Remember that episode of The Simpsons where Homer meets his long lost brother, Herb? Elated with being reunited, Unky Herb gave Homer the reigns to design Powell Motors’ next big release. “D’oh” would understate how bad that decision was, as Homer’s monstrous design ruined the company within weeks of the family reunion. The episode Oh, Brother Where Art Thou? premiered in 1991. Its original airdate came just three years after the release of the 1988 Italdesign Aztec. One look at the failed sports car gives you an idea where Matt Groening and company may have gotten their inspiration.
At the very least, the Italdesign Aztec falls into the category of “so bad that it’s good.” Its retro-futurism may have been an eyesore at the time but now it benefits from its infamous reputation as a collector’s car. The dual-cockpit design looks like whoever engineered it just got done watching Top Gun for the first design. Despite that awful aesthetic, the car’s performance is nothing to sneeze at. The drivetrain was fit with a turbocharged Audi 2.2-liter inline-five cylinder engine that produces 250 hp. 16” Canonica wheels wear Pirelli P Zero tires tear up the road thanks to the force of its all-wheel-drive. With specs like that, it’s a shame that the car’s appearance wasn’t on par with its on-road performance.