Sparked by the (hideous) Chevy Spark, there was an interesting chat session yesterday where a bunch of pics of unusual, little cars were tossed up. These are NOT my preference in vehicles, so in a way, I'm looking at these in order to find something I like design-wise. Bill Mitchell once said (...something derogatory about small cars, can't find the quote). Anyway, the Gub'mnt seems determined to get each & every one of us into one of these at some point, so maybe I can adapt to the idea if the design works for me (then again, I'd rather drive a '60 Fury).

Gonna start off with one of Swordfish's favored models, the very very first saab from 1946, 92001:

From this angle, this is a neat-looking lil' road-going UFO.

You can toss the entire rest of saab's history in the shredder IMO, but save this guy.

More pics here.

Edited November 14, 201114 yr by balthazar

Interesting little beastie.

for a second there, I read that as 90210. [/idiot]

1932 Martin Martinette :

... and it's descendant, the 1954 Stationette :

More here.

1955 Tri-Car Suburbanette:

That SAAB is just wicked cool. Those 3-wheelers, though, while curious, are not.

About the only 3 wheelers that I'd consider 'cool' are Morgans. Reliant Robins have a certain wierd appeal about them (and watching Clarkson roll them on TG was hilarious).

The original SAAB was a great design--a neat teardrop shape.

Edited November 15, 201114 yr by Cubical-aka-Moltar

1933 Mathis VL 333 :

Edited November 15, 201114 yr by balthazar

kustomized citroen 2CV :

1933! It doesn't seem possible! It's like a time warp to at least the 1960's. It never ceases to amaze me how NOTHING is "new".

I really like that 2CV. it needs a brushed metallic paintjob, and it'll look like those futuristic tin toys from the 50's and 60's.

Because spacecar!

Edited November 15, 201114 yr by Turbojett

1952 Panhard Dyna (one-off, fate unknown) :

• • •

I know this is a bike, but stumbled across these acrylic rims- doubt they're remotely practical, but very cool :

Also interesting to ponder unshrouded wheels, or at least out-of-envelope, such as :

Edited November 15, 201114 yr by balthazar

That Citroen hot rod is pretty wild... the rear fenders reminds me of the 'Rocketeer's helmet or something...I don't recall that Jeep concept..neat.

I know this is a bike, but stumbled across these acrylic rims- doubt they're remotely practical, but very cool :

IIUC, all the 3-wheeled "cars" here would be "bikes", actually motorcycles, in NJ registration-speak... and hence, cheaper to insure, register, less safety/emissions BS.

Speaking of the Saabs, the Sonett V4 was cool, too. Unfortunately, it is so small I could not sit in one, let alone drive it.

That 2017 Grand Cherokee is pretty wild.

I like that Mathis somewhat. And as the others said, that Deux Chevaux is wicked.

German homemade streamlined coachwork

1939 Schloerwagen

Edited November 16, 201114 yr by §carlet §wordfish

WOW RE the 1939 Schloerwagen, going to research that one.

1933 Dymaxion (it's not small by any means, but it belongs in here, and the design could handily be shrunk) :

I quite like the Zundapp Janus:

Persu streamliner, 1923 :

Film made in 1948. I have no idea what the 2nd vehicle is; new to me :

2010 Fiat Mio :

Lot's of development sketches here.

That Fiat Mio in a more production form could be the 500's baby brother..maybe a 250..

Some good old teardrop trailers.

As I said in Camino's "... didn't happen" thread, the best small car design that never was probably is the Chevy Groove concept.

It conveys a muscular, masculine sense of purpose that no other small car that I can think of has. It's a very butch and athletic design for a subcompact hatchback, but it isn't butch to the point where you begin to mistake it for a cheesy small crossover.

Why GM decided to produce the Beat concept as the Spark is beyond me.

That Groove looks a lot like the xB.

Perhaps in the same sense the Cube looks like an xB.

The Groove is a boxy design. So is the xB. But that's where the similarities really end.

The xB looks puffy and fat. The xB also has a nondescript front fascia with a nasty overbite. The only notable quality about the xB is that it's a box on wheels. You don't notice anything else.

The Groove, though was taut and muscular. In profile views, there's a forward-learning quality about it which makes it look like it's ready to lunge at any second. The front fascia was bold as well and the headlamps managed to not look like they belonged on some sort of Japanese animated creature. The wheels are pushed to as far to the corners of the car as they possibly can be. Sure, it was a bit blocky, but I think that was a by-product of the design exercise and not the basis for it.

Real world photos of the Groove tell the full story, front cover to back.

Edited November 20, 201114 yr by black-knight

I thought it had HHR quality's W/O the retro design cue's.

2005 suzuki LC-2 concept :

On the Tear Drop camper I helped my best friend build his this year & if I say so myself it's beautiful. We built it between Kemo & Radiation treatments so he could focus on the positives in his life.

I've got a pix but the forum won't let me use facebook format I have a jpg but dont have any hosting plan any ideas?

I've got a pix but the forum won't let me use facebook format I have a jpg but dont have any hosting plan any ideas?

Post it on a free site like Photobucket and link to it.

Not micro or mini, but the Impact was kind of teardrop shaped...

2010 peugeot BB1 :

2003 mitsubishi SE-RO :

Teardrop my best friend made this year to get through Kemo & Radiation fighting cancer.

Two weeks ago north end of Indian Lake(Ohio) at the State Park winds from south blowin the lake in on them.

Edited November 22, 201114 yr by 67impss

Very nice, 67.

Saw the Lincoln C in person a couple summers ago and quite liked it. I'd totally rock one in any color other than eco-puke green.

I thought it had HHR quality's W/O the retro design cue's.

see, I thought it was the natural successor to the HHR because it still has a touch of retro to it.

On the Tear Drop camper I helped my best friend build his this year & if I say so myself it's beautiful. We built it between Kemo & Radiation treatments so he could focus on the positives in his life.

I've got a pix but the forum won't let me use facebook format I have a jpg but dont have any hosting plan any ideas?

You can just attach the photo to the post using "more reply options"

2007 toyoyo Hi-CT:

I still think this KILLS the Spark dead :