The history of automobiles dates back to 1886 when the three-wheeled Benz Patent Motor Car, model no. 1 paved the way for a quicker and more enjoyable way to travel. History gave us insanely cool, top-of-the-line cars but it also produced some weird and unsavory-looking cars. Here’s a look at some of the funkiest we could round up.
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Peel P50 (1962)
Starting off strong with the Peel P50, the smallest car ever made. It featured only one seat – for obvious reasons – and had a top speed of 35 mph. Labeled a city car due to its compact size and fuel efficiency, only 27 are known to still be around.
Reliant Robin (1973)
A three-wheeled car with one wheel at the front and two at the back, this started as a cheaper alternative for cars and got this, it was produced for more than 30 years. It comes as no surprise but it was known for its tendency to flip if you took a sharp turn.
Amphicar Model 770 (1961)
Fans of detective and superhero animation of the 80’s and 90’s beware, the amphibious car was the real deal. Designed as a car that could also function as a boat if needed, this had a top speed of 7 knots on water and 70 mph on land.
Nissan Figaro (1991)
This isn’t the look you would expect from a car labeled as somehow out of place, since it looks pretty darn good. What makes this car unusual is its retro look, which is something unexpected from a car launched in 1991. Inspired by the 1950s, it had a small engine and was marketed as a fun and stylish city car. As expected, it has quite the cult following and among fans of unique cars.
Peel Trident (1964)
Peel strikes again! This one featured two seats and a top speed of 40 mph. This was the go-to car for short trips. It kinda feels like traveling on land in a submarine. And here comes the kicker: it was sold for £200,000 at an auction.
Messerschmitt KR200 (1955)
A microcar with a bubble-like cockpit, featured three wheels and a motorcycle engine. Designed as a fuel-saving energy option during the fuel crisis of the 1950s, the KR200 had a steering bar similar to what you would see in an aircraft.
Volkswagen Schwimmwagen (1942)
It’s there in the name, a swimming car. This four-wheel-drive amphibious vehicle was used at first by the German army during World War II. The remaining surplus was used after the war by a handful of civilians only to become a collectors’ item next.
Fiat Multipla (1998)
A six-seater with a unique design that was considered ugly by many. It had a front seat that could fit three people and a spacious interior. With production stopping two years later, the Telegraph ranked it second on its 100 Ugliest Cars top in August 2008.
BMW Isetta (1955)
A microcar with a front door that doubles as the steering wheel, the BMW Isetta looks like a toy car. It gained popularity in Europe as a small and efficient city car but with today’s traffic this would be a huge no.
Suzuki X-90 (1995)
A car that looks like it was made following a child’s drawing: the way too short back, the rounded hood, it looks comical and plain weird. A two-seater SUV with a convertible roof, this car was not well-received by consumers and we can all see why.
AMC Gremlin (1970)
The car you wouldn’t want to be seen driving around town. It looks unfinished, unsafe, none of these being things you are looking for if you want to buy a new car. It was launched on April 1st so we wonder if this was a bad joke from the get go.
Nissan Cube (2009)
With an unique squared-off shape and funky asymmetrical rear window, the Nissan Cube looks like it was plucked straight out of a cartoon. If someone took a standard car and squished it from the sides it would result in this “mobile toaster on wheels”.
CONCEPT CARS
Ford Nucleon (1958)
A concept car which was meant to be powered by a nuclear reactor. Due to the million safety concerns associated with a nuclear-powered car, this one never made it past the prototype stage.
BMW GINA (2008)
A cool concept car from BMW that started with one concept in mind: a flexible shape. The flexible textile body could change shape based on driving conditions, it was meant to be lightweight and aerodynamic. It also featured a light-colored, retro-inspired interior.
Cadillac Cyclone (1959)
The futuristic car with a bubble-top canopy and a missile-like tail fin, this was a concept intended to show Cadillac’s innovative skills.
Aptera 2 Series (2008)
A futuristic-looking vehicle with a teardrop shape and three wheels, it was designed for fuel efficiency and had a range of up to 120 miles on a single charge. However, it was never mass-produced.
These cars were labeled as weird due to their unconventional design, engineering, or functionality. Some were ahead of their time, while others were marketing failures. Despite their quirks, these weird looking cars have all left their mark on automotive history, being it as a seat filler on a list with the ugliest car ever made.
Now what about a change of pace with some of the weirdest laws in Florida? And for more like this here are some unusual vehicles?
FAQ
What is the weirdest car name?
The following cars will bring a smile to your face. Here are the weirdest car names:
- Daihatsu Naked – How about Daihatsu Clothed?
- Dodge Swinger – Well, who are we to judge?
- Volugrafo Bimbo – Who wouldn’t want to buy a V Bimbo?
- Isuzu Mysterious Utility Wizard – Sounds like something we’d use on our computer.
What is the coolest looking car?
That is certainly something that differs from person to person but for most of us, it’s probably one of the 3 below:
- Maserati MC20
- Aston Martin DBS Superleggera
- 2021 Bugatti Divo
What are some of the weirdest car names out there?
Every brand seems to have its chuckle inducing, face-palming care that makes you wonder if this was meant of a joke or they simply couldn’t come up with something better.
- Nissan Friend-Me – Loney car alert…
- Daihatsu Naked – Say what?!
- Gaylord Gladiator – How would the woke crowd react to this gem?
- Mazda Titan Dump – So much confusion
- Mitsubishi Toppo Guppy – For the pet lover.
- Toyota Deliboy – weird. weird. weird.
- Ford Probe – Out of all tthe words, they went with “probe”.
- Dodge Swinger – Well, who are we to judge?
- Volugrafo Bimbo – Who wouldn’t want to buy a V Bimbo?
- Isuzu Mysterious Utility Wizard – Sounds like something we’d use on our computer.
I’m a passionate writer with an insatiable curiosity for history, obscure facts, and the weird corners of the internet. When I’m not fact-checking bizarre stories or diving into historical mysteries, I’m exploring the strange and unusual to bring you the most fascinating tales.
A self-proclaimed weirdness enthusiast, who loves turning the odd, the quirky, and the unbelievable into engaging stories for curious minds.
My kids sometimes call me the walking Wikipedia, which can get very annoying sometimes.
