Surprisingly, America's inaugural sports car didn't score a home run right off the bat. General Motors went into overdrive with advertisements, hyping it up so much that they had to kick production into high gear just to meet the deadline. Turns out, even the pioneers needed a bit of last-minute hustle to hit the road. The original '53 Corvette was truly horrendous. The interior lacked any ergonomics, and the car's six-cylinder motor was just not powerful enough. The build quality was awfully poor, too. The early production C1 Corvette was so bad that Chevrolet nearly discontinued the model just a year after its debut. If there's an American sports car that's basically the wild stallion of the road, it's hands-down the original first-gen Dodge Viper. If you're a rookie behind the wheel, think twice before attempting to tame this powerhouse. It's not a car, it's a daredevil in sheet metal! The original Viper is as spartan as a sports car can possibly get. Its lightweight body paired with a screaming V10 motor rated at 400 horsepower, as well as the lack of most driver assists, was a dangerous mix. It takes loads of skill and bravery to drive one of these beasts. In a bizarre twist, Chrysler thought it would be a fantastic idea to grab the Mercedes-Benz SLK sports car and give it a makeover fit for a Hollywood star. The result? A Chrysler Crossfire with a sleek new body that turned heads, but boy, oh boy, did it turn hearts sour everywhere else. Looks can be deceiving, and in the case of the Crossfire, they were downright misleading. This supposed sports car was more like an athlete stuck in the starting blocks, underpowered and clumsily built. Sales were as disappointing as a cancelled parade, leading Chrysler to yank the Crossfire off the stage just four years after its grand entrance. When it comes to eye-catching convertibles, the Allante takes the crown for beauty. This Cadillac had a touch of Italian flair, courtesy of the renowned (pee·nuhn·fr·ee·nuh) coachbuilder. Yep, the same folks who've lent their design magic to legendary rides like Ferraris, Alfa Romeos, and Lancias. The Allante wasn't just a car; it was a slice of automotive amore! This gorgeous two-door convertible was awfully underpowered, though. Its V8 powerplant only made around 200 horses. As a result, a sprint 60 miles per hour takes it over 9 seconds. In terms of design, finding a car as adorable as the AMC Pacer is almost impossible. This small subcompact won over both the media and buyers, all thanks to its distinctive exterior design. Sadly, everything else about the AMC Pacer was truly awful. The reputation of the Pacer dropped just a few years after its debut, causing the sales to plummet irreversibly. The car was eventually discontinued less than 5 years after it first hit the market in 1975. So, in 1963, America's first sports car, the Chevy Corvette, unveiled its second generation. It was the year of the legendary split-window rear-end design - one year wonder, folks! Sure, the second-gen Corvette was a visual feast, turning heads inside and out. But when it came to handling, oh boy, it was like trying to teach a cat to tap dance. Would you believe it? The Fiero proudly struts in as one of the most innovative American cars ever. With its mid-engine setup, feather-light frame, and a design to make heads turn, it seemed like Pontiac was onto something big. But, brace yourself, because despite all the glitz and glamour, the Fiero was like a Hollywood blockbuster with a terrible plot. During development, it appeared as sturdy as a fortress. Fast forward to reality, and it was more like a cardboard box in a rainstorm. The Pontiac brainiacs dreamt of fitting it with a cool 1.8L engine, but GM threw a curveball and slapped on a shoddy, budget-friendly 2.5L iron-duke. Back in the swinging '60s, muscle cars flaunted price tags that made potential buyers break into a cold sweat. But fear not, for Chevrolet swooped in like a superhero with a cape made of common sense. Their ingenious solution? The Chevrolet Nova SS, the muscle car on a budget. But, hold your horsepower, because the Chevy Nova SS is more like a muscle car that got a participation trophy. truth be told, it was a bit like driving a grumpy riding lawnmower. Prone to more Issues than a soap opera, unless you're ready to give it a makeover with some heavy modifications. Ah, the DeLorean, that time-traveling icon from the '80s! It cruised its way into iconic status, thanks to its starring role in Back To The Future. But here's the punchline: while it could warp time on the silver screen, the real-life DeLorean was a bit more "everyday commute" than "flux capacitor adventure." Time travel dreams sold separately! The DeLorean DMC-12 is infamous for its poor handling and build quality issues. To make matters worse, its 130-horsepower V6 motor is awfully underpowered. The DeLorean may look like a fast car, but that could not be further from reality.