Weird cars! We all love them, but depending on the actual level of weirdness, some may be best appreciated in photos or at car shows rather than actually taking up residency in the driveway. That said, this is The Autopian, so I’m confident most of you are willing to get pretty weird, especially when the notions of practicality (if not downright feasibility) and cost constraints are removed in the interest of a fun Autopian Asks sesh.
As for me, I think it’d be a hoot to own a Fiat Multipla, and that actually would be a practical choice as long as it’s reliable. It’s definitely weird looking, but the weirdness doesn’t compromise it being a good mover of people and stuff. I must confess, though, I would tire of the interior pretty quickly.
I mean, look at this mess:
Antti was also Multipla-minded, and opined:
You say weirdest … I’d *like* to own. That changes the situation a bit, as there are a bunch of weird cars I’d love to drive and experience but I’m happy not owning them. I think it rules out cars such as the Citroen CX and SM due to their complexity.
I think the answer has to be the Fiat Multipla. They’re great to drive and well packaged! A Multipla would fit my family life perfectly well, as long as I found one that wasn’t rusty, didn’t have a sticky dash, an interstellar mileage on the odometer, or a hideous price tag due to being an actually nice example…
Yes, yes, no rust or sticky dash or big miles, of course, of course, of course. These are all forgiven in the fantasy realm of Autopian Asks, so consider a factory-fresh Multipla to be on its way to you, Antti. As for a Multipla driving report from the real world, have a peek at “How Driving ‘The Ugliest Car In The World’ Helped Me Discover The Masterpiece’s Real Flaws” from another pal across the pond, Adrian Clarke.
Back to my weird picks with this jolly Ukrainian offroader, the Sherp. Obviously, this thing isn’t road-legal, but in the universe where I have acres of land to tear up with all manner of dirt bikes and ATVs and the like, I’m absolutely getting a Sherp. Mostly because “just look at it.” You know it’s gotta be a barrel of unstoppable fun.
I can also get weird on two wheels, and bikes don’t come much weirder than the Alligator. Dan Gurney (as in “The Legendary Dan Gurney”) is the man behind this mostly-completely-normal motorcycle, save for the low low LOW seat height. The old motorcycle-review saw of “you feel like you sit in it rather than on it” is quite literally true for the Gator, and it’s reportedly a blast to ride. You can read more about it from Mercedes Streeter here.
OK, that’s enough of me. What weird wheels would you actually own?
Top graphic image: Sherp
BRAT, XT, and SVX. When I was a kid I thought the face of the Brat and same generation wagons were uuugly. My jr high science teacher was a doofus with a weirdo XT. Now I’d rock both and I looooove the SVX.
My buddy used to have an original Multipla. The kind that looked like some Italian caught a fleeting glimpse of a VW Bus going by and tried to rebuild it but got confused and put the body on backwards.
One word: Thundercougarfalconbird.
I’ve always loved the Morgan Aero Supersports.
It may not legally be a car, but I’d Ike a Regal 3/25 saloon at some point. Well, I’d really like a 3/30 or 700, but its best to stick with 1967 or older to minimize registration headaches
The CEstar Smart is one of them for sure, it’s such an interesting car, to put it mildly. Go look it up right now.
I’d also love to own any of those goofy European hatches from the 2010s (Lancia Ypsilon, Ds 3, etc) or one of those Chinese “sedan-trucks” from the 80s-90s (hell, literally anything chinese from before the late 2010s would qualify tbh)
I would kind of like to have a Vanderhall 3 wheeler, but the oddball i would really like to own is an Amphicar. Maybe an old original, but more specifically the WaterCar Panther
I’ve wanted some step vans and USPS llv. Metro mite on there for sure. Many truck conversions. Most of the stuff from symth and then some. I’ve sort of always wanted a tdi new beetle in the green such a strange little car especially by American standards. As well as the smart diesel. And the polo 1.0 tdi. Plus many of the Chinese panda cars I can’t help but think sure that looks hilarious why not. Along with the copen because why not silly little cars. Along with the az1.
I believe the smallest diesel the Polo ever had was a 1422cc unit, which if I am not mistaken is a 3 cylinder version of the classic 1.9TDI.
I know they had a 1.2 tdi around 2010. The car I’m thinking of was from around 2000. Must have been a lupo, it had all sorts of super efficient things. Like mag rims I recall it being a 1.0 but maybe a 1.2.
That was a 1.2. The engine that powered the Lupo 3L and the A2 3L. Was that ever offered in a Polo?
In 2012 I believe they call it the 1.2 blue motion tdi.
Just checked and indeed the Mk5 was available with it (and also apparently with the 1.4 too).
The Chrysler Turbine Car
The Scammell Scarab, of course.
Who doesn’t want a tractor-trailer with an odd number of wheels? Or one that’s capable of turning around in less than it’s own overall length? Or one that Suggs out of Madness did an entire episode of Salvage Squad about?
Citroen SM, Saabs 95, 96, 99 (if that counts as weird enough), and before my county banned dump trucks and trailers at yard waste sites I used to dream of rolling up to one of those in the fall with a dump bed kei truck.
Definitely a Smart Roadster Coupe. Is that weird enough? We were watching a TV program last night about a man getting a rescue dog because his daughter was leaving home and he needed someone (something) to look after. My 13 yo said: when I leave home Daddy won’t get a dog, he’ll get a Smart….
As you said, plenty I’d like to try, but not necessarily own.
I think an Express or E-series-based cherry picker could be reasonable? Mildly compromised cargo van (still plenty roomy inside, just not “queen mattress” roomy) and…well, I’m sure I could brainstorm ideas for how to have fun with it.
Right up until someone tells me how operating it in some places might result in legal trouble…
Fallback options would be a decommissioned ambulance, or a hearse. Specifically, a 4-door, 5-seater late (fixed) Northstar-era Cadillac.
I want a Daimler Dart/SP250. Ordinary mechanicals, but enough weird looks for days.
Multipla and other cars in a similar vein (Avantime, etc.) are good shouts. An RX-8 is also pretty weird with a weird engine and weird doors. How about a rear engine, aircooled V8 Tatra car? (Well, their trucks too, but I wouldn’t want to live with those. Big, and turn diesel into finest soviet bloc smoke.)
Also pretty much any Citroën made before the PSA merger, and a couple after. The DS may be an elegant goddess, but boy, is it weird. In that French sort of way.
Oh, and an Aztek. With tent. Either that or the Short Bus Aztek show car.
I still – and I think this has come up a bunch – would love to find a Subura XT with the Star Trek dash. I love that thing.
The Caterpillar 789.
https://www.cat.com/en_US/products/new/equipment/off-highway-trucks/mining-trucks/116180.html
I would, however, politely request that all future Autopian meet ups come to me as it’s about four times wider than my driveway. Mine’s the house with the yellow truck, can’t miss it.
Mine’s
the house withthe yellow truck with the house next to it, can’t miss it.FTFY 🙂
I saw an old Formula Vee car for sale on FB Marketplace, and I bet I could get it titled here in OK. I bet it would be a hoot to drive around.
Right up to the moment I got squished by something huge, like a Camry.
Smart Fortwo. I could probably park it in an unique way to give more things to talk to my neighbors about my driveway. 11 cars so far.
Stock Model T. I love the thought of having something 100+ years old but still has enough parts out there to where I could use it sometimes.
They’re cheap enough to where I consider it every few years but useless enough to talk myself out of it.
I came here to say the same thing. I’ve already got an air-cooled Beetle, so having the two most produced people’s cars of all time in my garage has a certain appeal.
The ~45mph top speed is an issue though, I can’t go anywhere without getting on a 55mph rural highway. But since this is Indiana, everyone drives slowly, so maybe it wouldn’t be an issue after all.
I once talked to someone with a sock T and he said that while 40 is achievable, you really don’t want to be doing 40 in a Model T for any real amount of time. 30 is more of the sweet spot. That’s a problem when all of the roads outside of my neighborhood are pretty heavily trafficked with a 40 mph speed limit.
Not to mention you’re impervious to road rage, or any rage for that matter – who doesn’t enjoy seeing something like that?
In the two or three years after the pandemic, I was the subject of a lot of road rage in my Beetle. Which was strange, because it’s perfectly capable of the speed limit and I often drive 5mph over it. Lots of tailgating, I got the finger occasionally…no idea why. It’s better now though, so I guess I can remove my “the closer you get the slower I go” bumper sticker.
Dad has a ’27 Touring. Doesn’t drive it very far, but it fits on a utility trailer with ease, and everyone from 1 to 100 loves to look at it at shows. Shorter than an FR-S, narrower than a Beetle. Taller than both.
An American pick up truck (F-150/Silverado/Ram or similar), regular cab, short bed with a V8 (bonus points if it has pushrods).
A Batmobile. Preferably a Tim Burton one or a Tumbler
Not a truck guy at all, but I would absolutely love to own one of the weirdly proportioned Brazilian market Ford pickups or vans from the 80s.
I want a Saab Sonett
I want a Unimog Camper
those are the strangest on my list.
I’d also love a Sonnet III and a Unimog, but a Pinzgauer would be a fine substitute.
Yes, a 4 wheel (not 6) or a Steyr Puch / Mercedes Puch 230 GE Hardtop Swiss Army or Volvo C303
OR Steyr Puch / Mercedes Puch 230 GE Hardtop Swiss Army or Volvo C303
Give me one of those midget trucks with a flat bed. That thing would kick ass for neighborhood trips and going to Lowe’s.