When someone says "ugly car," names like Aztek, Sebring and Multipla always seem to pop up. The New York Times adds Aurora to that group. Arguably the ugliest prototype car ever built, the Aurora was the brainchild of priest-turned-auto-designer Alfred A. Juliano in the mid-1950s. The prototype was partially financed by his parishioners. His intent was to produce the world's safest car, using a totaled 1953 Buick as the platform for his prototype. Unfortunately his lack of knowledge of automotive design and engineering trumped his enthusiasm and good intentions. Juliano was driven from the church and died penniless. Interestingly, production cars use some of his safety concepts: seat belts, side crash protection (offsetting the driver was his solution) and Euro-style pedestrian safety (the foam-filled cow catcher out front). The Aurora was rescued from oblivion, restored and now resides in a museum in Beaulieu, Hampshire, UK. You have been warned.
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aaaggghhhh! My eyes!!!!
Does the picture show the front or the rear of this vehicle?
NSFW!!!!!
Actually I still think the Z4 is uglier.
allen5h :
Does the picture show the front or the rear of this vehicle?
That’s the front. There’s a picture of the rear on the second page of the linked article.
It’s up there with the Pontiac Aztec…
And 40 years later, the Aurora name was applied to one of the best looking cars ever built…
They even said that the jackass who built this heap compared himself to Preston Tucker. Wrong. Tucker’s car had the potential to be a bounding success, but his company was shut down by conspiracy from the big three, and is now considered to be among the greatest of all time. Even without the company going under, this car would have bombed BIG TIME.
Wow. It is like the one Homer Simpson was allowed to deign.
Homer did better: pic
It’s extreme, but there is a certain artistic style to it . . . unlike the Aztek.
The AMC Matador X beats this…really.
I dunno, it’s like a “Cabbage Patch Car”. Initially offensive (like the Edsel), but it makes you feel sorry for it.
The bowling trophy rad cap on “The Homer” is a hoot.
the original article in the paper showed a side view, rather than the rear view. too bad it’s not on the web article, because in side view the front absolutely looks like it should be the back, and vice versa.
Actually the new NSX might be worse.
I would say that the SSangyong Rodius is the ugliest vehicle I’ve ever seen. it’s ugly and dull at the same time, quite a feat.