The 1970s gave us plenty of automotive icons, but not every design from the decade aged gracefully. In an era shaped by changing safety regulations, fuel concerns, and rapidly shifting trends, some manufacturers produced vehicles that looked awkward even by the standards of the time. Others seemed like bold ideas on paper that somehow became even stranger once they reached the showroom floor.
The cars collected here are the kinds of vehicles that make people stop, stare, and ask what the designers were thinking. Some are oddly proportioned, some are overloaded with styling cues, and a few manage to be memorable for all the wrong reasons. Love them or hate them, these cars have earned their place in automotive history simply by being impossible to ignore.
1. 1977 Reliant Robin 850
2. 1970 Subaru 360
3. 1975 Bricklin SV-1
4. 1975 Sebring-Vanguard CitiCar
5. 1974 Volkswagen Thing
Trending on The Scroller
6. 1973 Pontiac LeMans Safari
7. 1978 AMC Pacer
8. 1972 Chrysler Imperial LeBaron
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9. 1970 Marcos Mantis M70
10. 1975 Triumph TR7
11. 1971 Citroën Ami 8 Break
12. 1975 AMC Matador
13. 1970 Porsche 914
14. 1973 Lincoln Continental Mark IV
15. 1971 Ford Pinto
16. 1971 Marcos Mantis M70
17. 1977 Dodge Aspen
18. 1973 Fiat 128
19. 1979 Oldsmobile Cutlass Salon
20. 1971 Lancia Beta Berlina
Want to see more vintage car content?
Check out 20 Of The Best Cars From The 1930s, or take a look at The 10 Best-Selling Cars of Each Year in the 1980s. Finally, if you want to see people’s cars and bikes from the 1940s, check out 20 Vintage Photos Of People’s Cars And Bikes In The 1940s.
