As a kid, I was conflicted by The Land of the Misfit Toys. Sure, I could empathize with the discarded playthings’ emotional scarring. And I had a pre-Captain Planet understanding about the need to recycle—thanks to 10 years at a deeply dippy Quaker school. But the MFTs were clearly—how do I put this gently?—less than desirable. A train with square wheels? A cowboy riding an ostrich? A doll suffering from clinical depression? I remember thinking, what kind of child is going to love these toys? It’s the same question that pops into my head whenever I see a Chevrolet SSR, Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid, Plymouth Prowler, BMW M-Coupe or Lexus IS-F. These are all vehicles without a hope in hell of mainstream acceptance, destined for endless depreciation and permanent exile in The Land of Misfit Motors. And still the hits keep not happening, from economy cars (the Saturn Astra) right up to “priceless” one-off monstrosities (Maybach Exelero). And I love them all. So share with the group. What’s your favorite misfit automobile, and would you ever own one?
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Dodge Nitro- It’s hated by many, but I love it.
classic- Rambler Marlin
My dad has always wanted an Edsel, and he owns an ancient Ranchero. My mother’s first car was a Peugeot, either a 403 or 404. Popular elsewhere in the world, but not here.
Me? I’d go for the Aussie GTO.
Plymouth Prowler. First, because it’s Plymouth’s last hump of your leg before it was sent to the vet, and second, it’s the closest thing to a factory built open-wheeled car.
http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-2000-2003/2001-Plymouth-Prowler-1600×1200.jpg
BMW M-Coupe
(Do I have to like the misfits?)
Virtually any 4-cylinder Camaro or Mustang (SVO excluded).
And the 8-cylinder Vega and Pinto. (I wouldn’t own either one, but I’d love to drive one, just once.)
Sean you beat me to the punch– I give a hearty second to the Prowler. I think it would really shake things up in my Honda family. I have no idea about the mechanicals of the car, but it’s like seeing an unbelievable hot chick: your friends don’t really care about her views on the capital gains tax, but oh those headlights!
I’ll agree with Theodore’s dad about the Edsel. Another car that was ahead of its time was the 1948 Tucker. I’d take either one of these cars today, although I would be tempted to customize it like what Chip Foose would do.
Another car that belongs on this list is the Subaru SVX. (http://www.subarusvx.com). It’s a fairly rare car with only 14,000 imported to the US between 1992 and 1997, and it’s styling is very different, especially the “window in a window.” As I just found out from the website I listed, it was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, who is also known for such “misfits” as the DeLorean DMC-12 and Volkswagon Rabbit from the mid-70’s. He also penned the Giugiaro Mustang concept from 2008 as well as many other mass-produced cars. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giorgetto_Giugiaro
Honda Element. Sales last month were under one thousand, supposedly for the first time ever. It’s a niche car that has a small cult following (myself included). But everyone who wants one has one, they run forever, and the new ones aren’t all that improved from the original version. Maybe a significant price cut is in order.
@ mistercopacetic: I know the engine is actually fairly solid (for a 90’s Chrysler product)– it’s the 3.5L lump out of the Intrepid. The 99-02’s made ~250hp, and it only weighed 2800lbs. You won’t impress many people at the drag strip, but you could certainly do worse.
My favorite misfit toy, that I am unlikely to ever see in person, much less drive, is the Renault Avantime. Top Gear introduced it to me, and frankly, it’s an amazingly weird failure of a car. I love it.
How could the 70s VW Rabbit be considered a misfit when the early 70s also had the VW Thing and the boattail Buick Riviera? Although I am sure many oldtimers(like myself) really like the boattail Rivs. I’ve seen a few gorgeous restorations.
I agree the Subaru SVX is a strange car. I’ve seen some pretty ugly Subaru Baja’s as well…. Talk about a niche vehicle.
Thought of another weird one…The AMC Pacer
Not certain if this car actually is a misfit, (based on the comments @ Jalopnik though it is in their minds) but the BMW X6 M is big, beautiful and I can only imagine how it would be to drive.
Additionally, I second the stated views of the Prowler – I just wish they had dropped a bigger engine into it.
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Think I’m going to throw the Smart Roadster in here too, since no one in America (read: joe sixpack) has heard of it, or would buy it.
And the 8-cylinder Vega and Pinto. (I wouldn’t own either one, but I’d love to drive one, just once.)
I had a V-8 Vega and my brother had a V-8 Pinto. Also had friends with both, very fun cars with a little extra h.p.(Note for straight line use only!)
Crosley. I’m especially fond of the station wagons.
Rather than one car, how about many: this guy is on his 8th Escalade, and thinking about number 9.
As a long-time Mopar fan, I’ve seen quite a few weird ducks that resulted from someone’s imagination or colorblindness. For instance a 65 Newport station wagon in sage green with a burgundy interior, and a 56 New Yorker hardtop in red and black with a turquoise and white interior. This was a restored car I saw at a WPC Club national meet, and the owner swore that the colors were original. Then there was the brown 62 Fury 4-door sedan, 6-cylinder automatic with power brakes, air, little dog-dish hubcaps and no radio.
I owned a 65 Valiant Signet that had been spec’ed out by its original owner to be a Formula S car. It had the sport suspension, 4-speed, 273 4-barrel engine, 14-inch wheels with the Barracuda Formula S wheel covers, locking differential, and he’d even had Formula S emblems installed on it. In addition it had power steering, power brakes, and a vinyl top.
I’m going to have to go for the Panamera, which is shaping up to be a misfit from day one. Would I own one? I wish.
Domestic (beyond the aforementioned):
80-85 Cadillac Seville or any Cimarron.
Sky/Soltice: Great idea, cursed by GM-level execution.
Hummer H2 & H3: Complete WTFmobiles.
PT Cruiser.
Imports:
Suzuki X-90. The um… most Japanese WTFmobile ever sold in the US.
VW Vanagon: Teutonic function out the wazoo, shaped like a wazoo. I actually owned one when my kids were little and we loved it.
ANY British car built during their “Death throes” era, the 80s & early 90s, (except Jaguar, as Ford just kept building the same Jags from the 70s, with just barely improved reliability.)
The Reliant Robin. Complete British WTFmobile.
Anything built by the French with wheels.
Every other Fiat ever built.
–chuck
Benz 190E 2.3-16
Porsche 968
Celica All-Trac
1986 Mustang SVO
BMW M Coupe
Mazda 323GTX
…lots of good ones out there.
1955 Chevrolet Nomad wagon.
I can’t think of a candidate for the best misfit toy ever, but the best example being sold today? The RX-8. The Ridgeline probably gets second, and the Touareg diesel and the SX4 should also be on the list somewhere. All bizarre cars, from conception to car lot, that are somehow pretty lovable anyways.
77 Triumph TR7, built during the pinnacle of BL’s ineptitude. I love Clarkson’s description of it as he walks around it “It looks exactly the same on this side!!”. A pretty nimble little car if you can find one in good working order, which of course mine isn’t. Even though it’s a maddening mess of electrical shorts and corrosion, I can’t seem to stop throwing money, parts and weekends ignoring the GF at it.
1958 Mercury Voyager
If you were really looking for more oomph, you might be able to fit Chrysler’s 4.0l V6 in the Prowler. It didn’t exist at the time of the Prowler, but it’s essentially a bored-out 3.5l. I’m not sure if the mounts and all of that would line up, but I believe it’s doable.
The PT Cruiser was a sales success for a little while. Chrysler has no idea what to do with their success here, so they have just let it rot instead.
I’m surprised no one has mentioned the Pontiac Aztec. Somehow Pontiac managed to screw-up what was supposedly a well-received concept.
I love Pacers and Gremlins. I even liked them as a kid when they were new. Also the AMC Eagle and Subaru Brat (must have the seats in the bed).
Eagle: http://www.resims.net/data/media/4/83.amc.eagle.500.jpg
Brat: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/120/287699547_9e266cb41f.jpg
Hottie washing a Gremlin: http://photocarsonline.com/blog/wp-content/gallery/amc-gremlin/13-amc-gremlin.jpg
But the ultimate misfit that I would kill for is the Gremlin AMX concept, check it out:
http://amxgopak.com/images/amx-gremlin.bmp
Gotta go with the ‘05 to ‘06 Pontiac GTO. I’m willing to bet I could find one in a couple years with less than 50K miles on it for 12 – 13K.
Saturn ION. Or any other winner of a TTAC TWAT award. I love this car. It’s weirdness will be timeless.It’s misfit status is off the chart. And it’s plastic. Inside and out.Just like Legos.
And my newest favorite: Dodge Caliber.It may replace my 05 ION. If everyone else hates it, I automatically love it. Misfit cars for misfit people, I guess.
Oldies: 78 AMC Concord, 80 Citation x-11, 59 Studebaker Lark, flathead 6. Rambler American 1958, flathead again.
My own 63 Valiant Signet /6 and 3 on the column. The “forgotten year” of the 2nd Generation, people think it’s a Rambler.
Mercury Marauder was a misfit because of the Grand Marquis it was based on. Not because the Grand Marquis is a bad car, but because the target audience for the Marauder would never step foot into a Mercury dealership for a souped up “rental car” I’d totally buy one if I had the cash at the time.
And the Contour/SVT was a great misfit. Nobody bought them, like the Saturn Astra, but they were awesome cars. There were just too many cheap Taurus sedans around. I was going to buy a V6 with a stick but ended up with a ZX2 instead (moron)!
My 1980 Pontiac Sunbird hatchback, orange, with a sport(?) package – front air dam & rear spoiler, striping on the side, 3.8L 2bbl Buick V6. After 9000 miles (voiding the warranty), installed were hurst shifter, an Edlebrock intake and Holley 4bbl, 3 months later a NOS 75hp nitrous kit. Absolutely fast for the time but ran out of breath at 95mph.
Considering that it never broke anything, I’d love to drive one again just for nostalgia.
MkV VW R32 – Saw a 2008 with 3k miles for $23k. Yeah. No one wants them.
Saab Viggen – Torque steer can be cool.
Mazda RX-8 – The gas/oil bills are worth it for that engine and those doors.
Sorry for the double post. I don’t know how to do hyperlinks.
Lambo LM002: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamborghini_LM002
This thing: http://www.astleford.com/CXT.htm
A few years back, GM hosted traveling auto shows that set up at a local fairground or race track. Customers (me) made on-line reservations, and in return got free parking, free lunch, and drives of all GM cars and their competition on closed courses. Staff were shotgun on Hummers and Corvettes their course were temporary dirt hills or makeshift drag strips.
That’s where I got to meet these misfits:
Chevrolet SSR: Staff had to keep yelling at drivers to slow down, not spin wheels, or endlessly rev motors. A really bizarre combination of old-school hot-rodding and minimal interior room.
HUMMER:
Feel like driving a rubberized military vehicle. It strangely isolates you from everything and anyone: perhaps that’s why they are popular in LA, CA.
What about the Aurora? Not the sleek Oldsmobile, but the overchromed, misshapen monstrosity that was built by a preacher who wanted to make the world’s safest car, yet oddly omitted the biggest advancement in automotive safety: seatbelts. It also had a cow-catcher-like front end for pedestrian safety, but anyone who saw that thing coming would probably turn to stone. Only one was built, and was recently restored to its original, vomit-inducing hideousness. If any one has a better answer than that, I’d love to hear it. To view the Aurora, although I’d advise against it, just Google “aurora car”, you’ll see why I think this is the best answer.
Any of the early Subaru Brat. Mid 70’s Chevy Chevelle Laguna type S-3. Jeep C-J8 Scrambler.Mid 80’s Dodge Dakota convertible truck.Checker cabs. Nash rambler. Chevy Monte Carlo Aerosport SS. Honda Civic del sol.
Suzuki X-90, and I do currently own one (getting sick of it though).
81-83 Dodge Rampage & 82 Plymouth Scamp (car-based pickups)
AMC Pacer
Isuzu VehiCross
I think in the future we’ll look back at the Dodge Caliber and Jeep Compass as being weird cars.
I guess my former 71 Pinto, 76 Pinto, 80 Bobcat qualify.
My 05 xB is polarizing.
1986 Pontiac Grand Prix 2+2.
1988 Fiero Formula.
any of the Daewoo built POS LeMans’.
Holden Adventra. A G8 [or 6] wagon with 4WD and stick-on off-road bits. Hilarious.
I really liked the Saturn Astra!
I have seen exactly one of them on the road in contexts other than my own personal test-drive, but I found it to be a quirky, interesting little car.
To this day, I don’t know if it won me over based on its merits (24H-only clock is just so weird it’s endearing), or because it’s the only non-crap small car GM has produced during my current lifetime. In any case, if I get creamed in my current whip the Astra is already on the short list as a possible replacement.
Hey, you guys are listing a lot of neat old cars along with true misfits (”vehicles without a hope in hell of mainstream acceptance, destined for endless depreciation and permanent exile in The Land of Misfit Motors”).
Measured by the amount of money thrown down a hole, I’d say the Buick Reatta and Cadillac Allante qualify. Nice cars in many ways, but now you can buy one pretty cheap. More important, I bet GM lost a couple billion on those programs. Did those “aura” cars lead even one person to buy a Le Sabre or Sedan de Ville? Doubtful. And meanwhile, while squandering resources on niche products, the company was neglecting their prime money-makers to the point that many disgusted customers would say “never again!”.
I,ve got a Honda Ridgeline that is about as bizzare as it gets. Going to baby it so 20 years from now I can cruise around in a wtf is that vehicle! Maybe I’ll pick up a Subaru Baja xt as backup, just for shits and giggles.
No one has mentioned the Lincoln Blackwood. Oh wait, you wanted vehicles that *somebody* loves. Never mind.
I’m glad no one mentioned the Mercury Marauder yet.. I would take it.
Maybe Pontiac G8 could be eligible too.
I’d say the 68-71 4 door Thunderbirds for me, along with the 73-77 Chevy Malibus.
That ‘58 Mercury Villager speaks to me as well.
Alfa Romeo GTV6. So lusty, so earthy, so needy. An attention whore.
I’ve owned quite a few misfit cars. I had a 75 Ford Maverick with a factory 302 boss engine in it, a 1985 Renault Alliance,a 1970 Opel Manta, a 1986 Subaru Brat with the plastic seats in the back and t-tops, and finally a 1990 Subaru Justy with a cvt. That car was a prototype painted in an awesome color combo of florescent yellow and grey with matching interior.
I currently own a Saturn Astra. I loved my Opel so much I had to buy another, once I got the chance. The Astra really is a nice car.
I’d love to find a Mercur XR4ti. I’m sure they’ve all been shredded, but I loved the look of that thing! I think I was 14 when they imported those to the US. I even liked the Scorpio, but that wasn’t quirky enough.
If there was a way to import a C300 wagon with a stick, though, that would make the top of the list.
I love my Hillman Imp dearly and have owned it for 20 years now while other cars have come and gone. Unfortunately for Hillman not enough buyers felt the same way.
What about the Volvo V70R? Seems a little weird to make a luxury sport wagon, especially from Volvo, and I’ve seen maybe two in my life outside of a car show. Bet it would be a blast to drive, though, from what I hear in the car reviews.