How exactly did the beautiful American wild turkey became a symbol of failure? Because it ended up as roast? Well, we’re going to roast some turkeys this week, and you’re going to be asked to bring some stuffing and side dishes to the feast. The CC gang is going to run pieces on turkeys of all sorts during the week, and we’re going to ask you to nominate your own turkeys for each of the past six decades as well as the present. We’ll start a little later on Monday morning with the 50s, so start mulling it over, but keep your powder dry for now. Let’s just keep in mind that “turkey” is a pretty broad definition, so feel free to call it as you see it. Just be ready to defend your turkey, because you know someone’s going to likely take aim at it.
Great idea I’m psyched!
Some models spring to mind fairly easily but US curbivores have many more to choose from
The important thing with turkeys is what you do with the left-overs. Do you feed them to the cat? Or do you put them in the freezer and forget about them ? Or do you use them to make something nice ???
Depending on your presonal viewpoint on the Edsel horsecollar grille that top left picture could be pretty pornographic… 😛
Talk about some feathers worth ruffling.
That leads to the essential question: What makes a turkey?
Is a car that’s basically sound, or at least as sound as other lines, like the Edsel, a turkey for its stupid or even indecent styling? Or is a car a turkey for its horrific assembly quality, like the Forward Looks? Or perhaps it’s the question nobody asked, like the Metropolitan – completely unsuitable by design.
Or perhaps a car with a marketing plan thought up by a drunk just before Last Call…like the Allstate.
That is the eternal question. Until we settle on parameters, we’ll never narrow down the turkeys…
I would, but then I’d rather not run a-fowl of the other commentators.
For the 2000s, the Pontiac Aztek is the only option. I’m pretty sure that car is the sole reason the American auto industry has such a bad reputation. Its so ugly that it makes the Edsel look like a Continental Mark II in comparison, and I’ve heard rumors that it caused Harley Earl to come back to life as a zombie intent on devouring the brains of the Pontiac design department.
Yes, but the Aztek is now Walter White’s car (until recently)–perhaps the least likely gangsta-mobile ever to appear on TV. (And if you don’t know who Walter White is, you’ve missed out on probably the best TV drama of the past 20 years or so.)
But yes, it’s a turkey.
Turkey nomination from Australia, the Leyland P76.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leyland_P76
The British agree it was a bit of a dud: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/motoring/features/leyland-p76-411854.html
Of course, a classic trukey; but you’re two days early. The seventies will be here soon…