There is exhausting research and design that goes into every vehicle before it hits the marketplace. Focus groups are used to test the potential consumer reaction to the styling of a new vehicle. But even with all these safeguards in place, there are just some instances where an automaker has gotten things wrong. In terms of the ugliest cars, drivers can never forget the Yugo, a compact hatchback sold in the 1980s.
Automotive design is tentative and there are never two designs that are the same. Some auto experiences have shaped the automotive industry in the last couple of decades, and not necessarily in a good way. These cars were downright hideous in terms of styling and design. When it comes to new cars, innovation is a great thing, but sometimes that innovation just goes a bit too far. We looked at some of the ugliest cars ever designed by major automakers here.
30: 1932 Stout Scarab
Surprisingly enough, the 1932 Stout Scarab was the world’s first unofficial minivan. The oddball shape was created using a rear-mounted Ford V8 engine. The design was made of aluminum before cars were ever thought of being built using this material. The interior was spacious, but the flat-fronted design gave the car the look of a bus (via Cheapism).
It also didn’t help out the reputation of Scarab, that it was named after an Egyptian dung beetle. The car didn’t go on to be popular, and it was discontinued early in the production cycle. Seemingly, the Scarab didn’t last for a long time, and consumers weren’t keen on the styling of the thing.