Scoundrel given bad account of car (8)
I believe the answer is:
cadillac
'car' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'scoundrel given bad account' is the wordplay.
'scoundrel' becomes 'cad' (cad is a kind of scoundrel).
'given' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'bad' becomes 'ill' (associated in meaning).
'account' becomes 'ac' (abbreviation for account).
'cad'+'ill'+'ac'='CADILLAC'
'of' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for cadillac that I've seen before include "Car maker" , "Luxury US automobile" , "Make an acid call for the US car" , "Make acid call to car company" , "Luxury US car" .)