Born in Northern Ireland with British government money, the DeLorean was a car designed mainly for the US market. Its appearance was sleek and head-turning, but its Renault 2.7-litre V6 engine lacked the power to match its looks. This, combined with numerous quality issues, led to a short-lived story for the DeLorean company, which was declared bankrupt not long after its inception.
Despite its struggles, the DeLorean has achieved cult status thanks in part to a certain 1985 film. While fewer than 7,000 units were sold in the States – around a thousand of them post-bankruptcy – survivors remain passionate about their beloved DeLoreans to this day.
Number 3. Fiat 124 Spider
The Fiat 124 Spider was a sleek roadster that shared much of its DNA with the Mazda MX-5. The two were even built side-by-side in Hiroshima, Japan. But while the MX-5 was beloved by drivers around the world, the 124 Spider struggled to find its footing in the fiercely competitive US market.
In fact, the 124 Spider had a serious problem: it just couldn’t find any buyers. According to industry insiders, the optimal time for a car to spend at a dealership before being snatched up by a customer is 60 days. But for the 124 Spider, that number was an eye-watering 461 days. Ouch.
