Gurgel X-10
Also called the Xavante, this was the second vehicle made by Gurgel, one of the weirdest automakers to ever exist. You can see some resemblance to a Volkswagen Thing, only this vehicle takes the weird factor a few notches higher. Incidentally, VW components were under the skin.
Adding to the weird factor is the Plasteel body. If you’ve never heard of Plasteel, you’re not alone. It was a material Gurgel invented, mixing fiberglass and steel into an odd composite that never took off.
Tata Magic Iris
Finding unusual cars in India doesn’t take much effort, but Tata Magic Iris sticks out even among the weird cars on the street. It’s a compact van meant for rapid public transit solutions. The thing definitely was not made to be beautiful, with headlights that look like comic book superhero eyes, a boxy shape and a stance that almost gives the impression of being half drunk. It’s narrow and tall as well, and that fact is accentuated by the steep sides and rear and a flat nose.
The funkiness continues to the interior, with plenty of 90-degree angles. The seatbacks and bottom cushions are as flat as a pancake, intersecting at 90 degrees, making them look about as comfortable as sitting against two boards. As for the dash, it has all the excitement and design finesse of a toddler toy. What’s more, the cargo area is partitioned off with a roll-up material that closely resembles a sunshade. The whole thing is just plain bizarre.
Austin Healey “Bugeye” Sprite
Weird looking doesn’t necessarily mean ugly, because this little British roadster is actually kind of cute. I, along with many, many others, think the combination of the headlights, grille, and front fascia looks like a smiling frog-like creature. If you look at a proper green Austin Healey Sprite, it’s just uncanny.
When it was originally designed the headlights were intended to be retractable. However that feature got nixed due to cost-cutting measures. Just try to look at this car and not smile. I dare you.
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