American manufacturers have a history of making strange vehicles. While some were futuristic endeavors, others were innovation efforts that never made it to the assembly line. That said, some were ahead of their time and sold well.
This article explores 15 of the weirdest vehicles built by American manufacturers. Many are unique parts of automotive history that you may not have heard of.
Chrysler Turbine
It’s not every day that car manufacturers build vehicles with jet turbine engines. The Chrysler Turbine was an early attempt to make a car that could run on almost any fuel, including alcohol, kerosene, diesel, cooking oil, perfume, and liquor.
Chrysler made just 55 turbine vehicles, loaning them to families for testing. The concept failed because building the engine cost Chrysler $10,000, while mainstream vehicles cost $3000. Unfortunately, not many units remain today.
AMC Gremlin
The Gremlin features a rounded roof, curved rear window, and a long hood, and just looks odd. Compared to subcompacts from the 1980s, it could be called off-beat and weird overall. AMC’s primary selling point for the Gremlin was a cheap $2,500 price tag. Also, the name Gremlin just doesn’t sound optimistic.
Chevrolet SSR
Chevrolet has made a few vehicles that bridged the gap between various styles. The SSR was a combination of a pickup truck and convertible, including a retractable hard-top roof. A horizontal line spanning the front end that split the headlights in half didn’t help its aesthetics either.
Cadillac Fleetwood
Need a sedan for nine people? In the 1970s, Cadillac had you covered. The Fleetwood 75 is the longest regular production vehicle ever made at 250 inches (21 feet) long. Cadillac’s creation is essentially a less fancy limousine and was marketed as a sedan. Good luck trying to park it.
Tucker 48
The Tucker Corporation only made 50 of these vehicles before going out of business. Its unique Cyclops design featured a third headlight. Due to its out-of-the-ordinary design, vehicle enthusiasts now consider the Tucker 48 a collector’s item.
Pontiak Aztek
The Aztek may have been slightly ahead of its time. Pontiac made the Aztek from 2001 to 2005, and it sure looks like an early crossover SUV to us. As many enthusiasts note, it’s rather ugly, with boxy lines and too much height. On the plus side, a tent attachment that sleeps people off the ground is available.
Cadillac Cyclone
Like the Chrysler Turbine, the Cadillac Cyclone was considered innovative and futuristic in 1959. The Cyclone featured flared rear fenders resembling rockets and a bubble canopy. Even stranger, the doors slid back instead of swinging open. But its most unpopular feature had to be its canopy—although it allowed for a panoramic 360-degree view, it didn’t adequately block the sun.
Chrysler PT Cruiser
Classic car fans might not like this, but the modern PT Cruiser is pretty weird. The PT Cruiser could be outfitted with wood side panels, and a convertible model was available, too. The vehicle actually sold well, with a million models on the street from 2001 to 2010. While many thought the PT Cruiser looked weird, it definitely appealed to retro drivers.
Stout Scarab
You’ve probably never heard of Stout—they made cars back in the 1930s. ‘Scarab’ refers to the Egyptian beetle. The Stout Scarab was an attempt to make a unique 7-passenger sedan. Inside, the Scarab touted swiveling seats so passengers could face the front and back.
If that’s not enough, the Scarab featured a dining and card table. It sounds like a great road trip vehicle.
Tesla Cybertruck
This one is pretty recent. The Tesla Cybertruck’s strange futuristic and boxy design easily earns a spot on our list. It looks nothing like traditional trucks. Most trucks sold in America are made from steel or aluminum. Tesla chose to make the Cybertruck with stainless steel.
Fun fact: The original design for the Cybertruck didn’t include side mirrors. They were only added because of federal regulations. That said, drivers can still choose to remove them. In all fairness, we wouldn’t expect much less of Elon Musk.
GMC Envoy XUV
The GMC Envoy wasn’t that unusual, but the XUV model took it to another level. GMC removed the third-row seating and added a washable truck bed-like floor. It included slightly better access, featuring a tailgate that could open vertically or horizontally like a station wagon. Finally, the roof was retractable, making the cab suitable for hauling oversized items.
Chevrolet Series M Copper-Cooled
Here’s an obscure one. In the 1920s, manufacturers were in a race to solve many of the engineering challenges that have been conquered today. The Copper-Cooled was the work of Charles Kettering, head of Delco—the parts company. He wanted to make a vehicle that used copper fins to cool cylinder heads instead of liquid or air.
The problem? Many vehicles never left the factory because the idea didn’t work. Chevrolet made about 2,000 models before giving up on this one.
Plymouth Prowler
By the mid-1990s, Plymouth consumers missed the old hot rod style consisting of circular fenders over the front wheels that left the suspension open. The problem with the Prowler was that it wasn’t really a hot rod or a muscle car. It featured a standard V6 engine. Even with a lightweight frame, it wasn’t all that fun to drive. That said, it did look cool.
General Motors Firebird
General Motors also attempted to give a vehicle a rocketship-like appearance. With a long wheelbase, fins, bubble canopy, and a turbine engine, it wasn’t exactly a practical vehicle. This one never made it to the general public.
Sebring-Vanguard CitiCar
This was one of the first electric vehicles with low emissions. The CitiCar stands out for its quirky, slanted design, angled hood, and overall small size. Sebring-Vanguard sold about 40,000 units of the CitiCar before it was declared unsafe by the Consumers Union.
Weird or Innovative?
Automakers come up with tons of crazy concepts. While some make it to American streets and become beloved vehicles, others are concepts meant to look cool and test boundaries. Unfortunately, some are just downright weird and don’t work. Thanks for joining us on this dive into American automotive history.
More From Driver’s Drift
17 Cars That Are Incredibly Fun to Drive
13 SUVs with the Most Luxurious Interiors
13 Cars Owners Wish They’d Never Purchased
16 Reasons Why Some Americans Will Never Embrace Electric Vehicles
