Porsche 550 Spyder: is there a cooler car?

A few weeks back, I ran a piece on the “Uncoolest Cars of All Time”. While feedback was generally positive (which means I got fewer death threats than usual), several readers pointed out that the list was entirely generated from the perspective of an American driver and writer. Who dislikes hatchbacks. And forgot the Gremlin, Aztec, Pacer, Scion Xb, or whatever car you personally deem uncool.

Behold, the tireless Umbrella Girl

Last week we introduced you to the glamourous world of tuner and local car show girls. We gave you a glimpse into their world of small town convention centers, unemployed boyfriends and endless attempts at upskirt photos from kids and adults alike. At RideLust, we recognize that some women want more from a career in auto show representation, so in this installment, we’ll cover the next step up the Car Show Girl Ladder: Umbrella Girls, aka Grid Girls, aka Paddock Girls.

We’ve all been there. A night that went just a bit too long, a bit too much to drink, that person making eyes at you across the bar. And the next morning, as your head pounds and your stomach churns, you notice that the hot body you were making it with is a little more “mutant seamonster” than you remember he/she to be. These cars are the automotive equivalent of that “uh-oh” moment. Cars so ugly their makers must have surely hung their heads in shame. If you have a strong stomach, read on.

15. VW Thing

Based on the reliable, efficient Type 1 (Beetle) platform, the Thing was by any account an incredibly practical little car. It should be; it was loosely based on the capable WWII-era Kübelwagen, which served as the Wehrmacht’s jeep and bounced all over Europe. Capable doesn’t mean beautiful, and the Thing was so ugly it might as well have been a corrugated tin shed on wheels. At least it had a top so you could hide yourself somewhat if you drove by someone you knew.