 speed manny tranny, the Pinto was Ford’s answer in the 1970s to the attack of Japanese cars flooding the market. The compact rear wheel drive coupe, 3 door hatchback, or truck sold fairly well till disaster hit : the revelation the Pinto’s gas tank was capable of exploding in a rear impact frightened buyers away. Mercifully pulled after the 1980 model year; replaced by the favored Escort.
Mustang II – Ford tarnished the Mustang name in the 1970s with this unmemorable and ugly model. Resembling a bloated and stretched Pinto, the Mustang II was weak, poorly made, and an awful competitor against its arch rival, the Camaro. All was forgiven by the early 1980s with the return of a newly designed Mustang. Today’s Mustang, on the other hand, is a sold-out success story as it took its styling cues from a Mustang of another time : the fastback vehicles of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Before you point your finger at Ford, don’t forget to recall some really unmemorable models, foreign and domestic. The Toyota Van was panned for its hideous styling and for having an engine that needed to be dropped from the engine bay in order to do a tune ; the Chevy Vega – a Pinto would-be ; AMC’s Pacer – the Jetson’s car; the Suzuki Samurai and Isuzu Rodeo – flip over experts ; the Yugo – a thinly redone 1960s time Fiat ; and countless other vehicles not worth the mention. You hope that automakers learn from their mistakes, but don’t count on it. Perhaps in another generation we are going to see a very unmemorable Ford show up, except for now there is not one in the line up…hooray for that!.
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