The 1950s was a decade known for bold, brutalist architecture and some of the flashiest cars in history. With a booming post-war economy, people were eager to fill their new homes with shiny new possessions. Automakers competed fiercely to create the most glamorous and eye-catching cars possible. While some cars from this era were stunningly beautiful, others were simply considered hideous. Today, we’re looking at the 13 worst American cars from the 1950s that nobody wants back!
13. The 1950 Studebaker Starlight Coupe: A Polarizing Design
The 1950 Studebaker Starlight Coupe stands out in automotive history for its unique design that sparked both fascination and controversy. Produced by the Studebaker Corporation from 1947 to 1955, this model was part of the Champion and Commander series, designed by Virgil Exner. The Starlight Coupe embraced the post-war style, but its unconventional appearance often likened to seeing two cars moving in opposite directions simultaneously, left many puzzled.
The 1950 Studebaker Starlight Coupe – Interior
Its most striking feature is the wraparound rear window, a departure from traditional design norms of the time. Unlike other cars with separate side windows, the Starlight Coupe boasted a panoramic effect achieved through four fixed glass panels, leaving viewers questioning its directionality. Despite its engineering innovations, the Starlight Coupe was not universally praised; its avant-garde styling polarized opinions, with some hailing it as futuristic while others found its dual-direction appearance confusing.
12. The 1954 Buick: A Unique Yet Criticized Design
The 1954 Buick was part of Buick’s second generation of special models produced from 1949 to 1955. During this era, Buick gained recognition for its elegant styling and robust engines. However, the front-end design of the 1954 models received mixed reviews, often criticized for its drooping headlight bezel and somewhat grimacing grill. These elements contributed to a unique, if not slightly melancholic, appearance, leading some to humorously compare the car to Marvin the Paranoid Android from science fiction.
The 1954 Buick – Interior
Despite the criticism of its front-end styling, the 1954 Buick Special had its strengths. It offered various body styles, including sedans, coupes, and convertibles, catering to different tastes and needs of buyers at the time. Under the hood, it featured the Fireball V8 engine, boasting a displacement of 264 cubic inches and producing around 143 horsepower. This engine choice provided sufficient power for cruising, paired with an automatic transmission that enhanced its user-friendly driving experience.
11. The Rambler: A Compact Car with Awkward Styling
The Rambler is widely recognized as the first successful American compact car, developed by the Nash Kelvinator Corporation. Its design reflects a curious blend of automotive and household appliance influences. While Nash engineers focused on the technical aspects, the styling bore a distinct imprint of Kelvinator expertise in refrigerators. Introduced in 1949, the Rambler’s design, characterized by its skirted bathtub body, initially debuted on larger Nash models. However, when adapted to the smaller Rambler, this feature appeared somewhat awkward.
The Rambler – Interior
The car’s enclosed front wheels and rounded forms gave it a whimsical, almost toy-like appearance that failed to resonate with American consumers accustomed to associating size with status and quality in automobiles. Despite its engineering prowess and pioneering role in the compact car segment, the Rambler faced criticism primarily due to its unconventional styling. The skirted body, which debuted earlier on larger models, appeared outdated on the compact Rambler.
10. The 1955 BMW Isetta: The Bubble Car
The 1955 BMW Isetta, a microcar produced under license by BMW from 1955 to 1962, represents a unique chapter in automotive history. Originating from a design by the Italian manufacturer Iso Rivolta, it earned the nickname “bubble car” due to its distinctive appearance. Measuring a mere 2.29 meters in length and 1.37 meters in width, the Isetta boasted an egg-shaped body with bubble-type windows that immediately set it apart from traditional automobiles of its time.
The 1955 BMW Isetta – Interior
What truly distinguished the Isetta was its front-opening door, which doubled as the vehicle’s steering column. This unconventional design choice, while innovative, added to its quirky charm and practicality for navigating crowded city streets. Inside, the microcar featured a single bench seat that accommodated two occupants comfortably, with room behind for a spare wheel on a large parcel shelf. Despite its practical attributes, the BMW Isetta divided opinions due to its unconventional appearance, resembling a bug with its rounded shape and bubble windows.
9. The 1956 Studebaker Hawk: A Controversial Update
The 1956 Studebaker Hawk was part of a series that followed the acclaimed designs of the 1953 Studebakers. Crafted by Robert Bourke at Raymond Loewy’s Design Studio, those early models were celebrated for their striking aesthetics. However, the 1956 update took a controversial turn in its design philosophy. The 56 Hawk featured a distinctive tombstone grill that starkly contrasted with the smooth lines of its predecessors, becoming a defining feature met with mixed reception.
The 1956 Studebaker Hawk – Interior
Moreover, the exterior suffered from an excess of chrome detailing, which cluttered its facade rather than enhancing the car’s elegance. The small tail fins on the 56 model were criticized for being vestigial—too small to be functional yet prominent enough to disrupt the car’s overall symmetry. Despite the controversial design choices, the Studebaker Hawk offered several engine options across its variants, including a robust Packard 352 cubic inch V8 engine delivering 275 horsepower, making it one of the fastest cars of its era.
8. The 1952 Nash Healey: A Unique Collaboration
The 1952 Nash Healey was a unique collaboration between American automaker Nash Kelvinator and the British Donald Healey Motor Company. This partnership aimed to create a distinctive luxury sports car that combined American power with British craftsmanship. Initially powered by Nash’s Ambassador drivetrain, the Nash Healey featured a chassis and early bodies designed by Healey. However, its most notable transformation came in 1952 when renowned Italian designer Batista Pininfarina was brought in for a restyling.
The 1952 Nash Healey – Interior
Pininfarina’s influence on Nash Healey’s design was significant but controversial. The aluminum-bodied roadster received a lower one-piece windshield and distinctive rear fender bulges, but it was the grill and headlights that garnered the most attention. Placed inboard of the front fenders, these features gave the Nash Healey an unconventional appearance, leading some to liken it to a car in the midst of swallowing another vehicle. Despite its performance credentials, the Nash Healey struggled to resonate with mainstream buyers due to its daring design choices.
7. The 1958 Edsel: A Design Disaster
The 1958 Edsel stood out for its polarizing appearance, facing harsh criticism particularly for its front-end design. Whether it was the larger Citation and Corsair models or the smaller Ranger and Pacer, all Edsels shared a distinctive, widely mocked front grill and wide-set headlights. Publicly, it was likened to a horse collar, while privately, its appearance drew even more unflattering comparisons. The car’s profile, especially noticeable in the convertible variant, raised eyebrows for its proportions, prompting speculation about its structural integrity.
The 1958 Edsel – Interior
Beyond aesthetics, the Edsel faced issues with build quality, adding to its notoriety. This combination of design missteps and production challenges contributed to its swift decline in popularity. Named after Edsel Ford, son of Henry Ford, the Edsel was introduced with aspirations to compete with Chrysler and General Motors, aiming to capture a larger market share. However, the public’s reaction to its styling quickly sealed its fate, leading to a brief production span of just three years from 1958 to 1960.
6. The 1959 Ford Anglia: Awkward Proportions
The 1959 Ford Anglia endured stoically for nearly a decade with its awkward proportions and unconventional design choices. The Anglia’s sagging roofline, reverse-slanted rear window, and short trunk combined into a visual mishmash that puzzled onlookers. Introduced in 1959 and produced until 1967, the Ford Anglia 105E marked a significant arrival in the UK automotive landscape, representing Ford’s first major effort from their Birmingham R&D Center.
The 1959 Ford Anglia – Interior
Its distinctive front end and rear reverse windscreen added to its unconventional charm. Inside, the Anglia accommodated four adults with front bucket seats and a rear bench, prioritizing practicality over luxury. Under the hood, the Anglia featured a fuel-efficient 1.0L Kent engine generating a modest 39 horsepower, channeling power through a four-speed manual transmission. Despite its divisive styling, the Anglia gained popularity for its affordability and practicality, becoming a common sight on British roads of its time.
5. The 1959 Studebaker Lark: A Budget Option
The 1959 Studebaker Lark was introduced as a cost-effective alternative to larger cars, embodying a style that seemed to reflect its budget origins. Produced from 1959 until 1961 under the Studebaker-Packard Corporation, it later reverted to simply the Studebaker Corporation in mid-1962. The Lark cleverly utilized the body shell of earlier full-size Studebakers from 1953 to 1958, focusing on practicality and cost efficiency.
The 1959 Studebaker Lark – Interior
Visually, the Lark departed from contemporary American car norms with its somewhat uneven design. Available in various body styles, including two-door coupes, convertibles, sedans, and station wagons, it accommodated up to six passengers comfortably and offered ample storage space. Despite its compact size, engine options included a 6-cylinder Lark 6 and an 8-cylinder Lark 8, with fuel efficiency ranging from 16 to 23 miles per gallon. However, the Lark faced criticism for its handling issues, particularly with the V8 versions experiencing understeer due to their weight.
4. The 1958 Oldsmobile 98: Excessive Chrome
The 1958 Oldsmobile 98 was part of General Motors’ lineup during an era known for its extravagant and flamboyant automotive designs. However, Oldsmobile seemed to have taken this trend to an extreme with their styling choices for this particular model year. The car was adorned with an excessive amount of chrome, appealing to enthusiasts of shiny metal but overwhelming to many others. From the front to the rear, the body trim’s design seemed to have gone unchecked, resulting in a visually chaotic appearance.
The 1958 Oldsmobile 98 – Interior
The headlights featured a unique speed streak mascara design, which divided opinions; some found it intriguingly bold while others saw it as overly dramatic. Along the quarter panel, model train-like tracks added further clutter to an already busy design, contributing little to the car’s overall aesthetic appeal. Despite its technological advancements and powerful engines, the 1958 Oldsmobile 98 gained notoriety for pushing the boundaries of automotive taste, ultimately becoming one of the most visually challenging cars of its time.
3. The Hudson Jet: A Struggle for Market Dominance
The Hudson Jet debuted midway through the 1953 model year, entering the compact car segment to rival the popular Nash Rambler. Hudson, renowned for automotive innovations, brought its legacy to the Jet. While it shared basic suspension and chassis features with larger Hudsons, the Jet departed from Hudson’s distinctive low step-down design. Despite its engineering pedigree, detailed engine specifications remained scarce, but the Jet upheld Hudson standards.
The Hudson Jet – Interior
Despite these attributes, the Hudson Jet struggled due to a downturn in compact car sales in the early 50s. It failed to achieve the market dominance enjoyed by the Nash Rambler, which overshadowed its sales performance. Ultimately, despite its innovative features and Hudson’s automotive heritage, the Hudson Jet faced challenges in a competitive market environment that favored its competitors.
2. The 1953 Kaiser Dragon: A Striking Yet Flawed Design
In 1953, Kaiser Motors Corporation introduced the Kaiser Dragon, a distinctive model based on their second-generation Kaiser car known for its unconventional design. The Kaiser Dragon featured a double-arch windshield and a unique Darren dip on its rear doors, setting it apart from other cars of the era. However, it was the 53 Dragon that truly pushed the boundaries of automotive styling.
The 1953 Kaiser Dragon – Interior
The exterior of the Kaiser Dragon was particularly striking, boasting an embossed and padded dragon skin vinyl roof that gave the car a textured appearance. Adding to its luxury were bright gold work accents and an interior adorned with a pen-and-ink drawn bamboo pattern on the vinyl upholstery. Positioned above the Manhattan model, the Dragon aimed for luxury, exclusively available as a four-door sedan emphasizing comfort and elegance. Despite its luxurious appointments, the Kaiser Dragon faced challenges in the market due to its bold design choices and high price tag compared to competitors.
1. The Kaiser Darrin: A Pioneering Yet Flawed Automobile
The Kaiser Darrin, officially known as the Kaiser Darrin 161, was designed by Howard Dutch Darren and manufactured by Kaiser Motors for the 1954 model year. It remains notable for its innovative design features, built with a fiberglass body, making it the second American car following the 1953 Corvette to utilize this material. One of its most distinctive attributes was its sliding doors, which smoothly glided into the front fender wells, giving the car a sleek and sophisticated appearance.
The Kaiser Darrin – Interior
Despite its unique design, the Kaiser Darren faced challenges in performance. Powered by a 161 cubic inch F-head 6-cylinder engine, it delivered 90 horsepower and featured a three-speed manual transmission with overdrive. However, it fell short in performance compared to its European counterparts, such as the Nash Healey and Triumph TR2. Production of the Kaiser Darren was limited, with only 435 production models and six prototypes ever being built. Various factors, including financial difficulties within Kaiser Motors, led to the cessation of the program, contributing to its reputation as a pioneering yet flawed automobile of its era.