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MOTORING NEWS - When it comes to Worst Car Names, there have been many contenders, going all the way back to the Studebaker Dictator of the 1930s. Manufacturers sometimes just run out of name ideas, and thus we get Renault's Le Car, for example. Here are some names which probably should have been changed to something a bit more dignified:
Dictator
Studebaker came out with the sternly named Dictator in 1927 and rolled out the first model in 1928. Ironically this was a time when dictators like Hitler and Stalin were gearing up to take on the world. They would have looked right at home in the entry-level, lowest priced Dictator, which was built with eight or six cylinders.
The name "Dictator" came about because it was supposed to "dictate the standard" for automobiles. Studebaker sought to lend dignity and prestige to its modest cars, also offering models like the President and the Chancellor.
The name Dictator was not used in countries of the British empire, there it was called the Director. In 1937, Studebaker re-christened it the Commander and kept on building it.
1936 Studebaker Dictator SixPhotos: Wikimedia Commons
Le Car
The late 1970s saw car makers aiming for the modest, low-cost market with the Ford Fiesta and the VW Rabbit, because consumers had to watch petrol consumption during the oil crisis of the time. Renault's "Le Car" was the snazzy European version of a nice cheap car. It sold well in Europe but not in the USA, where it was offered from 1976 to 1983. (In French "le car" actually means "the bus".) In 1979, Le Car was cheaper than the Honda Civic hatchback. Le Car boasted a 42kW engine, but it was not as powerful as the Civic's 46kW. Unfortunately, it was hard to find "le parts" to fix Le Car and within a few years Renault left America, never to return.
Le Car.
Lettuce
Mitsubishi debuted its Minica Lettuce in 1989, at a time when the Japanese car industry was booming and they optimistically thought Japanese ladies might like to drive a healthy-sounding car. The 550cc engine translated to a modest 34kW and met government regulations for a modest "kei" car. The hatchback was three metres long and 1,3 metres wide. There were two doors on the passenger side but only one on the driver's side.
Believe it or not, the Lettuce was an improvement over other modest cars of the time. It braked better, had a bigger interior and all-wheel drive. Power steering, power seats, and power windows came as standard. Primarily designed for Japanese women to drive on tiny, narrow streets, the Lettuce was not recommended for highway driving.
Charade
Would you want to drive a car whose name is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as "an empty or deceptive act or pretence"? Despite this, it turned out to be a surprisingly successful model. Japan's Daihatsu Charade was meant to rival the Lettuce, but was roomier. Produced in North America from 1977 to 2000 and billed as a premium compact, the front wheel drive car was originally available as a hatchback and boasted an all-aluminium three cylinder (993cc) engine. In Japan, the Charade was very popular and was named Car of the Year in 1979. The Charade was popular in South American countries from 1977 throughout the 1980s. In the 1980s the Charade won racing car competitions. In the United States, the Charade was only sold between 1988 and 1992, but did not sell well.
Probe
From 1988 until 1997, Ford produced the unfortunately-named "Probe", a name that brought to mind a painful medical procedure or possibly alien abduction. The front-wheel-drive coupe was supposed to replace the more elegantly named Capri in Europe, but it never succeeded in market penetration. Ford and Mazda worked on the car together and it was built on a Mazda platform, using many Mazda parts that were also used in the Mazda MX6, which lowered production costs. The design elements included covered rear wheels and pop-up headlights.
The LX model had a moon roof. The GT model featured an intercooled engine and 4-wheel disc brakes. In 1994 the GT model was offered in a special "Wild Orchid" edition. In 1997 a rare "GTS" package was offered including racing stripes, chrome-plated wheels, and a spoiler - and today those models are extremely rare.
The Probe lasted two generations.
Brat
Manufactured from 1978 until 1993, the Brat is a two-door coupé that's also a four-wheel drive truck. The name conjures up images of obnoxious children, but is actually an acronym for Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter. The rear features seats that face backward, open to the elements. The Brat offers interesting features, including a spare tyre mounted under the hood, a spring-loaded hidden door for a side step into the cargo bed and a T-top split roof. Manual transmission was standard.
Australians bought the Brat but there it was called the Brumby. In the United Kingdom it was known as the 284. Notable owners include Ronald Reagan, who used a Brat on his California ranch.
Gremlin
In the 1970s if you were in the market for a subcompact, the Gremlin was a great choice. Of course, a gremlin is defined as a "small, mischievious gnome" and its synonyms include elf, troll, goblin and hobgoblin! Manufacturer American Motor Corporation (AMC) said the Gremlin was "a pal to its friends and an ogre to its enemies".
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When AMC introduced the Gremlin in 1970 it was described as an economical car. The drawbacks were that it only offered two doors and the back seat was tiny, although the wide body gave it a comfortable ride for folks in the front seat. The hatchback design was new at that time.
The Gremlin was produced until 1978 when sales had fallen as newer subcompacts were introduced to the market.
Ford Ka
Ford started producing the Ka in 1996 and the compact was produced on the same platform as the Ford Fiesta, although with better design and styling. The design offered better durability and easier repairs because of its large, one-piece moulded bumpers and wheel arches. The public was initially not thrilled with its New Age design, but the motoring press noted it had good handling and cornering and good grip levels due to its suspension and steering.
In the United Kingdom, the Ka has been a best-selling model for years. A luxury model with leather seats and standard air conditioning was also offered, as well as a sports model. The Ka has proved popular in England and was manufactured up to 2016. A good few of them are still seen in our region, so the owners are happy, it seems.
Thing
In 1973 and 1974 Volkswagen decided that America was ready for a car that looked like a small child's version of a toy jeep. The two-wheel drive convertible "Thing" was christened exactly that and offered for sale. In the UK it was called the Trekker and in Mexico, it was the Safari. In Germany, it was the Kurierwagon. Originally, Thing was designed for German military use. It was a unique vehicle.
Thing.
The windows and doors could easily be removed. A drain in the floor made it easy to clean up with a hose. Its windshield folded down. Drawbacks? The engine only offered 41kW and the top speed was 114km. Things are now very popular in the classic car market.
Cedric
Introduced in 1960, it proved to be popular in Japan despite the name. The Cedric has a literary connection, inspired by the main character in Frances Hodgson Burnett's novel Little Lord Fauntleroy. The Nissan CEO at the time, Katsuji Kawamata, said he liked the association, but it was not a major selling point for American consumers. Offered in North America from 1960 until 2015 as a two-door coupé, a four-door sedan, wagon or hardtop, Cedric was supposed to be seen as upscale transportation. In Japan, it was one of the cars in the Cedric/Gloria series known as the CedGlo, and it was a competitor for the Toyota Crown.
Source: https://automobilefanatics.com
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