Today's Flops, Tomorrow's Collectibles

The Aztek, an angular and beefy SUV-minivan cross that was unleashed on consumers in 2000, was so ugly that Car and Driver's reviewer was accosted at a gas station by someone who demanded to know, "You're getting paid to drive that thing, right?" The Aztek got high marks for its ample cargo space, but there was no getting around the fact that you had to look at it. McKeel Hagerty, CEO of collector-car specialist Hagerty Insurance, says it was one of the first cars designed on a computer-aided design system. "Apparently, it looked much better onscreen than in person," he says.

Collector prognosis: Its bizarre looks and spectacular sales failure will lure collectors.

Bing: Pontiac Aztek

The SSR pickup had the same identity crisis as the Chevy El Camino — car, truck or both? — along with the added complication of being a convertible. "Car companies are always trying to fit niches," Hagerty says. The SSR was certainly in its very own niche, but trying to be too many things at once didn't attract quite enough buyers. Chevy sold fewer than 10,000 SSR pickups in their first year of production, 2003. "When they sell single-digit thousands or less, it truly is a flop," Hagerty says.

Collector prognosis: The car-truck-convertible shtick has already secured a hearty following of enthusiasts.

An open, Indy-racer-style front modeled after a 1932 Ford Roadster gave the Prowler its distinctively retro look when it debuted in the late 1990s. But the hot-rodder demographic wasn't impressed by its engine, which was considered too small and too quiet. "It didn't have bark or bite, it just had the looks," Hagerty says. In the five years it was on the market — first as the Plymouth Prowler and then as the Chrysler Prowler — it lured fewer than 12,000 buyers.

Collector prognosis: Communities of Prowler lovers have already begun congregating online, launching several enthusiast Web sites since production ended in 2001.

Bing: Plymouth Prowler

During the era when Jaguar was owned by Ford, the X-TYPE was a decidedly less expensive Jag. But its driving dynamics (one reviewer described its handling as "tepid") and interior furnishings (a mix of high-end and cheap) underwhelmed American buyers. Sales peaked at around 5,000 in 2003 and took a nosedive from there, according to Motor Trend magazine, which posed this rhetorical question in a 2007 article on the car's demise: "Anyone out there going to miss the X-TYPE?"

Collector prognosis: "There will always be a fan base for whatever Jaguar churns out," Hagerty says. "No matter how poorly one performs, people will collect it."

The first Thunderbird came out in 1955, and throughout the 20th century Ford tinkered with it, creating 10 different generations of the 2-door convertible, all of which have caught the attention of collectors on the local, regional and even international level. The 11th generation, which hit the streets in 2002, was considered faithful to the original from a physical standpoint, but it was poorly made. "It had decent looks but it had no power," Hagerty says. "It was a cheap, cheap car. It would shed plastic if you went over a speed bump."

Collector prognosis: Thunderbird collectors have shunned it so far, but if past is prologue, they'll come around soon.

Conceived in the wake of the success of the Lincoln Navigator, the Blackwood was a luxury pickup truck available exclusively in all black. The bed lifted up with a remote control and had carpeting and LED accent lighting. But the Blackwood was expensive, starting at $52,500, and it was more luxurious than it was utilitarian (it didn't even have 4-wheel drive), ultimately losing out with car buyers to the Cadillac Escalade, which was both plush and practical. The Blackwood survived only for one model year.

Collector prognosis: Rare is good, as far as collectors are concerned. "You still see Blackwoods around in nice neighborhoods," Hagerty says. "People are keeping them up really well."

Bing: Lincoln Blackwood

The Marauder's undercover-cop aesthetic didn't appeal to the masses when the car was reintroduced in 2003 after a 30-year hiatus. The original 1960s Marauders were sporty full-size cars, but the new version was anything but sporty. Reviewers gave it credit for being a soft ride despite its 2-ton-plus size, but dinged it for its lackluster pickup. Fewer than 12,000 models made it onto the streets before production halted.

Collector prognosis: Mercury, a division of Ford, has a long history, which bodes well for the Marauder. "There will always be Mercury fans," Hagerty says.

Bing: Mercury Marauder

The 968 is one of the rarest Porsches on the road — just 13,000 rolled off the line during its 1992-1995 production run. With a distinctive bubble-shaped rear and a minimalist interior, it was never a top-selling model. "The 968 is instantly recognizable as a Porsche, but even enthusiasts often aren't sure of the model number or production years," says Ray Starbird, founder of the site 968.net, which has been paying homage to the quirky Porsche since 1999.

Collector prognosis: The enthusiast community is strong, which bodes well for the 968. "Its rarity makes encounters with other owners feel like reunions," Starbird says.

Bing: Porsche 968

Car and Driver deemed the Solstice one of the top 10 most beautiful cars of 2009. The 2-seater convertible enjoyed early popularity, but sales took a turn in 2008. It hit rock bottom as the Solstice's five-year lifespan ended when GM's bankruptcy and restructuring plan called for the closure of its plant in Wilmington, Del., in 2009. "It was a de facto flop because they shut down production," Hagerty says. "But it was an excellent little car."

Collector prognosis: 2-seater convertibles are irresistible to American car buyers. "If someone builds a 2-seater, people want it," Hagerty says. "It's ingrained in our cultural mindset."

The FJ Cruiser, a retro-style SUV, got a positive reception from reviewers, including Motor Trend, which wrote in 2006, "What's more important, style or substance? The good news is that the FJ offers both." Car buyers were equally enthusiastic early on, but then in 2008 sales dropped off, plummeting by 50 percent. The FJ is still in production, but it's plagued by rumors of discontinuation — it was even included in a 2009 magazine article on the best discontinued cars.

Collector prognosis: The FJ Cruiser's funky styling and high performance rating make it a shoo-in for future collectibility.

Claire Martin has written for The NewYork Times, Los Angeles Times, and Outside magazine. She's the former deputy editor of Men's Journal and currently lives in Los Angeles, where she covers technology, travel and food.

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