These American cars went unnoticed but are well deserving of a second look

There have been a lot of American cars to come out over the years and go unnoticed, but a lot of them deserve a second look.

We all love an underdog story, and what better to honor an unsung hero than by giving them their day in the sun?

Here are a few cars that didn’t get the fanfare they may have deserved.

Nobody’s saying these cars are perfect, but they don’t deserve to be confined to the scrap heap of history.

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Some American cars that have gone underappreciated

When it comes to American cars, we all know the brands that get the glory.

Whether it be Ford, Cadillac, or Tesla, there’s no shortage of positive press about these brands and their various models.

So let’s take a look at some of the cars that have flown under the radar.

Chevrolet Corvair (1960 – 1969)

This car was made in response to the Volkswagen Beetle.

It came in a 4-door sedan, 2-door coupe, convertible, and a 4-door station wagon, during its first geenration.

1.8 million of these were made in the 1960s.

It sums up the decade nicely – couldn’t you imagine pulling into a drive-in movie in this beauty?

Unfortunately, it wasn’t to last long.

Controversy arose thanks to activist and lawyer Ralph Nader’s 1965 book Unsafe at Any Speed.

In the book, he highlighted crashes linked to the Corvair’s suspension.

Nader would later deem the car to be ‘the leading candidate for un-safest car title’.

As you might expect, sales fell by over 100,000 between 1965 and 1966.

By 1968, barely 14,800 were being produced.

In the years since, Nader’s claims have come under some scrutiny – with one study from Texas A&M University finding that the Corvair ‘possessed no greater potential loss of control’ in extreme circumstances than its competitors.

Nader’s claims were also undermined by a 1972 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report.

Whether or not it was vindicated by history, the Corvair was a car that possibly didn’t reach its full potential.

Ford Edsel (1958 – 1960)

The Ford Edsel is an eye-catching car, and was intended to revolutionize the industry.

Unfortunately, it was a swing and miss in the short few years it was produced.

Up against competition from Oldsmobile, Pontiac, and Buick, the Edsel floundered.

It didn’t help that it came out during a recession and its vertical grille was being likened to a horse collar.

In 2024 money, this car cost Ford $2.66 billion.

Chrysler Imperial (1926 – 1975)

Lasting from the Jazz Age to the Disco Age is impressive work.

Features like power windows and reclining seats made this car stand out, but it never quite made its way into the general populace’s heart quite like the New Yorker did.

But it was a big hit with government officials, royalty, and celebrities.

Some famous faces to have driven this car included Bob Hope, Grace Kelly, Elvis Presley, President Lyndon B. Johnson, and Princess Margaret.

Buick Skyhawk (1975 – 1980)

This car screamed 1970s/1980s and we can’t imagine it being driven by someone not wearing their hair in a mullet.

It was marketed towards a younger and sportier audience, but it never quite caught on.

Not replicating the success of the Monza or the Sunbird hatchbacks, it was discontinued at the tail-end of 1979.

Around 125,311 Skyhawks were made over six model years.

American cars – a big market

In 2023 alone, more than 10 million cars were made in the US.

It’s a big market, and some cars are inevitably going to fall through the cracks and not get the glory they deserve.

Who knows which of the cars today will one day be looked back upon as underappreciated?

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