The bathtub-like AMC Pacer. The operationally challenged Yugo GV. The supremely unsavory Chrysler TC by Maserati. These wheeled nightmares and many more are gleefully trashed by author Eric Peters. If the eyesores like the decal powered 1978 Ford Mustang II King Cobra don't make you howl, well, consider this the used car buying guide of your dreams. - "Fright Club" Motor Trend, November 2004Automakers have foisted plenty of bad and even laughable cars upon an unsuspecting public over the years. Millions of people have been duped into buying mistakes-on-wheels, while millions more have been subjected to these cars after the new-car smell is gone, revealing only vehicular inadequacy.Automotive Atrocities: The Cars We Love to Hate is a truly distasteful collection of fake muscle cars, clown-car compacts, faux "luxury" cars, sales disasters, and other truly ugly and ill-conceived four-wheeled follies. Written for anyone who either unwisely decided or was forced against their will to drive an automotive atrocity, this book gives the motoring public the last laugh as everyone's least-favorite cars are skewered in book form for the first time.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"...an entertaining look at vehicles that probably cost some optimistic automotive designer his career...an excellent gift." -- Sports Car, July 2005
About the Author
Eric Peters has been writing about new and vintage cars and trucks—and things automotive in general—since 1993. He is an automotive columnist for America Online, Netscape, and Compuserve. He lives in the
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Reading this books brought back memories of the sorry excuses for cars that we spent thousands of dollars for in the 1970's-80's.
Some of the Losers from that era that were in the book in my own words:
1980 Thunderbird: Styling done by stacking 3 "Chunky" candy bars together. An insult to the 2-seat T-birds (1955,2002)
1984 Fiero: A good looking, but less practical Chevette
1982:Cadillac Cimmarron: at $12,000 Cavalier. Worst example of badge engineering.
1982-1984 Dodge Rampage: A sad excuse for an El Camino, and even sadder excuse for a pickup.
1974-78: Mustang II; The "Pintang". A heavier and slower Pinto.
They should have put this horse in the glue factory.
1980-90 Cadillacs: Standard of how not to design a car. Much worse performance and reliability than a modern Dodge Neon (which costs half as much or 1/4 as much in 2004 dollars).
1981 K-cars: Johnson&Johnson band-aid cans on wheels.
1971-1977 Chevy Vega: Set the world standard for fastest car to fall apart. Had to buy gas and oil at the same time, like a 2-stroke.
Some of the Losers from that era that were in the book in my own words:
1980 Thunderbird: Styling done by stacking 3 "Chunky" candy bars together. An insult to the 2-seat T-birds (1955,2002)
1984 Fiero: A good looking, but less practical Chevette
1982:Cadillac Cimmarron: at $12,000 Cavalier. Worst example of badge engineering.
1982-1984 Dodge Rampage: A sad excuse for an El Camino, and even sadder excuse for a pickup.
1974-78: Mustang II; The "Pintang". A heavier and slower Pinto.
They should have put this horse in the glue factory.
1980-90 Cadillacs: Standard of how not to design a car. Much worse performance and reliability than a modern Dodge Neon (which costs half as much or 1/4 as much in 2004 dollars).
1981 K-cars: Johnson&Johnson band-aid cans on wheels.
1971-1977 Chevy Vega: Set the world standard for fastest car to fall apart. Had to buy gas and oil at the same time, like a 2-stroke.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By BH
Format:Hardcover
This is a very funny book. I know next to nothing about cars, but I found Eric Peter's non-stop verbal jabs at these truly terrible cars an absolute hoot. Even if, like me, paint color is the only option you select when buying a car, you'll like this book.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I've been watching the automotive industry for a very long time. I remember all of these vehicles when they were introduced and intended to be serious competitors in the market. You have to wonder what the auto execs and advertising guys were thinking - but it is fun to look back and laugh.
This book focuses on the two decades of the '70s and '80s, although there certainly are vehicles from earlier and later decades that could also qualify as atrocities.
And there are some vehicles included that I personally would not have selected - some that were just bland and boring or that were subsequently discovered to have excessive mechanical problems. Clearly it is mostly about preposterous styling and vehicles that were poorly matched to American automotive needs and desires.
But overall, this is one of the must enjoyable automotive books in my library - light reading and fun!
This book focuses on the two decades of the '70s and '80s, although there certainly are vehicles from earlier and later decades that could also qualify as atrocities.
And there are some vehicles included that I personally would not have selected - some that were just bland and boring or that were subsequently discovered to have excessive mechanical problems. Clearly it is mostly about preposterous styling and vehicles that were poorly matched to American automotive needs and desires.
But overall, this is one of the must enjoyable automotive books in my library - light reading and fun!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great
This book is great I loved it, and the guy I bought it for loved it as well. For anyone that has a grease monkey in the family this is a great book because it makes them smile.
Published on January 4, 2011 by Ryan S. Miller
2.0 out of 5 stars
entertaining, but poorly researched
Honestly, I enjoyed the book and it was fun, but it not very comprehensive in its research and in many areas, irritating, having owned at least 5 of the cars featured in this book. Read more
Published on December 12, 2008 by John Barrett Grant
4.0 out of 5 stars
Hilarious!
As someone completely ignorant of more than the general make & function of cars, I enjoyed this book much more than expected. It's entertaining & great for humorous quotes. Read more
Published on March 30, 2008 by Audley
1.0 out of 5 stars
Atrocious Reading
This book is divided up into three sections: "Fake Muscle Cars," "Egregious Economy," and "Loathsome Luxury. Read more
Published on January 3, 2008 by Brad Dietz
5.0 out of 5 stars
The book dishonoring the bombs of the seventies and eighties
I got this book for the pure joy of entertainment, and really this book is a must for any car nut. The really interesting thing is i owned three of the Automotive Atrocites... Read more
Published on August 10, 2006 by Eric Larsen
5.0 out of 5 stars
Automotive Atrocities!
I really enjoyed this book. Automotive Atrocities is a must have for any car guy or girl. This book has great information and taught me some facts I did not know. Read more
Published on March 24, 2006 by Thomas B. Baggett
3.0 out of 5 stars
Lousy Layout
Overall, the book was interesting in spite of the heavy-handed attempts at humor. Peters shows some knowledge of the cars but obviously lacks first-hand experience of them. Read more
Published on January 18, 2006 by David J. Lee-Pethel
2.0 out of 5 stars
Another book on the "bad" old days
Seemed like an interesting and fun read. However, this book very quickly became another unoriginal attempt at preaching the "badness" of '70-`80's cars (except with a little more... Read more
Published on January 4, 2005 by BK
4.0 out of 5 stars
This book was too much fun!
Most automotive books I review are serious...mainly they're historical or technical. What we all need, sometimes, is humor and that's where <u>Automotive Atrocities</u>: The... Read more
Published on December 6, 2004 by Hib Halverson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hilarious!!
Great design and extremely humorous text. This book is a lot of fun--you will enjoy it!
Published on July 9, 2004
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 3
books:
- Land Rover (Edicion Literaria) (Galician Edition) by Suso De Toro on page 109
- The International Jew (IV Vol. Set) by Henry Ford Sr. on page 95
- Land Rover (French Edition) by Suso de Toro on page 109
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