Automobile design has always been a balance between functionality and innovation, but throughout history, some cars have been too bizarre for even the most imaginative minds. While some vehicles were born from ambitious ideas, others came from strange marketing or quirky engineering experiments. Over the years, a variety of odd cars have appeared on the roads, pushing the boundaries of what we thought was possible—or even acceptable—in automotive design. These ten cars are among the weirdest to ever exist, each bringing a unique take on what a car could be.
1. 1956 Fiat 600 Multipla
The Fiat 600 Multipla might have been designed with the intention of offering a family-friendly, compact vehicle. However, it ended up being one of the least practical designs ever made. With a puny 0.6-cylinder engine producing just 21 horsepower, the Multipla struggled to reach even 50 miles per hour, making it one of the least powerful six-seat cars in history. Its strange van-like shape and cramped interior made it a curious—and uncomfortable—experiment in miniaturized family transportation.
2. 1970 Bond Bug
The Bond Bug, built by the British company Reliant, was an attempt at creating a three-wheeled car that was both quirky and affordable. With its odd appearance, resembling a flathead screwdriver more than a vehicle, the Bond Bug was an instant oddity. Despite its resemblance to a futuristic concept car, the Bug’s performance was lackluster, and its higher price compared to the Mini prevented it from achieving widespread success. However, it has remained a collector’s item for those fascinated by oddball vehicles.
3. Peel P50
The Peel P50 is often regarded as the smallest car ever made. Created on the Isle of Man in the 1960s, it measured just 54 inches long, making it almost laughably tiny. Powered by a single-cylinder engine with a top speed of only 37 miles per hour, the P50 was light enough that it didn’t even need a reverse gear. Instead, you could push it backward with your foot. Its absurd size and functionality made it a bizarre but iconic piece of automotive history.
4. 1948 TASCO Prototype
Designed by Gordon Buehrig, the 1948 TASCO Prototype was an ambitious attempt to create a car that resembled the nose of an airplane. While its aerodynamically smooth design was ahead of its time, the car was considered too expensive to mass-produce. The T-top convertible design, though, would go on to influence future vehicles. Unfortunately, the car’s odd shape and high production costs led to its downfall before it could ever take off as a mainstream model.
5. Yamaha OX99-11
In 1992, Yamaha tried to make a splash in the exotic car market with the OX99-11, a car inspired by Formula 1 race cars. It featured a mid-mounted engine with the driver sitting in the center and the passenger behind. Despite its sleek design and futuristic technology, the OX99-11 was never meant to be mass-produced. Only three were built, and Yamaha abandoned the project due to its impracticality and extremely niche appeal.
6. 1968 Oldsmobile/American Quality Coach Jetway 707
This bizarre vehicle was designed to blend the luxury of flying with the practicality of driving. The Jetway 707 resembled a giant station wagon or limousine, with a 28-foot-long body that could carry up to 15 people. Dubbed the “Airport Car,” it was produced in limited numbers and used to shuttle passengers at airports. Its excessive length and limited practicality outside of its airport role made it one of the strangest cars to ever exist.
7. Chrysler Turbine Car
The Chrysler Turbine Car, produced in the early 1960s, was an experimental vehicle that ran on a turbine engine capable of burning a variety of fuels, including diesel, kerosene, and even tequila. Despite its futuristic technology, the car’s performance was disappointing. It was slow, inefficient, and extremely loud. Only 55 units were produced, and while its uniqueness is appreciated by car enthusiasts, its overall failure as a consumer vehicle is legendary.
8. Dymaxion
Invented by Buckminster Fuller, the Dymaxion was an ambitious and strange car designed to revolutionize transportation. The car had a three-wheeled configuration with the driver seated in the center. Its odd tubular design and futuristic technology were ahead of their time. Unfortunately, the Dymaxion’s attempt at flight and unconventional steering led to a fatal accident during testing, resulting in the cancellation of the project. Today, only one Dymaxion remains in the National Auto Museum.
9. 1910 Reeves-Overland Octoauto
In an attempt to create a more stable vehicle for rough terrain, the 1910 Reeves-Overland Octoauto added four extra wheels to an existing car design. This unique “Octoauto” had a total of eight wheels, which were meant to help the car navigate through difficult conditions. However, the added weight and complexity led to high costs and poor sales, and the Octoauto never became a mainstream success, despite its peculiar engineering.
10. Birdseye Pea Car
The Birdseye Pea Car was a promotional vehicle built by the Birds Eye frozen food company, designed to look like a giant pea on wheels. It was built on a go-kart chassis but could still reach 50 miles per hour. The whimsical design made it a hit with the public, and it became a quirky symbol of the brand. The Pea Car was so beloved that it was recreated in 2005 in London, adding a modern twist to its peculiar legacy.
11. Leyat Helica
In 1909, French manufacturer Marcel Leyat turned his focus to making cars after a failed attempt to build airplanes. His creation, the Leyat Helica, was an automobile with a wooden propeller that looked more like a plane than a car. With its lightweight body, the Helica could reach speeds of over 100 miles per hour. While it was a hit at the 1921 Paris Auto Show, only 30 were ever produced, and today, just a handful of Leyat Helicas remain.
12. Stout Scarab
Often considered the first minivan, the Stout Scarab was an aerodynamic vehicle that could seat up to six people. With its strange design, the Scarab resembled an aluminum Twinkie on wheels, and its versatility made it ahead of its time. It was marketed as a mobile office and could be used as a family car or even as a workspace on the go. Its limited production and unusual looks have made the Stout Scarab an iconic piece of automotive history.
In car design, some vehicles push the limits of imagination—often to absurd extremes. These ten cars are bizarre examples of what happens when designers venture beyond conventional ideas. While some were outright failures, they remain intriguing milestones in automotive history, leaving behind a legacy of curiosity and fascination.
