Credit-Counsellor.ca |

Yank automakers often take the brunt of the criticism for producing models that are hideous, pointless, or downright deadly. Ford has had its share of beasts thru the years as well as many winners including the current Mustang for which demand can’t be met. For the fun of it let’s take a look at some of the Ford models that have been derided down through the years.

Model T - What?! How can the automobile that introduced mass production make the list? Well, the car was fine, but Mr. Henry Ford’s statement, “you can have any color you want as long as it is black” has been credited with the upward push of General Motors [who gave its customers 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 spookiest looking vehicles. Carrying a “horse-collar” shaped grille - some compared it with a toilet seat - the Edsel line was hyped by Ford and rejected by consumers wholeheartedly. Expecting to build two hundred thousand Edsels in its first year of production, only 63,000 were built. Other “radical” aspects of the Edsel included a “floating” speedometer that glowed on reaching a specific speed and an ungainly push button transmission with controls attached to the heart of the steering wheel. Even with a quick makeover completed in time for the subsequent model year, the Edsel limped along only to be pulled one month after the 3rd model year vehicles 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 Eastern automobiles flooding the market. The compact rear wheel drive coupe, 3 door hot hatch, or wagon sold reasonably well till disaster hit: the revelation the Pinto’s gas tank was capable of exploding during a rear impact scared buyers away. Mercifully pulled after the 1980 model year; replaced by the popular Escort.

Mustang II - Ford tarnished the Mustang name during 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 recently 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, do not forget to recall some really unmemorable models, foreign and domestic. The Toyota Truck was panned for its hideous styling and for having an engine that had to be dropped from the engine bay to do a tune up; the Chevy Vega - a Pinto would-be ; AMC’s Pacer - the Jetson’s car; the Suzuki Samurai and Isuzu Rodeo - flip over specialists; the Yugo - a thinly redone 1960s age Fiat ; and numerous other vehicles not worth the mention. You hope that automakers learn from their mistakes, but do not count on it. Perhaps in another generation we are going to see a really forgettable Ford show up, but for now there is not one in the line up…hooray for that!.

What is your dream car? Check out some of the fastest and most exotic cars ever built at thesupercars.org and also take a look at used F-150.