History is littered with old, forgotten but awesome rides. We took a walk down memory lane to pull out our favorites of the ones that most people have never heard of.
Overland OctoAuto
In 1911, a man named Milton Reeves came up with the idea for an 8-wheeled car. Why? We have no idea. But the Overland OctoAuto sure looked awesome. Unfortunately, consumers at the time didn’t think it looked awesome and Reeves sold exactly ZERO of his 20-foot long masterpiece. He later became more famous for being the inventor of the muffler.
Scripps-Booth Bi-Autogo
Automobile history is full of three-wheeled disasters – the Reliant Robin, Mazda T2000, and the Daihatsu Midget, for example. But the Scripps-Booth Bi-Autogo, besides having an amazing name, also is probably the weirdest looking with its big front wheel and tiny, little back wheels. It was one of the very first 3-wheelers though, built in 1913.
Fuller Dymaxion
Designed by one of the most-renowned free-thinkers of all time, Buckminster Fuller, the Fuller Dymaxion was like a Buck Rogers rocket come to life, in 1933.
Waterman Arrowbile
If you’ve ever wondered when they are going to invent flying cars, well, they have! The Waterman Arrowbile, built in 1957 was a first. And it actually flew! But sadly, it wasn’t very popular.
Zündapp Janus
The Zündapp Janus from 1958 is one of the cars that makes go “what in the heck were they thinking?” Were they trying to be creative? Save space? Be efficient? One thing they were not trying to do is be fast, it’s 250cc engine barely made it to 50 MPH.
The Peel Trident
While it’s older brother, the Peel P-50 is more famous, 1966’s Peel Trident looks like the designers were up too late watching The Jetsons and thought it would be funny to design a car based on George’s flying car. You have to admit, it’s kinda cool looking, right? At least it’s not as over the top as the car Homer designed with a bubble roof on The Simpsons.
The Stout Scarab
Quite possibly the first minivan, the 1932 Scout Scarab is really weird looking, with the stubby front and a sleek back, it’s just…odd. Don’t you agree?
1942 Oeuf Electrique
Built before the Jetson’s was ever seen and more than twenty years before the Peel Trident, the 1942 Oeuf Electrique was a true one of a kind. Becuase of fuel shortages in Nazi-occupied Paris, a concept car was built. The concept? An electric car. Elon Musk has nothing on these guys!
1956 BMW Isetta
BMW got in the tiny, bubble car race too with the ’56 BMW Isetta. Like most BMW’s they were well built and there are fair amount still be driven (occasionally, we assume.)
1961 Amphicar
Every kid’s dream, besides a flying car, is a boat car! That dream was possible in the 1960s when a German Company built just that. Even President Lyndon Johnson famously owned one.
.JPG){kind=link}
