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CLASSIC CARS, PRESTIGE CARS, PERFORMANCE CARS, AND MORE
ODDBALLS AND ORPHANS
These are the misfits, the underdogs, the left-field legends, the curiosities that never quite fit the mainstream but carved out their own weird little chapters in automotive history.
Here’s a compelling list of 10 very much lesser known cars, with a story-driven twist for each – see if you know of any of these cars. If you know them all, you truly are a classic car aficionado!
Saab Sonett III (1970–1974)
The Fighter Jet in Sports Car Form Saab, known for aircraft and quirky sedans, briefly tried its hand at a lightweight sports coupe. The Sonett III came with pop-up headlights, fibreglass bodywork, and a V4 engine pinched from a Ford. It was more "interesting" than fast – but unmistakably Swedish in its eccentric charm and safety-first philosophy.
Matra-Simca Bagheera (1973–1980)
Three Seats, No Waiting This French oddball had a fibreglass body and three front seats side-by-side. Yes, three! Designed by Matra and powered by Simca, it was stylish, impractical, and fragile – the steel chassis was prone to rust faster than you could say baguette. But it was undeniably cool in a very Gallic way.
ZAZ 968 Zaporozhets (1971–1994)
The Soviet People’s Porsche Designed in Ukraine and built for the masses, this rear-engine, air-cooled oddity was sometimes affectionately (and not-so-affectionately) called the "hunchback." It had more in common with a Fiat 600 than anything luxurious, but it was tough as nails and loaded with Soviet soul.
Subaru 360 Deluxe (1958–1971)
The Ladybug That Could This was Subaru's first car – tiny, 360cc engine, two-stroke, and built under Japan’s Kei car regulations. Nicknamed the ladybug, it was the first taste of car ownership for many Japanese families – and even briefly sold in the U.S. as an ultra-cheap runabout. It’s adorable and now strangely collectible.
Lightburn Zeta (1963–1965)
Built by a Washing Machine Manufacturer. Literally. Lightburn made appliances in South Australia before they tried cars. The result? A fibreglass oddity with sliding windows, no rear hatch, and a Villiers two-stroke engine. Marketing claimed it was “Australia’s answer to the Mini.” It wasn’t. But today, it’s an absolute unicorn of Aussie motoring.
Purvis Eureka (1974–1991)
Straight Outta Loganholme, Inspired by the VW-based Nova kit car in the UK, this Australian-built fibreglass spaceship was low, wedge-shaped, and had a roof that lifted up like a cockpit. It was the ultimate DIY exotic – part dune buggy, part sci-fi fever dream.
Bricklin SV-1 (1974–1975)
Canada’s Gullwing Safety Car Built by an idealist (Malcolm Bricklin) with government backing, the SV-1 was a safety-first sports car with gullwing doors and acrylic body panels. It looked like a Corvette from Mars, but was let down by poor build quality and financial implosion. Only around 2,900 were built.
AMC Pacer (1975–1980)
The Wide Small Car A car that defied logic and aerodynamics – the Pacer was wide, round, and looked like a bubble on wheels. Designed for comfort and visibility, it became a punchline in its time, but has since earned cult status (thanks in part to Wayne’s World). Party on.
Autobianchi Bianchina (1957–1970)
La Dolce Vita in Toy Form This Fiat-based microcar was one of Italy’s tiniest and most charming exports. Built by Autobianchi, it was all curves and cuteness, often two-toned and decked out with chrome. It’s like a Vespa that grew doors.
DeLorean DMC-12 (1981–1983)
The Stainless Steel Time Capsule No oddball list is complete without the DeLorean. Designed by Giugiaro, built in Northern Ireland, and famously plagued by delays and controversy. It became a pop-culture icon with Back to the Future, but was a commercial flop when new. Gullwing doors and all.
And whilst this vehicle didn't make our list of 10, it is a car that really does deserve to be mentioned amongst any discussion relating to oddballs and orphans. The General Motors EV1 really was a world-first kind of car, an EV that was created before the turn of the millennium. It was a car that proved the impossible was possible, however it seemed that the public (and the government) wasn't quite ready for Electric Vehicles to become a mass transport option.
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General Motors EV1 (1996–1999)
The Electric Dream That Died Too Soon
A Car Ahead of Its Time
The EV1 wasn’t just GM’s first electric vehicle — it was the first mass-produced electric car from a major automaker designed from the ground up. Sleek, aerodynamic, and whisper-quiet, it offered drivers in California and Arizona a genuine glimpse into the future.
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Power: 137 hp electric motor
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Range: ~100–140 km (lead-acid), up to 160–250 km (later NiMH models)
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Top Speed: ~130 km/h
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0–100 km/h: ~8 seconds
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Drive: Front-wheel drive
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Body: Ultra-slippery drag coefficient of just 0.19 (!)
It looked like a spaceship. It drove like a whisper. And it answered a question the world wasn’t yet ready to ask: What if we didn’t need petrol at all?
A Conspiracy on Four Wheels
Despite high satisfaction from its lessees, the EV1 was never sold — only leased. And in a shocking twist, every single one (save a few) was recalled and destroyed by GM after the program ended.
Why? That’s where the real oddball status is earned:
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GM claimed lack of demand and high costs.
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EV fans pointed to oil industry pressure, planned obsolescence, and a lack of corporate vision.
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The story was so compelling, it became the centrepiece of the documentary: Who Killed the Electric Car? (2006)
The EV1 didn’t just fail — it was erased. Like a ghost in the corporate machine.
The Survivors
Today, it is believed around 40 EV1s still exist, but none are road-legal. They're in the hands of museums, universities, and private collectors, all non-operational (with their drivetrains disabled at GM’s insistence).
Owning one — even seeing one — is like spotting Bigfoot at a Tesla Supercharger.
Legacy and Irony
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The EV1 laid the groundwork for modern EVs, but GM’s abandonment of it left a gaping void.
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It would take Tesla, a start-up outsider, to pick up where GM left off.
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Now, nearly every major automaker is racing to catch up in the electric space GM once quietly walked away from.
