Automotive history has no shortage of gorgeous cars from a variety of designers. Some are sleek hypercars while others are tough muscle cars. Automotive history also has its fair share of truly odd vehicles, many of which made it to market. These 10 are ones we will never forget.
No. 10 – Pontiac Aztek
The Pontiac Aztek is not offensive; in fact, it actually served as a preview of what automakers would do in the coming decades. This became one of the first true crossovers. Still, that doesn’t change the fact that Aztek had a bit of an odd design with its sharp angles and grey lower panels. The Aztek also has some charm, especially with its rear-mounted tent and console-mounted cooler.
No. 9 – Reliant Robin
Ah, the Reliant Robin — a three-wheeled fiberglass car with a huge fanbase overseas. Many people in the United States heard about the Robin for the first time while watching former “Top Gear” host Jeremy Clarkson roll one repeatedly while filming a segment for the long-running TV show. Yet, they didn’t realize the full extent of the Robin line, which lasted from 1973 to 2001.
This three-wheeled vehicle came in all forms, including a van, station wagon, and a sedan. It sold like gangbusters and became one of the most popular fiberglass cars in history. Some people use the Robin for enjoyable drives on the street. Others use them for specialty racing series. Many choose to customize the Robin in ridiculously entertaining ways.
No. 8 – BMW Z1
The first of two BMW entries on this list, the Z1 only lasted from 1989 to 1991. BMW actually only made 8,000 of these little roadsters, which featured doors that retracted vertically into the door sills and removable body panels. Of course, these were not the only odd features of the car. The overall design made the car look like a cross between a C4 Corvette and a Toyota MR2.
No. 7 – Tucker 48
One of the rarest cars in automotive history, the 1948 Tucker 48 did not enjoy mass market success. This was not possible as the Tucker Corporation only produced 51 models before going out of business.
What made this rear-engine car odd? The main thing was the third headlight mounted in the center of the front end. This long car bore some similarities to Pontiacs from the 1940s, but it had large rear fenders that appeared to come straight from the pages of a comic book. The Tucker 48 also had the suicide doors made famous by other manufacturers.
No. 6 – BMW Isetta
A post-WWII creation, the BMW Isetta started out as the Iso Isetta before becoming BMW’s savior. The company needed something inexpensive to produce that could keep it from bankruptcy, and the little bubble car delivered exactly that. The Isetta featured a 300cc engine in the rear and a massive door on the front. It had a canvas roof that served as the emergency exit if the front door did not open.
Was the Isetta odd? Absolutely. It had an external luggage rack and a top speed of only 53 mph. Did it completely change BMW for the better and put the company on the path to immense success? It certainly did.
No. 5 – Peel P50
The second micro-car to land on this list, the Peel P50 features only three wheels and a single seat. The odd little car does not have room for passengers or luggage, nor does it have a reverse gear. The only way to move backward is to manually push the Peel P50. It also only has one headlight, one door, and a top speed of 38 mph.
No. 4 – AMC Pacer
A product of the 1970s, the AMC Pacer broke away from the standard automotive design. It did not fit into the “three-box” configuration, which consists of the engine compartment, passenger compartment, and luggage compartment. Instead, the Pacer had a large, bulbous passenger area and a long hood. The Pacer was also as wide as full-size domestic cars.
No. 3 – Lamborghini LM002
A massive, bulky SUV should not have an automatic spot on a list of odd cars. What makes this entry special is that Lamborghini produced it in the mid-1980s and early 1990s. The supercar company produced the iconic Countach during this era.
The LM002 did not look like a standard SUV; it had a large hood scoop to accommodate the massive V12 engine, as well as a wide-open rear cargo area. The front had a push bar to add some toughness. However, it was the interior that made this Lamborghini even more fascinating at the time. It had leather upholstery, air conditioning, and a premium stereo.
No. 2 – Studebaker Hawk
Studebaker produced no shortage of fascinating cars during the company’s existence. The Hawk truly stands out from this group. Its design is odd, but it is also fantastic in a strange way. It appears as though Studebaker mashed two different sides together to create one vehicle. The front resembles an older Jaguar; the rear has massive fins like a classic Cadillac. This should not work, but it somehow does.
No. 1 – Nash Metropolitan
A product of the 1950s, the Nash Metropolitan straddled the line between odd and adorable. It was Nash’s first sub-compact car, sitting at only 149.5 inches long and 61.5 inches wide. The Metropolitan weighed under 1,900 pounds, and it only had a top speed of 80 mph with the more powerful 1,500cc engine. The Metropolitan took more than 20 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph.
The Metropolitan was not fast, nor did it have a design like any other vehicle around. Yet, it was truly memorable for all of the right reasons.