How many times have we enjoyed doodling a little house on a grassy hill, with windows bigger than the doors and a roof so out of proportion it would crush any building unlucky enough to hold it up?
Not to mention the pterodactyls flying in the sky, thinking they were swallows.
Who can honestly say they’ve never done that?But things get even more interesting when the one doodling on a napkin — while munching on onion rings at Burger King — is an automotive engineer.
Even better when the wild ideas from his imagination meet a visionary (and even crazier) producer who actually decides to make them real.And it’s exactly thanks to the meeting of these runaway minds — and a bit of cosmic alignment—that today we can have a good laugh looking back at ten of the strangest cars ever designed.
Not to mention the pterodactyls flying in the sky, thinking they were swallows.
Who can honestly say they’ve never done that?But things get even more interesting when the one doodling on a napkin — while munching on onion rings at Burger King — is an automotive engineer.
Even better when the wild ideas from his imagination meet a visionary (and even crazier) producer who actually decides to make them real.And it’s exactly thanks to the meeting of these runaway minds — and a bit of cosmic alignment—that today we can have a good laugh looking back at ten of the strangest cars ever designed.
Peel P50 – The Smallest Car in the World
The smallest car ever made was produced between 1962 and 1965, and then relaunched in 2010 in the UK. Where else, right?It has a 49 cc engine, 4.2 horsepower, and can reach a top speed of 61 km/h.
The Peel P50 is recognized by the Guinness World Records as the smallest production car ever made.Built by the Peel Engineering Company on the Isle of Man, the car is about one and a half meters tall, less than one meter wide, and weighs less than I do—just 59 kg.
The P50 doesn’t have reverse gear. You can’t have it all.
But it can be moved by hand, thanks to a handle on the back!Only 50 units were made in the 1960s, but production started again in 2010.
Today, original P50s are collectors’ items and can sell for up to $170,000.
Jeremy Clarkson from Top Gear even drove one right into the BBC offices.
Amphicar Model 770 – The Car-Boat
This little German gem was produced between 1961 and 1968.Equipped with a 1.1 L engine with 38 horsepower, it could reach a top speed of 113 km/h on land and 11 km/h on water. Exactly.
When I wrote “car-boat,” I wasn’t joking.The Amphicar Model 770 is an amphibious car that can drive on the road and also sail on water.
Built by German engineer Hans Trippel, the Amphicar had two propellers at the back that allowed it to move across any body of water.
However, it wasn’t completely waterproof, and water could leak in if you weren’t careful.Around 4,000 units were made, and today they are highly sought after by collectors.
Lyndon B. Johnson, former President of the United States, used to have fun scaring his guests at the White House by pretending to lose control and driving straight into the lake on his property with the Amphicar.
Messerschmitt KR200 – The Car-Plane
To be fair, after the car-boat I thought it was time for a true example of a car-plane.Produced between 1955 and 1964, also in Germany, it had a 191 cc single-cylinder engine that allowed it to reach a top speed of 90 km/h.The Messerschmitt KR200 was designed by the historic aircraft company Messerschmitt, which, like many others after World War II, had to shift its production.
The KR200, also known as the Kabinenroller (cabin scooter), had three wheels and room for just two people, sitting one behind the other—like in a jet.To get inside, you had to open a clear bubble canopy, just like in a fighter plane.
The KR200 even took part in a 24-hour endurance race, setting a record by covering 100 km on just one liter of fuel.
Stout Scarab – The First Minivan in History
In the United States, between 1935 and 1939, the Stout Scarab was created with a Ford V8 engine producing 90 horsepower, allowing it to reach a top speed of 120 km/h.This car is considered the first minivan in history.It was designed by aeronautical engineer William Bushnell Stout, with a futuristic design that included sliding doors, a modular interior, and an aerodynamic body inspired by scarab beetles.
However, the project was too far ahead of its time, and only 9 units were ever built.In 1946, a prototype of the Scarab introduced a pneumatic suspension system—a concept still used today in luxury cars.
Bond Bug – The Comic Book Vehicle
Between 1970 and 1974 in the UK—besides the Beatles, who probably would have loved the previous quirky car model straight out of a Flash Gordon comic—the Bond Bug was born.With a 700 cc engine and 30 horsepower, it could reach a top speed of 122 km/h.
The Bond Bug looks like a car.
With its bright orange body, compact three-wheel design, and a roof that lifts forward, the Bond Bug quickly became a style icon.
Although it was a hit among young people, its three-wheel setup made it, unfortunately, not very stable.
George Lucas used a Bond Bug as inspiration for the design of Luke Skywalker’s speeder in Star Wars—where, to be fair, stability is a bit less important.
BMW Isetta – The Egg on Wheels
A co-production between Italy and Germany from 1953 to 1962, the BMW Isetta is probably the most famous microcar of all time.Originally designed in Italy by Iso Rivolta, BMW bought the rights and turned it into a huge success.With a 245 cc single-cylinder engine, it could reach a top speed of 85 km/h.
The most iconic detail?
The front door that opened with the steering wheel attached.During the oil crisis, the Isetta became the perfect car, thanks to its ability to travel 30 km on just one liter of fuel.
Ferrari 512S Modulo – The Flying Saucer on Wheels
The Ferrari 512S Modulo is one of the most futuristic concept cars ever made.Designed by Pininfarina, it had an ultra-low body with covered wheels and a roof that slid forward to allow access to the cabin.It was built in Italy in 1970, with a V12 engine producing 550 horsepower and a top speed of 355 km/h.
Ferrari never disappoints.Designer Paolo Martin said the car was inspired by Star Trek spaceships!
Maybe just to keep up with the Bond Bug.
Nissan S-Cargo – The Snail Van
Between 1989 and 1991, Japan got moving and produced a small gem of automotive engineering, with a 1.5 L engine and 75 horsepower, reaching a top speed of 115 km/h.The Nissan S-Cargo was a tiny van that looked just like a snail.Its name is a clever play on words between escargot (French for snail) and cargo (as in transport).Only 8,000 units were made, and its design was inspired by the Citroën 2CV—another classic of automotive design!
Reliant Robin – L’auto che si ribalta
Una nuova stravaganza automobilistica ci arriva direttamente dal Regno Unito tra il 1973 e il 2001.La Reliant Robin è famosa per una cosa sopra tutte. Si ribalta facilmente.Con tre ruote e un telaio leggero, questa macchina ha ispirato innumerevoli autori di sketch comici della televisione. Con un motore da 850 cc a 40 cavalli raggiunge una velocità massima di 130 km/h.La Robin è considerata la "peggior auto britannica" di sempre.
E ancora oggi ha una foltissima comunità di fan.
Autozam AZ-1 – The Miniature Supercar
But we have to go back to Japan to admire the Autozam AZ-1.It’s one of the smallest supercars ever built, combining sporty design with extreme compactness.Produced by Mazda under the Autozam brand, this kei car featured gullwing doors, Ferrari-inspired styling, and a perfectly balanced weight distribution—making it incredibly fun to drive.Built between 1992 and 1994, it had a 660 cc, three-cylinder turbo engine with 64 horsepower and could reach a top speed of 140 km/h.
Despite its aggressive look, the AZ-1 followed Japan’s strict kei car rules, which limited both size and power.With only 64 horsepower, it still offered an exciting drive thanks to its featherweight body—just 720 kg—and rear-mounted turbo engine.
Truly a missed success.The AZ-1 was meant to attract sports car fans at an affordable price, but it was launched during a major economic crisis in Japan.
Its high cost compared to other kei cars and its low practicality made it a commercial flop.Only 4,392 units were produced, making it a highly sought-after collector’s item today.The AZ-1 was a direct rival to the Honda Beat and Suzuki Cappuccino, two other sporty kei cars.
Its engine was the same used in the Suzuki Alto Works, a tiny city car with surprising performance.
Some models were sold with a "Mazdaspeed" body kit, making them look even more aggressive.Today, it’s one of the most desired Japanese cars among collectors, with prices reaching over $60,000.
The Autozam AZ-1 proves that hope dies last—and that even a mini car can have the heart of a supercar.
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