Lemon!: Sixty Heroic Automotive Failures

by Tony Davis

It's true that cars are getting better and better. But sometimes, despite the designer's best intentions, instead of a peach, we get a lemon! And while car enthusiasts will argue endlessly about what are the best cars, they'll argue even more ferociously about what are the worst. Lemon! is a collection of 60 courageous automotive disasters, from the 1958 Ford Edsel (by the 1960s "edsel" was used in the US as a byword for failure, and the 23rd edition of the Webster dictionary made it official) to the much-loved travesty, the P76 (when people took P76s in for warranty work, it was easier to list things that DIDN'T need fixing). From bad design, appalling execution, ridiculous pretensions, and ludicrous names, this detailed and hilarious look at automotive atrocities from the 1950s to the 1990s is a motoring Hall of Shame. With full color photographs throughout and plenty of wackiness, Lemon! will leave you not only laughing, but wondering how so many car makers got away with so much for so long.

Genres: Nonfiction

176 pages, Paperback

Published October 10, 2005

About the author

Tony Davis is widely blamed for LEMON! 60 HEROIC FAILURES OF MOTORING, an Australian bestseller that was published in US and UK editions – and which has been adapted into the hit book for kids, YOU MUST BE SKIDDING! He is also responsible for the eccentric literary memoir F. SCOTT, ERNEST AND ME, plus the new children’s series ROLAND WRIGHT, FUTURE KNIGHT.

Before courageously leaving a well-paid job to be a full-time author (at the end of 2005), Tony had a long and successful career in newspapers, magazines and publishing. He has worked at THE AUSTRALIAN and THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, has held senior editing and news roles, and has written extensively about popular culture, history, motoring, television and a myriad of other subjects.

Tony lives in northern Sydney with his wife Carolyn and their three sons, William, James and Daniel.

Reviews

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even if I don't agree with every entry (Nissan EXA, come on??!! ;) ) this was an interesting and quick read. One you could dip in and out of as the mood takes you. And a reminder of 'gems' I'd long forgotten.

[David Elton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lemon! by Tony Davis. Pretty funny. Written by an Aussie. For example, one car was “discontinued by popular demand”. Worth recommending, especially to car nuts. April 29, 2025

[dejah_thoris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute little book that profiles 60 models but actually covers many more in additional one-page spreads. There is an Aussie bias to the selection, which makes it a bit more interesting for those of us ignorant of what was imported to Australia during the 20th century. Obviously, I don't agree that all of these unique models were "lemons", but they certainly didn't perform well during their heyday. And as a Suzucki X-90 owner, I'm pleased to see both my favorite model and its cousin the Samurai didn't make this particular list, though I'm guessing that has more to do with their lack of presence down under than their "lemon" status because they were ridiculed during 1996-1998 too. Too bad Suzucki won't bring them back. Mine always get compliments even though people assume they're a new model. Regardless, this is a very neat little book great for quick reading.