Weird Cars Thread

[Ron Texas]

8.8L, supercharged, estimated 620 hp.

Post photos of weird cars here, most likely one off or very unusual.

 

[anmpr1]

8.8L, supercharged, estimated 620 hp.

With all the terrible problems in the world I was getting ready to give up. However that thing restores my faith in the prospects of humanity not only surviving intact, but progressing upward into a brighter future.

 

[Ron Texas]

With all the terrible problems in the world I was getting ready to give up. However that thing restores my faith in the prospects of humanity not only surviving intact, but progressing upward into a brighter future.

You gave me a chuckle. That motor is dated to say the least.

 

[Wes]

it's got get up and go


BTW, is there a car stereo thread on here?

 

[gikigill]

Odd enough to be in Clockwork Orange.

 

[Ron Texas]

One of 6 built.

 

[mhardy6647]

Not quite so esoteric but how about the Robin (or any other three-wheeled model) from the ironically named Reliant car company in the UK?

 

[Ron Texas]

@mhardy6647 in the US three wheel "cars" are classified as motorcycles. The result is minimalist vehicles such as the popular Polaris Slingshot.

 

[Juhazi]

A sophisticated electric car for two https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_Roving_Vehicle

 

[somebodyelse]

@mhardy6647 in the US three wheel "cars" are classified as motorcycles. The result is minimalist vehicles such as the popular Polaris Slingshot.

They're a bit of each in the UK - the Robin was quite popular with people who had a bike license but no car license. The Robin rear axle is/was often used in trike conversions from shaft drive bikes. The Grinnall Scorpion is a similar sort of thing to the Slingshot IIRC. Then there's the Morgan 3 wheeler which is probably odd enough to modern eyes to appear in this thread.

 

[RayDunzl]

A sophisticated electric car for two

 

[sergeauckland]

They're a bit of each in the UK - the Robin was quite popular with people who had a bike license but no car license. The Robin rear axle is/was often used in trike conversions from shaft drive bikes. The Grinnall Scorpion is a similar sort of thing to the Slingshot IIRC. Then there's the Morgan 3 wheeler which is probably odd enough to modern eyes to appear in this thread.

If there's a 'right' way to do three wheels, the Morgan does it right with two wheels in front and one behind.

Reliant's way is just the best way to kill off your customers!
When I was at school., my best friend had a Bond Minicar with one wheel in front. Fortunately, that never went fast enough to tip over, but nevertheless, a hairy ride. (No reverse gear, the engine just went all the way round!)
S

 

[Ron Texas]

I snapped this in Aspen, Colorado a few months ago. It has front wheel drive like the Morgan, but the drive line is more automotive than motorcycle. I wonder if the FWD layout works better than the single driven rear wheel of the Polaris.

 

[Wes]

"4 wheels good; 3 wheels bad"

- George Orwell, Robot Farm

 

[somebodyelse]

I snapped this in Aspen, Colorado a few months ago. It has front wheel drive like the Morgan, but the drive line is more automotive than motorcycle. I wonder if the FWD layout works better than the single driven rear wheel of the Polaris.

I thought the Morgans were RWD, but either way it's a good question.

 

[Doodski]

3 wheelers are fair game
https://www.eliomotors.com/

 

[Juhazi]

Can-Am has a 3-wheeler with bars https://can-am.brp.com/on-road/build-and-price.html

But KTM ended in four with steering wheel https://www.ktm.com/en/x-bow/

 

[Ron Texas]

@Juhazi the X-Bow looks interesting, but I don't think it is available in the USA. It might be more brilliant than weird. I didn't realize how much interest in 3 wheel vehicles there is around here.

The Polaris Slingshot (above) has a 2.4L GM engine and belt drive to the single rear wheel. At popular tourist destinations in the US these are available for rental. They are about to announce a new model with a Polaris built engine and an automatic transmission.

 

[mhardy6647]

@mhardy6647 in the US three wheel "cars" are classified as motorcycles. The result is minimalist vehicles such as the popular Polaris Slingshot.

I am not sure the Reliants would be classified as anything in the US any more.

I am in New England, BTW, not Merrie Olde England.

I see one of those Polaris thingies at our local feed store on occasion (in warmer weather -- not in January!) occupied by a middle-age-ish woman and her dog.

 

[NTomokawa]

My vote for "ugliest automobiles I have ever seen" goes to Luigi Colani's trucks...

...While my vote for "coolest automobiles I have ever seen" goes to GM's Firebird line of concept cars.

Safety issues aside, this is the kind of ride I'd be rolling in after being done with my day job of flying supersonic interceptors. One of the Firebird concepts apparently also pioneered the "self-driving car" by having the car guided by signal wires buried under the road surface.

(1956 warning!)