Ever wonder about cars that looked great, but their production ended before their time seemingly had come? Over the decades there have been car and truck models that seemed like sure winners, but the automaker pulled the plug either do to lack of sales, internal politics, government influence, or a combination of the three. To the public these decisions can look logical, ill-conceived or downright perplexing. Here’s out list of vehicles we think production ended too early.
1993-97 Ford Probe
The Ford Probe originally came into existence in the 1980s as a replacement for the rear-wheel-drive (RWD) Ford Mustang. Thankfully an internal Ford group worked on their own to keep the RWD Mustang alive, and the FWD replacement was rebadged as the probe and came out in 1988. In 1992 the Probe came out as a 1993 model with a full redesign that made it into a great looking and performing car. Sales were strong for 1993 and 1994, but in 1995 they started falling off drastically (and never succeeded in Europe) to the point Ford pulled the plug. In its first year of production, the second Gen Ford Probe sold over 90k units but in 1997 it sold a mere 17k cars. Ironic since the model it was supposed to replace, the RWD Mustang, saw sales increasing and strong popularity that has kept the nameplate alive to this day.
Pontiac Fiero
Pontiac was always known for thinking outside the box way more than other GM divisions, and also kept a strong belief in performance. The Fiero was originally conceived as a two-seat performance car, but GM brass saw that as a threat/competition to the flagship Corvette. Pontiac presented the Fiero to the higher-ups as a two-seat economy car well suited for the oil-crises of the time and getting the green light for production. The Fiero’s development was hampered by budget restrictions and internal politics, resulting in 1984-87 models falling far short of what the car’s designer, Hulki Aldikacti, had originally envisioned. The 1988 model saw substantial designed changes that made the Fiero into what it was originally intended to be, but declining sales, unfavorable public perception and internal GM politics finally proved the death knell of the Fiero.
Chevrolet Avalanche
The Avalanche was a bridge between a full-size truck and full-size SUV. Borrowing from the Silverado and Tahoe/Suburban models, it featured a lowerable bulkhead between the bed and passenger compartment that allowed for increased cargo capacity and fitment of long objects when necessary. When the Avalanche first came out, functionally it was a hit and proved highly versatile. But from an appearance standpoint its gawdy plastic body cladding was a source of ridicule, jokes, and quality issues. In 2007 the second generation debuted with new body styling similar to the Tahoe/Suburban, no aggressive body cladding. A much better-looking vehicle with the same utility, the Avalanche couldn’t generate the sales of its first two model years, with only 16,526 units produced in 2013, its last model year. But on the used truck market they’re hard to come by (especially in good condition) and bring a relative premium because of their utility and owner dedication.
Chevrolet Corvair
Most people know the history of the Chevrolet Corvair, Ralph Nader, and essentially how GM was its own worst enemy in the demise of the Corvair. While the first generation had some issues, the second generation Corvair debuting for the 1965 model year fixed those issues and made the Corvair a solid small car with good performance, economy, and looks. But the negative imagine and internal GM politics were too much for this improved version to overcome. It’s succeeding replacements in the 1970s starting with the Vega were disasters plagued by various problems. A sad irony when a third generation Corvair building on the second generation’s improvements would’ve been well placed to meet the needs of 1970s buyers during the various fuel crises of the decade similar to another rear-engine, air-cooled vehicle that saw major success the Volkswagen Beetle.
Mercury Marauder
Wishing to shed the stodgy, octogenarian vibe of the Grand Marquis, Mercury revived the Marauder nameplate for the 2003 model year to offer buyers looking for performance and roominess a new option. Using the P71 police package underpinnings from the Crown Victoria and the naturally aspirated 4.6L DOHC V8 used in the Lincoln Mark VIII updated to make 302 horsepower. It checked all the boxes for luxury, performance and looks (featuring revised body styling with monochromatic appearance) but sales never materialized as hoped. Part of this could be attributed to incomplete marketing. After the initial marketing splash, Ford/Mercury drastically cut marketing for the Marauder to the point most buyers didn’t even know the car still existed. After the 2004 model year the Marauder was discontinued, but on the used marketing today they are hard to find but sought after by enthusiasts.
Ford Lightning
Technically the Ford Lightning is back, but as an EV and not the V8 powered sports truck most people think of. If the new EV Lightning was offered as a regular cab, short-bed with the same performance as the gargantuan quad-cab version, we might have something to talk about. But for now there is nothing to compare to the 1993-2004 F-150 based truck with a rumbling V8 and sporty look. The first Lightning was the 1993-95 version with an upgraded, cammed and tuned 351W. The second gen Lightning on the fully redesigned F-150 came in 1999 and had a supercharged 5.4L SOHC V8 and were serious performance trucks that were very responsive to further performance upgrades. The Lightning was discontinued after 2004 and retained a devout following, especially when the GT500 Mustang returned and many hoped that drivetrain would see its way into a new Lightning.
Pontiac Solstice/Saturn Sky
The Pontiac Solstice/Saturn Sky were two-seat roadsters that came out for the 2006 model year as GM was revamping all its brands. They proved popular on the sales front and with buyers who enjoyed sportiness similar to the Corvette but for a lot lower price. This earned both cars the ire of internal Corvette protectionists in GM. But the death blow to the roadsters was dealt by the 2008 economic collapse that pushed GM into bankruptcy and the eventual shutdown of both Pontiac and Saturn. The roadster could’ve been kept alive by another GM brand, but instead it was decided to shut down the Delaware plant where the cars were made and not carry the model over to one of the remaining GM brands. There have been suspicions part of this decision was due internal politics and the Corvette sect inside GM not want any competition with the flagship car.
Subaru Brat
Is it a car or a truck? The Subaru Brat was a small, two-door truck built on Subaru’s existing AWD car platform similar to the Chevrolet El Camino and Ford Ranchero. It would only be available in North America 1978 through 1987, but carries a strong following with enthusiasts. There was a sort of revival of the Brat in 2006 when Subaru came out with the Baja four-door SUV for North America in 2003, but that was also short-lived. In today’s world the Subaru Brat would likely prove popular today.
