10: Ford Contour SVT
Ford was already selling the compact Escort and the full-size Taurus at the same time in the ’90s. Which is why most car shoppers were confused when the company also launched the Contour. The Contour wasn’t that much different in size from the Escort and actually cost a bit more. The SVT version of the car was a gamble to try and get performance buyers into the door yet sales were abysmal and the car was a flop (via The Motor Digest).
The SVT variation of the Contour had some unique attributes that made the car desirable. But the problems with reliability and high price drove most potential buyers the other way. These days, the SVT Contour has become a sort of collector’s item and the car is seldom seen on the roadways.