A Statement Or An Exclamation?
It’s often said that the way we present ourselves in public says a lot about our personalities, from the way we style our hair to the clothes we wear. So what does it say when our choice of automobile is…a little out there? Here are some strange cars that certainly make a statement.
1970 AMC Gremlin
The Gremlin is remembered primarily for its odd shape and its odd name. Based on the AMC Hornet model, but with the back scaled down, the Gremlin was
Gerry Dincher, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1961 Amphicar
If you’ve ever found yourself on a flooded road, or just want to keep driving when you get to the lake, the 1961 Amphicar from Germany is perfect for you! In addition to its engine, the Amphicar was equipped with two propellers for aquatic motoring. The front wheels acted as rudders, directing the car.
Alf van Beem, Wikimedia Commons
Aston Martin Cygnet
Originally intended as an affordable, fuel-efficient street car, the Cygnet is now a collector's item due to its lack of sales. Able to hit only just over 100 mph, the car was not popular on its release, despite having the Aston Martin brand behind it.
Asylum Pea Car
Frozen vegetable company Birds Eye had this unique automobile built for a 2005 commercial. The tiny green car has Volkswagen headlights and a Honda engine, all attached to an off-road go-kart chassis. It’s currently on display at the Unilever offices in England.
1964 Austin Mini Moke
If you’re on the taller side of life, this car is definitely not for you! These tiny jeeps were originally built for the British Army but were rejected due to low ground clearance. On the mass market, the Moke was billed as a farm and recreational vehicle. Contemporary models are one of Austin’s forays into EVs.
Butagaz Car
These promotional cars were designed to be used during the Tour de France. The adapted design allows the driver to sit slightly further forward in the cab of the vehicle. Seven were built to ensure proper exposure of the Butagaz brand.
Cadbury’s Creme Egg Car
You can’t unwrap this car and eat it, but it will definitely put you in the mood for one of Cadbury’s famous treats. Five were built as a promotional fleet in the 1980s, based on the Bedford Rascal van.
1973 Cadillac Fleetwood 75
Not quite a limousine, though it was also sold as one, the Fleetwood 75 can accommodate a remarkable nine passengers! The 1974 model clocks in at
The Carver
Somewhere between a motorcycle and a car, the Carver protects a driver from the elements with its car-like body but maintains the leanness and maneuverability of a bike. These speedy little vehicles can accommodate two riders, one seated behind the other.
Chevrolet El Camino
One of the better-known cars on this list, the El Camino is a strange mash-up of a coupe and a pickup truck. It was originally built in 1959, on a full-size body, but was scaled down to a mid-size for the 1964 model. The El Camino was in production until 1987 and now commands high prices in the collectors market.
Chevrolet pre-1978, Wikimedia Commons
1963 Chrysler Turbine
These incredible experimental cars could run on anything from jet fuel to perfume. A pair of turbines provided the motive power of the Chrysler Turbine, an early foray into alternative energy vehicles. Only 200 were made and most were loaned by the company to families to see if the cars were viable alternatives.
Karrmann, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
1981 DeLorean DMC-12
The DMC-12 doesn’t quite fit our ideas of a futuristic vehicle any longer, despite carrying Michael J Fox into the far-flung year of 2015 in the famous Back to the Future series. The stainless steel exterior and gull-wing doors certainly make it an odd vehicle, and it was designed by John DeLorean, a former General Motors executive.
Dymaxion
The brainchild of famed inventor Buckminster Fuller, like Germany’s Amphicar, the Dymaxion was meant to be dual purpose. Fuller designed this car with the hope that it would one day be able to fly! It was, unfortunately, not very safe, costing one test driver his life in a speed test.
Zandcee, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Faraday Future FF 91
It’s less and less weird to see cars on the road now that look like they’ve just driven out of a science fiction movie. The Faraday Future FF 91 takes this to the next level. Along with its futuristic exterior, the onboard computer has an intuitive AI that remembers driver preferences, and three electric motors.
Maurizio Pesce, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Fiat 1999 Multipla
It sometimes seems that designers make their cars look odd just to make them jump out from the pack. The Multipla is certainly one of the strangest cars to go to market. Never sold in the US, the Multipla looks like it was haphazardly stuck together in the wrong order, and is
2021 Hennessey Mammoth 6x6
The $500,000 price tag, and the fact that only three were made, will probably keep you from seeing this massive truck on the streets anytime soon. Created by vehicle modifiers Hennessey Performance, the Mammoth 6x6 adds a second rear wheel axle and an incredible
Karlmann King
This $2.2 million car looks like it just drove out of a video game. The memorable exterior conceals a luxury interior, including a built-in coffee maker! The Karlmann King is produced in Italy by a Chinese company.
Lamborghini LM 002
Although it may not look so strange to us now, in a world of Cybertrucks and Hummers, the LM 002 was an unusual design when it premiered in 1982. Originally designed to court military buyers, the LM 002 went into general production but
Detectandpreserve, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Land Rover Discovery Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicle
A specially-designed version of the Land Rover Discovery built for the Austrian Red Cross, this long-named car has some odd features. Prime among them is a roof-mounted drone that can land even while the vehicle is in motion, and can stream footage to the responders en route to an emergency.
Matti Blume, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
1921 Leyat Helica
You’re not likely to see one of these century-old cars on the roads anytime soon. Designed by Marcel Leyat, a biplane builder, the Helica is extremely lightweight and is able to hit speeds in excess of 100 mph.
MrWalkr, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Lotus Evija
The 130 models of this electric vehicle that have been produced aren’t even street-legal in the United States. Each Evija costs well over $2 million, and it’s billed as the first British all-electric hypercar. The Evija can go from 0-60 mph in less than three seconds.
Chelsea Jay, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Lunar Roving Vehicle
Unless you’re planning a trip to the Moon, it’s unlikely you’ll see one of these dune buggy-style vehicles anytime soon. For a hefty $38 million price tag, four of these LRVs were made by Boeing for the US space program in the 1970s, and all but one remained on the Moon after the end of each mission.
Tiia Monto, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
2014 Mercedes-AMG G63 6x6
What appears to be a no-holds-barred off-road vehicle on the outside is also a fabulous luxury vehicle on the inside. This robust 6x6 features all sorts of
Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
2009 Nissan Cube
The Nissan Cube is one of the more common cars on this list of weird autos. This boxy build features an asymmetrical back window and a side-hinged rear door. The interior is somewhat opposite to the straight lines of the exterior, featuring lots of curves and ovals.
Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Nissan Land Glider
This slender mix between car and motorcycle was designed for navigating narrow, crowded city streets. The tilt feature retained from its motorbike ancestors unfortunately kept this all-electric, zero-emission concept car from general production.
Tennen-Gas, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
1942 L’Oeuf Électrique
If you thought EVs were a new concept, guess again! This tiny “electric egg” gets 63 miles to a charge. It was designed by Paul Arzens, a locomotive and car designer, during the WWII gas shortage.
Rob Oo, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1968 Oldsmobile/American Quality Coach Jetway 707
The only limousine to make our list, this strange mix of luxury car and station wagon was made to accommodate air travelers in the late 1960s. Clocking in at 28 feet long, the Jetway could carry up to 15 people. Of the 52 that were produced, only a few survive today.
Buch-t, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Oscar-Mayer Wienermobile
Although you can’t buy one, you can request a visit from the Weinermobile at the Oscar-Mayer website. The car was first built in 1936 as part of an advertising campaign, and there are now six of them in circulation around the US. The interior boasts both ketchup- and mustard-colored seats.
Victorgrigas, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Polaris Slingshot
A strange combination of car and motorcycle, the Slingshot can be fitted with a roof for those who live in rainy climates. It features heating/cooling seats and, by all accounts, is a pretty fun vehicle to cruise around in.
Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
1997-2002 Plymouth Prowler
Another strange vehicle that you stand a chance of seeing on the roads. The Plymouth Prowler was built as a tribute to the sorts of hot rods one might see in a classic movie, and certainly stands out among other mass-produced vehicles of the time. Due to its tiny trunk space,
Greg Gjerdingen, USA, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Popemobile
Numerous versions of this holy car have been produced, including a model built by Mercedes-Benz. Equipped with stairs and handrails, this helps the aging pontiff make public appearances. The Popemobile also allows the head of the Catholic Church to travel in security. Sadly, modern versions have to incorporate bullet-proof glass.
Valder137, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Reeves-Overland Octoauto
One of the problems early cars faced was unpaved and ill-maintained roads. An early attempt to take on these rough roads, the Octoauto had four axles and eight wheels, each of which could steer. The Octoauto proved too complex and pricey to build, and designer Milton Reeves eventually returned to inventing engines.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
1935 Stout Scarab
Named for the famous Egyptian beetle, this odd-looking vehicle could perhaps be called the world’s first minivan! Six could sit comfortably in the car, including four swiveling seats in the back that surrounded a small card table. Only nine were made, and five survive, meaning you stand a chance of seeing one someday. Maybe.
1978 Subaru Brat
With a name like “Brat”, this car seems appropriate for the Summer of 2024. This pickup truck-esque vehicle came about due to expensive tariffs on Japanese-manufactured trucks in the late ‘70s and features seating in the rear bed, so it qualified as a passenger vehicle. Brat stands for “Bi-drive Recreational All-Terrain Transporter”.
Sicnag, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Tesla Cybertruck
Tesla and its CEO are no strangers to weirdness, and the Cybertruck is a very public example. This futuristic-looking vehicle is a robust pickup that also boasts a luxurious interior and
TaurusEmerald, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
1948 Tucker 48
Beneath the odd exterior of the Tucker 48 is a wide range of safety features. Shatterproof glass, a roll bar, and a padded dashboard are just some of the safety innovations that Preston Tucker, the car’s designer, placed in his ill-fated, strange-looking auto. Only 51 of these cars were made.
Rex Gray, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Vision Mercedes Simplex
This concept car never got as far as production, but it’s still one of the stranger vehicles to come out of the Mercedes company. The 2019 car is designed to resemble the Mercedes 35 PS race car from 1901, the first car to carry the Mercedes name.
Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
1973 Volkswagen Thing
Yes, this car was actually called “the Thing”. Sort of a car and sort of a jeep, the Thing combined aspects of both, but was really a pretty bare-bones vehicle.
Sicnag, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commonsarry, Flickr
Zippo Car
If you see this car driving around, call someone quickly! The sole model went missing decades ago and has never been found. This unique vehicle was created to advertise the Zippo lighter company in the late 1940s. The lighters on top didn’t really light, but the flames were equipped with neon lights to simulate the famous brands fiery products.
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