Can You Identify These Ugly Cars From the '70s?

Kennita Leon

Image: denizen24v via Wiki Commons

About This Quiz

The cars of the '70s were, according to experts, some of the worst in U.S. history. The oil crisis that occurred in 1973 did not help, especially because more regulations were put in place and smaller, fuel-efficient cars took over. All of this resulted in some pretty ugly cars, many of which we've featured in this quiz. These cars have weird shapes, some very unappealing design elements and some, looks aside, didn't even perform well on the road. People were constantly questioning the decisions of some car designers back then, and although we can laugh about them now, it was a sad day for consumers. 

So, we're going to call on your knowledge of ugly '70s cars in this quiz to see if you can name them from their pictures. Of course, you'll see the well-known uglies like The Thing, The Bond Bug and the Gremlin, but do you remember the Granada, Omega and the Allegro?  You might bear the shame of having ridden in one of these as your family car when you were a child, or you might even have (shudder) bought one yourself!

If you think you're up to the challenge of telling us the names of these uglies, then get started on this quiz. 

Do you have any idea what this car could possibly be?

Manufactured by the Chrysler Corporation from 1975 to 1983, the Chrysler Cordoba was a personal luxury coupe. The car featured a three-speed transmission and preceded the Chrysler Laser.

Can you correctly identify what this car is called?

The flagship model of the Oldsmobile manufactured by General Motors, the 98 was the most technologically advanced cars of its time. The 1977 model was downsized and built with a lighter but more spacious body.

Coming from a division of the iconic Ford company, what name was given to this vehicle?

Manufactured by the Lincoln division of the Ford company, the Lincoln Versailles was named after the city of Versailles in France. The smallest product of the Lincoln division, the Lincoln Versailles was a compact luxury car.

Can you tell us what this car is called?

The Chevrolet Gremlin or AMC Gremlin was considered the "first American-built import" during its production years from 1970 to 1978. The car was designed with a near vertical tail and shortened Hornet platform.

Match this ugly vehicle to its name, please.

In the 1930s, the Chrysler LeBaron was built using a body manufactured by LeBaron and a chassis manufactured by Chrysler. The 1977 models of the LeBaron were available as coupes and sedans.

This was initially created to be used by the Germans, but escaped to haunt the rest of the world! What is it called?

Officially the Volkswagen Type 181, the Volkswagen Thing was introduced in the United States in 1973. Built with a mechanical base similar to the Beetle, the Thing was initially developed for use in the West German army.

Can you correctly identify which of these names matches this car?

Produced by the British company Jaguar, the Jaguar XJs was sold as a luxury grand tourer. Designed based on the XJ Saloon, the Jaguar XJS was launched in 1975 during what was deemed a bad time. In the wake of the fuel crisis of the '70s, the XJS did not receive great approval.

Which ugly '70s car is this?

Produced between the years 1975 and 1979, the AMC Pacer was manufactured by the American Motor Company. Also known as the VAM Pacer, the car was designed in 1971 with a unique round shape and large glass area.

This car was a train wreck. What is it called?

Known alternatively as the Lancer Celeste, the Plymouth Arrow was one of several Mitsubishi imports. The Arrow was commonly used as a race car because of its aerodynamic, lightweight design.

Match this ugly car to its name.

Sold in North America as the Datsun B10, the 1973 Datsun was the third generation of the Nissan Sunny. The subcompact car became very popular during the fuel crisis and was offered in six different body styles.

This Ford station wagon wasn't as successful as the creators thought it would be. What is its name?

A station wagon assembled by Ford, the Ford Country Squire was marketed as Ford's premium station wagon. The 1975 variant featured hidden headlamps, catalytic converters and, in 1978, a 351 cubic-inch V8.

Also called the Plymouth Horizon, which of these options belongs to this vehicle?

Marketed under the Plymouth Horizon nameplate, the Dodge Omni was a sub-compact, five-door hatchback. The car was manufactured by the Chrysler Corporation from 1978 to 1990.

A fifth-generation GM vehicle, which of these cars, named after a weapon, can you see here?

The Oldsmobile Cutlass was first manufactured by the General Motors Oldsmobile as a unibody compact car in 1961. Part of its fifth-generation line, the 1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass was downsized to a 108-inch wheelbase.

Can you correctly identify which of these names matches this car?

The Dodge Dart was first introduced in 1960 as a full-size car by the Dodge company. For its 1970 edition, the car was redesigned with rectangular taillights and a more efficient fuel system. The Swinger name was used for the two-door hardtop variant.

Originally based on Ford's Falcon, this vehicle was made for 17 years. What is its name?

Produced as a compact and intermediate car, the Mercury Comet was manufactured by the Mercury company from 1960 to 1977. The Comet was initially based on Ford's Falcon, then on the Fairlane and finally on the Maverick.

This car, whose name contains an acronym, went by many names. Which of the following is one of them?

A light-duty, four-wheel-drive coupe, the Subaru BRAT was sold under several nametags which included the 284 in England and Brumby in Australia. The car's name, BRAT, is an acronym for "Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter."

Which ugly '70s car is this?

A successor of the Ford Falcon, the Ford Fairmont was made available as a two-door hardtop, a four-door sedan and a four-door station wagon during its production life.

This was inspired by a car with a similar name — think "horse." Which vehicle do you think it is?

A variant of the Ford Pinto introduced in 1970, the 1977 Pinto was redesigned with slanted headlamp buckets, parking lamps and an all-glass rear hatch. The new Pinto resembled a small conversion van and was named the Pinto Cruising Wagon.

Surviving over 30 years on the market, this vehicle shone brightly with its four headlights. But what was it called?

The Mercury Cougar refers to a series of automobiles manufactured by Mercury from 1967 to 2002. The 1971 variant was part of the second generation of Mercury Cougars. The 1971 model featured four exposed headlights and a larger center grille.

What is this ultra ugly car called?

Based on the F-85 and the Cutlass Supreme, the Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser 45 was manufactured from 1964 to 1977. The Vista Cruiser was styled as a station wagon.

This car only survived eight years on the market. What was its name?

A compact automobile, the AMC Hornet was manufactured by the American Motors Corporation from 1969 to 1977. The Hornet was produced in one generation and served as an experimental platform for various power sources for the company.

Coming from the Ford company, this car's first version is a classic. What's its name?

Built to meet the demand for smaller vehicles during the 1970s, the 1974 Ford Mustang II was available as a hatchback and hardtop coupe. A pony car, the Mustang II was built using the same platform as the Ford Pinto.

Choose the name that looks like it might belong to this car.

Produced from 1975 to 1987, the Chevrolet Chevette was manufactured as a three-door and five-door hatchback for its 1976 model. Built on General Motors' T Platform, the Chevrolet Chevette was also known as the Pontiac Acadian.

The brand of this ugly car includes the likes of the Corvette and Impala. But what is its name?

The 1977 Chevrolet El Camino was the fourth generation of El Caminos to be produced. The car was redesigned using the wagon chassis and energy-absorbing hydraulics.

Also called the Subaru Leone, what is this car's other name?

Also known as the Subaru Leone, the GL Wagon was introduced in 1971 by the Japanese manufacturer Subaru. The car was manufactured as a four-wheel-drive station wagon in 1972.

This ugly vehicle has a city in its name, but can you tell us what it is?

Marketed between 1975 and 1982 in two generations, the Ford Granada was a series of mid-size sedans. During its first generation, the Granada was sold as a two-door coupe and four-door sedan. A five-door station wagon variant was introduced in its second generation.

This car sounds like it was driven by a British spy. What is its name?

A two-seater, three-wheeled automobile painted in bright yellow, the Bond Bug is of British origin. The car was initially built by Bond Cars Ltd before production transferred to Reliant Motor Company.

This was the first coupe of its kind for its brand. What was it called?

Designed by Jan Wilsgaard in 1977, the Volvo 262c was Volvo's first luxury coupe. The car was assembled by Bertone in Turin, Italy. It was based on the Volvo 200 series.

Which of these names did this car go by?

Marketed under the nameplate Honda Z, the Z600 was a two-door hatchback city car. The car was manufactured by the Honda Motor Company from 1970 to 1974.

A British car, what name was given to this model?

The Austin Allegro was built by the subdivision of British Leyland known as Austin-Morris. The Allegro, first introduced in 1973, was sold as a small family car. The Allegro replaced the Austin 1100 and 1300 models.

An American company, they're responsible for this vehicle that's named for a bullfighter. What's the vehicle's name?

Manufactured by the American Motors Corporation, the AMC Matador was produced in two generations between 1970 and 1978. It was available as a two-door hardtop, a four-door sedan and a four-door station wagon.

Tell us which of these options best suits this car.

Designed by William Towns, the Aston Martin Lagonda is a four-door saloon manufactured between the years 1976 and 1990. The sedan owes its name to a marque purchased by Aston Martin in 1947.

Manufactured in Europe, this car failed miserably in the U.S. What was it called?

An adaptation of the Hillman Avenger manufactured in Europe, the Plymouth Cricket was sold in North America from 1971 to 1973. The car was designed as a small family car with rear-wheel drive.


Produced by Chevrolet from 1975 to 1980, the Chevrolet Monza was built based on the Chevrolet Vega. The Monza was built as a subcompact four-seater with a three, four and five-speed transmission.

Based on this picture, what would you say this car's name is?

Built in 1974, the Bricklin SV-1 was a two-seater sports car. The car was manufactured by Bricklin Canada Ltd and was easily distinguished by its gullwing doors. The car's name is an acronym for "safety vehicle one."

We mentioned this car earlier on in one of our questions, but can you recognize it here?

The predecessor to the Subaru Impreza, the Subaru Leone was introduced in 1971 and produced until 1994. During this first generation, the car was sold as a front-wheel-drive coupe.

From a Czech brand, what was this ugly car called?

First produced in 1956, the Tatra 603 is of Czechoslovak origin. The large luxury car featured a rear engine and was produced by the Tatra company as a part of a series of streamlined cars.

Pick the name that belongs to this car.

The first subcompact car to be manufactured and sold by Ford in the United States, the Ford Pinto was the smallest American Ford vehicle since 1907. It was first introduced in 1971 as a fastback and developed into a hatchback by 1972.

What do you think this car's name is?

Produced in East Germany from 1957 to 1990, the Trabant was manufactured by German company VEB Sachsenring Automobilwerke Zwickau. The car featured a 500cc two-cylinder, two-stroke engine and was described as being slow and poorly built.

Identify which of these names matches this car.

Manufactured and sold by Oldsmobile on the X-body platform, the Oldsmobile Omega was a compact car. A clone to the Chevrolet Nova, the Omega was available as a coupe, hatchback and sedan.

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