24. Ford Mustang 1974
The second generation of Ford Mustang debuted in 1974 and was on the market for four years until 1978. Despite the fact it was a subject of so many jokes and bad press, the Mustang II was a fundamental model. The downsizing of the whole Mustang range, the introduction of economical four-cylinder engines, and part sharing with other Ford models helped the model survive the recession of the ’70s and the death of the muscle car movement (via Motor Trend).

The downsized and hideous 1974 model was controversial enough, but the shocking news was that there was no V8 engine available. The 2.3-liter straight-four was the base engine with a 2.8-liter V6 as an optional motor. The V8 arrived a year and a half later in 1975 with low power and compression. But at first, the Mustang II was no faster than an import economy car. This was one of the most controversial decisions in Mustang history and nearly killed the Mustang legacy.