Can You Name These Unpopular Cars From the '70s?

Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Can You Name These Unpopular Cars From the '70s?
Image: Pixabay by LloydTheVoid

About This Quiz

Can you tell the difference between a Mustang II and a Chevy Chevette? Could you distinguish between a Pacer and a Gremlin, or a Yugo and a Hornet? Take our quiz to see how many of these unpopular '70s rides you can name!

Let's face it ... car makers didn't exactly have it easy during the '70s. In fact, the decade may be one of the worst ever for auto companies, both in the U.S. and around the globe. 

But what made it so tough for car companies to succeed in the era of disco, Nixon, and the Sexual Revolution? First, there was the effect of tightening safety and emissions standards designed to help save lives and protect the environment. Then there was the recession that began in the early part of the decade, which effectively ended the feel-good economic boom that had endured since WWII.

And then, of course, there was oil. Oil embargoes meant high gas prices and long lines at the pumps, leaving buyers desperate for cars that would burn fuel more efficiently. 

All of these changes left auto manufacturers scrambling to create cars to meet changing demands. While many classic cars were produced during the decade, the '70s is also known for some less than classic models, including some that routinely rank among the worst cars ever made.

Think you can name the least popular cars of the '70s? Prove it with this quiz!

Mercury Bobcat
Wiki Commons by Crwpitman
Can you name this '70s ride -- which was really just a Pinto sold under a different brand name?
Mercury Bobcat
Plymouth Arrow
Lincoln Versailles
Ford Pinto
AMC Pacer
Wiki Commons by Christopher Ziemnowicz
This '70s car wouldn't have looked out of place on a series like "The Jetsons."
Ford Fairmont
Dodge Omni
AMC Pacer
Chrysler Imperial LeBaron
Chrysler Cordoba
Wiki Commons John Lloyd
What is the name of this extra-long personal luxury vehicle introduced in 1975?
Chevy Monza
Dodge Challenger
Volkswagen Thing
Chrysler Cordoba

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Ford Pinto
Wiki Commons Dave_7
What is the name of this infamous '70s subcompact?
Renault Le Car
Ford Pinto
Chevy Vega
AMC Gremlin
Lincoln Versailles
Wiki Commons by Jeremy
This car came out in the late '70s to take on the Cadillac Seville.
Ford Maverick
Dodge Omni
Lincoln Versailles
Bricklin SV1
Ford Fairmont
Wiki Commons by FotoSleuth
This car was also sold under the Mercury Zephyr name.
Ford Fairmont
Chrysler Imperial LeBaron
Renault Le Car
Chrysler Cordoba

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Plymouth Arrow
Wiki Commons by Menright63
What is the name of this '70s vehicle, which was featured in a Harry Nilsson song?
Triumph TR7
AMC Gremlin
Ford Mustang II
Plymouth Arrow
Chevy Monza
Wiki Commons by Accord14
Can you ID this vehicle -- a ride designed to compete with the Mustang II?
Mercury Bobcat
Renault Le Car
Chevy Monza
Ford Pinto
Ford Mustang II
Wiki Commons by Greg Gjerdingen
This car was built using the same body as the Ford Pinto.
Yugo
Ford Mustang II
Lincoln Versailles
Plymouth Cricket

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Volkswagen Thing
Wiki Commons by Charlemann
This vehicle was also known as the Type 181 or Trekker.
Ford Fairmont
Dodge Omni
Renault Le Car
Volkswagen Thing
Chevy Chevette
Wiki Commons by Renzo Maia
This '70s subcompact sold fairly well, but still winds up on many lists of unpopular '70s cars.
Chevy Chevette
Dodge Challenger
AMC Pacer
Chrysler Cordoba
Fiat Strada
Pixabay by Iwona_Olczyk
What is the name of this British supermini?
Ford Pinto
Bricklin SV1
Chrysler Imperial LeBaron
Fiat Strada

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Austin Allegro
Wiki Commons by Riley
What is the name of this '70s British ride?
Chevy Monza
Lincoln Versailles
Plymouth Arrow
Austin Allegro
Ford Mustang Cobra II
Wiki Commons by Greg Gjerdingen
Can you name this muscle car released in 1976?
Rolls Royce Camargue
Ford Mustang Cobra II
Chrysler Cordoba
Mercury Bobcat
Renault Le Car
Wiki Commons by Ryanandlenny
Think you can identify this French-made '70s model?
Renault Le Car
Volkswagen Thing
Ford Fairmont
Triumph TR7

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AMC Gremlin
Wiki Commons by Christopher Ziemnowicz
What is the name of this '70s car, which was plagued with problems?
AMC Gremlin
Lincoln Versailles
Ford Pinto
Chevy Monza
Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser
Wiki Commons by Greg Gjerdingen
Can you ID this '70s wagon that appeared on "That '70s Show?"
Renault Le Car
Chevy Chevette
AMC Pacer
Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser
Ford Maverick
Wiki Commons by Jeremy
This '70s car was also sold under the name Mercury Comet.
Volkswagen Thing
Chrysler Imperial LeBaron
Ford Maverick
Chrysler Cordoba

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Chevy Vega
Wiki Commons by Vegavairbob
Can you name this '70s car that severely damaged the reputation of auto giant GM?
Dodge Omni
Chevy Vega
Mercury Bobcat
Ford Pinto
Reliant Robin
Wiki Commons by Charles01
Can you name this three-wheeled wonder?
Bricklin SV1
Chevy Vega
Reliant Robin
Plymouth Arrow
Triumph Stag
Wiki Commons by Allen Watkin
Can you identify this '70s convertible coupe from across the pond?
Ford Fairmont
AMC Pacer
Lincoln Versailles
Triumph Stag

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Aston Martin Lagonda
Wiki Commons Dave_7
Do you know the make and model of this '70s luxury sedan?
Renault Le Car
Aston Martin Lagonda
Triumph TR7
Chevy Monza
Morris Marina
Wiki Commons by Allen Watkin
This 70's ride often appeared on the series "Top Gear" -- where the show's hosts dropped a piano on the car at different times.
Morris Marina
Chrysler Cordoba
Dodge Challenger
Ford Pinto
AMC Hornet
Wiki Commons by Hiaburi
This '70s ride was discontinued in 1977 due to slow sales.
Volkswagen Thing
AMC Hornet
Chrysler Imperial LeBaron
Dodge Omni

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Rolls Royce Camargue
Wiki Commons by Spanish Coches
This '70s car was one of the most expensive cars on the market when it came out in 1975.
Renault Le Car
Chevy Vega
Rolls Royce Camargue
Lincoln Versailles
yugo
Wiki Commons by Lukas 3z
Can you name this infamous ugly '70s ride?
Yugo
Plymouth Arrow
Volkswagen Thing
Ford Fairmont
Plymouth Cricket
Youtube by Peelp50
This car was marketed to compete with the VW Beetle.
Ford Pinto
Plymouth Cricket
AMC Pacer
Bricklin SV1

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Jaguar XK-E
Wiki Commons by Spanish Coches
Can you name this luxury '70s model?
Mercury Bobcat
Dodge Omni
Jaguar XK-E
Chrysler Cordoba
Subaru Brat
Wiki Commons by Greg Gjerdingen
Just the name of this vehicle was enough to keep it from becoming a huge bestseller in the '70s.
Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser
Triumph TR7
Chevy Vega
Subaru Brat
Dodge Omni
Wiki Commons by Dave_7
This subcompact was also sold under the name Plymouth Horizon.
Chrysler Imperial LeBaron
Lincoln Versailles
Dodge Omni
Ford Pinto

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Volvo 262C
Wiki Commons by de:Benutzer:Bettenburg
What is the name of the luxury coupe, which came out in 1977?
AMC Pacer
Volvo 262C
Plymouth Arrow
Chevy Monza
Mazda Rotary Pickup
Wiki Commons by Motohide Miwa
This vehicle featured a very unusual Wankel engine.
Mazda Rotary Pickup
Dodge Challenger
Volkswagen Thing
Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser
Datsun 280ZX
Wiki Commons by Jeremy
Can you name this car, which was part of Nissan's iconic Bluebird line?
Reliant Robin
Bricklin SV1
Chrysler Cordoba
Datsun 280ZX

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Ford Gran Torino Elite
Wiki Commons by Triple-green
What is the name of this mid-'70s creation?
Ford Pinto
Lincoln Versailles
Ford Fairmont
Ford Gran Torino Elite
Plymouth Sapporo
Wiki Commons by Dave_7
This car was a rebadged version of the Mitsubishi Galant.
Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser
Plymouth Sapporo
Chevy Vega
AMC Pacer
Chrysler Imperial LeBaron
Wiki Commons by denizen24
What is the name of this oversized '70s hardtop?
Chevy Monza
Volkswagen Thing
Chrysler Imperial LeBaron
Plymouth Arrow

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Triumph TR7
Wiki Commons by Dave_7
This British import actually launched sales in the U.S. before the UK.
Mercury Bobcat
Triumph TR7
Reliant Robin
Chrysler Cordoba
Bricklin SV1
Wiki Commons by ilikewaffles11
Only around 3,000 units of this '70s model were ever made.
Bricklin SV1
AMC Pacer
Dodge Omni
Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser
AMC Matador Coupe
Wiki Commons by Sicnag
Even a spin in a James Bond movie couldn't make this car into a classic.
Chevy Vega
Lincoln Versailles
AMC Matador Coupe
Ford Pinto

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Dodge Challenger
Wiki Commons by nakhon100
The second generation of this car fell flat when it came out in 1978.
Volkswagen Thing
Chevy Monza
AMC Pacer
Dodge Challenger