You’ve probably heard the term “Baby Boomers,” which refers to the generation born between 1946 and 1964. People from the Boomer generation will tell you that it was the most fantastic time to be young, with rock music topping the charts and shiny new muscle cars coming out of Detroit. Indeed, most Boomers did get the chance to experience what a ’66 Mustang right off the showroom floor felt like.

But the truth is that their perception of cars is quite a bit different than today’s modern standards. As car buyers, Boomers have been a part of the automotive landscape for decades but their taste in cars was only sometimes good. So today, we’ll look back at some of the Boomer generation’s favorite cars. Then we’ll expand on why these vintage clunkers simply need to go away forever. Let’s get started.

Cadillac Allante

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The ’80s weren’t a particularly successful period for Cadillac. Throughout most of the decade, Cadillac tried to reinvent itself by introducing cars to combat their European competitors. In most cases, ’80s Cadillac models weren’t especially interesting and most forgot about them. Still, there is one very interesting car which is a true Boomer car. That was the elegant Allante introduced in 1987 (via Auto Evolution).

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The Allante was a competitor to the Mercedes SL convertible. It was a two-seat luxury convertible with Italian styling by Pininfarina, a Northstar V8 engine, and front-wheel drive. That was quite an unusual combination. Even the production process was specific. The actual fabrication was done in Italy in the Pininfarina factory. Then, cars were shipped to the US by jet, which affected the cost of the final product. The Allante stayed in production until 1993. Just over 21,000 left the factory in Italy and Detroit. The car proved too expensive to produce and the factory allegedly lost money on every model made.

Plymouth Volare Road Runner

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Back in 1976, Plymouth introduced the Volare, a successful mid-size model produced in many versions and exported globally. It was the twin to the Dodge Aspen. It featured a rear-wheel drive platform, a wide array of engines, and a sleek design. Both Dodge and Plymouth had successful muscle car models in the past. The heritage was still strong when Plymouth presented the Volare (via Motor Trend).

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It would have been the perfect platform for a muscle car. However, grueling emissions and safety regulations killed the performance. But Plymouth tried and presented the Volare Road Runner. It featured a 316 V8 engine that brought a measly 160 HP. What it lacked in the performance department, the Volare Road Runner compensated in looks. It even had a full-body kit with rear window louvers, a spoiler, a graphics package, and sporty wheels. But overall, it just didn’t deliver on those looks.

Ford Pinto

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Introduced in the early 1970s, Pinto was very popular due to its low price and long list of options. It had economical four and six-cylinder engines and the overall quality of the car was decent. So what was the problem (via Tort Museum)?

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While engineering the car, Ford somehow left out any protection for its rear-mounted fuel tank. The fuel tank was located below the trunk and behind the rear bumper. On most cars, there is a strong cross member that protects the fuel tank in case of a crash. However, the Pinto lacked this feature, which became apparent when people started getting killed in fiery crashes caused by leaking fuel tanks. Families of people killed or hurt in such incidents sued Ford. And eventually, the company spent millions settling the court cases. Interestingly, the Pinto sold well as many Boomers drove it in the 1970s.

Pontiac Aztek

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Introduced in 2000, the Aztek was a good idea on paper at least. The mid-size crossover had sharp new styling, a decent engine lineup, and plenty of interior space. Pontiac was eager to present it to the public since the overall sales of the brand could have been better. They thought this new model would boost the popularity of the brand and bring new customers to dealerships (via Car and Driver).

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The plan was sound, except for one thing, and that was the design. Somehow, Pontiac designers managed to draw and push to production one of the ugliest cars ever made. Just look at it. Even 24 years after the first Aztek saw the light of day, it’s still a car with a design that makes no sense whatsoever.

AMC Pacer

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The AMC Pacer is a car that was equally loved and hated but it can’t be denied that it is both legendary and recognizable. It was AMC’s effort to produce a compact car, but it turned out to be less compact than its competitors and had numerous flaws. For the Boomer generation, this was the compact car. That was true even though it wasn’t small or economical (via Hagerty).

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After the success of the Gremlin, the Pacer was conceived to be bigger and more advanced. But unfortunately, its design was repelling. The large glass areas were practical but also looked like a bubble. The front end was far from beautiful, and the silhouette was egg-shaped. This was strange and unheard of at the time. Some retro cars are remembered fondly. But overall, the Pacer did not age gracefully.

1980 Chevrolet Corvette C3

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The 1970 and 1980 Chevrolet Corvettes were basically the same cars with 10 years between them. The design was the same, although 1980 had a more sculpted front and rear end with less chrome. The technology was also the same and the engines looked the same on the outside. But in 1970, the hottest Corvette had 435 hp (via CorvSport).

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However, in 1980, the hottest Corvette had only 180 hp. It was 10 hp less in California due to more strict emission standards for that state. So, what happened in just a single decade, and where did all that horsepower go? The recession, emission standards, and safety regulations stole the performance from the legendary Corvette.

Ford Explorer

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As one of the first popular SUV models, the Explorer from the early ’90s was a typical example of the concept. Big, powerful, luxurious, and capable, it could carry its passengers with ease over any terrain. At least, it looked like it could. Despite the popularity, the alarming reports of instability and tendencies to roll over plagued the market and the car public (via Car and Driver).

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The Explorer wasn’t stable at sharp turns and high speeds, causing numerous crashes, deaths, and injuries. Slowly, the story unfolded, and Ford admitted that it had concerns regarding stability and road holding. Still, the tire manufacturer Firestone ensured Ford’s engineers that the problems would be solved by deflating the tires below the recommended limit. Ford did that, but the situation got even worse, evolving into a major scandal with Ford and Firestone as the main culprits.

Cadillac Cimarron

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Today, almost all luxury brands have downsized their lineup of models, offering more affordable and compact versions of their sedans. But back in the early ’80s, this move was something still unheard of and hard to understand. In those days, Cadillac had somewhat of an identity crisis and sought for a way to reinvent itself and fight foreign competitors (via Car and Driver).

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After lengthy meetings with product development managers, it was decided to introduce a small Cadillac at a lower price to attract more customers. The problem was that Cadillac needed a bigger platform, so they turned to Chevrolet and borrowed the modest Cavalier chassis. Although Cadillac dressed the Cavalier with unique trim, new colors, and a new name, it wasn’t enough. Sales were poor and Cadillac was under fire from brand loyalists for ruining their image. All over the industry, Cimarron was a laughingstock. To this day, it remains one of the worst examples of downsizing ever.

Sterling 825

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If you don’t know what the Sterling 825 is, no one can blame you. Once marketed as the next big thing in the luxury segment of the American market, Sterling is now a forgotten brand on the margins of automotive history. Sterling had an exciting story. It was a British company established in the late ’80s with Honda’s capital and Rover’s design. Back then, Honda owned Rover and wanted to enter the American market with a luxury model. So they conceived the Sterling, a luxurious car based on the Acura Legend (via Motor Trend).

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It was a strange combination but the finished product looked nice. It had a nicely designed interior and decent power from a Honda V6 engine. After its introduction in 1987 and promising sales numbers in the first few months, the first problems showed up. The Sterling was poorly put together. Its electronics were troublesome and some cars developed rust issues. Honda tried to improve the production process, but there wasn’t much they could do. By the early ’90s, Sterling was gone and no one was sad about it. Not even Honda.

Chevrolet Malibu Maxx

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Introduced in 2004, the Malibu Maxx was a bigger and more practical version of the economy compact Malibu. The Maxx version was an attractive option since it was slightly longer than the regular model, boosting more room in the back, and it also featured a hatchback rear end. In contrast to the standard Malibu, the Maxx had more space and practicality but a slightly awkward design and appearance (via JD Power).

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The base engine was a 2.2-liter four-cylinder. But the most interesting version was the SS. With a 3.9-liter V6 engine and 240 HP, the Malibu Maxx was capable of a pretty convincing performance. However, the market didn’t seem to understand the appeal of the Maxx and it was discontinued in 2007.

Lincoln Town Car

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The early ’80s brought much-needed downsizing to the whole American car industry, and enormous cars with monster engines were a thing of the past. Lincoln responded by presenting a very popular Town Car model built on Ford’s venerable Panther platform and powered by a 5.0-liter V8 (via Hagerty).

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The Town Car was a recognizable boxy-shaped sedan with a big chrome grille and bumpers and a comfortable ride. It was a typically styled luxury model, and buyers loved its proportions, soft ride, and plush interior.

Mercury Bobcat

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Since downsizing was the name of the game in the mid-’70s, Mercury decided to go a step further and introduce a model based on the ill-fated Ford Pinto. Called Bobcat, it was introduced in 1974 and sold until 1980. The idea was to present a luxurious compact and offer economy buyers more upscale features in this cost-oriented segment. The Bobcat was not a luxury car per se but a luxury version of an economy model (via Autopian).

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The car was practically the same as the Pinto, but there was one exciting version called Bobcat Wagon. It was a compact three-door station wagon with upscale features, better equipment, and a woodgrain panel option. The Bobcat Wagon was a perfect little urban runabout with compact dimensions but lots of usable space.

Rover SD1 V8

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Remember which car your father drove in the mid-’70s? It was probably a boxy sedan with an underpowered engine or a station wagon with wood inserts on the sides. Or maybe a small, front-wheel drive import car? Whatever he had in those days is pale and outdated compared to the interesting Rover SD1 (via Auto Express).

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Imagined as a family sedan of the future, Rover presented the SD1 in 1976. It was modern with aerodynamic styling, a hatchback rear end, and a futuristic interior. A 2.6 liter 136 hp engine powered base versions, but a 3.5 liter V8 was also available. The V8 version interests us since it turned the comfy family sedan into a proper four-door muscle car. The Buick-derived 3.5-liter V8 produced 190 hp, which is not much by today’s standards but a pretty lofty number for the ’70s. Unfortunately, due to strikes at the factory and the lousy quality of the components, the SD1 didn’t have the dependability or reputation German cars had to offer, and it was a sales flop in America.

Cadillac Catera

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The ’90s were tough times for Cadillac. Foreign competition dominated the market, and Cadillac products needed to be updated and faster. Something had to be done, and Cadillac decided to downsize and attack the BMW 5 series with a smaller and more modern-looking car. But such a car didn’t exist in the USA, so Cadillac turned to GM’s European division Opel for assistance (via CSC).

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In those days, Opel had an executive mid-size sedan called the Omega. It had a modern design, rear-wheel drive, and an excellent selection of optional extras. Someone at Cadillac thought it would be a good idea to import Omegas from Germany and sell them as Cadillac Cateras to fight Mercedes and BMW on the American market. The plan just might have worked except for one thing. Omega couldn’t fight Mercedes and BMW because it wasn’t a good car. Importing it to the United States didn’t make it better, either. Unfortunately for Cadillac, that is precisely what buyers thought, and despite the good initial sales, the Catera sank and was discontinued in 2001.

Chevrolet Sprint

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Very few drivers remember the Sprint and there’s a good reason for that. Initially produced by Suzuki and called Citrus, the car was a supermini compact with a miniature three-cylinder engine, 1.0 liters of displacement, and 48 HP on tap. There’s not much to write home about (via TAC).

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The interesting thing about the whole Chevrolet-Suzuki deal was that the US manufacturer started investing in rebranding small compacts and trading know-how with foreign companies. Eventually, Chevrolet introduced the Sprint, which was somewhat of a hot hatch, and called it the Sprint Turbo. Under the hood was a 73 hp turbocharged engine. Since the weight of the car was just 1600 pounds, it had a hint of performance.

Chrysler PT Cruiser

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Even though the PT Cruiser was widely regarded as a sub-standard model in terms of power and technology, it was an immensely successful model, although very, very ugly. It managed to sell 1.35 million examples in 10 years. It was the last big sales hit for Chrysler. The PT Cruiser’s appeal was its faux-retro design, affordable price, and wannabe excellent image of the custom car from the past (via Auto Data).

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Under the hood was nothing special. The PT Cruiser shared a lot of mechanicals as well as engines with Chrysler/Plymouth Neon. This meant that the PT Cruiser could have been more engaging to drive. Nevertheless, it was an interesting and quirky little car and Boomers loved it.

Chevrolet SSR

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In the early 2000s, retro design was the king. Introducing new cars with classic shapes seemed to be a ticket to success. Chevrolet thought that it could be a great idea to present a retro-styled truck with a sporty feel and retractable hard top. It was a crazy idea. But it might have worked as a lifestyle vehicle for people who want a sports car with retro charm and more space for all their needs. Whoever was, was in charge of Chevrolet’s product development department, they had a wild imagination (via Car and Driver).

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Chevrolet introduced such a vehicle in 2003 and called it the SSR (Super Sports Roadster). Built on an SUV platform but with a Corvette V8 engine, fold-down hard top, and tight cabin for only two passengers, the SSR was something like a modern hot rod. We have to admit it looked cool. It also had the glorious soundtrack from a small block V8 with around 400 hp and dual exhaust pipes. However, the market’s response was pretty mild. The price was north of $45,000. This meant it wasn’t affordable, and very soon, older people started buying SSRs as midlife crisis cars. That killed the model since it wasn’t cool anymore in the eyes of the younger crowd. Its end came in 2006 after around 24,000 examples left the factory.

Plymouth Prowler

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The Hot Rod culture is one of the critical ingredients of the American automotive landscape. However, no company dared to present a factory-built Hot Rod until 1997, when Plymouth introduced the Prowler, a retro-futuristic roadster with a V6 engine and fantastic looks (via Motor Trend).

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Imagined as the follow-up of the Viper, the Prowler was the hit on the show circuit, and Chrysler wanted to capitalize on that. However, despite some people liking the looks, the car was definitely underpowered. So drivers got a hot rod without any power, which was understandably pointless.

Chrysler Voyager

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The Chrysler Corporation was in enormous financial trouble in the late ’70s and early ’80s. Their enormous losses, poor sales, and lack of new models pushed it to the point of no return. When famous ex-Ford executive Lee Iacocca came to Chrysler in the late ’70s, everybody thought that there wasn’t anything he could do to save the fallen giant. However, Iacocca proved them wrong, returning Chrysler to the top position in the industry in a few short years (via Car Directory).

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The primary weapon was a new line of minivan models under Chrysler, Dodge, and Plymouth names. Iacocca strongly insisted that Chrysler invest in the production of front-wheel drive people carriers. With as much space and comfort inside but with overall compact dimensions. The first such model was Chrysler Town & Country, which proved to be the right car for the time and the world’s first mass-produced minivan. The model established the minivan class and became the first Chrysler sales hit in decades. It was a perfect car for suburban America, replacing big and thirsty station wagons and preceding the SUV craze of today. However, their time passed, and SUVs took over.