Examples of Chopped-Off Style

I can think of only one example of an American car having its aft end drastically shortened in order to create a new model or new brand.  That was the American Motors Corporation (AMC) Gremlin derived from the AMC Hornet.

A slightly similar example is the General Motors "Aeroback" style found on some 1978 Buick and Oldsmobile models.  Some background regarding these poor-selling cars is here.

Aerobacks were created by putting an angular fastback on what was basically a bustleback design.  Due to the shaping details, the visual effect was that of a chopped-off rear end on four-door versions (but less so for coupés).

Gallery

A 1970 AMC Hornet 2-door, the basis for the Gremlin.

High rear quarter view of a 1971 Gremlin.

Side view of a 1972 2-door Hornet.

Side view of a 1971 Gremlin.  Gremlins were the same as Hornets forward of the B-pillars, though the aft door cuts differ slightly.  The Gremlin's wheelbase is one English foot (305 mm) shorter than the Hornet's.

Shown here are two 1978 Buick Century Custom 4-door sedans, providing a sense of Aeroback styling.

Two views of a for-sale 1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass Salon 4-door sedan.  The "chopped-off" appearance is due to the main plane of the fastback bending at the level of the side character line that is well below the car's beltline.  This visual continuity feature is normally good styling practice.  But here it fails because it makes the upper fastback plane too large and essentially too flat-looking -- what seemed to many viewers (including me) to be a chopping off of what might have been a longer body.

Here is a 1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 that was listed for sale.  In this 2-door instance, the chopped-off effect is less obvious.  This suggests that the side windows and pillars of the 4-door sedan contribute to the effect.

Finally, a 1978 Pontiac Grand Am 4-door sedan showing the bustleback version of the body from which Aerobacks were derived.