The Gremlin is probably too extreme an example (and as someone not from the US, I’m only aware of it because it became the
Butt of jokes in US TV and movies), but I still agree with your larger point.
In my country the closest example for those years would be the Alfa Romeo, which led to a popular saying here in the 80s that an Alfa made you happy twice: when you bought it, and when you sold it!
In my country the closest example for those years would be the Alfa Romeo, which led to a popular saying here in the 80s that an Alfa made you happy twice: when you bought it, and when you sold it!