12. The Ford Pinto
Where Ford dealerships sold it
Ford Motor Company is the firm.
Initial cost: $2,000*
Change to the Ford Pinto, a little car that was introduced on the American road scene in the 1970s after it was taken off the assembly line. In a time of oil crises and long lineups at the gas pump, it offered independence and fuel economy to drivers on a tight budget.
The Pinto Ford ©dave_7/Wikimedia
Despite a difficult beginning marred by safety issues, the Pinto came to represent a generation’s desire for more compact, fuel-efficient cars. It was a message on wheels, a reflection of the uneven progression and shifting gears of American car preferences.