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Yank automakers often take the brunt of the feedback for manufacturing models that are ugly, useless, or even downright dangerous. Ford has had its share of beasts through the years as well as many winners including the current Mustang for which demand cannot be met. For the joys of it let’s take a look at some of the Ford models that have been derided down thru 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 need so long as long as it is black” has been attributed with the upward thrust of General Motors [who gave its purchasers a choice in colors] which ultimately unseaetd Ford as the top automaker in the planet. 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” formed grille – some compared it with a toilet seat – the Edsel line was hyped by Ford and defied by buyers fervently. Expecting to build 200,000 Edsels in its first year of production, only 63,000 were built. Other “radical” facets of the Edsel included a “floating” speedometer that glowed on reaching a specific speed and an awkward push button transmission with controls attached to the heart of the steering wheel. Even with a quick refresh finished in time for the following model year, the Edsel limped along only to be pulled one month after the third model year autos 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 during the 1970s to the attack of Japanese cars flooding the market. The compact rear wheel drive coupe, 3 door hot hatch, or truck sold fairly well until disaster hit : the revelation that the Pinto’s gas tank was capable of exploding during 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 forgettable and ugly model. Resembling a swollen and stretched Pinto, the Mustang II was puny, poorly made, and a terrible 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 age : the fastback autos of the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Before you point your finger at Ford, do not forget to recall some actually forgettable models, foreign and domestic. The Toyota Truck was panned for its ugly 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 wannabe; AMC’s Pacer – the Jetson’s vehicle ; the Suzuki Samurai and Isuzu Rodeo – flip over experts ; the Yugo – a thinly redone 1960s era Fiat; and countless other cars not worth the mention. You hope that automakers learn from their mistakes, but don’t count on it. Perhaps in another generation we will see a really forgettable Ford show up, except for now there is not one in the line up…hooray for that!.

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