The 10 Most Embarrassing Award Winners in Automotive History

1971 Chevrolet Vega: Motor Trend Car of the Year

In 1970 during the gas shortage, General Motors had to produce a small car with good mileage. Thus the Chevrolet Vega was produced.Compared to the Japanese and German alternatives and the newly introduced Ford Pinto, the Vega was more attractive and more luxurious. Unfortunately the development of this car was rushed. in fact, the development was only two years. The Vega had a new 2.3 litre engine which used an unlined aluminum block. This block was mated with older technology. This engine produced only 80 hp. The aluminum block itself would leak oil into the cylinders. The Vega earned a reputation for being rust prone, in fact the front fenders often rusted out after one or two years. The poor all around build of this car turned off many buyers who often felt betrayed by General Motors and the American auto industry as a whole. Many of these buyers in growing numbers turned to Japanese imports. This along with other factors led to the eventual bankruptcy of General Motors.