What do you think about these controversial cars?
Not all cars are created equal, and sometimes they go down in history for reasons so far from the one their manufacturers believed would make them legendary.
Some of them indeed become the classics everyone loves today, but others are so controversial and sparked so many rumors that we need to remember them for what they are and how they shaped the automotive industry.
We are about to look back at some of the most controversial cars and discover what really made them infamous. Are these cars deserving the reputation they have today, or do people simply misunderstand them?
Each of these cars has a fascinating story, and today we want to share these amazing tales with you. So buckle up as we explore some of the auto industry’s most controversial models!
Ford Pinto
By the early 1970s, the automobile market was already dominated by European and Japanese compact cars, so Americans had to say goodbye to their traditionally large vehicles and come up with smaller, more fuel-efficient models.
Ford’s response to this revolution was the Ford Pinto. This is a compact car that was introduced in 1971, and its main traits were its small size and economical engine. All seemed great, but this model led to serious compromises in safety.
Pinto was an instant success, and over 400,000 units were sold right away. But there was one big problem, one that made this car as controversial as we know it today. The gas tank was positioned directly behind the rear axle, which made the Pinto incredibly vulnerable in rear-end collisions. If the tank was hit, the car would explode.
Unfortunately, as the car got more popular, accidents started to happen. This has led to public outcry and lawsuits, and the worst part is that Ford was aware of this mistake all the time. They did nothing about it because, in the end, compensating accident victims would have been more profitable than fixing the cars.
There are over 500 fatalities linked to the Ford Pinto, and all of these deaths could have been avoided by simply adding rubber insulation around the fuel tank. Because of this, the Pinto will remain one of the most controversial cars in American history.
Dodge Dart (Dodge 3700)
Between 1971 and 1977, this car was the most luxurious vehicle on the Spanish market. It was produced by Chrysler Spain, and since it was an out-of-reach choice for the average Joe, most people who purchased this car were Francoist leaders and high-ranking officials.
But the luxury is not what made this car so controversial, but its participation in one of Spain’s most significant and tragic political events.
On December 20, 1973, Luis Carrero Blanco, then-President of the Government, was assassinated in a planned bombing that targeted his Dodge 3700. While he was following his routine route through the streets of Madrid, explosives planted under the road were detonated, and the car was completely destroyed. Carrero Blanco and two others were killed instantly in the explosion.
This incident transformed this car into the controversial topic it is today. Right after the event, Chrysler Spain issued a report in which they stated that the vehicle’s rear window remained intact and also that the turn signal continued to function even after the blast.
But this attempt to praise the unarmored car was met with harsh critique and seen as shockingly insensitive considering the nature of the event. Today, the Dodge 3700 remains one of Spain’s most controversial vehicles and will be forever tied to this tragic incident.
DeLorean DMC-12
This car has a story as intriguing and controversial as its stainless-steel exterior. The DeLorean DMC-12 became famous after it immortalized the futuristic time machine from the 1985 film “Back to the Future,” but this is not the story that made this car what it is today. The real history of the DeLorean is one about ambition, controversy, and near-tragic downfall.
John DeLorean, its creator, was a well-known personality in the car industry because of his great contributions to General Motors, including the iconic Pontiac GTO. In 1975, he created his own business and dreamed of creating the ultimate “ethical sports car.” This is how the DeLorean was born with its stainless-steel body and unique gull-wing doors, which were created by the Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro.
The DMC-12 had a bold design and was expected to become a huge hit, but with a 130-horsepower V6 engine, it was too weak to be the sports car everyone expected and too expensive for what it offered. The British government invested over £100 million to support the factory in Northern Ireland, and in the end, the sales were a disaster with over 7,000 unsold cars.
This is why, and this is where the story gets even more controversial, DeLorean turned to James Hoffman, a convicted drug dealer, and arranged a $24 million deal, expecting to save his company. The plot twist was that Hoffman was actually working with the FBI, and this resulted in a big operation and a scandal that ended DeLorean’s career.
Mercedes-Benz 600 (W100)
The Mercedes 600 is recognized as an automotive marvel because this is the car that exceeded any expectations and pushed traditional boundaries. This unique combination of luxury and technology was introduced in 1964, and everyone knew it as the “Grosser” or “Grand Mercedes.” This sounds like a story that is not controversial at all, but just wait for it because this is just the beginning.
The engineers who worked on this vehicle had an unlimited budget, and this explains how they managed to create this gem of a car. They were free to use all the resources possible to manufacture what was known as the pinnacle of luxury and innovation for its time.
Its hydraulic system, which controlled everything from windows to the trunk lid, was a pioneering feature, though it also made the car extremely complex and expensive to maintain.
1964 and 1981, there were only 2,677 units produced, and 600 of them had a price tag only a select few could afford. The list of owners includes various celebrities such as Elvis Presley, David Bowie, and John Lennon, all eccentric figures who were instantly attracted to the extravagant design and incredible performance.
This is also where the controversial part begins. The Mercedes 600 became infamous for also being the favorite vehicle of several authoritarian leaders and dictators. It was a situation in which the best of the best, Mercedes, attracted the worst of the worst, Saddam Hussein, Nicolae Ceaușescu, Kim Jong-un, Mao Zedong, and Leonid Brezhnev.
But despite all of this, the Mercedes-Benz 600 remains one of the most elegant and performant cars in the whole history while also being a symbol of absolute power and opulence.
Would you drive any of these controversial cars? Tell us which one is your favorite in the comments!
If you want to find out more about some cars that completely changed the automotive world, this book is an amazing place to start: 100 Cars That Changed the World: The Designs, Engines, and Technologies That Drive Our Imaginations
Have you ever wondered what the leaders of the world are driving? This is a popular question, and now we have the answer to it! Find out more in this article: Top 5 Presidential Cars Around The World
