Think steel was a problem for many manufacturers in those days, but a lot of them didn’t help matters by poor preparation and poor rust proofing! Surely the low point was the Lancia Beta, with the cars being bought back from customers due to rust? But we’re getting off topic again, certainly the Alfasud doesn’t meet the thread criteria in my book. Far too successful...
So how about the 1976 ‘wedge’ William Towns designed Lagonda?
http://astonmartins.com/car/am-lagon...v540-and-v580/ It severely divided opinion when announced, and despite staying in production for about 10 years, sold poorly to start with. Interestingly, it is suggested that sales of the model in the oil-rich Middle East during the early 80s saved Aston Martin....
Conventional underneath, main problem seems to be that the LED digital instruments on the early cars were flukey. They were later replaced by a ‘cathode ray’ display. Rust of course also affected cars that were actually used! Values hit rock bottom until recently when collectors realised that it was about the only AM where prices hadn't gone through the roof! The shape still divides opinion however, and maybe the concept Lagonda shown at Geneva recently will do the same.....
http://autoweek.com/article/geneva-m...ectrify-luxury