Automotive design has never been a linear progression. Over the decades, and for various reasons, carmakers have tried odd proportions, odd body shapes, odd details, and odd bits of engineering that sometimes went on to produce iconic and memorable cars and sometimes to produce cars that left enthusiasts scratching their heads. And these odd cars are interesting because they reflect how manufacturers adapated to technology, laws, customer expectation and styling fads.
A glance through the history of the automobile shows many more models that push hard against traditional conventions than you might expect. A “difficult second album” early city car, an awkward mid-career cruiser, the glorious wedge of an early sports car, the distinctive angles of a contemporary van-each is a departure from the norm. Some of these ten cars are remembered for their engineering, some for their eye-catching looks; they’re all straying from the safe path.
1. 1932 Stout Scarab
The 1932 Stout Scarab is perhaps the most notable early application of a nonstandard vehicle layout for an automobile. Often described by automotive historians as the world’s first minivan and perhaps also as the first aluminum unibody car, its atypical looks were driven in large part by its layout-rear-mounted, air-cooled Ford V8, and a broad side profile that removed the running boards on cars of that era, resulting in a wide, flattened front that appeared very different from most cars of the time.
Stout Scarab Design Features:
- Rear-mounted Ford V-8 engine
- Wide body without running boards
- Flattened front-end appearance
- Early minivan-style design
- Only nine units built
The Scarab’s unusual shape was made even more memorable by its name, which referenced an Egyptian dung beetle. Despite its innovative construction and distinctive layout, the vehicle achieved only extremely limited production. Just nine examples were built, making the Stout Scarab an exceptionally rare piece of automotive history. Its importance comes from the way its unusual proportions and engineering layout anticipated ideas that would later become familiar in practical people-moving vehicles.
2. 1946 Crosley CC
The Crosley CC of 1946 was another oddball early postwar motor car. Crosley had created a niche market by being the small car maker during the World War II gas-rationing period, and its continued a miniature after the war. The car featured a monolithic slab-sided body and lacked the standard running boards still common to most American cars. Its proportions made it look like it came from another planet compared to the big American cars of the time.
Crosley CC Characteristics:
- Compact miniature automobile
- Slab-sided body design
- No traditional running boards
- Squashed front-end appearance
- New overhead-cam engine
The CC also featured a new stamped-steel overhead-camshaft engine located beneath its unusual hood. Unfortunately, the engine proved troublesome, adding mechanical concerns to a vehicle that already had an eccentric appearance. Its small wheels and compact body contributed to a toy-like visual impression. As post-war prosperity improved, American drivers had greater access to larger vehicles, reducing the need for the extremely economical and unconventional approach represented by the Crosley CC.
3. 1951 Allard P2 Safari
The 1951 Allard P2 Safari took an unusual approach by combining two very different vehicle concepts into one body. British automaker Allard essentially blended the front end of a sports car with the rear section of a woody station wagon. The result was a peculiar hybrid that did not fit neatly into the conventional categories of sports cars or family wagons. Powered by a Ford engine, the P2 Safari demonstrated how far designers could go when experimenting with body configurations.
Allard P2 Safari Details:
- British automotive creation
- Sports-car front-end styling
- Woody wagon rear section
- Ford-powered mechanical layout
- Extremely limited production
Production estimates for the P2 Safari vary between approximately 10 and 13 examples. Modern records indicate that only around five are believed to remain, making the vehicle exceptionally rare for vintage-car enthusiasts. Its unusual combination of styling themes makes it particularly distinctive within automotive history. Rather than following a single established design formula, the P2 Safari combined elements from different vehicle types into one unusual package that remains memorable decades later.
4. 1958 Ford Thunderbird
The 1958 Ford Thunderbird represented a dramatic styling change from the original 1955 model. The first Thunderbird had been celebrated for its clean appearance as a two-seat roadster without excessive chrome. By 1958, Ford had taken the Thunderbird in a much larger direction, transforming it into a heavily decorated four-seat vehicle that embraced the visual excess associated with late-1950s American automotive design.
1958 Thunderbird Styling:
- Larger four-seat configuration
- Heavy exterior ornamentation
- Strong 1950s design influence
- Major shift from 1955 model
- Later generations became design icons
Although the 1958 Thunderbird moved away from the simpler styling of its predecessor, the new four-seat model achieved a major sales response when it arrived. The design demonstrated that unusual styling did not necessarily prevent commercial success. Ford later moved the Thunderbird toward more restrained and elegant proportions, with the third- and fourth-generation models eventually becoming recognized as significant design icons. The 1958 model therefore remains an important example of how dramatically one nameplate could change direction within only a few years.
5. 1958 Lincoln Continental
The 1958 Lincoln Continental adopted an imposing design that appeared determined to maximize the car’s physical presence. Its styling included canted headlights, almost vertical body sides, and concave front-fender treatment. These elements combined to create a large and distinctive luxury vehicle that looked substantially different from more restrained automotive designs. The result was an example of the extravagant styling direction that characterized parts of the American luxury-car market during the period.
Lincoln Continental Design:
- Canted headlight arrangement
- Near-vertical body sides
- Concave front fenders
- Large luxury-car proportions
- Major styling revisions followed
Lincoln continued modifying the Continental’s styling in 1959 and 1960 before eventually making a major design change. The transformation culminated with the introduction of the 1961 Lincoln Continental, which took a much cleaner and more elegant approach. That later model became one of the most admired designs produced by the brand. The contrast between the 1958 Continental and its 1961 successor illustrates how quickly luxury-car styling could evolve during this period.
6. 1961 Citroen Ami 6
The 1961 Citroen Ami 6 pushed unconventional styling in several directions at once. It became one of the earliest production automobiles to replace traditional round headlights with non-round lighting units, immediately creating a distinctive front-end appearance. Its wavy hood and grille added further visual complexity. However, the most recognizable design feature appeared toward the rear of the passenger compartment, where Citroen used a reverse-raked rear window combined with a sharply angled B-pillar.
Citroen Ami 6 Styling:
- Non-round headlight design
- Wavy hood and grille
- Reverse-raked rear window
- Sharply angled B-pillar
- Distinctive glass canopy
The unusual geometry made the Ami 6 particularly polarizing. The reverse-raked rear window was not entirely unique to automotive history, as Lincoln, Mercury, and the Ford Anglia also experimented with the concept, but the Ami 6 combined it with other unconventional shapes to create an especially distinctive profile. Even French buyers were not fully convinced by its appearance. In 1962, the Ami 6 was outsold two-to-one by the older Citroen 2CV on which its chassis was based.
7. 1965 AMC Marlin
The 1965 AMC Marlin is often remembered in discussions about unusual American fastback designs. Some enthusiasts initially viewed it as an awkward response to the popular Dodge Charger, but AMC actually entered the fastback market a year before Dodge. Being early, however, did not guarantee that the Marlin’s proportions would appeal to buyers. Its exterior featured an unusual combination of lines and proportions that struggled to achieve the visual balance associated with more successful fastback designs.
AMC Marlin Design Issues:
- Entered fastback market early
- Preceded Dodge Charger
- Unbalanced exterior proportions
- Heavy-looking rear section
- Weak buyer response
The Marlin’s styling lacked the cohesive proportions that helped make later fastback muscle cars more visually successful. Its heavy rear end and awkward transitions made the vehicle difficult to appreciate from several angles. Fastback Charger sales were themselves relatively modest at the time, but the Marlin performed even worse commercially. Its legacy therefore became tied to the risks involved when manufacturers attempt to capitalize on a growing design trend without finding the right visual balance.
8. 1975 Triumph TR7
The 1975 Triumph TR7 introduced one of the most recognizable wedge-shaped designs of its period. Developed as a British sports car intended for American drivers, the TR7 featured heavy roof pillars and narrow windows that contributed to its radical appearance. These elements were reportedly influenced by anticipated U.S. rollover safety requirements that ultimately did not take effect. The result was a sports car that looked very different from many of the more traditional roadsters associated with Triumph.
Triumph TR7 Characteristics:
- Radical wedge-shaped body
- Heavy roof pillars
- Narrow window openings
- Designed for American market
- Significant quality concerns
The TR7’s unusual appearance was accompanied by serious quality problems during a turbulent period for British manufacturing. Reliability concerns frequently left owners dealing with mechanical issues, creating an unfortunate connection between its controversial styling and ownership frustrations. Rust also affected many examples over time. Despite its problems, the TR7 remains a memorable chapter in British sports-car history because of the dramatic design direction Triumph chose for the model.
9. 1989 Alfa Romeo SZ
The 1989 Alfa Romeo SZ was particularly unusual because Alfa Romeo had a strong reputation for elegant and flowing automotive designs. Instead of using smooth curves, the SZ adopted flat planes, unusual proportions, and a dramatic change in the beltline around the B-pillar. The resulting shape looked more geometric than the traditionally graceful forms associated with Italian sports cars. Its blocky design extended to the wheels and other exterior details.
Alfa Romeo SZ Styling:
- Flat exterior body planes
- Unusual vehicle proportions
- Dramatic B-pillar transition
- Blocky wheel appearance
- Distinctive Italian design experiment
The SZ’s appearance was so unconventional that it seemed almost disconnected from Alfa Romeo’s traditional design language. Rather than relying on flowing surfaces and smooth transitions, the vehicle emphasized sharp changes and geometric forms. This made it one of the more unusual Italian performance cars of its era. Its distinctive shape remains an important example of how even manufacturers famous for elegant styling can deliberately move in a radically different visual direction.
10. 1990 Chevrolet Lumina APV
The 1990 Chevrolet Lumina APV represented General Motors’ attempt to move the minivan segment away from conventional box-shaped proportions. The design adopted a long, sharply sloped front end that earned the family of vans the informal “Dustbuster” nickname. Instead of maximizing a traditional upright appearance, the designers pursued a futuristic profile. However, the unusual proportions created practical challenges for drivers and passengers.
Lumina APV Design Features:
- Futuristic minivan styling
- Long sloping front end
- Distinctive “Dustbuster” shape
- Unusual driving position
- Shared design across three brands
The driving position and dashboard layout added to the unconventional experience. The large sloping dashboard could make objects that slid forward difficult to retrieve, while the overall driving position could feel unusually far toward the rear. GM applied the basic design across three divisions, producing the Chevrolet Lumina APV, Oldsmobile Silhouette, and Pontiac Trans Sport. These vehicles became some of the most divisive minivans on American roads, remaining memorable examples of how futuristic design experiments can produce very different reactions from drivers.
