by Phillip Osborn

Created on: March 24, 2009   Last Updated: April 15, 2011

Ten Cars that Flopped

Since around the 1900's, the automotive industry has strived to increase its production with innovative improvements and advanced technology. This trend of auto manufacturing development also sparked the onslaught of vehicle concept tragedies.

In 1899, one of the first ridiculous attempts to evolve was the concept of the Horsey Horseless. As many still rode in horse drawn carriages, the Horseless vehicle featured a "realistic", plastic horse head on the front. The intention was to prevent the skittish reactions of passing horses, as they would just notice a friend of their own kind. Aside from its purpose of deception, the horse head also seemed to be the logical place to store fuelright in front of the passengers.

When German automobile manufacturers united a second-rate land vehicle with a deficiently functioning water mobile, they produced the Amphicar. This "innovation" was an attempt to seamlessly mesh land and sea travel, and sales were projected at 20,000 vehicles per year. With an under average rating of 43 horsepower, and top speed of seven miles per hour on water, the Amphicar came up short as a boat and a car. After four years, the production company folded, producing less than 3,900 of these floating failures.

In 1962, the Peel Trident was created. This "futuristic" car boasted an electric engine that offered a whopping 100 miles per gallon. Powered by a 12-volt battery, the 4'2" two-seater was introduced as the smallest automobile in the world. With its grocery-cart wheels and clear bubble-dome roof, many adults would be less embarrassed driving a tricycle down the road.

The Ford Pinto was a lightweight, rear wheel drive, deathtrap. Sporting a petite, four-cylinder engine, this car produced an inadequate 75 horsepower. It was styled like a downsized station wagon, and had a tendency to burst into flames when rear-ended. The doors would also jam shut due to faulty frame reinforcement and collision impact, leaving passengers trapped inside a metal box of fiery doom.

In 1975, AMC introduced their latest competitive vehicle, the Pacer. Marketed as a compact car with reasonable passenger room, designers' intentions were to unveil unique, ultramodern styling. Unfortunately, the completed product revealed an unsightly box frame with raised-dimension headlights, yet a rounded, fishbowl rear end. This mini "Frankenstein" also outweighed other cars almost twice its size. At over 3000 pounds, it offered an unacceptable 16 miles per gallon,

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