We’ve always had a soft spot for orphans and oddballs: the great and not-so-great automotive experiments that didn’t quite make it to your friendly neighborhood showroom. Readers are probably familiar with the Isetta that inspired the Guido the forklift character in the 2006 Pixar movie “Cars”—or the Tucker from the 1988 movie, “Tucker: A Man and His Dream,” starring Jeff Bridges. Other oddballs, such as the Crosley Hotshot and Amphicar, might be less familiar.
Regardless, all of these vehicles embody the inventive spirit that is the backbone of the car industry.
Amphicar: A Production Car for Land and Sea
Although the US military used amphibious vehicles as early as the Second World War, it was not until the early 1960s that the first and only production amphibious car for civilian use reached American shores. The German Amphicar, produced between 1961 and 1968, was powered by a Triumph engine and Hermes transmission that allowed the car’s wheels and propellers to operate independently. About 3,000 Amphicars made it to the US, priced between $2,800 and $3,300. Although the Amphicar met with lukewarm response due to its lackluster performance, its uniqueness earns it a spot in the annals of automotive history. There’s one day left on eBay’s sale of this 1964 model.
Crosley Hotshot: Post-War Sports Car
Time magazine called the Hotshot one of the 50 worst cars of all times. The creation of Powell Crosley Junior of Crosley radio fame, the Hotshot was one of the first sports cars produced after the Second World War. It was slow, and the engine—built from brazed pieces of stamped tin—was notoriously unreliable. But the Hotshot had one ace-in-the-hole: it was the first production application of disc brakes. Had it not been for the Crosley Hotshot, we might still be knocking rust ridges off the insides of brake drums.
Tucker: Modular Drivetrain and Cyclops Headlamp
Preston Tucker was a Chicago policeman with dreams of a safer, technologically advanced automotive future. In 1948, he introduced an aerodynamic car (named after himself) for post-War America. Designed by Alex Tremulus, the Tucker was loaded with advanced safety features, including disc brakes, seatbelts, a padded dashboard, and a third “cyclops” headlamp that swiveled according to steering input. The rear-mounted engine and transmission were designed to be removable, so the owner could swap out the drivetrain if the car had mechanical problems and simply install a new one. Despite its noble intentions, the Tucker’s production was short-lived, with the plant producing a total of 51 automobiles. Thankfully, most are still around today.
BMW Isetta: Love on Three Wheels
In 1953, a scooter and refrigerator company called Iso SpA introduced a bubble-shaped micro-car that ran on three wheels, combining the functions of a scooter and a traditional automobile. It called the tiny car: the Isetta or “little Iso.” BMW licensed the design that went into production in 1955. The 12-horsepower Isetta had a top speed of 52 miles per hour. Curb weight was a mere 770 pounds. Production ceased in 1957.
Nash Metropolitan: First American Subcompact Car
Being a former Rambler owner, I have a soft spot for anything that carries the Nash nameplate, particularly the Metropolitan based on the 1949 NXI concept. The production two-seater was truly a global effort, with a Pininfarina body, 1.2-liter Austin four-cylinder engine, and Nash suspension. The production car had an 85-inch wheelbase and weighed about 1,800 pounds. Nash produced the Metropolitan until 1962, enhancing its performance with more powerful engines and doing some minor styling updates. About 95,000 units were produced over the car’s 10-year run, making the Metropolitan a somewhat rare but always welcome addition to Nash-Rambler club meets.
