Despite their sometimes questionable reliability, classic cars are often some of the best—like the Jaguar E-Type, original Ford Mustang, or Aston Martin DB5.

However, some do not resonate so well in the 2020s. Europe especially has seen some particularly terrible cars. This list will go through 24 of the worst European vehicles imaginable. These will range from sedans to coupes and even a few luxury cars.

Fiat Multipla

2002 Fiat Multipla Front Quarter VIew
Image Credit: Andrew Bone – CC BY 2.0/Wiki Commons.

Fiat’s Multipla was a fantastic concept. The idea of a car with two rows of three seats and plenty of cabin space was sound. However, what let the Multipla down was its divisive looks. So much so that Fiat had to refresh the design in the mid-2000s, but we should give the Multipla some credit for its versatility.

Daimler DK400

Daimler DK400
Image Credit: rpk20d – CC BY-SA 2.0/Wiki Commons.

Daimler used to have a strong standing within the British Royal Family, even after World War 2. However, the DK400 would change that. The DK400 replaced the previous straight-six Daimlers, and it was an extended version of the Daimler Regency. Sadly, its lackluster performance saw the Royal Warrant with Daimler torn up, with Rolls-Royce taking over.

Vauxhall Victor F-Type

Image Credit: andreboeni – CC BY 2.0/Wiki Commons.

The Victor F-Type was an attempt by Vauxhall, led by General Motors, to create a Vauxhall that could sell in North America. The Victor had Chevrolet Bel Air-inspired styling, but its British construction led to notorious rust issues and water trickling through the seals around the front and rear windows. Vibrations at around 50 mph only added to the car’s woes.

Zundapp Janus

Zündapp Janus
Image Credit: dave_7 – CC BY 2.0/Wiki Commons.

The quirky Zundapp Janus featured identical styling at both ends, right down to the front and rear doors. The unusual back-to-back bench seating wasn’t hugely popular, but the 14 hp two-stroke engine also didn’t help the Janus. It is little wonder the idea never took off.

Yugo/Zastava Yugo

Image Credit: KGC626 – CC BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons.

Commonly called the Yugo, the Zastava Yugo was originally a shortened version of the Fiat 128. Zastava sold the Yugo in the United States from 1985 to 1992. However, safety, reliability, and overall design issues never escaped the Yugo. Despite this, the quirky little car has gained a cult following. 

Triumph Mayflower

Triumph Mayflower
Image Credit: Matthias v.d. Elbe – CC BY-SA 3.0/Wiki Commons.

The dull and uninspiring Mayflower was an attempt by the British company Triumph to sell English-style limousines to those in the United States. Sadly, its attempts at a shrunken Daimler did not bear fruit, and only a few buyers at home and abroad picked up the Mayflower.

Trabant

Trabant
Image Credit: Fototrommer – CC BY-SA 4.0/ Wiki Commons.

The Trabant was a product of Communist East Germany, which severely suffered from a lack of investment compared to West Germany. The Trabant sold well simply as it was one of the few cars in the East, but it needed to be more reliable and better built. But demand was so high that the waiting list was once ten years long.

Triumph TR6

Image Credit: Mecum.

The TR6 used a body-on-frame design; however, it was a disastrous decision for Britain’s country lanes and backroads. The outdated suspension created a terrible ride, and the TR6 suffered from severe body roll. The underpowered engine with 104-hp certainly did not help matters.

Renault Avantine

Image Credit: Charles01 – CC BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons.

While not strictly vintage, the Renault Avantine wasn’t successful for the French manufacturer. The idea was exceptional—a large coupe with enough room for the whole family. Large windows also let in a lot of natural light. The pillarless doors were another Avantine novelty. But Renault struggled to find buyers for the MPV, even if the concept was perfectly sound.

DeLorean DMC-12

Image Credit: Mecum.

There is little to say about the DMC-12 that we don’t already know. The DMC-12 would suffer from poor build quality, an underpowered 130 hp V6, and the scandal surrounding company founder John DeLorean. But it did make a name for itself in the Back to the Future franchise.

Maserati Shamal

Image Credit: Marco 56 – CC BY 2.0/Wiki Commons.

Even the worst Maseratis are good-looking. The Shamal is a gorgeous car, but it was also one of Maserati’s most expensive of the early 1990s. While the design aged well, the twin-turbo 322 hp V8 has not. The unreliability that some Maserati models had become famous for crept in with the Shamal.

Jensen Interceptor

1976 Jensen Interceptor
Image Credit: Mecum.

The Jensen Interceptor could have been spectacular. It’s a British coupe with incredible styling and a big American V8 under the hood. No, the Interceptor had a Chrysler 5.9-liter V8 under the hood. Sadly, the typical British quality of the late 1960s and mid-1970s let down the Interceptor, but they certainly have a place on the classic car market.

Dacia 1300

Dacia 1300
Image Credit: dacia24.de – CC BY-SA 3.0/Wiki Commons.

Dacia has become a more serious manufacturer in the 21st century, but the 1300 is from a different era. The Dacia 1300 would become a stalwart of Romanian motoring for over three decades. While it offered better reliability than the older Yugo, the 1300 would still find novel ways of breaking down, but Dacia sold over 1.9 million units of the 1300 and later 1310. 

Polski Fiat 126p

Image Credit: Johannes Maximilian – GFDL 1.2/Wiki Commons.

The Fiat 126 itself is a bit of a classic. But the Polski Fiat 126p, also known as the Maluch, is less fondly remembered. Uncomfortable, basic in design and construction, and with the expected reliability. Or rather, unreliability. Yet the 126p is another car with a particular following. Its bigger brother, the Polski Fiat 125p, even ferried Pope John Paull II.

Sterling 825/827

Sterling 825/827
Image Credit: Sale Proof Car Reviews/Youtube.

The Sterling 825/827 was the product of the joint partnership between Rover and Honda. The latter’s ambitious plan was to launch a new, premium luxury car for the United States, resulting in the Sterling name. The 825/827 series was a jazzier Rover 800 with Honda power. The Honda power worked well. The Rover construction, however, did not do so much.

Aston Martin Lagonda

Image Credit: Clemens Vasters, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The Aston Martin Lagonda is a truly spectacular-looking car. But it nearly bankrupted Aston Martin, and the radical digital dashboard had so many teething problems that Aston Martin would simplify it in the Series II. Maintaining one in 2024 would prove to be a costly exercise.

Renault Le Car

Image Credit: Mr.choppers – CC BY-SA 3.0/Wiki Commons.

The unimaginative Le Car was Renault’s attempt at a fuel-efficient and compact European import. However, it failed to captivate the American market, even if it did achieve success in Europe. Its poor performance, lazy driving dynamics, and poor reliability meant it never stood a chance in America. 

Austin Allegro

Image Credit: DeFacto – CC BY-SA 2.5/Wiki Commons.

There were once high expectations for Austin’s Allegro. However, the original design would receive drastic changes, not to mention the bizarre “quartic” steering wheel that was never popular. The Allegro suffered the typical British unreliability and poor quality of the 1970s, and it is today the butt of many jokes.

Reliant Robin

Image Credit: Dennis Elzinga, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

While more stable than BBC’s Top Gear made out, the three-wheeled Reliant Robin never caught on. The strange design and slightly scary handling make it the subject of plenty of jokes. Nowadays, it is a mere motoring oddity and not a practical alternative to four-wheeled vehicles.

Hillman Imp

Hillman Imp
Image Credit: Peter Glyn – CC0/Wiki Commons.

The Hillman Imp had a lot going for it. It was a small, affordable car of the 1960s, perfect for the family. It was even innovative with its rear-engine layout and compact size. Quality control, like with so many British cars of the time, badly hurt the Imp. As did poor reliability. It was a great idea but with poor execution.

Alfa Romeo Arna

Alfa Romeo Arna
Image Credit: Charles01 – Public Domain/Wiki Commons.

The Arna was a collaboration between Alfa Romeo and Nissan, and that sounds like a promising recipe. However, what resulted from this duo was a car plagued by conflicting philosophies. The design wasn’t actual Alfa Romeo or Nissan, and that famous Italian unreliability crept into the mechanical side of the Arna. It is little wonder that Nissan and Alfa Romeo withdrew it from sale quickly.

Triumph Stag

1971 Triumph Stag
Image Credit: Mecum.

The Stag is far from the worst of Britain’s 1970s classics. But the in-house 3.0-liter V8 would suffer from seriously inadequate cooling, which certainly didn’t make the car more reliable. Yet a few good ones would slip through the net, and the Stag is a popular classic in the United Kingdom.

Maserati Biturbo

1984 Maserati Bi-turbo
Image Credit: Mecum.

The Biturbo initially showed that Maserati could build a GT car with a comfortable and luxurious interior. But this car effectively ended Maserati’s involvement with the American market. After a couple of years of ownership, Biturbo owners would find all manner of leaks, snaps, or other problems with the car. Some would even call it junk.

Lancia Gamma

Image Credit: nakhon100 – CC BY 2.0/Wiki Commons.

Even the worst Lancias are still gorgeous. The Gamma is one of them. Its most significant issue was the decision to run the power steering pump off the camshaft, driven by a belt. If a driver started the Gamma up on a cold morning, the pump would bind the camshaft and force the cam belt to slip or break if the steering was on full lock. What was not helping was that the other half of the engine would still run and destroy the other half.

Author: Henry Kelsall

Henry is a freelance writer, with a love for all things motoring whether it be classic sports cars, or Formula 1 racing. He has freelanced for over eight years now, mostly in automotive matters, but he has also dabbled in other forms of writing too. He has a lot of love for Japanese classics and American muscle cars, in particular the Honda NSX and first-generation Ford Mustang. When not writing, Henry is often found at classic car events or watching motorsports at home, but he also has a curious passion for steam trains and aviation.

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