Chevrolet Vega
The seventies were a tough time for domestic automakers, and GM had to adapt to growing Japanese competition. The Chevrolet Vega was one of the first new cars to come out and compete with the likes of Honda and Toyota. The Vega had a 2.3-liter inline-four engine that was surprisingly fun to drive, and the Camaro mini styling proved to be popular with buyers (via Auto Blog).
The Vega won quite a few awards in its time as well including the coveted Motor Trend’s Car of the Year in 1971. Although the design was panned and the quality of the car wasn’t the best, the Vega proved to be a decent investment for GM. The Vega had an interesting design and it was a notable way for GM to try and penetrate the new compact segment of the seventies.