The Worst Cars From the 1970s

1973 Austin Allegro

Here’s another unique item from the company who just couldn’t seem to get themselves together during the ‘70s - British Leyland, this time under the Austin banner. The Allegro should have been a decent car, except it got hung out to dry by the company heads, who saw the growing market for hatchbacks and decided that the Austin Maxi should be the only hatchback in the lineup, even though the Allegro was designed for it. Early models also featured a quadratic steering wheel that was little more than a rounded off square. The manufacturer insisted that the wheel was futuristic, but quietly removed them for a more traditional steering design in 1975. The car’s dubious quality in early models took a toll on the car’s reputation, and with more efficient cars that suffered from fewer cost-cutting compromises, the Allegro petered out after a decade.

Our next car is a foreign model with an uninspired name.

1972 Renault Le Car

The Le Car was a rebranded Renault 5 for North American drivers, marketed through AMC’s network of dealerships at the time. The little subcompact was only offered as a three-door hatchback until 1980, running a small 55 hp inline four. There seems to be a deep divide surrounding Le Car; those who look back with rose colored glasses on what was an efficient and reliable econocar, and others who remember the ever-growing cost of repairs throughout the car’s lifetime as the body rusted out around the parts they were replacing. Surprisingly, however, track models of the Le Car fared well in stock C-class races at the time.

Our next up has earned its right to be featured on some unfavorable lists.