Carl Wyndham articles

Automakers gamble every time they launch a vehicle. Some bets pay off and others become disasters that drain money, damage reputations, and push brands into crisis. These are the cars whose failures hit their companies harder than anyone expected.

In 1976, Niki Lauda was infamously trapped in a flaming car and read his last rites. When he returned only weeks later, it seemed like a miracle.

“The Intimidator”. “Ironhead”. “The Man in Black”. Those are just a few of the nicknames that NASCAR’s Dale Earnhardt earned over the course of his career—along with a staggering 100 cup wins. But his aggressive moves on the track often placed him and his fellow racers in grave danger. Forget victory laps and champagne showers. This cursed rough racer was all about cars and carnage.