The automobile industry has always been a fascinating blend of engineering, design, and sometimes, pure audacity.
While most car manufacturers aim for mass appeal with conventional designs, some boldly venture into uncharted territories, creating vehicles that challenge our perception of what a car should look like.
These automotive outliers push boundaries, sometimes resulting in vehicles that become cult classics and other times producing memorable failures that leave us wondering what the designers were thinking.
From bubble cars to three-wheelers, from cars resembling household appliances to those mimicking marine creatures, the history of automobile design is peppered with wonderful oddities that somehow made it from the drawing board to the showroom floor.
This collection explores ten of the most unusual production cars ever built vehicles that broke conventional design norms and left an indelible mark on automotive history, whether for their innovative approach or their sheer peculiarity.
These aren’t just concept cars that wowed at auto shows only to be forgotten; these are real production vehicles that actually rolled on public roads, turning heads and sparking conversations wherever they went.
1. BMW Isetta (1955-1962)
The BMW Isetta stands as one of the most recognizable oddities in automotive history, earning its nickname “bubble car” for its egg-shaped design and bubble-like windows.
Originating in Italy with Iso SpA, BMW acquired the manufacturing rights and transformed this microcar into a post-war mobility solution when fuel was scarce and affordable transportation was essential.
What made the Isetta truly bizarre was its unconventional door configuration: the entire front of the car, including the steering wheel and dashboard, swung outward to allow entry.
There was no traditional side door passengers stepped directly into the vehicle through the front.
This peculiar design choice meant that if an Isetta driver found themselves parked too close to a wall or another vehicle, they could become comically trapped inside their car.
Power came from a motorcycle-derived single-cylinder engine producing a mere 12 horsepower, mounted at the rear of the vehicle.
With a top speed of about 53 mph (85 km/h), the Isetta wasn’t built for highway cruising, but rather for going through congested urban environments.
The interior was spartan but functional, offering seating for two adults in extremely close quarters.
Despite its peculiarities or perhaps because of them, the Isetta was tremendously successful, with over 160,000 units sold.
It helped save BMW from financial ruin in the 1950s, providing much-needed revenue when the company was struggling.
The Isetta’s distinctively weird design has cemented its place in pop culture, appearing in numerous films and television shows, and becoming a sought-after collector’s item.
The Isetta remains a testament to how unconventional thinking can lead to successful automotive design, even when that design involves entering your car through what essentially amounts to a refrigerator door.
Its legacy lives on as perhaps the most charming oddball ever to grace public roads.
2. Stout Scarab (1936-1941)
Often heralded as the world’s first minivan, the Stout Scarab was decades ahead of its time and bizarre enough to make most modern concept cars look conventional.
Created by aviation engineer William Bushnell Stout, the Scarab drew inspiration from its namesake, the Egyptian scarab beetle, resulting in a bulbous, aerodynamic shape that was utterly alien in the 1930s automotive world dominated by long-hooded, separate-fendered designs.
The Scarab’s weirdness extended far beyond its exterior. Its rear-mounted Ford V8 engine freed up the interior for a revolutionary cabin layout.
Inside, passengers found a veritable living room on wheels with movable furniture, including seats that could be rearranged around a small table a feature that wouldn’t become common in production vehicles until the 1980s.
The driver’s seat remained fixed, but everything else could be reconfigured, allowing for face to face conversations or even a small workspace.
Construction was equally unconventional, with a spaceframe chassis wrapped in aluminum panels, techniques borrowed from aircraft design.
The doors only one per side were positioned asymmetrically, with the right-side door positioned toward the rear for easier passenger access.
The interior featured wool carpeting, leather upholstery, and indirect lighting, luxuries that were extraordinary for the era.
Production challenges and an astronomical price tag (approximately $5,000, when a typical car costs around $650) limited production to just nine units, making the Scarab one of the rarest production vehicles ever made.
Each was essentially hand-built, with slight variations between examples. The Scarab’s influence echoed throughout automotive history, predicting trends in monocoque construction, space efficiency, and interior flexibility that wouldn’t become mainstream for decades.
Today, surviving examples are prized museum pieces, representing not just automotive oddity but prescient design thinking that was simply too revolutionary and too weird for its time.
3. Citroen 2CV (1948-1990)
From its debut at the 1948 Paris Motor Show to its final production day in 1990, the Citroen 2CV (deux chevaux-vapeur, or “two steam horses”) stood as a monument to automotive weirdness that somehow captured the hearts of millions.
Originally conceived in the 1930s as an “umbrella on wheels” capable of carrying farmers and their eggs across plowed fields without breaking a single one, the 2CV’s design brief alone suggested the result would be nothing short of bizarre.
The car’s appearance was unmistakably odd a corrugated sheet metal body that resembled an upside-down bathtub, mounted on a suspension so soft that the car would dramatically lean into corners without tipping over.
Its canvas roll-back roof could be fully opened, essentially transforming the 2CV into a semi-convertible.
The headlights, initially mounted on the front fenders, gave the car a bug-eyed appearance that completed its endearingly awkward aesthetic.
Underneath this strange exterior lay equally unconventional engineering. The suspension system used horizontal springs connected to leading and trailing arms, creating a ride so compliant that the 2CV could traverse rutted farm tracks with remarkable comfort.
The air-cooled, two-cylinder engine produced a mere 9 horsepower initially, later upgraded to a “mighty” 29 hp in later models.
The shifting mechanism was peculiar too a push-pull-twist gear lever protruding from the dashboard rather than the floor.
The interior embraced minimalism with hammock-style seats that could be removed entirely for picnics or emergency repairs.
Heating was provided by direct air from the engine cooling system, and the windshield wipers were originally powered by the speedometer cable, meaning they slowed down when the car did.
Despite or because of these quirks, the 2CV became one of the most successful cars in history, with over 3.8 million units produced.
It represented functional weirdness at its finest, a car so deliberately odd in its quest for simplicity and utility that it transcended its strangeness to become an icon of French ingenuity and charm.
4. Reliant Robin (1973-2002)
The Reliant Robin holds a special place in automotive history as perhaps the most ridiculed production car ever made, yet one that managed to maintain a production run spanning nearly three decades.
This British three-wheeler’s most obvious peculiarity was its fundamental configuration: two wheels at the back and just one at the front, creating a vehicle that looked perpetually on the verge of tipping over which, unfortunately, it often did.
The Robin’s tendency to roll over during sharp turns became so notorious that it transformed into a cultural punchline, famously lampooned in the British television show “Mr. Bean” and “Top Gear,” where presenter Jeremy Clarkson repeatedly flipped a Robin during a segment, much to the audience’s delight.
The physics were undeniable with just one wheel handling steering duties and little weight over the front axle, cornering at anything above modest speeds was a precarious proposition.
What made the Robin truly bizarre was not just its tripod wheel arrangement but how thoroughly committed Reliant was to the concept.
Rather than treating it as a novelty vehicle, they positioned the Robin as a legitimate everyday car, complete with family-friendly features.
It had a relatively spacious interior for its tiny footprint, a rear hatch for cargo, and seating for four (albeit very cozy seating).
Power came from a small 750cc engine, later upgraded to 850cc, driving the rear wheels. Perhaps the weirdest aspect of the Robin was its legal classification in the UK.
Technically registered as a motorcycle due to its three-wheel configuration, it could be driven with a motorcycle license and taxed at lower rates, making it attractive to budget-conscious drivers or those who had lost their standard driving privileges.
Despite its inherent design flaws and public mockery, the Robin developed a devoted following.
More than 63,000 were sold across multiple generations, proving that sometimes automotive weirdness even potentially dangerous weirdness can find its market.
For many rural British families, the Robin represented affordable mobility wrapped in fiberglass eccentricity.
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5. Fiat Multipla (1998-2010)
When the Fiat Multipla debuted at the 1998 Paris Motor Show, onlookers must have wondered if they were witnessing automotive design or an elaborate practical joke.
The first-generation Multipla (1998-2003) featured what can only be described as a deliberate assault on conventional automotive aesthetics, creating one of the most polarizing production vehicles ever made.
The Multipla’s most startling feature was its bizarre two-tier front end. The main headlights were positioned normally at the corners, but above them sat another set of lights along with turn signals, creating the impression of a vehicle with two separate faces stacked on top of each other.
This “bug-eyed” appearance was complemented by a windshield that seemed to start almost from the front bumper, wrapping up and over the cabin in a bubble-like fashion.
From the side, the Multipla resembled a traditional minivan that had somehow been compressed and then expanded outward, creating bulging sides that seemed to defy aerodynamic logic.
Its greenhouse (window area) appeared disproportionately large for the body, giving it the silhouette of a vehicular greenhouse more than a conventional car.
However, beneath this aggressively weird exterior lay a brilliantly conceived interior. The Multipla featured a novel 3+3 seating arrangement with two rows of three individual seats, allowing six adults to travel in comfort within the footprint of a standard compact car.
The dashboard was equally innovative, with a central instrument cluster and gear shift mounted on the dash rather than between the seats, freeing up floor space.
The Multipla’s design was so controversial that Fiat eventually capitulated to market pressure. In 2004, they released a heavily facelifted version that eliminated most of the original’s distinctive (and divisive) styling elements in favor of a more conventional appearance.
Ironically, the original design has since gained appreciation among collectors and design enthusiasts who recognize its boldness.
Despite winning numerous design and innovation awards, including “Car of the Year” from Top Gear magazine, the Multipla’s sales never matched its practical brilliance.
It stands as a cautionary tale of design innovation that perhaps pushed weirdness beyond what the market could accept.
6. Pontiac Aztek (2001-2005)
The Pontiac Aztek has achieved legendary status as one of the most bizarrely styled production vehicles ever to emerge from a major manufacturer, despite its relatively brief production run.
When General Motors revealed this “sport recreational vehicle” in 2000, automotive journalists and the public alike responded with a collective gasp and not in admiration.
The Aztek seemed to embody design by committee gone wrong, with its chaotic collection of angles, planes, and plastic body cladding creating a vehicle that looked like it had been designed using discarded parts from several different cars.
What made the Aztek particularly strange was not just its design elements, but how they failed to coalesce into a unified whole.
The front end featured a split-grille design with oddly positioned headlights and a hood that appeared to be forced onto a body it wasn’t designed for.
The rear was equally confounding, with a steeply raked rear window bisected by a prominent spoiler, and a lower section that seemed tacked on as an afterthought.
The extensive gray plastic cladding along the lower body gave the impression of a vehicle wearing ill-fitting armor.
The Aztek’s peculiarity continued with its removable rear cargo tray that could double as a picnic table, an optional tent attachment that converted the rear into a camping shelter, and built-in air compressor for inflatable mattresses.
These innovative features suggested a vehicle designed for outdoor adventure, yet its front-wheel-drive platform (all-wheel drive was optional) and limited ground clearance contradicted its rugged pretensions.
Inside, the center console could be removed and used as a portable cooler, exemplifying GM’s attempt to appeal to “active lifestyle” consumers with gimmicky features rather than cohesive design.
The interior dashboard and control layout were as visually cluttered as the exterior, with an abundance of different textures, shapes, and materials.
Despite its commercial failure and design infamy, the Aztek has experienced a curious cultural rehabilitation, partly thanks to its prominent role as Walter White’s vehicle in the television series “Breaking Bad.”
Today, it stands as a fascinating case study in automotive design hubris and the perils of trying too hard to be different without a unifying vision.
7. Nissan Cube (2008-2014)
The Nissan Cube, particularly in its third generation that reached global markets, embodied automotive weirdness through deliberate asymmetry a design choice that flies in the face of conventional car styling.
While many unusual cars happened to be weird through compromise or poor execution, the Cube was weird by meticulous design, with Nissan’s designers proudly citing Japanese “boxy-yet-curved” aesthetic philosophies as inspiration.
The Cube’s most striking feature was its asymmetrical rear window that wrapped around the right side of the vehicle but not the left, creating a visual imbalance that made the car instantly recognizable.
This design quirk wasn’t just for show it reduced the blind spot on the driver’s side in right-hand drive markets like Japan.
However, Nissan didn’t mirror this feature when exporting left-hand drive versions to North America and Europe, resulting in a car with styling that actively contradicted its functional intent.
The Cube’s boxiness was taken to extremes with its nearly vertical sides and rear, while the front featured a more rounded, bulldog-like face.
The windows were designed to evoke a “fishbowl” feeling, with extended pillars creating the impression of picture frames around the glass.
Inside, the ceiling featured a “water drop” ripple design emanating from the center light, while the floor adopted a “Jacuzzi curve” layout design terminology that Nissan used in marketing materials.
Door panels, dashboard elements, and speaker grilles featured rounded square motifs that echoed the car’s exterior shape.
The front bench-like seat and removable “lounge cushion” center armrest furthered the impression of a mobile living room rather than a traditional automobile interior.
Despite its polarizing appearance, the Cube developed a devoted following, particularly among urban dwellers who appreciated its excellent visibility, spacious interior within a compact footprint, and the statement its unconventional design made.
Sales outside Japan never reached expectations, however, leading to its discontinuation in North American and European markets after just a few years.
The Nissan Cube represents intentional weirdness as a design philosophy a vehicle that didn’t accidentally end up strange but rather embraced oddity as its defining characteristic and marketing advantage.
8. AMC Pacer (1975-1980)
The AMC Pacer burst onto the American automotive scene in 1975 like nothing before it, immediately earning the nickname “the flying fishbowl” for its extraordinary greenhouse to body ratio.
At a time when most American cars were long, low, and angular, the Pacer offered a stubby, rounded profile with windows that seemed to comprise nearly 40% of its surface area a design so weird that it appeared futuristic and ancient simultaneously.
What made the Pacer particularly bizarre was its asymmetrical design the passenger door was four inches longer than the driver’s door, supposedly to facilitate easier entry to the rear seats from the curbside.
This peculiar feature meant the car wasn’t even symmetrical when viewed from above. Adding to its oddity was the Pacer’s width it was as wide as full-sized American cars of the era despite being much shorter in length, giving it proportions that resembled a vehicular bulldog.
The Pacer’s development story adds another layer of weirdness. It was originally designed around a Wankel rotary engine being developed by General Motors, but when GM abandoned that project, AMC had to hastily reconfigure the engine bay to accept their existing straight-six engine.
This last-minute change required pushing the engine forward and cramming the radiator to one side, resulting in unusual weight distribution and a cramped engine compartment that made routine maintenance extraordinarily difficult.
Inside, the Pacer continued its commitment to strangeness with a dashboard that curved away from the driver toward the passenger side, creating what AMC called an “asymmetrical cockpit.”
The enormous windshield and windows created a greenhouse effect that would have been unbearable without air conditioning, making that expensive option essentially mandatory.
Despite its peculiarities or perhaps because of them the Pacer initially sold well, with nearly 100,000 units moved in its first year.
Sales quickly declined, however, as the novelty wore off and practical limitations became apparent.
The Pacer’s legacy was cemented in pop culture through its starring role in the film “Wayne’s World,” which embraced the car’s weird but lovable status and introduced it to a new generation who appreciated its audacious oddity.
9. Toyota Sera (1990-1996)
The Toyota Sera represents one of the strongest production cars ever to emerge from a major manufacturer known for reliability and conservatism.
Sold exclusively in the Japanese domestic market, the Sera might have remained an obscure footnote in automotive history if not for its most distinctive feature: butterfly doors that opened upward and slightly forward, creating one of the most dramatic entry and exit experiences ever offered in an affordable production car.
What made the Sera particularly weird was the contrast between its revolutionary doors and its otherwise modest mechanicals.
Based on the Toyota Starlet platform, the Sera featured a humble 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing just 110 horsepower.
This created the automotive equivalent of a peacock’s display of extraordinary visual drama wrapped around a thoroughly ordinary performance.
The butterfly doors weren’t just for show, however; they allowed easy ingress and egress in tight parking spaces, opening with just 6 inches of clearance needed on either side.
The Sera’s greenhouse was equally unusual, comprising almost entirely of glass with canopy-like transparency that wrapped around the roof and down the sides.
More than 90% of the upper body was glass, creating an interior bathed in natural light and offering nearly 360 degree visibility.
This fishbowl-like quality extended to the rear, where a glass hatch completed the transparent theme.
Inside, the weirdness continued with optional electroluminescent displays that could change color, a “Super Live Surround Sound” audio system with ten speakers (in a car barely 12 feet long), and seats upholstered in material patterns that would look at home in a 1990s shopping mall.
Some models featured small wind deflectors that would automatically rise from the hood when the doors were opened, a theatrical touch that emphasized the car’s uniqueness.
Toyota produced approximately 16,000 Seras between 1990 and 1996, with slight variations creating what collectors now recognize as “phases” in production.
Though never officially exported, many have found their way to enthusiast owners worldwide through the Japanese used car market.
The Sera’s influence extended beyond its limited production its butterfly door design reportedly inspired Gordon Murray when designing the McLaren F1 supercar, proving that automotive weirdness from modest manufacturers can influence even the most exclusive vehicles.
10. Aston Martin Lagonda (1976-1990)
The Aston Martin Lagonda Series 2 remains one of the most audaciously weird luxury cars ever produced by a prestigious manufacturer.
Revealed in 1976, this ultra-exclusive sedan looked like nothing else on the road a wedge-shaped spaceship that seemed to have materialized from the fever dream of a science fiction illustrator rather than an established British luxury carmaker.
The Lagonda’s bizarre appearance centered on its extraordinarily long, flat hood that extended forward like an aircraft carrier deck, punctuated by a set of pop-up headlights that would rise from its otherwise uninterrupted surface.
The profile was dominated by sharp angles and a striking horizontal emphasis, with an almost non-existent grille and knife-edge body lines.
At nearly 18 feet long but just 4.5 feet tall, the proportions were extreme even by 1970s standards, creating a vehicle that looked impossibly low and long less like a car, and more like an architectural model of a futuristic skyscraper laid on its side.
The interior pushed the weirdness even further with a digital dashboard using LED and later vacuum fluorescent display technology so advanced for the time that it constantly malfunctioned.
The instrument panel resembled the control deck of a spacecraft, with touch-sensitive switches replacing traditional buttons and knobs.
This pioneering technology proved so unreliable that early models would frequently experience complete electrical failure, leaving drivers without any functioning instrumentation.
Each Lagonda required approximately 2,200 hours to build by hand, and the complicated electronics often needed specialized attention.
Power came from Aston Martin’s 5.3-liter V8 engine producing 280 horsepower respectable but hardly matching the car’s space-age appearance, resulting in performance that couldn’t quite live up to the visual drama.
With only 645 units produced across all generations and a price tag that made it one of the most expensive production cars of its era (around $150,000 in 1980, equivalent to over $500,000 today), the Lagonda represented weird exclusivity at its finest.
Its design was so controversial that it’s consistently included in both “worst car designs” and “most revolutionary car designs” lists sometimes simultaneously.
The Lagonda demonstrated that even the most prestigious manufacturers could produce genuinely bizarre automobiles when the convention was abandoned in pursuit of making a statement, creating a luxury sedan so strange that it still looks futuristic nearly half a century later.
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