10 Cars That Went From Major Flop To Massive Fortune

Not every car can be a best seller. Better in theory than when in production, cars flop. Yet these cars can hold a special place for people and become popular again. Cars aren't received how they are predicted to, and they get canceled. Although held back by initial failure commercially, these cars can be worth more than you can imagine, with some people going to great lengths to obtain them. 

These cars may be innovative but unappreciated, the victims of financial downturn when they came into production, or just plain ugly, proving even successful car manufacturers will occasionally fail to meet expectations. Designers spend time and money and set high goals for their new cars that, unfortunately, go unmet. Even great designs might not transfer well into production. 

These cars are now highly coveted by collectors. They represent something unique and special for each buyer and can go for prices that might bulge your eyes. And people will pay. The idea that hindsight is 20/20 applies here. People realize after the fact what they missed out on and try to reclaim it before it's gone completely, not wanting to miss out on it now that they have been given a second chance.

These are cars that, for a multitude of reasons, have gained popularity long after they were supposed to. Due to the historical value or the nostalgia they foster, people want some cars again, even when no one has wanted them before. They can be trophies. symbols of success, or something else, but each has its own, massive value or it will. Whether or not you agree, these cars drive the market and steer people toward them.

The 1934 Chrysler Airflow was well-received at the 1934 New York Auto Expo. The car featured revolutionary design changes that helped develop how cars are made. Preorders poured in, and the car's manufacture was rushed, leading to the sales numbers being less than exuberant and only around 10,000 units sold in the four years it was in production.

The Airflow was a stunning and revolutionary new type of design that Carl Breer, the head of engineering at Chrysler, led the charge on. He even got the help of Orville Wright, using his facilities to test the streamlined design in one of the first wind tunnels. This streamlining is the first time the industry saw any attention paid to aerodynamics and marks the beginning of aerodynamics being applied to vehicles. He also moved the engine over the car's front axle and placed the passengers between the two axles, providing more interior space and better ride quality.

The innovation was not a seller in 1934 and even priced reasonably at $1,345, the car didn't sell. Now, they are coveted, with many found only in museums. An airflow has an average price of $72,130, which is well below the price of the 1935 model that went for $117,700 at a Barret-Jackson auction. One of these is a great find, especially as fewer and fewer are available.

The Plymouth Fury was a car that originally started life as a trim variation for purchase on the Plymouth Belvedere. The Fury soon became an individual vehicle and was the most expensive Plymouth at the time, selling for $3067. It came in five different iterations, among them a four-door sedan, a two-door convertible, and a four-door wagon.

The Fury was a stylish muscle car with an engine shared with the Dodge Coronet, a car used by police at the time. A sizable, well-powered vehicle with a 5.2-liter produced 290 hp was standard, with an upgrade to a 5.7-liter producing a whopping 305 hp under the hood. The 1958 Plymouth Fury was projected to do well. It was stylish, reasonably priced, and fun — and should have sold.

Unfortunately, this Fury came at the same time as a recession, which effectively leveled the market for these types of cars in favor of cheaper, more economical models. The movie version of the Stephen King novel, "Christine," revived the car's popularity when it premiered in theaters. These are coveted and fetch an average price of $50,000, though they have been known to sell higher given the correct group of buyers at auction.

The 1970 Plymouth Superbird is best known as the first muscle car that allowed itself to utilize aerodynamics in the body design to create a car that relied on more than a massive engine for speed and performance. This is the car that Petty drove to victory an amazing 18 times during the NASCAR season that it debuted. This alone has given it a special place in the heart of many.

The production version was a massive disappointment — and only 1,920 were produced. The car failed to sell, and it took a long time to get the numbers needed for Petty to drive it to victory. It was a considerable investment at the time with a price of $4776, but you got a whole lot of engine power at that price. Propelled from 0-60 in a smoking 5.5 seconds, the Superbird was powered by a 7.2-liter 440 cubic inch V-8 and had a top speed of 150 mph.

This car is now a piece of NASCAR and Plymouth history. People who want it will pay a lot to add it to a collection. The wing might look goofy, but it is an icon and could cost a buyer upwards of $250,000 at auction or through a private sale.

Very few people have even heard of this Rolls-Royce, even though it was meant to be a Rolls more accessible to the normal folk. It was odd, though, handled poorly and only found success among die-hard fans. It was produced for many model years, but sadly, it never succeeded how Rolls Royce had hoped and has fallen by the wayside in car history.

It had a solid pedigree as it was designed by Paolo Martin at Pininfarina. It also had a massive 6.75-liter engine that it needed to move the boxy beast that weighed in at over two and a half tons. Famously known as the most expensive production car ever when it debuted, the luxury four-seater coupe was priced at $65,500, and since few could afford it only 531 were ever made.

Now a rare Rolls-Royce to find on the market, this fact has led to the car's popularity in the car collections of the most exclusive collectors. The car has lost some of its value, with an average price of around $95,000. Still, more than you or your neighbor can probably afford. It may gain some value moving forward, so keep your fingers crossed if you own one of these behemoths.

This is a car that everyone can remember from recent history. This is one of those iconically ugly cars. With a weird shape and back hatch that everyone agreed was awful. This Pontiac was considered community-designed, and everyone's idea seemed to find a place. It was awesome on paper, but someone should have edited this one down a bit.

Why is it experiencing a revival? According to Edmunds, we can thank one very angry Walter White for that. He began driving an Aztek on the beloved show "Breaking Bad" and sold it on his 51 birthday for a measly $50, one for each year of his old life. This has firmly cemented it in the TV vehicle hall of fame and created an interest in one of the ugliest cars ever.

An original MSRP placed this car at $21,445, supposedly to make it accessible to a younger crowd. And while this vehicle is worth less than that currently at around $5500 as the median price, prices have been fluctuating wildly. They are iconically ugly and, with Walter White's help, may become one of those disasters that finds a place in car history and be worth a great deal. Don't give up yet!