17 of the Most Peculiar, Oddball Cars Ever Built
They might not have the most conventionally attractive looks, but these are all still cool cars. Here are some of the most interesting oddball cars ever built.
Toyota Sera
See the Toyota Sera driving down the street, and you might not think twice about it. It's only when you see the doors go up do you understand why it's on this list. These swing-up butterfly doors provided inspiration for McLaren F1 designer Gordon Murray. This one can be yours today.
Nissan Pulsar NX
The Pulsar NX's modular rear section was designed so you could swap out the shooting brake hatch (shown above) with a more traditional coupe-like trunk, depending on the owner's mood. Why don't more manufacturers do this?
GMC Envoy XUV
At first glance, the Envoy XUV might look like any other mid-2000s SUV. But get to the back and you'll discover a surprisingly useful feature: The roof over the trunk section can retract into the car, creating an opening for larger items that might not otherwise fit. It might look a bit awkward, but it works. This one's up for grabs on eBay now.
BMW Z1
The Z1's design was a departure for BMW. It had a very un-BMW-like shape, peculiar headlights, and doors that automatically slid into the body from the bottom. Here's a low-mileage example you can own right now.
Lamborghini LM002
Originally designed for military applications, the LM002 doesn't really remind you of any other Lamborghini of the era. Perhaps the coolest part about it is what's under the hood: The same V-12 engine found in the Countach.
Subaru Brat
Subaru's little 4x4 ute was unique in more ways than one. In addition to the cool decals and pickup bodystyle, it had rear-facing seats mounted on the exterior inside the bed. Here's one in fair condition that can be yours for just under $10,000.
Toyota Previa
At first glance, the Previa doesn't look like anything special. It's only when you realize what lies underneath do you see the appeal of this van. The engine is mounted in the middle under the front seats, and power is sent to the rear wheels. You could even get it with a manual. Here's a supercharged example you can own right now.
Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6x6
The Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6x6 is not something you'd think a real, actual car manufacturer would produce and sell. Yet, here it is. Meant to send off the decades-old G-Class bodystyle, it remains one of AMG's most insane creations.
Fiat Multipla
Some people consider the early 2000s Fiat Multipla the ugliest car ever made. Now that 15 years has passed since its unveiling, they're cheap enough to be quirky, fun beater cars. These guys even took one to the Nurburgring. Either way, that headlight setup is unlike anything else.
Citroen SM
To a lot of people the Citroen SM looks fantastic. We're not going to argue, and we'll even admit we have a serious soft spot for it. But we also won't pretend it wasn't designed by someone who had any intention of imitating other cars on the road. The SM is a car that's beautiful in its own special way. This shell is in need of a restoration, and it can be yours.
Edsel Corsair
The launch of Ford's Edsel sub-brand has gone down in history as one of the biggest disasters in the history of the automobile. And while there were plenty of cars from the late 1950s that look more graceful, we can't help but appreciate Edsels for their distinct appearance, and for being ahead of their time.
Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer
Ferraris have historically been some of the best-looking cars on the road, but that doesn't mean there haven't been some design misses. And yet even if the design of the Berlinetta Boxer is a little off, it's still a great car. It's too bad Ferrari never saw fit to sell the BB in the U.S.
Lancia Fulvia Sport Zagato
The Lancia Fulvia is a great car, especially in coupe form. But if you want your Fulvia with better aerodynamics and a lower chance of losing it in the parking lot, you pick the Zagato-styled Fulvia Sport. It's not as traditionally beautiful as the Coupe, but we love it anyways.
Lotus Europa
The Lotus Europa was simple, light, and one of the best-handling cars you could buy at the time. Its styling was also a bit... peculiar. Reducing drag meant leaving conventional standards of automotive beauty at the door, and while there isn't much that you'd confuse the Europa with, we'd still love to get behind the wheel of one. This blue-painted model can be yours for $25,000.
Plymouth Valiant
The second-generation Valiant is usually the car to have, but if you really want to stand out from the crowd you go with the first-generation car. Most of its major design cues haven't aged nearly as well as Plymouth probably hoped, and yet, it's a classic car we'd still happily own and drive. Here's one up for bidding right now.
Renault Alpine GTA
ack when the Renault Alpine GTA came out, you could have also gotten the much more practical Porsche 944. But why get the more-practical Porsche when Renault was selling a competitor made out of plastic and fiberglass? The Alpine GTA is much cooler. And French.
Subaru SVX
Subaru has given us plenty of oddball designs in the past, including the XT's spaceship-inspired cockpit. But we have a special place in our hearts for the SVX's window-within-a-window look. Americans might not have been ready for such an expensive Subaru, but we still love it.
From: Road & Track
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